While growing a baby is one of life’s greatest miracles, it comes with a whole lot of other things to think about, especially when it comes to your delicate skin. Stretch marks - they’re common occurrences for most people and are a natural part of pregnancy, affecting most women. With that being said some women are unbothered by them as they may be minimal and disappear after birth while some may want to reduce the appearance of them as they can be more prominent. Here are a few tips to keep in mind to help prevent and reduce stretch marks from occurring.

Stretch marks - what are they?

Stretch marks are a type of scar that develops when our skin stretches or shrinks too rapidly. This abrupt change causes tissue to stretch beyond its limit causing a visible tear. As the skin heals, stretch marks may appear and in some cases may disappear on its own. 

Stretch marks that appear during pregnancy:

As you go along your pregnancy journey and your hormones continue to fluctuate, you may experience a number of changes to your skin, hair and body. As your bump starts to grow, it’s very common to experience stretch marks particularly around your torso, and sometimes even your upper thighs & breasts especially in the last couple of months closer to your due date.

How to avoid stretch marks:

There’s no magical lotion that will get rid of stretch marks completely. However there are nourishing products with rejuvenating ingredients you can incorporate in your routine to help reduce and prevent them from forming but also reduce the appearance of them.

For pregnant mums that are hoping to prevent skin damage, keeping up with moisturisation internally and externally is key. Keeping up with fluid intake and applying nutrient rich topicals to the skin both morning and night will help skin to stay supple and less prone to stretching. 

Incorporate reparative & nourishing ingredients:

Use products that are formulated with skin-loving cold-pressed oils to prevent & repair stretch marks like our Super-Seed Belly Oil:

• Jojoba Oil: Regenerates, repairs & moisturises as it is similar to skins natural sebum.
• Chia Seed Oil: Moisturises, nourishes and prevents transepidermal water loss.
• Rosehip Oil: Promotes elasticity, prevents redness & provides long-lasting moisture.
• Avocado Oil: Rejuvenates, prevents stretch marks & is rich in skin soothing lipids.
• Flaxseed Oil: Helps skin retain moisture and nourishes with omegas 3, 6 & 9.