by Contributing Blogger Maytal Wichman
There are literally dozens and dozens of stretch mark creams on the market and since most of us will be pregnant a couple of times at most, we don’t need to try them all – just one. We might as well go straight to the best and if it happens to be affordable, well, that certainly doesn’t hurt. Basq Skin Care line has a wonderful collection of luxurious and terrific-smelling all-natural creams that are to-die-for, and at prices that fit any pocket.
The Advanced Stretch Mark Butter is a rich cream with a scent that is unbelievable: very natural, like body wash or soap, so you walk around with a “just got out of the shower smell”. It absorbs immediately, even on moist skin. I also discovered a hidden benefit: if you put the cream on dry, cracked hands it will heal them within a couple of days. I had a bad cut from overly dry skin on one of my hands and this worked better than Vaseline and other types of hand creams. Some of the ingredients in the Advanced Stretch Mark Butter are shea butter, borage seed oil, rose hip oil and Jojoba butter.
As a complement to the Advanced Stretch Mark Butter, the Resilient Body Oil Trio Set is another fantastic product that can also be used on its own. The oils come in three scents: CALM (lavender pear), REVIVE (grapefruit citrus) and FRESH (eucalyptus). The lavender is my favorite scent and I love using it at night – I swear it helps me sleep more soundly. The citrus is also excellent and while the eucalyptus is my least favorite of the scents, it really does make me feel invigorated – there’s just something about it that is so revitalizing, that makes me feel like I have a burst of energy, so I like using it during my 4 pm afternoon slump. I use the body oils on my belly, as well as décolletage, neck and arms. The oils absorb immediately on dry skin, but take about 5 minutes to absorb if you just got out of the shower (I timed it). Some of the ingredients are: sesame seed oil, sweet almond oil, grape seed oil and vitamin E.
The great thing about these products is that even though they are so affordable, they can also last you through your pregnancy and beyond because you don’t have to slather your body with them – a little goes a long way. All products have been tested for zero skin allergy and irritancy, are Paraben and Phthalate free and have not been tested on animals. They make great Baby Shower gifts for any mom-to-be who wants to pamper herself (and who doesn’t?!)
You can purchase the Advanced Stretch Mark Butter here. Price is $35. You can purchase the Resilient Body Oil Trio Set here. Price is $40.
I was not paid for this post. I did receive samples for review.
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Contributing Blogger Maytal Wichman is the owner of Mama’s Healthy Bites and also writes for Savvy Sassy Moms. Maytal has been living in New York City for eleven years. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in English Literature as well as a Law Degree, but writing about nutrition and helping families eat better is her true passion. She grew up in both California and Israel, which explains her love for California cuisine (fresh, local ingredients), as well as Mediterranean food (flavorful, heart-healthy ingredients). Maytal is a mom to two kids (ages 5 & 3) and works hard to ensure they eat healthy, unprocessed food, while trying to make it as delicious as possible. Married to a vegetarian and being a pescetarian herself, this can be quite a challenge. On an ordinary night at her dinner table, you can hear things like “More cauliflower, please!”, “How come I didn’t get a lot of tomato?” and “Fish oil! Yaaaay!”.
During my last pregnancy I could not have lived without the Stretch Mark Cream from Apothederm http://apothederm.com/shop-products/body/stretch-mark-cream/
It was very effective for my past stretch marks and the new marks I got. I would recommend it!