9 Best Stretch Mark Creams, Oils and Butters, Tested by Pregnant Moms

Palmer's Cocoa Butter Massage Lotion for Stretch Marks has been a mom favorite for decades and a winner among The Bump product testers for years. The company has been around since 1840, and over the years, countless parents have used and approved this highly popular stretch mark cream. In fact, more than a third of our survey respondents told us that they turned to this brand for a reliable, effective stretch mark cream during their pregnancies. Small wonder it’s won a Best of The Bump award for overall best stretch mark cream for three years running. (See all of this year’s Best of The Bump winners.)

An overwhelming majority of our survey respondents—more than 80 percent, in fact—flagged “easy to rub in” as a vital quality in a stretch mark product. And our product tester, Emily C., who used this pregnancy stretch mark cream at 25 weeks pregnant, gave it a 10 out of 10 across all categories, including ease of use. She says, “It was the perfect texture, not too thick but not too thin and oily.” Emily loves that “it rubbed right in and didn’t feel sticky or gross after. It definitely helps keep your skin moisturized!” MDmomma1217, a parent from The Bump community forums, is also a fan of the hydrating consistency. “I use it all over my stomach and chest and feel like it's thick enough to keep the itching away for a long time,” she shares. And Carrie, an expectant mom from our survey, tells us she doesn’t get a heavy or sticky feel from Palmer’s. I also tested this cream, and I loved that it soothed my consistently itchy skin and was easy to dispense from the traditional pump bottle. It never left a greasy residue or stained my clothing.

This lotion for stretch marks also earned a perfect score for effectiveness. Many moms love how the cream can be counted on to minimize existing stretch marks, and Emily wholeheartedly agrees. “I already had stretch marks from previous pregnancies but this product definitely made a difference while I was using it,” she raves. “It keeps your skin moisturized and feeling great.” Perhaps best of all, that great performance comes at a reasonable price. Ringing in at just $1.72 per fluid ounce, this lotion was the most affordable option we tested by a long shot.

While the lotion is free from added fragrances, it’s worth noting that the cocoa butter has a natural chocolatey scent that lingers, which could be offputing to those who are scent-sensitive. That said, many expectant moms seem to be fans of Palmer’s scent. “The smell is simple and not overwhelming,” Emily reports. Survey respondent Brittany also listed the warm cocoa butter scent as a big positive of using this cream.

Product type: Cream | Quantity: 8.5 fl. oz. | Price per fl. oz.: $1.09 | Notable ingredients: Cocoa butter, shea butter, glycerin, almond oil, collagen

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From the get-go, our product tester Olivia found the Honest Company Glow On Body Oil, our Best of The Bump winner for overall best belly oil, to be delightful. More than half of respondents to our survey told us they wanted a stretch mark product that was non-greasy, and while some oils can feel somewhat slippery, the Honest Company Glow On Body Oil was “easy to apply and rubbed in quickly without leaving any greasy residue on my skin,” Olivia says. “The consistency was perfect—not too thick or too runny—which made application smooth and efficient.”

Some belly oils can stain clothes, and the problem is made worse by bottles that are tricky to use and prone to spills—but Olivia didn’t run into any application issues with this Honest oil. She appreciated the squeeze bottle design, which made it easy to dispense the amount she needed. “I appreciated that it didn't leave any stains or marks on my clothes, allowing me to use it throughout the day without concern,” she says. “Additionally, the bottle's compact size made it easy to store, and it fits neatly in my bag and skin care counter.” Survey respondent and expectant mom Rosa* also calls this oil easy to use, and adds praise for its clean ingredients.

And no wonder, since this belly oil’s rich, plant-based formula features only seven ingredients, including organic coconut, avocado and olive oils, which Olivia felt dramatically improved her skin’s elasticity and hydration. “It significantly reduced any itchiness I was experiencing, making my skin feel smoother, softer and more supple,” she says. “After three days of consistent use, I noticed a visible improvement in my skin's overall appearance.”

Product type: Belly oil | Quantity: 4.2 fl. oz. | Price per fl. oz.: $4.28 | Notable ingredients: Sunflower oil, avocado oil, jojoba oil, olive oil, coconut oil

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Queen bees and expectant mothers have a lot in common: You’re both incredibly important and take care of high-level matters for the hive. That’s why you deserve some honey at the end of the day—and a Best of The Bump winner like Burt’s Bees Mama Bee Belly Butter is sure to bring it. According to our tester, Meredith, her skin “felt great after only a few uses” of this shea- and vitamin E-infused body butter, earning it a 10 out of 10 for effectiveness.

One of the active ingredients in this stretch mark product is the natural fat from the fruit of the karite tree, more commonly known as shea butter. With its high level of fatty acids, shea butter is an emollient, softening and hydrating your skin and sealing in moisture. It also brings anti-inflammatory properties helping, your skin accommodate the itching that can come with each trimester. It certainly did for Meredith, who tells us, “My skin is noticeably less itchy” after using it. Expectant mom and survey respondent Claire* praises the butter’s cooling sensation on her itchy skin, adding that it “hydrates very well.”

Applying the Mama Bee Belly Butter is a piece of cake, which isn’t always the case with belly butters. In fact, when Meredith compared this to products she’s used in the past, she appreciated how simple this product was to put on, rating it a 10 out of 10 for ease of use. “The package opened easily and the product wasn’t goopy, so it’s easy to apply,” she says. Meredith also appreciates that this product was truly fragrance-free, making it an excellent choice for expectant women who are scent-sensitive.

To top things off, at $2 per ounce, this belly butter has one of the lowest price tags of all the products on our list. “I’d say it’s good value,” says Meredith, who gave it yet another 10 out of 10 category score. Given that this product is highly effective, easy to apply, scent-free and good value, it was an easy choice for overall best belly butter for pregnancy.

Product type: Belly butter | Quantity: 6.5 oz. | Price per oz.: $2 | Notable ingredients: Sunflower oil, coconut oil, shea butter, almond oil, cocoa butter | Artificial fragrance: No

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Almost a third of respondents to our survey were concerned about a powerful added scent in their stretch mark product, and it’s no wonder—a heightened sense of smell is a common pregnancy symptom (in fact, it’s one of the earliest signs of pregnancy!). This can be frustrating when shopping for skin care, as many creams and lotions tend to be lightly fragranced. But that’s not an issue with the Belli Stretch Mark Minimizing Cream. This two-time Best of The Bump winner is a must-have for expectant people who are having trouble with smells during pregnancy.

Diana, our product tester, is highly sensitive to odors, and she was a big fan of this stretch mark cream’s “very clean,” barely-detectable scent, which she says didn’t linger on her skin—so it’s no surprise she rated it a 10 out of 10 in this category. The cream is also highly effective. “I like the texture of it, the way it soaked into my skin nicely and how it left no residue,” says Diana, adding, “I haven’t had any new stretch marks, so that’s a win for me.”

If you’re drawn to visually appealing packaging, the Belli Stretch Mark Minimizing Cream may not be your first choice. However, the squeeze tube received praise from Diana. She preferred it to tub containers that require unscrewing a lid and scooping. All in all, this pregnancy stretch mark cream is an excellent choice for a belly that needs hydration and a nose that needs relief.

Product type: Cream | Quantity: 6.5 fl. oz. | Price per fl. oz. $4.46 | Notable ingredients: Glycerin, vitamin E, caffeine, avocado oil, ginseng extract

If you have sensitive skin, chances are you pay particular attention to your products’ ingredient lists. Our tester, Shelby, who suffers from eczema, needed a product that would be effective while staying gentle on her skin. The Oil, our Best of the Bump winner for best stretch mark product for sensitive skin, is an EWG-verified belly oil that contains only seven ingredients. “That alone speaks volumes,” says Shelby. “The skin is the largest organ on the human body. It absorbs everything we put on it. Being ‘picky’ with products, especially during pregnancy, is crucial to the health of not only mama but her baby. I'm so happy to have found this oil and be confident in the safety of its ingredients.”

Among those seven ingredients are chamomile, lavender and marshmallow root, all of which are naturally derived. According to Michele Green, MD, a cosmetic dermatologist in New York City, marshmallow root is a particularly good choice, as the high mucilage content “may have anti-inflammatory properties that can reduce redness and inflammation.” It proved to be an effective formula for Shelby, who says the oil left her skin feeling soft, moisturized and less itchy, all without irritating her eczema-prone skin.

Shelby says that applying the oil felt “like a little spa moment” and gave the attractive product packaging high marks. It’s easy to dispense the right amount of oil without making a mess, and the glass bottle is so “aesthetically pleasing” that according to Shelby, she intentionally left it out on the bathroom counter.

The Oil isn’t one of the cheaper products we tested, but after using it, Shelby tells us this belly oil is definitely worth the price point. “If I walked into a store like Ulta or Sephora and saw this product on the shelf, I would guess its price was higher than what it is,” she shares. Needless to say, if you’re after a belly oil that will soothe sore, dry patches while offering the experience of a top-of-the-line skin care product, this is a perfect match.

Product type: Oil | Quantity: 4 fl. oz. | Price per fl. oz. $8.75 | Notable ingredients: Apricot kernel oil, marshmallow root, calendula flower, rosehip, lavender flower, chamomile flower, rose absolute

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Itchy skin is a common pregnancy symptom as your belly expands and hormone production increases. And as baby grows each week, you’ll probably welcome some healing help from the strain being put on your poor skin. Enter: Earth Mama Organics Belly Butter, a true skin savior in every sense of the word, and our Best of The Bump winner for best stretch mark product for itchy skin.

Our product tester, Jamie, says her skin became very itchy during pregnancy—and she loved the relief she got from applying Earth Mama Organics Belly Butter after every shower. She noticed that “its soothing effects lasted all day,” and left her skin feeling “smoother and softer.” And if you look at the ingredients, it should come as no surprise. As well as containing the naturally anti-inflammatory shea butter, the belly butter alsor contains aloe, which Green identifies as a highly effective ingredient with “anti-inflammatory compounds that can alleviate swelling and redness.”

The Earth Mama butter has a light citrusy scent from essential oils that was popular among both of our testers who tried this product. “The fragrance was perfect,” says Rosaldy, who tried the butter at 36 weeks pregnant. It comes in a simple, minimalist pump bottle that’s easy to dispense and keep clean. The high-quality, mostly organic ingredients and soothing relief this cream offers make it a high value for the price. According to Jamie, “I would definitely recommend this cream to any mom who is expecting. Not only are the ingredients clean but the scent is very light and natural. It’s an affordable product that gets the job done.”

Product type: Cream | Quantity: 8 fl. oz. | Price per fl. oz. $2.87 | Notable ingredients: Aloe, Sunflower seed oil, shea butter, orange peel oil, jojoba seed oil, calendula oil, raspberry seed oil, vanilla fruit extract

If you’re battling dry skin during pregnancy (a common but uncomfortable symptom), a serum may be a good choice, as this type of stretch mark product tends to absorb into the skin more deeply than a cream or oil. Our tester Olivia, who has dry, itchy skin, loved the 8 Sheep Organics True Belly Serum, our Best of The Bump winner for best stretch mark product for dry skin. “It felt soothing instantly and soaked right into my dry skin,” she says.

The ingredients are clean and simple, including centella and hyaluronic acid, both of which are recommended for preventing stretch marks by the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD). Plus, according to Cleveland Clinic, centella “does a great job keeping skin hydrated” and helps your skin barrier retain moisture, making it a perfect option for treating dry skin. The same goes for hyaluronic acid, which can help improve your skin’s elasticity and is particularly good for targeting dryness. This serum “felt very hydrating, moisturizing and calming on my belly,” Olivia confirms. “It rubs right in, isn't sticky and doesn't leave any residue.”

It comes in a modern, sleek bottle and is dispensed with a dropper, which is easy to use. Olivia says she usually needed two full droppers to cover her belly, though she contends that a single bottle would last well past nine months, and she plans to continue using the serum postpartum.

Product type: Serum | Quantity: 4 fl. oz. | Price per fl. oz. $11.75 | Notable ingredients: Centella, hyaluronic acid, avocado oil, vitamin E

Nearly half of our survey respondents said price was important when choosing a stretch mark product. Unfortunately, belly oils aren’t known for their affordability. But Palmer’s delivers with its Cocoa Butter Skin Therapy Oil. This spray-on oil is budget-friendly without sacrificing quality. Created by the same company as the well-loved stretch mark lotion, Palmer’s Cocoa Butter Skin Therapy Oil is our Best of The Bump winner for best budget-friendly stretch mark oil two years running. The lightweight belly oil is stacked with antioxidant-rich and deeply-hydrating ingredients like vitamin E, argan oil and cocoa butter. Together, they work to soften skin, improve the appearance of stretch marks and stimulate cell rejuvenation. With all of those positives, you may expect this option to come at a high price point—but you’d be pleasantly surprised that at just over $2 per fl. oz., it’s by far the most affordable oil on our list.

Juanita, our product tester, was thoroughly impressed with Palmer’s oil. She gave it a 10 out of 10 for effectiveness. The moisturizing and skin-smoothing perks were a fast favorite: “My skin felt good,” she reports. “It helped with the dry areas on my belly. It really keeps [skin] smooth for a long time.” Survey respondent Shawna agrees, saying that the spray-on oil “leaves my skin smooth and glowing.”

A big point in this oil’s favor is that it’s quick-drying. Many oils are, well, oily and can take a while to soak in, causing potential staining or greasiness. The spray nozzle limits the amount of product dispensed, which Juanita was a fan of, rating it a 10 out of 10 for ease of use. Survey respondent Ashley also loved how quickly this oil goes to work, noting, “I loved how easy this melted into my skin.”

Another aspect to consider is the belly oil’s scent, which is similar to Palmer’s pregnancy stretch mark cream. Juanita praises its “soothing, calm scent.” However, it’s worth noting that this may not be the best choice for moms-to-be who prefer fragrance-free formulas. Still, Juanita says she would recommend this product to other expectant mamas, just as it was recommended to her. “My sister-in-law used it all through her pregnancy and even after,” she says. “It’s helped her a lot!”

Product type: Belly oil | Quantity: 5.1 fl. oz. | Price per fl. oz. $2.16 | Notable ingredients: Canola oil, sesame oil, vitamin E, argan oil, cocoa butter

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Bio-Oil Skincare Oil has been a cult favorite in the skin care world for years, and it’s held a Best of The Bump award as the best belly oil for fading stretch marks for two years running. The formula was developed by a chemist to supplement skin’s natural oil production to soothe itchy skin and improve the appearance of stretch marks over time. As a result, it’s a great option for expectant moms hoping to fade existing scar tissue while preventing more from forming.

Bio-Oil’s clinical studies found that the product improves the appearance of stretch marks. After two weeks, 95 percent of test subjects showed improvement, and after eight weeks, that percentage jumped to 100 percent. Engelman can also speak to the products’ success: “I personally used it throughout both of my pregnancies and found it to be a lifesaver when I was in need of deep moisturization and minimizing the appearance of stretch marks,” she says.

Ivy, our product tester, also praises Bio-Oil’s performance, awarding it a 10 out of 10 for effectiveness. “I applied this at night and noticed that my skin was noticeably smoother and softer in the morning,” she gushes. It also relieved itchiness. “I even tried using it as a spot treatment on itchy spots and it helped reduce itching in those areas immediately,” she shares. Nina*, an expectant mom who responded to our survey, agrees that it was effective in soothing skin and reducing scar tissue. “I like the way it feels, and it has helped reduce the color of my stretch marks,” she tells us.

Due to its thin consistency, Bio-Oil takes a little effort to sink into the skin, and a little goes a long way. Ivy tells us that she rubs it in at night for this reason, but apart from that, she found application easy. Ivy particularly liked the user-friendly bottle, which dispenses the right amount of oil without making a mess. Maria, who completed our survey, also praises Bio-Oil for its lightweight feel and how easy it is to rub in, a feature many of our survey-takers raved about. “It doesn’t stain your clothing,” she tells us.

Bio-Oil is made from nourishing plant oils, which “provide essential moisture to the skin barrier and also support skin elasticity,” explains Engelman. Because it contains rosemary oil and retinyl palmitate (a vitamin A derivative), there’s some discussion in online forums about whether this oil is pregnancy-safe. Engelman reassures expectant moms that it is. “Bio-Oil has been evaluated by qualified toxicologists and is deemed safe for pregnant and lactating women,” she states. Moreover, she explains that the very low concentrations of these ingredients in Bio-Oil should not be cause for concern. In fact, “there is no scientific evidence to prove any negative effects of retinyl palmitate in Bio-Oil during pregnancy,” she says. While Engelman strongly recommends that pregnant women avoid products with moderate to high amounts of rosemary oil, Bio-Oil doesn’t fall into this category. That said, if you’re concerned with the ingredients, the brand offers a “natural” option made without vitamin A.

If you have any reservations, Engelman suggests performing a patch test on your arm before using the oil on a large or sensitive area of skin. And of course, you can also use it post-pregnancy, as Ivy notes. “I will enjoy using this the rest of my pregnancy for sure and will find other ways to use it once my pregnancy is over,” she raves.

Product type: Oil | Quantity: 4.2 fl. oz. | Price per fl. oz. $5.47 | Notable ingredients: Mineral oil, vitamin E, vitamin A palmitate, calendula, jojoba oil

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