12 Best Stretch Mark Creams for Pregnancy, According to Dermatologists and Moms

I’m currently on bed rest at the hospital for the last four weeks of my pregnancy, and more than one expectant mama on the ward is using this butter. This is a favorite of Azadeh Shirazi, MD, a board-certified dermatologist, for treating stretching skin too. “I really love this all-natural balm formulated with a combination of beneficial butters, oils, and antioxidants like vitamin E,” she says.

Sophia Richie recently posted a TikTok about the physician-formulated product, says Dr. Shirazi, which prompted several of her patients to inquire about it. She recommends the product because it’s safe both during pregnancy and while breastfeeding. “I have my patients massage with Bump Butter nightly,” she says.

One such patient is Lilly Ghalichi Mir. “I used Bump Butter daily on my stomach, chest, butt, hips, and thighs, and despite gaining over 50 pounds during each pregnancy, I didn’t get a single new stretch mark,” she says. “It also helped reduce the appearance of my old stretch marks and improved my skin quality. Two years after my last birth, I still use Bump Butter daily to maintain my skin elasticity and help keep it soft, shiny, and youthful.”

As Dr. Shirazi notes, Bump Butter is made from all-natural ingredients, including moisturizing, fatty, acid-rich shea, mango, and cocoa butters; and sunflower, coconut, and argan oils, which help with elasticity and contain vitamins A, C, D, and E, plus omega-6 and omega-9.

Key ingredients: Shea butter, mango butter, cocoa butter, sunflower oil, coconut oil, and argan oil

• What we love: All-natural; physician-formulated; derm-approved; ultra hydrating
• What could improve: Divisive scent; some consider it greasy

The French are known for their superlative skin-care products, and this stretch mark cream from Mustela is no exception. It’s a dermatologist favorite, and Dr. King recommends it for its preventative benefits. The EWG-verified product’s ingredient list is 96% plant-based and includes shea butter and sunflower seed oil, which Dr. King says help moisturize and support the skin barrier and improve elasticity. It also includes avocado peptides, which are known to promote hydration and elasticity, as well as antioxidant-rich passionflower fruit extract, which has moisturizing and soothing properties. Witch hazel extract is included for its anti-inflammatory benefits as well. Another positive of this product is that the texture is lightweight and absorbent, so it won’t leave a greasy mess on your clothes. It’s also fragrance-free for those who can’t stomach scents during pregnancy.

Key ingredients: Shea butter, sunflower seed oil, avocado peptides, witch hazel extract, passionflower fruit extract

• What we love: EWG-verified; fragrance-free; lightweight and absorbent
• What could improve: Tube may not last for entire pregnancy

Multiple dermatologists—including Dr. King and board-certified dermatologist Mona Gohara, MD—recommend this product from beloved drugstore brand Burt’s Bees. It’s made from 99% naturally derived ingredients. “Burt’s Bees Mama Belly Butter is a great option that contains shea butter, coconut oil, cocoa butter, and jojoba butter to hydrate and moisturize the skin, as well as sweet almond oil and sunflower seed oil, which are rich in fatty acids and antioxidants to support and protect the skin,” says Dr. King. “These ingredients keep the skin soft and supple so it can stretch more easily.” And it’s free of the types of ingredients you don’t want to see, during pregnancy or otherwise, including parabens, phthalates, and petrolatum.

This budget-friendly butter has an appropriately rich and creamy texture but is still readily absorbed into the skin. As such, a little goes a long way, which means the tub should last throughout your pregnancy and even beyond. It’s fragrance-free, too, although not all users love its nonsmell smell.

One of the most buzzed about benefits of this product is its ability to calm the itching that often accompanies stretching skin. This effect is likely due to its soothing blend of natural butters and oils. Ultimately, says Dr. Gohara, “it hydrates the skin to give it a glow, minimizing the appearance of stretch marks.”

Key ingredients: Shea butter, cocoa butter, jojoba butter, coconut oil, almond oil, sunflower seed oil

• What we love: Easy to grab at any drugstore; 99% natural; provides itch relief
• What could improve: Unscented “scent” may not be for everyone and may give this butter a less luxurious feel than other butters

Pregnancy—with its nausea, restless-leg syndrome, acid reflux, and other assorted “joys”—is anything but luxurious, which is why you might want to spoil yourself with this ultraluxe body butter from Mutha. It was created specifically to meet the need it serves; while pregnant, the company’s founder, Hope Dworazczyk Smith, became determined to find a better option for preventing and treating stretch marks. This butter was the end result of her efforts.

The product is 100% made from ingredients that actually occur in nature and not only hydrate and moisturize the skin, but also nourish it with antioxidants, fatty acids, and vitamins A and E. “This formula is very rich thanks to a blend of plant butters and oils like shea, cocoa, and mango butter; and coconut, rose hip, and avocado oils,” says board-certified dermatologist Geeta Yadav, MD. “It melts on contact with your skin and feels very luxurious.” It’s also hypoallergenic, which means it won’t irritate sensitive skin and can be used all over your body during and after pregnancy. To that end, a little goes a long way; one tub should last throughout your entire pregnancy, if not beyond.

Key Ingredients: Shea, cocoa, and mango butters; coconut oil; aloe vera

• What we love: Luxurious whipped texture; clean, efficacious ingredients; chic packaging
• What could improve: price point is higher than other treatments

This may be the trendiest product on the list; everyone from Gwyneth Paltrow to Khloé Kardashian has gone public with their love for this belly oil, which comes from the equally buzzy and beloved maternity brand Hatch. Just a few years back, it had a 1,000-person wait list. Fortunately, you can now order it on Amazon—and just about everywhere else you look.

“This all-natural botanical blend was actually the first gift I received when I got pregnant; my best friend swore by it and wanted to make sure I would have it on hand as my belly grew,” says Glamour contributor Erin Bunch. It features luxe hydrating oils such as sweet almond oil, grapefruit oil, argan oil, and olive oil, as well as soothing calendula.

“I have to admit to failing to use it right away, but I have been slathering it on since my belly began to noticeably expand, and with increasing frequency as I near the end of my third trimester. The end-of-term stretching has led to insanity-inducing incessant itching, which I treat by liberally applying this oil multiple times a day. It not only hydrates the area to (hopefully!) stave off stretch marks from all this expedited growth, but it also soothes the itching.”

In terms of the smell and application, “I don’t find that it has any scent at all, and the brand describes it as being fragrance-free. It absorbs well and isn’t greasy or sticky; it simply feels like any of the all-natural oils included in it would feel if you were to rub them on your body, which I find reassuring. For me, the dropper application doesn’t offer any advantages over a squeeze top; either way, things can get messy with oils the rounder your belly gets, which means strategic application is key,” says Bunch.

Another pro tip: “I didn’t begin using mine in earnest until the third trimester, and I’ve already made it to the bottom of the bottle—so for those who start early, it may not last the entire pregnancy,” says Bunch.

Key Ingredients: Sweet almond oil, grapefruit oil, calendula

• What we love: clean ingredients; soothes itching; hydrates; dries fast
• What could improve: may not last for entire pregnancy

Mederma is the go-to brand for scar support, so it’s no surprise their stretch mark cream is widely touted. While it can certainly be used as a preventative measure during pregnancy, it’s also a great one to grab for stretch mark treatment after scars have settled in post-pregnancy.

According to Dr. King, Mederma’s cream is effective in reducing scars due to its inclusion of an ingredient called centella asiatica, or cica, an antioxidant-rich herb long-used in traditional Chinese and Ayurvedic medicine. “Studies have shown that cica extract is an effective wound-healing agent that has also been documented to be effective in the treatment of stretch marks,” she says. In further service of its scar-reducing goals, this Mederma product also includes cepalin, a proprietary onion extract, which may also help prevent and treat scars.

This cream is also great for hydrating and soothing skin, in part because cica has anti-inflammatory and moisturizing properties, says Dr. King. “A 2016 study showed that cica significantly improves skin’s hydration and reduces moisture loss,” she says. Additionally, it increases collagen production, which can help improve skin firmness over time. And on the moisture front, this product additionally includes the hydration hero ingredient hyaluronic acid, as well as dimethicone, an emollient commonly used in skin-care products that soothes, softens, and moisturizes skin.

The only downside of Mederma’s stretch mark cream is that some users complain about the medicinal scent—when compared to many of the other products on the list.

Key ingredients: Centella asiatica, dimethicone, hyaluronic acid, cepalin

• What we love: Science-backed ingredients; derm-approved; trusted brand
• What could improve: Scent

_{Original image by Glamour special projects and commerce writer Andrea Navarro}

This relatively new balm from Dezi Skin was created by makeup artist and beauty influencer Desi Perkins. As a founder, she was inspired by her Mexican roots, so the “Dezi Youth Juice” is made from an all-natural blend of Mexican plum fruit, dragon fruit, acai berry, tamarind, mango, soursop, guava, and avocado extracts rich in antioxidants, alongside other natural ingredients included for their moisturizing and soothing properties.

“This rich and hydrating belly butter balm is a dream come true for my skin. It’s formulated without water, so it locks in moisture for hours, which is exactly what I need,” says Glamour special projects and commerce writer Andrea Navarro, who just entered her second trimester. “The balm contains aloe to calm any itchiness, along with a blend of cocoa butter, shea butter, mango seed butter, and coconut oil to maximize moisture.”

Navarro says the balm feels both luxurious and comforting, with a texture that is rich but not greasy. “I’ve noticed that it smooths and softens my bump, and I love knowing it will also soothe dry, stretched skin post-birth,” she says.

Like all Dezi Skin products, this balm is fragrance-free, vegan, and cruelty-free. It’s recommended for use twice daily during pregnancy and at least once daily postpartum. “This belly butter has become an essential part of my pregnancy routine, and I highly recommend it to anyone looking for a nourishing and effective product,” she says.

Key ingredients: Cocoa butter, shea butter, mango seed butter, coconut oil, aloe butter

• What we love: luxurious feel; helps relieve itching; ultra hydrating
• What could improve: some users say it goes fast and can be expensive to replace

One of Dr. Zeichner’s favorite treatments for stretch marks isn’t a stretch mark cream at all; instead, it’s this multipurpose product from Lanolips. “This petroleum-free cream contains purified lanolin to soften and protect the skin, helping it function optimally,” he says. “Lanolin is the same ingredient found in sheepswool to give it its waterproof quality. It does the same job on the skin, keeping hydration in and preventing water from leaking out.”

The proprietary lanolin from the brand is described as being three times purer than medical-grade lanolin. In addition to lanolin—which is humanely sourced from Australian farmers—this product also contains other naturally moisturizing ingredients, including sweet almond oil and shea butter. In sum, it’s 98.8% natural and has been designated by dermatologists as safe for sensitive skin. The texture is thick, so a little goes a long way; however, a single tube may not last from day one of pregnancy to delivery. And although it’s fragrance-free, it’s not without a lanolin-forward scent, which could be described as “earthy.”

Key ingredients: Lanolin, shea butter, sweet almond oil

• What we love: Majority natural ingredients; unique hero moisturizing ingredient
• What can improve: Tube is a bit small for daily use throughout pregnancy

It’s no surprise that one of our top picks comes from Summer Fridays, the cult-beloved beauty brand making products so good they can’t help but go viral. This pregnancy-specific balm was dreamed up by cofounder Lauren Ireland when she was expecting and found herself in search of a clean and effective balm to soothe her itchy, stretching stomach. Its relatively minimal ingredient list combines moisturizing, fatty-acid-rich sunflower seed and avocado oils with soothing calendula oil to hydrate and calm pregnant bellies, and the product’s vitamin E component is credited with helping heal ruptured skin and promoting elasticity.

“I went through several tubes of it during my pregnancy,” says mother-of-two Jamie Han. “My skin would drink this up and it never felt too greasy. A lot of balms and oils I used previously would leave stains on my clothes but this one never did.” According to some users, it has an almost Vaseline-like quality that transforms into an oil upon application.

Han says she didn’t feel as though the product was scented, though it does have a light fragrance from the calendula oil. “I would recommend or gift this product to any expecting mom,” she says.

Key ingredients: Sunflower seed oil, avocado oil, calendula oil

• What we love: Fast-absorbing; nongreasy
• What can improve: Some customers report issues with leaky packaging

This non-stretch-mark-specific butter includes all the right ingredients for stretch mark prevention and treatment, including moisturizing butters and oils like shea butter, safflower seed oil, and jojoba oil. Additionally, it includes four different essential oils, two of which—lavender and frankincense—are specifically touted for their skin-and-scar-healing properties.

“One of my favorite ways to unwind and connect with my baby while pregnant was to lather my belly with my favorite body butter to moisturize my belly and to feel the baby move under my fingertips,” says expecting mother Sarah Cagle. “It deeply nourished my skin with its buttery texture.”

Cagle also cites the butter’s soothing natural fragrance as a reason she got hooked, especially during the roller coaster that is pregnancy. “The scent combination of helichrysum and frankincense was truly serene,” she says.

Key ingredients: Shea butter, safflower seed oil, jojoba oil, frankincense essential oil, lavender essential oil

• What we love: Long-lasting moisture; plant-based; fresh scent
• What can improve: On the pricier side