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| 17 week bump. |
So you may have noticed that things have been a bit quiet on The Beauty Scriptures recently. Don’t worry, I’ve not given up on this blogging business just yet. I am in fact, having a baby.
Previously my response to that would have been, “And what? You’re pregnant, not ill!” Alas, I fear my aforementioned lack of sympathy for pregnant women has karma coming back round to bite me on my (ever expanding) ass because, truthfully, I’m finding things pretty tough. Nothing could have prepared me for how so ridiculously exhausting this pregnancy malarky is. I’m just so tired. All. The. Bloody. Time.
And no, I don’t want to hear that “it’s only downhill from here” or “if you think it’s bad now, just wait until the little’un is born”. Nope, that’s not helpful. All I want to do is sleep. Zzzzzzzz.
Anyway, back to the matter in hand. My ever-changing body has opened my eyes to a new world of products that claim to soothe my aching limbs, give me a bit of a boost or prevent stretch marks. It’s the latter which I’m most interested in so I’ve been slathering on a whole host of lotions and potions ever since I found out I was expecting. Some are specifically designed for the job, others are standard body lotions and oils.
But here’s the thing about stretch marks: You’re either predisposed to developing them or not, and no product can really penetrate the epidermis far enough down to actually make a difference. This is where brand marketing and science don’t exactly match up. Having said that, the more natural a product is, the more likely it is to be effective at nourishing the top epidermal layers, so may help reduce light stretch marks. Nut and plant oils (virgin coconut, almond, argan etc) are best because their molecules are easily absorbed into the skin. On that note, I’m always skeptical of scientific-sounding unpronounceable ingredients, but even more so now that I have a human growing inside me - I’d quite like to know what I’m putting onto my body, thanks very much.
Whilst I know the facts and am aware of the limited ability of topical products to make a difference to stretch marks, it makes me feel better to look after myself during this massive period of change that my body is going through. I massage the lotion or oil into my boobs, stomach, bum and thighs after my evening shower, before applying any surplus on the rest of my body. Then I go to bed. At about 8.30pm...
Interestingly, of the products I’ve tried so far, I’ve least enjoyed using the specialist stretch-mark products from a couple of trusted brands. Let’s start with the Champneys Blissful Bump Moisturising Duo (£15.00). This set contains an oil and a body lotion. There are some nice, natural ingredients in there like coconut oil and shea butter, but a whole load of other things which I can’t pronounce too. The oil is a lovely texture and the body lotion is rich and creamy, but man, this stuff STINKS. I’m not the first mum-to-be to experience a heightened sense of smell - it’s a common side-effect of pregnancy - so I’m surprised that they’ve gone for something so potent. I think it’s supposed to be a floral scent, but all I can smell is sourness. You know when vinegary salad has been lingering in the fridge a bit too long? That. Not for me I’m afraid. I’ve given the set to a pregnant friend whose nose is less sensitive.
Next up is the Weleda Stretch Mark Massage Oil (£15.95, not pictured). It’s an award winning, all-natural product with sweet almond oil as the base and lots of other skin-loving essential oils in there too. I’m finding I need to use a hefty glug to get good slip across the body and it’s left me thinking that you could easily get through a few bottles during a full-term pregnancy which would work out quite costly. Skin does feel well nourished and moisturised after each use though. However, once again I just can’t get on with the scent. I can see where they’re going with it - it’s really natural, almost botanical - but it’s WAY too strong for me. I’ll finish the bottle (on days when I don’t feel too queasy), but I wouldn’t re-purchase it.
The ones I have been enjoying using are the Body Shop Coconut Beautifying Oil (£9.00) and the Ragdale Hall Fresh Blossom Dry Body Oil (£8.50). Only a small amount is needed to get good moisturisation and they sink in quickly. Thankfully, the scents are light and fresh - the Body Shop offering unsurprisingly smells of tropical coconut and the Ragdale Hall one has a delicate floral scent. The list of unpronounceable ingredients in the Fresh Blossom Dry Body Oil does concern me slightly though.
The latest addition to my stretch-mark-busting armour is the Palmers Cocoa Butter Massage Lotion for Stretch Marks (£3.15). This one is pleasant to use and I like the sweet, familiar scent. It’s by far the cheapest of the bunch too. Again though, there’s a lot of unpronounceables in there and it contains a high level of mineral oil. Mineral oil is not, as the name would suggest, a natural oil at all. It’s a by-product of the petroleum industry and is used to make things like Vaseline. It’s also loved by beauty brands because it’s a cheap way to bulk out their products. Mineral oil (or petroleum) creates a barrier on the skin, but it can’t be actually be absorbed into the epidermis. As a result, skin may feel soft to the touch, but don't expect miracles on the stretch-mark-banishing front.
Apologies for the essay here, but I had more to say than I'd anticipated about the products I've tried up to the four month point in my pregnancy! Are there any others I've missed that I should give a go?
Previously my response to that would have been, “And what? You’re pregnant, not ill!” Alas, I fear my aforementioned lack of sympathy for pregnant women has karma coming back round to bite me on my (ever expanding) ass because, truthfully, I’m finding things pretty tough. Nothing could have prepared me for how so ridiculously exhausting this pregnancy malarky is. I’m just so tired. All. The. Bloody. Time.
And no, I don’t want to hear that “it’s only downhill from here” or “if you think it’s bad now, just wait until the little’un is born”. Nope, that’s not helpful. All I want to do is sleep. Zzzzzzzz.
Anyway, back to the matter in hand. My ever-changing body has opened my eyes to a new world of products that claim to soothe my aching limbs, give me a bit of a boost or prevent stretch marks. It’s the latter which I’m most interested in so I’ve been slathering on a whole host of lotions and potions ever since I found out I was expecting. Some are specifically designed for the job, others are standard body lotions and oils.
But here’s the thing about stretch marks: You’re either predisposed to developing them or not, and no product can really penetrate the epidermis far enough down to actually make a difference. This is where brand marketing and science don’t exactly match up. Having said that, the more natural a product is, the more likely it is to be effective at nourishing the top epidermal layers, so may help reduce light stretch marks. Nut and plant oils (virgin coconut, almond, argan etc) are best because their molecules are easily absorbed into the skin. On that note, I’m always skeptical of scientific-sounding unpronounceable ingredients, but even more so now that I have a human growing inside me - I’d quite like to know what I’m putting onto my body, thanks very much.
Whilst I know the facts and am aware of the limited ability of topical products to make a difference to stretch marks, it makes me feel better to look after myself during this massive period of change that my body is going through. I massage the lotion or oil into my boobs, stomach, bum and thighs after my evening shower, before applying any surplus on the rest of my body. Then I go to bed. At about 8.30pm...
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| Lotions and potions. |
Next up is the Weleda Stretch Mark Massage Oil (£15.95, not pictured). It’s an award winning, all-natural product with sweet almond oil as the base and lots of other skin-loving essential oils in there too. I’m finding I need to use a hefty glug to get good slip across the body and it’s left me thinking that you could easily get through a few bottles during a full-term pregnancy which would work out quite costly. Skin does feel well nourished and moisturised after each use though. However, once again I just can’t get on with the scent. I can see where they’re going with it - it’s really natural, almost botanical - but it’s WAY too strong for me. I’ll finish the bottle (on days when I don’t feel too queasy), but I wouldn’t re-purchase it.
The ones I have been enjoying using are the Body Shop Coconut Beautifying Oil (£9.00) and the Ragdale Hall Fresh Blossom Dry Body Oil (£8.50). Only a small amount is needed to get good moisturisation and they sink in quickly. Thankfully, the scents are light and fresh - the Body Shop offering unsurprisingly smells of tropical coconut and the Ragdale Hall one has a delicate floral scent. The list of unpronounceable ingredients in the Fresh Blossom Dry Body Oil does concern me slightly though.
The latest addition to my stretch-mark-busting armour is the Palmers Cocoa Butter Massage Lotion for Stretch Marks (£3.15). This one is pleasant to use and I like the sweet, familiar scent. It’s by far the cheapest of the bunch too. Again though, there’s a lot of unpronounceables in there and it contains a high level of mineral oil. Mineral oil is not, as the name would suggest, a natural oil at all. It’s a by-product of the petroleum industry and is used to make things like Vaseline. It’s also loved by beauty brands because it’s a cheap way to bulk out their products. Mineral oil (or petroleum) creates a barrier on the skin, but it can’t be actually be absorbed into the epidermis. As a result, skin may feel soft to the touch, but don't expect miracles on the stretch-mark-banishing front.
Apologies for the essay here, but I had more to say than I'd anticipated about the products I've tried up to the four month point in my pregnancy! Are there any others I've missed that I should give a go?
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