12 Best Cream for Stretch Marks on Inner Thighs and Legs after Pregnancy in 2024

What Are Stretch Marks?

Stretch marks are indented streaks or colored lines on your skin. They’re common during pregnancy due to skin that expands and stretches, as well as a result of weight gain and loss.

Let’s make one thing super clear: Stretch marks are extremely common and completely natural.However, it’s also totally okay if you have a strong desire to prevent them. There are plenty of stretch mark creams available that work to keep them at bay as your body changes throughout your pregnancy.

Why Use a Preventative Stretch Mark Cream? 

• During pregnancy, stretch marks can develop on your breasts, belly, hips, butt, and thighs.The truth is, while there’s not a ton of research on the effectiveness of topical treatments, it’s easier to prevent stretch marks than to minimize them once they’re fully formed.

• You can start to apply a stretch mark cream as a preventative measure — for best results, start as soon as you find out you’re pregnant and continue after you give birth.

• Using a stretch mark cream may not prevent or eliminate stretch marks entirely, but it might help to make them less pronounced and noticeable by improving skin elasticity and smoothing your skin.

• Plus, using a stretch mark cream can be a fantastic way for you to get in touch with your body and give yourself some TLC throughout your pregnancy.Try incorporating stretch mark cream application into an indulgent self-care routine, which may include self-massage, exfoliation, or a good old-fashioned bubble bath.

How Do Stretch Mark Creams Work?

Stretch mark creams work in two different ways:

• Prevention of Stretch Marks

By keeping your skin nourished and moisturized, you may be able to prevent the formation of stretch marks altogether. A pregnancy-approved stretch mark cream may be applied regularly to your bump to help reduce your chances of developing stretch marks.

• Reduce the Appearance of Stretch Marks

Once stretch marks have formed, it’s impossible to eradicate them completely. At this point, it’s necessary to focus on reducing their visibility, and that is typically done by using creams rich in Vitamins A and E.

What to Look For in a Stretch Mark Cream?

Decide if you want a cream that is scented or fragrance-free. Scan the ingredients list for potential irritants, especially if you have allergies or sensitivities. And while pregnant and breastfeeding, avoid products that contain retinoids.

Choose a product (or investigate creating your own!) that contains ingredients such as:

• nut butter (such as cocoa, shea, or jojoba)

• vitamins A and E

• hyaluronic acid

• coconut, argan, or rosehip oil

• aloe vera

• peptides

What are the Best Stretch Mark Cream?

1.Bio-Oil Skincare Oil

Price & Where to Buy: $12.49 + up to 6% cashback @ Walgreens 

Bio-Oil is one of the most dermatologist-recommended holy grail skin products for use as a stretch mark preventative and treatment for existing scars. With ingredients such as vitamin E, chamomile, rosemary, and lavender extracts, it relieves inflammation and redness, which helps to minimize the appearance of skin discoloration and stretch marks.
Despite “oil” in its name, Bio-Oil is a non-greasy formula with a fresh, floral scent. Users say it makes their skin smooth, hydrated, and radiant. And beyond stretch marks, you can also use Bio-Oil to heal skin concerns such as scars, acne, and blemishes.

Pros

• Smoothes & tones scars, stretch marks

• Light & non-greasy, easily absorbed

• Suitable for sensitive skin

Cons

• It may not be very effective on older scars.

• You need to get used to using an oil.

• It is not specifically formulated for pregnancy.

How To Use

1. Apply a few drops of Bio-Oil to your fingers or directly to the skin.

2. Massage into the skin for 30 or more seconds until the oil has absorbed.

3. Apply two times daily for three or more months for best results!

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2.Earth Mama Belly Butter for Itchy Pregnancy Stretch Marks

Price & Where to Buy: $16.36 + up to 4% cashback @ Walmart

Earth Mama Belly Butter is a rich pregnancy lotion containing organic herbs and oils traditionally used to help encourage skin's natural elasticity, and ease the appearance of emerging stretch marks. The lotion’s thick, luxurious yet lightweight texture absorbs quickly, leaving the skin feeling soft, smooth and hydrated. And with a delicate scent, Belly Butter won’t aggravate occasional morning sickness.

NO petroleum, mineral oil, parabens, or artificial fragrance.Not just for pregnant bellies — works on all skin and all ages.

Pros

• It contains organic ingredients.

• It is safe for use during pregnancy.

• It does not contain artificial fragrances.

Cons

• It is thick so it may feel greasy.

• It is more effective at preventing rather than healing stretch marks.

• It has a light scent.

How To Use

Massage liberally onto expanding hips, bellies and breasts. Slather generously on dry skin.

3.Mederma Stretch Marks Therapy Cream

Price & Where to Buy: $43.29 + up to 6% cashback @ Walgreens 

You can't start a journey until you take the first step. Let Mederma Stretch Marks Therapy show you that you can do something about your stretch marks, and they don't have to keep the real you from shining through.Mederma Stretch Marks Therapy locks moisture in to help prevent stretch marks.* And it may be used during pregnancy, beginning in the second trimester, and while breastfeeding-so it's perfect for moms.

Mederma Stretch Marks Therapy is a nourishing cream formula that combines a unique blend of ingredients:

Cepalin, a proprietary botanical extract

Hyaluronic acid

Centella asiatica plant extract

Pros

• Helps reduce appearance of stretch marks

• Smoothes texture of stretch marks

• Produces improvement in 4 weeks

Cons

• It’s expensive.

• It can take a minute to fully rub in.

How To Use

1. Mederma Stretch Marks Therapy should be evenly applied and gently massaged in a circular motion on all areas of the body where you have stretch marks. 

2. Apply 2 times a day, morning and evening. Results can be seen in as soon as 4 weeks, with optimal results in12 weeks.

4.Burt’s Bees Mama Bee Belly Butter

Price & Where to Buy: $43.29 + up to 5% cashback @ Burt's Bees Baby

This unscented drugstore find from Burt’s Bees is great for moisturizing your skin both during and after your pregnancy. It’s formulated using 99 percent natural ingredients and is free of phthalates, parabens, petrolatum, and sodium lauryl sulphate (SLS).
In addition to moisturizing ingredients like cocoa, shea, and jojoba butter, this cream also contains sweet almond, sunflower, and coconut oil, which makes it ideal for soothing sensitive skin.This cream helps to nourish stretched skin and prevent stretch marks from forming, and that its creamy consistency is absorbed easily so you won’t feel greasy or sticky after application.

Pros

• It contains Vitamin E.

• It is made with natural ingredients.

• It is safe for sensitive skin.

Cons

• It may not work on exceptionally dry skin.

• Its natural scent may not be pleasing to everyone.

• It does not contain as many vitamins and nutrients as other products.

How To Use

Apply butter and massage on your belly as it grows to keep skin supple. Wipe off breasts before nursing.

5.Mustela Stretch Marks Prevention Cream

Price & Where to Buy: $46 + no cashback @ Amazon

Mustela’s Stretch Marks Cream is a velvety yet hard-working cream specifically formulated to deliver hydration, which helps prevent the appearance of stretch marks during pregnancy.The cream nourishes and moisturizes skin, leaving it comfortable, smooth, and intensely moisturized while soothing sensations of tightness and discomfort.

Pregnant women rave about the preventative benefits of this cream. At work are avocado peptides, which reinforce skin elasticity, and galactoarabinan (say that five times fast), a patented ingredient that helps skin withstand stretching. In a study of 26 women who used this throughout their pregnancy, a whopping 96% didn’t develop any stretch marks at all.

Pros

•  Compatible with breastfeeding when following proper skin care hygiene

•  Paraben-free

•  Phenoxyethanol-free

• Hypoallergenic: Specially formulated to minimize the risk of allergic reactions

Cons

• A little expensive
  

How To Use

1. Starting from the first month of pregnancy and continuing after birth, apply this cream to abdomen, hips, thighs and breasts, morning and evening. 

2. Do not apply to recent cesarean scars. Allows you to get dressed quickly.

6.Palmer’s Cocoa Butter Formula Massage Lotion for Stretch Marks

Price & Where to Buy: $6.47 + up to 4% cashback @ Walmart

Palmer's Cocoa Butter Formula Stretch Mark Massage Lotion helps to visibly improve skin elasticity and reduce the appearance of stretch marks. Pure Cocoa Butter and Shea Butter, Natural Oils, Collagen, Elastin, and Lutein keep skin moisturized and supple for 48 hours allowing skin to stretch more easily. Widely recommended for use on stretch marks during and after pregnancy, or weight fluctuation associated with dieting or body building, this non-greasy body lotion is ideal for all over body use, in place of your regular moisturizer.  For best results, use with Palmer's Stretch Marks Cream and Palmer's Tummy Butter Balm.

This product is ideal for use during pregnancy to prevent the emergence of stretch marks. It also contains collagen and elastin, which help improve skin elasticity, so stretch marks don’t make an appearance in the first place.

Pros

• Dermatologist tested.

• You get two in a pack.

• It provides hydration for 48 hours.

Cons

• It has a strong scent.

• It is best as a preventative product.

• It is very thick.

How To Use

1. Apply all over skin, concentrating on stretch mark prone areas such as tummy, hips, thighs and bust.

2. Massage liberally into skin twice daily.

7.Glow Organics Belly Butter

Price & Where to Buy: $32.21 + up to 4% cashback @ Walmart

Skip the chemicals and artificial fragrances, this Organic Belly Butter is the safe solution you've been looking for! This all organic Belly Butter is an amazing skin conditioning treatment to help promote skin elasticity during pregnancy and beyond. It also aids in the prevention of stretch marks and relieves the itch of stretching skin. Our Pure line is unscented to help moms who are extremely sensitive to smells.Organic, vegan, gluten & cruelty free. 

Fans of this butter say it locks in moisture and soothes dry, itchy skin. They also warn that, due to its thick, buttery consistency, you need to use the heat of your hands to melt it before applying it to your skin.

Pros

• It is 100 percent organic.

• It is made in the U.S.

• It is unscented.

Cons

• It is hard — not a smooth cream.
  

• The natural scent may not be pleasing to some.

• Contains no ingredients to heal existing stretch marks.

How To Use

Rub onto stretching skin every morning & night. Massage onto belly, breasts & hips often to condition and promote elasticity. Let the natural ingredients work their magic!

8.Munchkin Milkmakers All-Natural Belly Balm

Price & Where to Buy: $15 + up to 6% cashback @ Munchkin

Milkmakers prenatal products promote healthy self-care during pregnancy. As you nurture your bump from the inside, our All-Natural Belly Balm nurtures it on the outside. Made with 100% natural ingredients like coconut oil, rose hip oil, and shea butter, this paraben-free moisturizing balm keeps skin soft, soothed, and hydrated. The hands-free application leaves no messy residue and is easy to maneuver around growing bellies. 

Plus, it’s safe to use every day, so you can nourish your skin throughout your pregnancy. Let’s put prenatal pampering back on the priority list!

Pros

• Specially developed to soothe and nourish itchy bellies

• Easy-twist design for on-the-go relief

• 100% all natural ingredients including coconut oil and shea butter to instantly soothe and nourish skin

• Cruelty-free and free from parabens and BPA

Cons

• Unpleasant smell

How To Use

Apply all over skin, concentrating on stretch mark prone areas such as tummy, hips, thighs and bust.

9.Clarins Body Partner Stretch Mark Expert

Price & Where to Buy: $62 + up to 5% cashback @ Clarins US

A gentle stretch mark cream that addresses stretch marks caused by pregnancy and weight fluctuations. This fast absorbing, plant-based formula blended with minimal ingredients chosen precisely for their highly effective properties helps target stretch marks and gently comforts the skin.

Through extensive research, the Clarins Laboratories discovered a new and exclusive PhytoStretchComplex-a powerful blend of Centella Asiatica and Organic Green Banana extracts-to promote visible skin firmness and elasticity. Soothing, Licorice-derived glycyrrhetinic acid and nourishing Hazelnut oil relieve feelings of tightness-leaving skin smooth and comfortable.

Pros

• Safely targets stretch marks

• Promotes visible skin firmness and elasticity

• Soothes and relieves feelings of tightness

• Lightweight, fast-absorbing cream

Cons

A little expensive

How To Use

Apply to thighs, hips, stomach and breasts with circular motions:

1. Bring formula to body temperature by warming it between your hands, so that your skin accepts it instantly.

2. Place hands in a triangle shape on your stomach. Move them from top to bottom and back up-without lifting them from the surface of your skin. Continue over the entire stomach and navel areas.

3. Smooth onto skin with the palm of your left hand-starting from the area nearest your underarm, and working your way to the middle of the right breast. Repeat the same movement on the left breast.

10.Mio Skincare Mama Mio The Tummy Rub Butter

Price & Where to Buy: $49 + up to 10% cashback @ Mio Skincare

Expertly formulated to nourish and soothe growing bumps, our Tummy Rub Butter is clinically proven* to increase skin elasticity and moisture, helping to protect against stretch marks. Packed full of natural plant-based actives to deliver results you can both see and feel.  

The Omega Rich Skin Stretch Complex (yes it's a mouthful!) is a unique blend of Avocado Oil, Inchi Oil and Argan Oil (rich in Omega 3, 6 and 9) to help keep your skin elastic, supple and strong for the 9 month s-t-r-e-t-c-h and beyond.

Pros

• Protects against stretch marks

• Increases skin elasticity and moisture

• Nourishes and soothes growing bumps

• Rich butter texture is quickly absorbed into skin to avoid sticky pajamas

Cons

• It has a light scent

How To Use

1. Apply twice daily, massaging from above your boobs to below your bum, all the way around.

2.  If irritation occurs stop using immediately. Not for facial use.

11.TriLASTIN  Maternity Stretch Mark Prevention Cream

Price & Where to Buy: $46 + no cashback @  TriLASTIN

This cream from TriLASTIN prevents the occurrence of stretch marks in pregnancy. The hydrating cream improves the skin’s elasticity and resilience while relieving itchiness and preventing tearing. It contains a natural blend of additives, such as antioxidants and fatty acid-rich botanicals, to keep the skin problem-free. This cream works by balancing the skin’s optimum pH to 6.0 to offer smoothness, nourishment, and protection. 

Created with all bodies in mind, TriLASTIN Maternity Cream is a nourishing blend of botanicals to support your skin before, during, and after pregnancy by providing intense hydration and vitamin-rich essentials without any greasy residue.

Pros

• Safe for mom and baby before, during, and after nursing

• Paraben-free and hypoallergenic formula

• Unscented and absorbs quickly into skin

• Sustained-release technology hydrates skin all day

• Can be used for any sensitive or cracked skin

Cons

• Leaves residue

How To Use

1. Apply twice daily, paying special attention to belly, hips, thighs and breasts. Safe for use during pregnancy and nursing.

2.  For best results, we recommend using this product consistently for 90 days.

12.Body Boost Stretch Mark Butter

Price & Where to Buy:  From $14.99 + no cashback @  buybuy BABY

The Stretch Mark Butter from Body Boost prevents and repairs stretch marks by relieving itching and healing the skin. The safe formula is made from natural ingredients like gotu kola to strengthen the connective tissues, improve resilience, and offer rejuvenation. It also repairs scars and heals damaged skin. 

The rosehip, jojoba, grapeseed, and borage oils in the butter stimulate collagen production to tone and repair the skin and improve its elasticity. The cream also contains shea butter, rich in vitamins E, D, and A, that supplies nutrition to the skin to strengthen it and prevent stretch marks. 

Pros

• Stretch mark prevention and repair

• Fragrance free for sensitive skin
  

• Perfect for dry, itching and aging skin

• Free of Mineral Oil, Parabens, Phthalates, Sulfates,and Colorants

• Hypoallergenic, clinically tested for zero allergy and sensitivity

Cons

• Not very moisturizing.

How To Use

Apply twice daily to clean, dry skin on stretch mark prone areas: the chest, hips, belly and backside.

How to Prevent Stretch Marks While Pregnant？

• Topical Products

Keeping your skin hydrated is the best way to keep it healthy and avoid stretch marks. There are lots of pregnancy beauty products on the market to help moisturize your skin.

• Limit Weight Gain

Unless advised by your doctor, you should never attempt to lose weight or avoid weight gain while pregnant. It is normal and healthy to gain a certain amount of weight during pregnancy. However, excessive weight gain can contribute to stretch marks.

• Stay Hydrated

Hydrated skin is healthy skin, and it may be less prone to developing stretch marks. At a minimum, drink eight cups of water each day to keep your skin properly hydrated.

• Exercise 

Exercise not only helps to keep you healthy and limit excessive weight gain during pregnancy, but it also increases blood flow. The increased circulation can improve skin elasticity and limit stretch marks. Exercise also can be a great stress-reliever, which can help limit your body’s production of cortisol. 

• Eat Certain Nutrients

If you eat certain nutrients, they help to create collagen, which increases skin elasticity and may help reduce your risk of stretch marks.

These nutrients include:

• Vitamin E.

• Vitamin C.

• Zinc.

• Silica.

• Vitamin B2, also known as Riboflavin.

• Vitamin B3, also known as Niacin.

• Protein.

• Omega-3 fatty acids.

Examples of foods that contain these nutrients are:

• Oranges.

• Avocados.

• Tomatoes.

• Legumes.

• Eggs.

• Most fruits or veggies.

How to Eliminate Stretch Marks after Pregnancy?

Once you get stretch marks, it’s not possible to get rid of them completely. Just like a scar, they will remain on your skin for life, but should fade. A lot of women think of them as their ‘tiger stripes’ it’s not easy growing and having a baby, your body will change but still be beautiful.

However, there are ways to make them less visible and reduce their prominence.Some things you can do are:

• Vitamin E: There is some evidence that creams containing Vitamin E may reduce scarring and have an effect on the visibility of stretch marks.

• Retinoids: Retinoids are a derivative of Vitamin A and are used to treat wrinkles, acne, and scarring, including scarring due to stretch marks. Retinoids are used topically, but should not be used during pregnancy. They are more appropriate to treat stretch marks after giving birth.

• Laser therapy: Laser therapy has been shown to reduce scarring. In particular, red light therapy may be most effective. This therapy is chemical-free and non-invasive and is usually done in salons or dermatological clinics.

• Wait it out: Over time, most stretch marks fade on their own so they are no longer so noticeable. They won’t completely disappear, but they may lighten in color so they’re not as prominent.

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