Babble Best: Belly Balms
Our five favorite stretch mark creams.
by Tyler and Marlene Carey
February 19, 2008
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In her pre-pregnancy life, my wife tested cosmetics for various make-me-pretty companies as a way of getting free make-up. Exploring the world of anti-stretch mark creams, ointments and goo seemed like a logical next step as we approached parenthood. Over the course of a few months, she tried nine different products on her growing belly. Our intention was to find a product that was soothing, easy to apply, absorbent, and left no major dent in our debit card. Here are five that made the cut. — Tyler Carey (with help from Marlene Carey)
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Mama Mio Tummy Rub Stretch Mark Butter - $30
for 4.25 oz
This silky cream has a fresh citrus scent and features natural ingredients like borage oil — which is often used as an anti-inflammatory, according to our good friend Wikipedia. Mama Mio Stretch Mark Cream rubs in quickly, providing moisture and relief on the skin right away. The consistency, scent and lack of stickiness of this product make it the clear winner, far surpassing almost all of the other products tested. Its price-to-volume ratio is considerable, but you're probably paying $10 an ounce for mascara, right?
Buy it from Amazon.
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Belly Basics' Belly Balm - $24 for 5.5 oz
A wide-mouthed container allows for easy access to this pudding-like, fruit-scented balm, which spreads wonderfully and provides long-lasting moisture without a greasy after-application feeling. It ran a close second Mamma Mio, and is less expensive. It's also part of a line of pregnancy gear that includes clothes, diaper bags and plenty of other products that would make a mighty fine gift basket.
Buy it from Belly Basics.
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Bug & Pickle Belly Cream - $20 for 7 oz
Of all the products we tested, this lotion-like cream had the best scent (calming lavender, a touch of frankincense). At less than $3 an ounce, it's also a great buy. And as a bonus, the packaging bears a nifty story of the company's history and silly name.
Buy it from Bug & Pickle.
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Palmer's Massage Lotion for Stretch Marks - $5 for 8.5 oz
The most widely available and inexpensive of the products tested, Palmer's Massage Lotion for Stretch Marks has a nice smooth texture and is easy to spread. Its formula, more glycerin than shea butter, leaves a slightly greasy residue behind — like an inexpensive sunblock — but for those looking for a bargain, it's a decent no-frills lotion that can likely be found within walking distance.
Buy it from Amazon.
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Burt's Bees Mama Bee Belly Butter - $13.00 for 6.6 oz
After months of testing products and making our minds up that x, y, and z were the best products available, that c, d, and e were just okay, and that one product smelled like feet, a new belly balm hits the market. The ever-turbulent balm industry waits for no man. Burt's Bees recently released Mama Bee, a "98.50% Natural" product. Why not 100%? They used a few non-natural products to stabilize the balm. It smells delicious, like herbal tea. Its creamy texture is reminiscent of a dessert topping. Its one downfall is that it doesn't absorb as quickly as some of the other products tested; my wife's clothes clung to her if she applied it without air-drying first. Still, if you're ecologically conscious — and not in huge rush to get dressed — it's a solid choice.
Buy it from Amazon.
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©2008 Nerve Media
About the Author
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Tyler M. Carey, founder of The Great Hoboes of New York, is a freelance writer and website designer who has written for Splendid E-Zine and other great defunct websites and magazines. He lives upstate with his wife and daughter, where they test lotions and notions for Babble when they're not distracted by spotting deer in their yard. |
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