Originally posted January 27, 2014.
Any woman who has been pregnant wonders about stretch marks! When I was pregnant myself, I remember the abdominal itchiness associated with my expanding belly! For some relief from itchiness and to prevent stretch marks, I purchased some creams back then. I wondered about the safety ingredients in the creams I was buying and applying to my skin, right above where my son we growing in my womb. I wondered, how much does my skin absorb?
What ingredients are safe and not safe? Well, I was pregnant with my son back in the Stone Age, so there wasn’t an internet to jump on to with easy access to lists of toxic ingredients. It was easier for companies to hide their chemical short-cuts.
Fortunately there is a wonderful, growing interest in natural, organic and therapeutic skin care products. Many of these companies are owned by women; the products are developed and created by women.
Women today are looking at the ingredients in the products we put on our bodies. There is a large variety of products on the market that are made from natural and organic products, some even use only food grade ingredients.
Products with organic beneficial ingredients are meant to be used
The caveat is this: if you want to purchase natural and organic products, you need to educate yourself in a new way. The natural and organic products often do not have preservatives in them, so you need to use them up in a timely manner. You may even need to refrigerate them, but read the label about this.
don’t hoard ’em- use ’em!
Natural and organic oils actually have elements in their chemical composition which are beneficial to your body. So, use them to feed your body and soul, use them for their beneficial properties; don’t keep them in your closet or too long.
Also, even if the product t is organic and natural, you, as an individual, may still have a negative reaction to one of the ingredients, such as an irritation or an allergy. So, when trying new products, see if you can purchase a sample or a small size first. And then try it out on a small patch of your skin. Before rubbing it all over yourself!
A sampling of some all natural and possibly organic base ingredients are listed below:
Almond Oil
Almond oil has been used for stretch marks for centuries. It’s easily absorbed, is good for sensitive skin and naturally contains vitamin A, B & E. . Burt’s Bees Mama Bee Nourishing Body Oil has almond oil, lemon oil and wheatgerm oil plus rosemary extract. Lemon peel oil has chemical constituents noted to be good for the skin, including limonene and citral. Rosemary has many properties, but the light extract is used for natural fragrance.
Jojoba Oil
Jojoba oil is the workhorse of the skin care industry and has been used by women of the earth for skin care for centuries. Jojoba oil is remarkable in that it closely resembles sebum, the human natural oil, and helps regulate the amount of oil on your skin. Earth Mama Angel Baby Natural Stretch Oil Pregnancy contains a combination of oils, including grape seed and jojoba oils, along with extracts of chamomile, calendula, citrus and neroli extracts. Grapeseed is a very light oil and is easily absorbed into the skin, it’s known for its antioxidant properties and is beneficial for skin care. Chamomile, calendula, citrus and neroli are well-known healing herbs known to relieve stress, heal irritated skin and uplift and soothe the mood.
Rosehip Seed Oil
Rosehip seed oil has been used for generations for skin care. It’s vitamin and antioxidant content plus essential fatty acids helps heal scars and hydrate dry itchy skin on a cellular level. Mama Mio Tummy Rub Stretch Mark Oil contains a combination of carrier oils, including almond, borage, wheatgerm, and rosehip seed oil, along with their signature blend of Gravida, composed of 10 pregnancy safe extract and essential oils. All of these carrier oils are all known for their high vitamin content and antioxidant and healing properties. Blends of multiple pregnancy extracts and essential oils generally have a synergistic effect, meaning the combination of chemical constituents act together beneficially as a whole, interacting with your body at the cellular level.
Cocoa Butter
Cocoa butter is extracted from the cocoa bean and is high in antioxidants. It’s said to help eczema, is deeply hydrating and helps fade scars.
Coconut Oil
Coconut oil is classified as a superfood. It has a unique combination of essential fatty acids and is 50% lauric acid, which, at the cellular level, fights many viruses.
Shea Butter
Shea butter is generally sourced from Ghana. Pure shea butter has been used in Africa for centuries and continues to be used today, It is deeply moisturizing and considered a superfood for your skin, containing vitamins E & D and essential fatty acids. It’s known for revitalizing skin and hair.
Make Your Own!
You can also make your own stretch-mark body butter or lotion.
Here’s one of my favorite recipes:
¼ cup shea butter
¼ coconut oil
3 tablespoons jojoba oil
A pregnancy safe essential oil in a very diluted small amount
Put first three ingredients (carrier butter and oils) into the top of a double boiler, heat until melted, Stir until mixed.
Drop in your pregnancy-safe essential oil
Stir!
Put in a jar and use as much as you like!
Voila! Your own pure lotion with ingredients as pure as you wish to make them!
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