Average Cost:$6-12/4.4oz
Official URL: http://www.etbrowne.com/
Rating:

When I became pregnant with my little boy, I knew that one thing I did not want to have as a result of pregnancy was a lot of stretch marks! I always feel so bad for mommies who get them because they take so long to fade!

I kept seeing ads for Palmers Massage Cream for Stretch Marks and decided to try it out.

So far I’ve used this from the very start and at 38 weeks pregnant I am very impressed with it!

PACKAGING

Palmers massage cream for stretch marks comes packaged in a box that contains a 4.4oz tube of the massage cream. The tube is made of soft pliable material similar to the material used on a tube of toothpaste, but with a (slightly) wider opening for application.

TEXTURE & EASE OF APPLICATION

This cream is very rich but it comes out of the tube easily and spreads and rubs in quickly. I find the richness of this cream also helps relieve the extreme itchiness associated with pregnancy. It is always such a relief to use it and feel the itch calm down. It leaves your skin feeling slightly oily, and you may find it more comfortable to wait a few minutes or blot-dry with a towel before putting your clothing on after using this cream.

SCENT

Unfortunately the yummy-sounding ingredients of Cocoa extract and Cocoa butter don’t result in a cocoa-smelling cream. Just as well, as that would only bring on the cravings for brownies and chocolate fudge ice cream. There is a slight organic scent to the cream that fades quickly. There are no overbearing perfumes in this cream so it is great for mommies with allergies and sensitivities, and it shouldn’t irritate you early in pregnancy during your battles with morning sickness.

DIRECTIONS

The directions are to use the cream both morning and night – I have followed them to the letter and have made it this far into pregnancy without a single stretch mark. You can also choose to apply it across the day to help combat itchiness or dry skin.

VALUE

At $6-12.00 for a tube it is a bit on the expensive side, but you only need to use a dollop about the size of a quarter for each application. You should apply it to any part of your body likely to suffer from stretch marks: belly, breasts, and buttocks are generally the areas where stretch marks appear. I have only purchased 4 tubes over 9 months of pregnancy.

This cream has a long shelf life even after you’ve opened the tube. My editor tells me that she used this during her pregnancy in 2006, and still has half a tube left over which hasn’t degraded, hardened or clogged at all after sitting on the shelf unused for the past 16 months.

INGREDIENTS

Water (Aqua), Cocoa Extract (Theobroma Cacao), Glycerin, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG 100 Stearate, Isopropyl Lanolate, Isopropyl Palmitate, Propylene Glycol, Dimethicone, Butylene Glycol, Lanolin Alcohol (Lanolin), Stearic Acid, Bentonite, Cocoa Butter (Theobroma Cacao), Mineral Oil (Paraffinum Liquidum), Microcrystalline Wax (Cera Microcristallina), Cetyl Alcohol, Stearyl Alcohol, Tocopheryl Acetate (Vitamin E), Soluble Collagen, Hydrolyzed Elastin, Phenoxyethanol, Methylparaben, Butylparaben, Ethylparaben, Propylparaben, Caramel, Fragrance (Parfum)

DOES IT WORK?

At 38 weeks pregnant I haven’t had a single stretch mark. They say that if you’re genetically prone to stretch marks then nothing can really stop them, but I think that it really helped me. This cream is dermatologically tested, so it’s gentle on your skin. It has also been clinically tested and shows that it increases the elasticity of your skin which can reduce stretch marks. Even if it doesn’t end up working for you because of genetics, it really helps with the itchiness that happens when your skin is stretched so tight.

BOTTOM LINE

I highly recommend this cream but be sure to follow the directions and start using it from the start of your pregnancy!