The Best Belly Butter for Stretch Marks

Stretch marks happen during pregnancy, but the good news is that they don’t always have to! Belly butter was invented to try to help and prevent or improve stretch marks not only on your belly but your thighs and breasts as well. Your body is growing quickly, so sometimes, those pesky stretch marks feel like they come out of nowhere, and plain lotion is not always enough to relieve them. The special ingredients in belly butter are tried and tested to help your stomach keep that smooth and clear appearance. Here are some belly butters we recommend.

Purchasing Belly Butter

You want to make sure you’re getting the best product for you. Carefully consider anything you put on your body (especially during pregnancy), and consider these few key points to help steer you towards the best belly butter for you:

• Fragrance: If you don’t mind a little smell, then go for a scented option. However, if you’re extra sensitive to smell, there are fragrance-free or mild fragrance options.
• Application: You can choose to buy belly butter that you rub on like lotion or apply like a deodorant stick; it comes down to what makes you feel most comfortable.
• Ingredients: Make sure when you’re choosing your belly butter that you carefully inspect the ingredients to ensure there are no allergens or irritants.
• Organic/All-Natural: If this is important to you, there are plenty of options out there that don’t have any of the extra yucky stuff.
• Amount: As your belly grows, you’ll obviously need more belly butter, so consider buying it in bulk or larger bottles.

Best Overall: Glow Organics 100% Organic Belly Butter

This unscented belly butter is made of 100% organic ingredients without any parabens, synthetics, dyes, phthalates, sulfates, or artificial fragrances. That means it is completely safe to use on your growing bump! The main ingredients are organic shea butter and organic cocoa butter, proven for extreme moisturization to help prevent and relieve stretch marks and relieve the itching of stretching skin. In addition to being organic, this formula is also vegan, gluten, and cruelty-free.

Best Fragrance-Free: Burt’s Bees Mama Belly Butter

This butter has been carefully created just for moms to keep their skin feeling both soft and healthy during and after pregnancy. The butter includes both shea butter and vitamin E that are proven to condition your belly while being 99% natural and fragrance-free. There are no phthalates, parabens, petrolatum, or sulfates so that it won’t irritate your skin, and it’s safe for your little one.

Best Kit: Palmer’s Cocoa Butter Formula

This kit includes everything you need for optimal belly skin care. It is a combination of cocoa butter and shea butter to soften and smooth your stretching skin, make it feel plump, and form a protective moisture barrier to help eliminate any stretch mark. There is also the super antioxidant lutein for added moisture retention along with argan, almond, and coconut oil blends for even deeper improved skin hydration.

You’ll get a massage lotion that works all over your body to improve elasticity and reduce the appearance of stretch marks, a massage cream that is ideal for stretch mark prone areas (like the tummy, thighs, hips, and bust), a tummy butter intensive treatment recommended for pregnancy or weight fluctuations, and a skin therapy oil that works to improve scars, stretch marks, dry and damaged skin, uneven skin tones, aging skin, fine lines, and wrinkles.

Best Stick: DAYSPA Body Basics Belly Balm

This stick is handcrafted in small batches for extra purity and with all-natural plant-derived ingredients. There are no parabens or petrochemicals, and it’s formulated to give you luxurious and hydrated skin with a soft and silky feel while protecting it from stretch marks as well as protecting you from the itching known to occur with your stretching skin. Designed to not bother even the most sensitive skin, this butter is made without any common food allergens like gluten, soy, peanuts, tree nuts, wheat, or corn, so you can truly feel good about using it for you and your baby.

Best Multi-Pack: Palmer’s Cocoa Butter Formula Tummy Butter Three-Pack

This three-pack of Palmer’s Tummy Butter is specially formulated with shea and cocoa butter to hydrate your stretching skin and reduce the appearance of stretch marks, during pregnancy, after birth, or during weight fluctuation. This hypoallergenic formula suitable for sensitive skin includes collagen and elastin and as well as lutein to keep your skin full of moisture. It has a rich feel that is ideal for nighttime applications. It is free of any mineral oil, parabens, phthalates, fragrances, and dyes.