My skin feels tight!
No…I don’t mean “tight” as in that hella cool/rad/rocking way. I mean tight, as in a balloon that’s about to pop. 🙂
This is mostly because of what I’ve dubbed “The BG Zone,” aka “The Baby Girl Zone,” aka “My Tum and Boobs,” and even though the rational right half of my brain realizes that this is normal and just a prelude to bigger (haha) things to come, and that the real-deal fun is right around the corner, I’m still trying to brace myself, which includes incorporating some new skin and body care products into my routine, like these new products by Mustela.
They’re a French brand known for their skin care products for moms and babies, and they have a brand new line of lotions, balms and creams to help with stretch marks, body firming and itching…which happens sometimes when your skin feels stretched to its limits and you’re about two breaths away from bursting. The new Mustela Maternity Skincare line debuts online this month and at Target, Babies R Us and Buy Buy Baby stores.
“For over 60 years, Mustela has been an expert in skincare innovation for babies and mothers-to-be. Thanks to a strong foundation in dermatological research, Mustela products are safe, gentle, and formulated specifically for your baby’s delicate skin. Paraben-, phthalate-, and phenoxyethanol-free, Mustela is, most importantly, proven safe for you and your baby.”
— Sephora.com
In what may or may not still prove to be a futile attempt to prevent stretch marks (I’ll let you know!), I’ve been using the Stretch Marks Prevention Oil ($30) on my tummy, thighs and breasts every night after my shower for the past two weeks, followed by the Stretch Marks Prevention Cream ($46) the following morning. Sometimes I also add a layer of the anti-itch Soothing Moisturizing Balm ($23), which seems to work, although I haven’t had very serious itching anyway.
And for after Baby Girl arrives, I also plan to use the Body Firming Gel ($39) and Bust Firming Serum ($27).
So far, so good! I’m liking the new products. They’re real-deal moisturizing, and I dig the dainty floral scent, too. It’s rosy, with notes of musk, jasmine and a cool ocean breeze, ahh….
I keep reminding myself that the stretch marks may still come, so I’m not putting too much hope in a jar (or a tube), but I WANT TO BELIEVE!
Maybe that’s just the control freak in me…
For the moms out there, what are the best specialty pregnancy skin care (and other) products you’ve found? How about products or tips to prevent stretch marks? Inquiring minds want to know!
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
Karen
I used the body shop olive body butter 3 times a day when I was pregnant and have no stretch marks after having two babies. I used it in the morning, after work in the evening, johnsons aloe baby oil in my nightly shower followed by more body butter. Worked great and smells lovely too. The itch was hard to stick at times but this really helped 🙂
Hi fellow June 9 Gemini!
Oh, I used that product back in the day. I remember loving the scent. Gonna put it on my list for my next Ulta run. I’ve actually been thinking about upping my moisturizer to three times a day, how funny that you mention that!
How old are your kids?
Keep the skin well oiled it helps no end, though i may just have been lucky with my skin type. I have clear sallow skin that seems to take a lot lol.
Katie was 9 last Thursday and Daniel is 16 months…. Walking now and a real wee terror… He’s coming at me here with handfuls of cotton wool he’s grabbing from his changing table !!! Which I recommend you get but the way, I didn’t have it for Katie and wish I had, it’s great.
Hope you’re keeping well, though you look glowing from your photos so I assume you are !!!
(June 9 high five **) 🙂
OK, looks like I’m going to have to incorporate mid-day moisturizer into my routine. Hey it doesn’t hurt to do the extra work! You never know.
Happy belated birthday to your daughter! Oh, and how lovely that your son is walking now… I bet it’s both fun and exhausting, LOL!
And yes, I have a changing table on the list because I just know if I change her on the floor Tabs will want to get up in the mix, LOL! Or, as he likes to say, he’ll want to “supervise.” 🙂
Thank you and yes it is fun but mostly exhausting !!!! ??
The changing table – your back will thank you for it in the long run xx
Hey there! Mommy of 2 here. Honestly, it’s all genetic and luck. I didn’t get any stretch marks with my first daughter and I just moisturized daily with Palmer’s Cocoa Butter. The second time around I used one generous drop of my Kate Somervile Dilo Oil and I also used Body Boost from the Motherhood Maternity shop. I loved the smell – Milk/Honey. So with that combination I still got a few stretch marks on my lower abdomen/hips. It’s luck I tell ya!
Good luck!
We were living in The Netherlands when I was pregnant and my Norwegian girlfriend gave me some Clarins hand lotion. I really loved it, so when I wanted a body lotion I went to the Clarins counter. They used to have multiple types of bust creams and body lotions back then. Maybe they just have more to offer in Europe, not sure. Everything I used during and after my pregnancy was from Clarins. I just got totally hooked.
I think what matters most is that you take the time everyday to really massage your skin. Knead that dough! 🙂 I don’t think it really matters what you use.
Mustela has been around for ages in France, it’s a solid brand for baby/mommy needs, good choice!
Keeping the skin well moisturized, products containing Vitamin E, almond oil and massages are what I learned works best.
Accompanied by not gaining to much weight in general and being an older mum-to-be. When you are older than 30, your tissue isn’t as firm as it used to be, so it stretches more easily.
I was very good at oiling and rubbing my tummy, and I got no stretch marks on belly or boobs during the first pregnancy.
Can’t wait to try these! Have you tried any of the Belli products? I have been loving the cleanser.
Don’t forget you butt and thighs!
Got them covered!
Hi love!
Creams and lotion will always help especially to alleviate itchiness but midwives say that if your Mom had stretch marks chances are you will too. Don’t mind too much if they end up peeking out, it just means that you’ve earned your stripes 🙂
Great way of looking at it, Jenny. 🙂
My mum used to this Mustella for me when I was a baby. Its a really good brand and it’s smell so good.Gros bisous to the beautiful Tabs and have a nice day.
Big kisses right back at ya, Florence! 🙂
It’s never too early to start (liberally) applying! 🙂 I used Palmers and think it was pretty successful but, make sure to use cream on your sides, too. I focused on the belly/boob area and didn’t realize how much the skin on my sides, and even onto my back, was being stretched. I have some marks there as a result. In hindsight, I should have done pretty much head-to-toe application. HAHA!
I’ve got the back and the sides covered! Also the bum and the thighs. I swear, moisturizing is now my part time job, LOL! 🙂
Good work! I should have known you’d be on top of that! 🙂 You can never be too moisturized but, I totally agree, it can be very time consuming, especially as there becomes more surface area to cover!
Good job! You treat that gorgeous baby belly of yours! It helped me completely to always have my belly creamed- no pregnancy stripes over here! 🙂