Bodycare favourites for pregnant skin

I have always been a bit lazy when it comes to moisturising my body but when I hit my second trimester, my belly and lower back started to get really itchy which triggered red alarm bells in my head. I've tried a few different products these last couple of months and thought I'd share a round up of my favourites. I don't really know if these products (or any product targeted specifically for stretch marks for that matter) actually do anything to help reduce the possibility of getting them while pregnant, but I use them because it makes my skin look and feel a lot softer. I've had mixed responses from people when I tell them that I've been using stretch mark oils and creams because some are adamant that stretch marks are hereditary and there is nothing you can do to prevent them and others have sworn by certain products being the reason they didn't get any. So I've figured that the best thing to do is to look after my skin regardless of the fact that its probably inevitable.

My favourite type of product to use on my bump is oil so I'll start with them:

The first oil I used when I was still in my first trimester was Palmers Skin Therapy Oil, which was given to me by a friend when she found out I was pregnant. This is my second bottle of this but they have only been the small ones so don't last ages. This has a rosehip fragrance in it which is lovely and  I like the little pump dispenser (because trying to screw a lid back on with oily hands is a lot harder than you'd think!)

The first product I bought myself was Bio Oil and have been using this most days. This is the oil that people told me to stock up on and I use it everywhere, not just on my bump (tip: putting this on my face once a week before bed has made a massive difference. My skin looks and feels lovely in the morning). Its probably the thinnest consistency out of them all, which can leave you feeling a bit wet and greasy, but I got used to it quickly. Adding a few drops to my baths also made a difference to my skin too!

This Clarins Tonic Body Treatment Oil is the priciest of the lot but the one that has the best reviews online. A handful of people told me to get this and I put it off for so long because of the price but finally caved and I'm glad I did. I live by the saying that you only get what you pay for and this is no exception. It's by far the most luxurious oil out of the three and smells like you've spent an afternoon in the spa after you've used it. The consistency is quite thick so a little doesn't really go a long way, so I only use this in the mornings after my shower when my skin is still a little damp. It says on the bottle to then take a cool shower after applying (who has time for that?!) but I skip this step and get dressed pretty much straight away. Because this is so expensive, I want to make it last as long as possible and so only use it on my bump and lower back. Absolutely lovely though!

For creams, I feel like I have tried them all (even before being pregnant) but these two are the ones I always reach for:

Again, Palmers get points for their convenient pump and although it says on the bottle that its specifically for stretch marks I use it all over. I used this a lot when we got back from Dubai and I feel like it helped me keep my tan longer, but was also great when it started to fade and dry out.

My second favourite cream is the Vaseline Intense Care moisturiser. They have a few different ones in this range and have tried and love them all, this just happens to be the one I'm using at the minute but I would recommend the Aloe or the Coco butter ones just as much. This isn't as thick as the Palmers but I like having a lighter one as it dries into your skin quickly so it good for those mornings when you're in a bit of a hurry to get dressed.

Obviously there is absolutely NOTHING wrong with getting stretch marks on any part of your body, pregnant or not. I have some from my teen years and honestly, they don't bother me at all. My husband even has a few. So in my mind, everyone has at least a few knocking about somewhere. Even though I'd rather not get them all over my tummy or thighs or back, its not the worst thing that can happen and I try to keep a level head about it. At the end of the day- who cares?! In my mind, its just important to take care of your skin regardless if you're pregnant or not. I love the difference in my skin since getting myself into a proper routine of moisturising and would recommend anyone take a few minutes after their shower or before bed to do it!

SLC x