As I enter the final weeks of my second trimester, it's safe to say I've tried my fair share of oils, creams and belly butters on my tummy this past 6 months. Today I'll be sharing my favorites, breaking down what didn't work so well for my skin and what helps relieves the urge to scratch when that annoying itch creeps up!
Organic Virgin Coconut Oil (cold-pressed & unrefined): This was one of the first oils I tried on my tummy when I found out I was pregnant...long before I had the bump. Probably because it was readily available in my pantry. lol However, long before I was pregnant I used coconut oil on my skin after a long day at the beach or just after shaving my legs to get that extra moisture, shine and super soft skin. I'm happy to report this oil is still doing it's magic on my skin and will remain as one of my go-to's long after the bump is gone.
Vitamin-E Oil: THE.HOLY.GRAIL. I grew up on this stuff. For as long as I can remember, my Dad would tell me to use vitamin-e oil to heal scars/scabs. Thinking back, this is the first oil I used on my face in high school to help prevent wrinkles. Ha! And to this day, I always have a stash of vitamin-e oil in my beauty cabinet. For the tummy, I like to use it on top of the Burt's Bees Belly Butter before I go to bed. It's the perfect combo of moisture that I'm looking for. Just an FYI - I only use this at night time because it is an oil and will seep into your clothes (especially if used alone). So, just be sure to wear an old t-shirt you don't care about if you are using at night.
Grapeseed Oil: Someone recommended this oil to me on one of the mama groups I joined on FB. I like the fact that it's all natural and after further research, found that grapeseed actually encourages the production of collagen and elastin, and provides the necessary antioxidants to repair damaged or dry skin (which is great for after pregnancy too!). I like that it's not as thick as vitamin-e oil, so you can really smooth it all over your skin by itself. Same as any oil, I recommend using only at night to ensure your not damaging your good clothes. This oil will continue to stay in rotation throughout and after my pregnancy.
Cocoa Butter: So I personally looove this stuff. My Husband on the other hand can't stand the smell of it (think of a chocolate factory), so I only use it when he's not around. The only con to this is it's a hard formula. So in order to use it, you have to break it up inside the container with a knife, scoop out some of the cracked pieces into a bowl and melt in the microwave. A little time consuming when you just want to lather up and go to bed, so honestly have only used twice. However, I'm giving this one a thumbs up as it's super moisturizing and smells great too - well, if your a chocolate lover. ;)
Bio Oil: I had actually never heard of this until I saw Khloe Kardashian post about it during her pregnancy. The reviews online were 50/50 - so instead of investing in the large bottle, I went with the travel size to test it out. While it did provide some moisture, it didn't last. I found myself having to reapply throughout the day/night and it just wasn't what I was looking for as my tummy is growing. I also found that I had to use A LOT in order to fully cover the areas I wanted. For the price, it didn't seem like it would last very long. I may give it another shot after pregnancy as it's supposed to help with old/new stretch marks, but at this stage it's a pass for me.
Shea Moisture 100% Raw Shea Butter: The best way I can describe the consistency of this is, after a candle has been lit for several hours and you blow it out. Have you every felt the wax? Well if your as weird as me, you have. And, that's what shea butter feels like. It goes on your skin as a very thick lather and definitely does it's job of hydrating the skin. Giving this a thumbs up as it provides my tummy with the moisture it needs all throughout the night.
Burt's Bees Mama Bee Belly Butter: This is my ultimate day time cream that I've living by. This is also the ONLY cream I've found that relives that terrible itch on my tummy. It's cool to the touch which is exactly what you want when your tummy won't stop itching. Since you never know when that itch will strike, I like to leave some in a separate container in the fridge for an extra-cooling effect - great after a warm shower or for those hot summer days. Another bonus - it doesn't seep into your clothes, so feel free to wear whatever you please.
Palmer's Cocoa Butter Formula Massage Lotion: YAY to finally finding a lotion that is thick enough to use all over my body, without being too thick that you feel like you have a layer of wax on your skin. I love that it has vitamin-e oil, argan oil and shea butter all mixed into it. I like to use it after I shower and will 100% be using this post pregnancy too. Definitely recommend stocking up on this one!
Palmer's Cocoa Butter Solid Formula: I can go to sleep at night with this on my tummy and wake up to feel my skin just as moisturized in the morning. It's amazing! It's a lot thicker than the Palmer's lotion of course and is my other day-time favorite that keeps my tummy moisturized all day long without messing up my clothes. I just saw that they carry a belly butter also, so I will be trying that one next!
While I'm not using all of these creams and oils at once, I like to rotate between them based on how my skin is feeling/reacting that day or week. I hope this helped any expecting mama's. I'd love to hear from any fellow expecting mamas or experienced mamas that can share what worked for them throughout their pregnancy! Feel free to comment here or message me on IG!
Xx,
Tabitha
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