My second trimester is now officially over.  Everyone told me that it would be 13 weeks of much higher levels of energy and that I would feel great again. Unfortunately that feeling only materialised in the last 4 weeks but it did happen and it was great to feel human again.  

Being a first time mum but a little older than average age to have you first, I've seen lots of my friends and family go through their pregnancies and got loads of helpful tips on the way.

One thing I was conscious of was avoiding getting stretch marks.  I think it all stems from the tattoo I got near my stomach as a teenager and for some reason even worrying back then that it would become all distorted when I had a baby, despite that being far far into the future.  I still remember the tattooist saying that as long as I kept it oiled and moisturised it would be ok.  Once my tummy started growing and my skin suddenly felt much drier and tighter I was on the case.  I bought some and was gifted a variety of oils and creams.  Here is my review on some of the creams and oils I tried. 

Bio-oil  

(£14.99 for 125ml)  

You only need a little so the bottle will last a long time.  Good value for money and is really nourishing, leaving your skin really smooth.  The main problem was that it takes a long time to soak in.  In fact it takes so long I think I will be throwing out a lot of my t-shirts after this pregnancy from all the oil stains.

Khiels Argan Oil cream

(£30.00 for 200ml)

Technically not a stretch mark cream but I've used this cream regularly for the past 10 years. Argan oil is high in vitamin E and gives skin a natural boost. Another pro is that the lotion is non-irritating, non-greasy and absorbs easily so there's no need to wait a long time before getting dressed, .  The main drawback is the price, when I realised I had used a quarter of the 500ml bottle in a week I probably needed a less expensive option. 

Mama Mio - Tummy Rub Cream

(£23.50 for 120g)

Great non-greasy cream, that absorbs straight into the skin quickly without it feeling oily or sticky.  Contains organic shea butter and omega rich oils such as argan, avocado and coconut oil to give strength and elasticity to the skin.   Your skin does feels really elasticated and nourished after each application. Has a nice smell which isn't very strong.   

Cowshed - Stretch Mark Balm

(£21.00 for 250ml)

Glides onto your tummy and skin really smoothly leaving it feeling soft and moisturised all day. It contains all natural ingredients such as sea buckthorn oil, coconut oil, shea butter and vitamin E, to keep your skin moisturised and elastic as it stretches. Another plus is that you only need a small amount.  However it has a more oily texture compared to some other creams/balms as so takes a while to absorb into the skin. 

Palmers Coco butter stretch mark cream

(£3.35 for 250ml)

Definitely, the best value for money, absorbs quickly and leaves skin feeling smooth and elasticated.  Even though the cream is quite thick, you do need to use quite a lot of it to stay moisturised but given the price, that's not really a major issue.  The only drawback for me was that I have never been a fan of the smell of coco-butter.  But it you like the smell then this is a hit.

Clarins - toning oil

(£40.00 for 100ml)

Smells really lovely and leaves skin feeling really smooth and soft.  It's not as hydrating as some of the creams but for a body oil, it absorbs relatively quickly, much faster than the bio oil.  It's more expensive than some other products out there, but you don't need much so a bottle will last a long time.

Fiona xxx