forty weekends

Stretch Marks

Although you may be under the impression that cocoa butter is best for moisturizing skin, the ideal ingredients for keeping the skin on the stomach hydrated (just as on the face) are actually lipid-rich oils like linoleic acid, soybean sterols, jojoba oil, phospholipid, borage oil, kukui nut oil, grapeseed oil, squalane, and rose hips seed oil. By helping to repair the skin’s protective barrier, these oils keep the skin strong and less resistant to tissue injury. If the moisture barrier is intact, then the skin will be better prepared to deal with the inevitable stretching, which often leads to marks. (There are some small studiesI’ve seen confirming this.) Along with using a regular moisturizer at least twice during the day on the stomach, hips, and, ideally, the breasts, I suggest using Pure Radiance Mask at night to give an added boost of moisture repair. Pure Radiance Mask contains many lipid-rich oils that can help prevent stretch marks. Before bedtime, apply a thin coat to the stomach, and massage in circular motions until it's all absorbed. No need to rinse off, either!