We Tested 23 Stretch Mark Creams Over 6 Weeks — and Our Winner That Helped Fade 20-Year-Old Scars Is 31% Off at Amazon Right Now

We tried out Palmer’s Cocoa Butter on 20-year-old stretch marks, so imagine our surprise to see a slight fade after using the product regularly during the six-week testing period. The product goes on smoothly and rubs in nicely without feeling sticky or greasy. In fact, we were happy to rub the excess into our hands without feeling the need to wash them afterward. That’s a good thing, as you will have to use a considerable amount of product as suggested each time; we were surprised to go through almost two full bottles during the testing period. 

If you have dry skin or an itchy bump, Palmer’s Cocoa Butter would be a good product to have on hand, especially in the winter. We were able to detect a very light, pleasant scent only after bringing the bottle close to our nose, so there were no worries about a strong smell that might be too overwhelming for an expectant mama’s nose.

Form: Cream | Size: 8.5 oz. | Scent: Light | Key Ingredients: Cocoa butter, shea butter, natural oils, collagen, elastin, lutein

If your growing baby bump is itchy and feels dry, slather on some of this Burt’s Bees Mama Belly Butter, made from soothing shea butter and other moisturizing ingredients. Overall, we found it to be a very hydrating lotion.

Despite the thickness of the cream — there’s a reason it’s called butter — it didn’t feel oily at all. In fact, it pretty much disappears into dry skin as soon as you rub it in. However, it did more to mitigate dry skin on a growing belly bump than it did to erase stretch marks. Though it is fragrance-free, we did detect a slight scent from the combo of natural ingredients, but it’s pretty inoffensive and shouldn’t put anyone off.

Form: Cream | Size: 6.5 oz. | Scent: Natural | Key Ingredients: Shea butter, vitamin E

“Heavenly” is how we would describe the feeling of The Hatch Collection Belly Oil, which is why it made our pick for the best investment category. If you’re concerned about a stretch mark oil being, well, too oily, we observed that this product wasn’t at all greasy or sticky, just a really lovely, smooth body oil that made our skin feel soft and pampered. 

In addition to this oil making our skin feel smooth and glossy, our stretch marks also became less noticeable. While the stretch marks didn’t exactly disappear, they did seem less defined. We wouldn’t have minded a scented oil, but for those who prefer unscented body products, you’ll be happy to know this one is fragrance-free. This oil is a splurge compared to other stretch mark creams we’ve tested, but it may be worth the cost if you’re looking for a luxurious, deeply nourishing solution.

Form: Oil | Size: 6.7 oz. | Scent: None | Key Ingredients: Calendula, sweet almond oil, grapefruit oil

This lotion has a really nice thickness to it — it goes on smooth and absorbs into the skin without feeling greasy. Our mama-to-be tester was “happily surprised” to see that Earth Mama Belly Butter had an orange scent, and pregnancy scent aversions aside, you might also feel the same.

This product rightly wins the best moisturizing spot on our list, but it won’t make stretch marks fade. Our tester, who was at the midpoint of her pregnancy when she tested Earth Mama, did find that her growing bump was well-hydrated. We definitely recommend using this belly butter as a lotion to keep your skin moisturized as your pregnancy progresses.

Form: Cream | Size: 8 oz. | Scent: Delicate Neroli (orange blossom) | Key Ingredients: Many organic oils and extracts, including aloe, olive oil, and sunflower oil

This product moisturized our skin during testing and kept it looking nice and hydrated. We noticed that our stretch marks did fade slightly, too, though an exfoliation routine might also be enhancing those results.

Although it is marketed as unscented, we did detect a light scent; however, it disappears over time and isn’t necessarily a deal-breaker unless you’re especially scent-averse during pregnancy. The product applied smoothly and absorbed quickly, and it left our skin feeling moisturized as opposed to greasy. The moisturizing factor impressed us and was the reason why it was our pick for those with dry skin, as moist, supple skin is pertinent for a growing baby bump.

Form: Cream | Size: 4 oz. | Scent: Light | Key Ingredients: Jojoba oil, mango butter, centella

Our tester tried out the Susanne Kaufmann Stretch Mark Oil on stretch marks that have been around for a while. We do feel this oil helped our skin feel healthier and smoother overall, while the texture of the stretch marks smoothed out, though they did not fade.

We had already been using an oil prior to testing, but we found the Susanne Kaufmann to absorb more quickly. While there is a fair amount of rubbing involved, that’s to be expected with any body oil. Still, you won’t be left with a greasy feel — just a very soft feeling. Another thing to note: It’s designed to be used on damp or wet skin, so we recommend applying it right after bathing.

We liked the lemony-herb scent, but it was strong when we first put it on, so if this is not your scent preference, it might be a hard sell. The bottle is small, but being that it is oil, we found that a little goes a long way.

Form: Oil | Size: 3.4 oz | Scent: Citrus | Key Ingredients: Almond oil, wheat germ oil, vitamin E, jojoba oil, arnica flower extract

While the Munchkin Milkmakers Belly Balm didn’t change the look of our stretch marks, we loved the smell and feel of this moisturizing balm. The balm goes on smoothly without being too greasy. Being that it does have oil in it, we did expect a little greasiness, but our skin just glistened. We also liked the scent, though it wasn’t super strong.

Though the balm did little to fade any existing stretch marks, it was moisturizing enough for a preventative measure against chafing — it might even be appropriate for the nipples of breastfeeding mothers, too.

Form: Balm | Size: 2.6 oz. | Scent: Natural | Key Ingredients: Coconut oil, shea butter

Two of our testers used Bio-Oil Multiuse Skincare Oil during their pregnancies and had no stretch marks, so that’s enough reason to run out and buy copious amounts of this product when you find out you’re expecting. 

We loved the dry-oil feel of the Bio-Oil, as it doesn’t make a mess and is a great lightweight oil for warmer months. We also liked the smooth application, though it tends to come out of the bottle quickly, so those who are new to using oil should take care in those first few applications to avoid greasiness.

If it can prevent stretch marks from forming, then it can likely do a great job of fading and smoothing existing ones. At less than $15 a bottle (and it’s often on sale!), it’s well worth a try.

Form: Oil | Size: 2 oz. | Scent: Rose | Key Ingredients: Vitamin E oil, chamomile oil, sunflower oil, lavender oil

While we didn’t see any difference in already present stretch marks, this belly oil has proved to be great in helping prevent stretch marks during pregnancy. Our petite tester used this daily during the second half of her pregnancy and came out postpartum with zero stretch marks. The infusion of vitamin E in this oil helps keep the skin moisturized and promotes collagen production.

In addition to stretch mark prevention, the Belli Elasticity Belly Oil also doubles as a great massage oil thanks to its light texture that’s not overly greasy and its pleasant scent that’s not too sweet.

Form: Oil | Size: 3.8 oz. | Scent: Almond and lavender | Key Ingredients: Almond oil, grape seed, vitamin E, coco butter, gotu kola

For a nourishing belly butter that’s ultra-moisturizing, our tests show the Pipette Belly Butter is a great choice for expectant moms. While we didn’t see much improvement for already present stretch marks, we were impressed with how it kept a growing baby belly moisturized throughout a pregnancy.

The butter has a pleasant scent that leans more almond than vanilla, but it’s light and not overpowering. We recommend this to any mom with a growing belly who wants to keep their skin hydrated, especially during dry months. It achieves this hydration thanks to its star ingredient, plant-derived squalane, which helps keep skin nourished and moisturized without feeling sticky or greasy.

Form: Butter | Size: 3.8 oz. | Scent: Almond vanilla | Key Ingredients: Plant-derived squalane, hyaluronic acid, shea butter, tripeptide-5