Changes in hormones, body temperature and blood volume can all contribute to differences in skin tone, discomforts and appearance in pregnancy. And not all women suffer, pregnancy skin can be a time for rosy cheeked 'bloom' if you're lucky!
For better or worse, spending some time looking after your skin not only keeps your body feeling healthier, it's also a relaxing way to build in some 'me time' to your pregnancy months. This goes for dealing with stretch marks, too.
Derma Mum
There are many great luxury brands who have come up with oils and creams to treat dry pregnancy skin and stretch marks, but we love the no-nonsense quality of Derma Mum's super moisturising range.
Developed to be safe to use in pregnancy and in the months after birth (safe with breastfeeding), the range is based around rich, nurturing oils and absolutely no artificial ingredients.
Formulated by Michelle Doolan, they are dermologically tested, hypoallergenic and importantly, fragrance free - which will suit many women who find that strong smells in pregnancy set off nausea.
Derma Mum Stretch Mark Oil With rose hip to restore skin firmness and to act as an astringent to reduce the appearance of stretch marks and scars, this oil also contains evening primrose oil and borage oil, both good sources of gamma linoleic acid (GLA) which is a useful omega-6 fatty acid important for skin health. The oil also contains wheat germ oil to keep your skin supple and moisturised.
Derma Mum Stretch Mark Cream Some women prefer cream to oil, or both at different times. Here again, rose hip, evening primrose oil, borage oil and wheat germ oil act as a rich combination for healthy skin. Added to these in the cream are cocoa butter which has excellent emollient properties, and shea butter, which can ease skin problems and make your skin feel smooth and moisturised.
Both are available at Boots. The Stretch Mark Oil is £11.99 for a 250ml bottle, and the Cream is £11.99 for a 500ml pot.
