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DIY Salve for Stretch Marks

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DIY Homemade Tiger Salve to Heal Stretch Marks DIY Salve for Stretch Marks

Oh stretch marks…

I got them with my first, and have since gotten rid of them, even through four more pregnancies (and I haven’t gotten any new ones).

I think it is largely due to the healthier diet and lifestyle I’ve adopted during that time, but today I’m also sharing my salve that I make to help keep belly skin smooth during pregnancy. I call it Tiger Salve since I’ve often heard stretch marks referred to as “Tiger Stripes.”

Don’t get me wrong, I’m proud of my stretch marks and wouldn’t trade a second of motherhood for perfect abs, but I also prefer to avoid getting any more stripes! I do think that diet is a crucial part of pregnancy health though, so this alone won’t keep stretch marks away for everyone…

This salve is designed to keep skin supple so that it can accomodate a growing belly, but also to sooth any skin irritation that accompanies pregnancy. It’s also super simple to make, so I can even manage to remember the recipe when I have placenta brain…

DIY Tiger Salve for Stretch Marks
 
DIY Homemade Tiger Salve to Heal Stretch Marks DIY Salve for Stretch Marks
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This easy salve is soothing and nourishing to skin as it adjusts to your growing belly!
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Recipe type: Beauty/Skin

Ingredients

Instructions
  1. If using the calendula and dried ginger, add to Apricot Kernel or Almond Oil and place in a double boiler or bowl over a small pan of water. (or use a glass jar for easier clean up)
  2. Bring to a simmer and heat for 30 minutes on medium low heat to incorporate the properties of the herbs.
  3. Strain through a cheesecloth or metal strainer to remove herbs. YOu will want to make sure you still have at least 2 tablespoons of liquid oil left.
  4. Return the oil to the double boiler and add the shea butter and coconut oil.
  5. Heat until melted and stir to incorporate.
  6. Remove from heat and store in small glass jar.
  7. Add any pregnancy safe essential oils if desired.
  8. Use as needed on skin before, during or after pregnancy as needed.

Ever made homemade beauty products? How did they turn out?

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Filed Under: Motherhood

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Wellness Mama is a full-time housewife with a background in nutrition, journalism and communications. Her passion is helping others achieve optimal health through a “Wellness Lifestyle.” She has helped hundreds of clients lose weight, increase athletic performance, improve fertility, and overcome numerous health problems and diseases. Connect with her on Twitter, Facebook, Google+, & Pinterest.

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  • http://www.facebook.com/felecia.cofield Felecia Cofield

    Hi Wellness Mama! Thanks for sharing this recipe! I’ll be making some for my niece who has really bad stretch marks! Blessings from Bama!

  • http://www.survivingnjapan.com/ Ashley

    So can this actually remove stretch marks if it’s been over a year since you’ve given birth? I didn’t think that was really possible without some type of laser treatment? Not to doubt, just hoping for some clarification, because I’d love to get rid of mine (they’re pretty bad…)

  • Deanna

    Would you say you got rid of your existing stretch mark with this salve or was it more because of your diet? If it was the diet what particular food did you include that helped get rid of them? And how long did it take?

  • http://wellnessmama.com Wellness Mama

    Mine went away… but like I said, I think diet played a big role too by helping heal from the inside out…

  • http://wellnessmama.com Wellness Mama

    There is a link to the diet in the post.. I would say it was definitely a combination…

  • http://www.facebook.com/trisha.williams.712 Trisha Williams

    I am also curious. I have a hard time imagining a salve being able to reverse stretch marks…but that would be SUPER!

  • http://www.survivingnjapan.com/ Ashley

    I’ve been eating a healthy diet for years, so that wasn’t a factor at all, but most of what I’ve read said it has more to do with genetics than anything else, which is why I just wonder if there’s something out there that does work that doesn’t cost thousands of dollars. Thanks for replying!

  • Amanda

    Would this work with cocoa butter instead of shea? That’s what I have on hand at the moment. Also, I wonder if this could be made into a whipped body butter, rather than a salve? Think I may have to try that. :)

  • http://wellnessmama.com Wellness Mama

    Shea butter is supposed to be naturally helpful in healing scars and keeping skin supple. The dietary side is also really important for replacing collagen…

  • http://www.facebook.com/sonja.cook.3785 Sonja Siivola Cook

    What can I use in place of coconut oil, allergic to it?

  • http://wellnessmama.com Wellness Mama

    You can use equal parts shea butter and almond oil…

  • http://www.facebook.com/sonja.cook.3785 Sonja Siivola Cook

    I have shea butter and apricot kernel oil-would that work?

  • http://wellnessmama.com Wellness Mama

    Yep!

  • McKel | Nutrition Stripped

    This sounds great! I’ve never heard of those flowers, what exactly do they do? Or are they just used for fragrance? Thanks!

  • http://wellnessmama.com Wellness Mama

    They are actually in the marigold family, but contain properties that benefit the skin…

  • http://www.facebook.com/sonja.cook.3785 Sonja Siivola Cook

    Awesome! Thank you.

  • Rebecca

    This is great thanks!! Do you recommend any essential oils that are safe during pregnancy? Seems like the list is rather short!

  • Cristy

    I am hoping to be pregnant very soon! In the meantime, would you recommend it as a good moisturizer? Every moisturizer I use gives me red bumps on my legs or doesn’t absorb well :( thanks!

  • http://wellnessmama.com Wellness Mama

    For the most part, I avoid essential oils during pregnancy but I’ve added a homemade vanilla oil before…

  • http://wellnessmama.com Wellness Mama

    It is great as a moisturizer too!

  • http://www.facebook.com/christina.l.18 Christina L

    If I can’t find the Calendula and don’t add the Ginger, do I still have to simmer the oil for half an hour or is that just to infuse the herbs?

  • http://wellnessmama.com Wellness Mama

    That is just to infuse… only takes five minutes if you don’t do that step :_)

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  • Kat Townsend

    Does dried ginger powder work or does it have to be the other way?

  • http://wellnessmama.com Wellness Mama

    dried ginger powder works…

  • Pingback: How To Make A Tiger Salve For Stretch Marks

  • Amanda

    I just had to report back that I made this with the cocoa butter than I had on hand, with some calendula-infused olive oil that I also needed to use up, and coconut oil. Instead of melting them in a double boiler, I stuck them all at room temp into my food processor and let it beat them into a nice, smooth, whipped body butter. Much nicer to apply than a salve. :)

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  • http://www.facebook.com/sabrina.carlson.52 Sabrina Carlson

    I made this but afterwards it didn’t solidify for two days, and when it did it it separated with solid on the bottom and liquid on top. Is there something I should do to prevent this? Maybe put it in the fridge for faster cooling?

  • http://wellnessmama.com Wellness Mama

    I’ve never had it do that… what liquid was in it that separated?

  • http://www.facebook.com/fajah.shamsiddeen Fajah Shamsid-Deen

    I just ordered the herbs and can’t wait to make this salve!

  • rozelle

    Hi..this recipe looks great! Would it be ok if I replaced the coconut oil with argan oil or rose hip oil because I read that those are good for stretch marks?

  • http://wellnessmama.com Wellness Mama

    Yep :-)

  • http://www.facebook.com/rienske.mortier Rienske Mortier

    I tried making this one but it does not solidify – is it because I used liquid coconut oil?

  • http://www.facebook.com/sabrina.carlson.52 Sabrina Carlson

    I assumed it was the apricot kernel oil?

  • http://wellnessmama.com Wellness Mama

    probably… you can remelt and add more of the other ingredients to thicken though…

  • http://www.facebook.com/Gracefly08 Deborah J Wilson

    Im allergic to Coconuts.. well actually all tree nuts in general is there another option for the coconut oil in the recipe?

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=680615002 Ryan Watson

    I ate just as you did during pregnancy (following a combo of the Brewer’s diet and Weston A. Price) eating upwards of 100 grams of protein daily and drinking water and pregnancy teas, and got awful stretch marks! I have heard that they are hugely hereditary and if “your mom has them then you will…” from everyone! I am going to try this salve and see if it can at least help them fade! Thank you for the recipe!

  • lesley

    I got stretch marks while pregnant. Thankfully they have faded but I did get laser treatments so I think that helped a lot. I found out about shea butter after I was pregnant and told my twin sister about it and she made a lotion of shea butter, coconut oil, and almond oil (it may have been grape seed oil) She did not get one stretch mark! I wish I knew about shea butter while I was pregnant. So from my sisters experience I would say this really works. She did put it on at least 3x a day and have her shirt rolled up so it wouldn’t get oily. I don’t think this can make stretch marks go away though, although it may help in their appearance.

  • ConservChick

    I used apricot kernel oil and mine does the same thing. It’s not solid at all

  • Kari

    Thanks for all the great recipes and tips!I am so excited to try this! I loooove the whipped body butter, but wanted to give this a try too! How long does this take to solidify usually?

  • http://wellnessmama.com Wellness Mama

    Depends on temp, but up to a couple days…

  • Kari

    Ok thank you!! I thought I did something wrong!