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 better 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 accommodate 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…
Stretch Marks Salve Ingredients
- 1/4 cup Shea Butter
- 1/4 cup coconut oil
- 3 Tablespoons Apricot Kernel Oil
- 1 Tablespoon Calendula flowers (optional)
- 1/4 teaspoon dried ginger root
How to Make Stretch Marks Salve
- 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)
- Bring to a simmer and heat for 30 minutes on medium low heat to incorporate the properties of the herbs.
- 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.
- Return the oil to the double boiler and add the shea butter and coconut oil.
- Heat until melted and stir to incorporate.
- Remove from heat and store in small glass jar.
- Add any pregnancy safe essential oils if desired.
- Use as needed on skin before, during or after pregnancy as needed.
Ever tried a salve for stretch marks? What have you done that’s helped get rid of them? Share below!
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!
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…)
Mine went away… but like I said, I think diet played a big role too by helping heal from the inside out…
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!
I had really bad s.m, from my son.(he was 10.6 lbs!) With my girl didn’t get them as much. I started using vitamin E oil from Wal-Mart by the vitamins, $4. 2x’s a day.It really helped heal my scars, way better than any expensive cream ever did. Coconut oil is really good too. I would chose 1 or both and apply 2x’s a day.I don’t want any new ones this time! good luck:)
I haven’t tried vitamin E oil specifically… although some of the stuff I’ve used has that in it. Thanks for the suggestion! Although I’m worried that they won’t go away much now after two years. 🙁
Not a fan of coconut oil myself really… too sticky, clogs my pores and doesn’t seem to actually absorb into my skin (just sits on top and then I have to work harder to exfoliate). I also used that on stretch marks (and while pregnant) and did nothing for my stretch marks. 🙁 That’s why I’m buying more into the genetic (and diet) idea.
I tried the above recipe and it’s done nothing. Sadly. Have also been dry brushing for several months and no improvement. I think it’s hard to actually “prove” these things work in general, because how do you (general you) know the marks wouldn’t have disappeared/faded on their own, or that you wouldn’t have gotten any in the first place? Tricky.
Have you tried Bio Oil? It’s a new oil from Europe. Now available in the US, and It’s not too expensive!! Look for it at the drugstore. It faded some stretch marks I had from puberty and I’m now in my 40’s!
Do you think this would help with older 3rd degree burn scars?
Well, What did you eat?
how long did it take you for yours to go away?
Do you put the calendula flowers into a food processor before measuring or do you measure with the whole flower? Love your site!
I have actually used plain cocoa butter, and stretch marks didn’t even develop on my belly where I applied it. They developed on other areas that didn’t get the cocoa butter treatment
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?
There is a link to the diet in the post.. I would say it was definitely a combination…
I am also curious. I have a hard time imagining a salve being able to reverse stretch marks…but that would be SUPER!
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…
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. 🙂
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. 🙂
I think I’ll try that
what was the portions for the ingredents you used
What can I use in place of coconut oil, allergic to it?
You can use equal parts shea butter and almond oil…
I would recommend bio oil from walgreens and Palmers cocoa butter lotion, I used those two during my second pregnancy which worked great after getting a lot a lot of stretch marks 11 yrs earlier with my 1st pregnancy. My stomach looks amazing compared to before I used it twice a day for 8 months, and now every once in awhile. Mine are not gone completely but their so light u can barely see them and now with working out I’m sure as my stomach/abs tighten they will look more gone than now. Doesn’t hurt to try’ take care
I would not use Palmer’s Cocoa Butter Formula it has known carcinogens and other known toxic ingredients. You can check all products on EWG website. Making your own really is best. Corporations want to maximize profits and use many synthetic and cheap toxic chemicals as a result. You can purchase a pound of synthetic Lavender fragrance for $1 vs $211 one pound of a natural Lavender essential oil. Steep difference. Plus natural carrier oils are more expensive than the synthetically made or modified ones. I doubt you will ever need to buy a pound of a natural essential oil so purchasing the smaller amount of what you need is still cost effective and safer for your body. 1/2 oz. of essential lavender oil is $12.75 and you use a dropper to count the drops you want to add into your homemade lotion mixture. Check out the toxic chemicals palmers uses….http://www.ewg.org/skindeep/brand/Palmer%27s/
I have shea butter and apricot kernel oil-would that work?
Yep!
Awesome! Thank you.
This sounds great! I’ve never heard of those flowers, what exactly do they do? Or are they just used for fragrance? Thanks!
They are actually in the marigold family, but contain properties that benefit the skin…
This is great thanks!! Do you recommend any essential oils that are safe during pregnancy? Seems like the list is rather short!
For the most part, I avoid essential oils during pregnancy but I’ve added a homemade vanilla oil before…
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!
It is great as a moisturizer too!
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?
That is just to infuse… only takes five minutes if you don’t do that step :_)
Does dried ginger powder work or does it have to be the other way?
dried ginger powder works…
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?
I’ve never had it do that… what liquid was in it that separated?
I assumed it was the apricot kernel oil?
I used apricot kernel oil and mine does the same thing. It’s not solid at all
I made a batch and mine never solidified at all. Made it very messy. I’d like to try again because perhaps I am doing something wrong? Or perhaps it’s because I live in hot Southern California? Any advice would be appreciated :). I love your posts!
I just ordered the herbs and can’t wait to make this salve!
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?
Yep 🙂
I tried making this one but it does not solidify – is it because I used liquid coconut oil?
probably… you can remelt and add more of the other ingredients to thicken though…
Im allergic to Coconuts.. well actually all tree nuts in general is there another option for the coconut oil in the recipe?
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!
So did it work? I have a tummy Covered in Tiger stripes along with a saggy stretched out tummy. I have had these marks for 11 years.
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.
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?
Depends on temp, but up to a couple days…
Ok thank you!! I thought I did something wrong!
I’m pregnant with baby #4 right now. I got plenty of stretch marks the first time around (using just lotion) but did not get any with #2,#3, and so far none with #4 (I’m 6 mos). WIth #2 & 3 I just used the Eastern variety of shea butter and with this baby I put on a vitamin C serum and coconut oil in the morning and Western variety shea butter at night.
sounds good but its a far cry from REAL tiger balm :
Can this work even AFTER pregnancy?? to get RID of my tiger marks? I have had FOUR babies and all c sections…ready to at least soften these marks….
This and dry brushing helped mine a lot!
I’m sure this is a really stupid question, but if the calendula is a marigold, can you use marigolds from your flower garden?
They are in the same family, but I don’t think regular marigolds have the same benefit…
So do you buy the whole flowers or the powder for ginger root and calendula? I wasn’t sure of the powder would become clumpy when trying to infuse it. I am 9 weeks pregnant so I wanted to go ahead and start to try to prevent stretch marks!
I just made this but I whipped it following the instructions for your whipped body butter. Turned out perfect, even though I had to substitute 1 of the tablespoons for sesame oil since I didn’t have enough olive oil. Thanks for the recipe, love your blog! 🙂
I made this today and put it in the fridge to thicken up. It did thicken but when I took it out it went right back to liquid. It’s only 73 in our house. Did I miss something? Is it supposed to be liquid consistency?
Hi Wellness Mama- you mention in the comments here that you typically avoid EO’s during pregnancy. I was wondering how you handle things like deodorant, homemade room spray/freshener (if you use that), homemade natural cleaning sprays etc. while pregnant. Do you omit them from these products while pregnant or do you just them in small amounts and avoid direct applications? There’s so much mixed information out there and it’s hard not to over-obsess while pregnant. I hope you’re able to answer. Thanks!
usually I just leave the oils out when I’m pregnant…
Thanks so much!
I made this and it WILL NOT solidify at all. I left it overnight and it’s still 100% liquidy. Did anyone else have this problem?
Did you use coconut oil that is solid at room temp?
Did you use coconut oil that is solid at room temp?
I tried this and it’s REALLY greasy! I don’t like how greasy it’s leaving me. Did anyone else have this problem? I do not like being big, pregnant, uncomfortable, and greasy all at the same time! 🙁
No I think I may have used too much almond oil …? It said to be sure there was at least a tbsp after infusing n I got most of the 3 tbsp back and put it in. Would that have done it?
Hi Wellness Mama. I am 24 never had a kid but the last 3 years I have gained 70 pounds and have millions of stretch marks that have kept me hiding my body. I would love to go to the beach and not try to hide or even wear a dress again. I want to try your recipe but I am just a little confused about what you had said. in your first sentence you said you got stretch marks with your first and since gotten rid of them. but then you say later that … I’m proud of my stretch marks and wouldn’t trade a second of motherhood for perfect abs…. did they really go away… I’ve tried everything hoping for a miracle
I noticed the same thing….you said the stretch marks went away and then you said you’re proud of them. Very confused. Can you reply to this, please? Also have you heard about derma rolling and the great success people are reporting?
I still have very feint lines for a couple marks, but they are mostly gone. I’m definitely much more self conscious about my c-section scar than my tiny traces of two stretch marks though… (thankfully, no one really sees either one)
I was just wondering what the ginger does?
Hi I am an old lady from South Africa.. Had four children and no stretch marks.. Grandma`s recipe.. Heat Olive oil in Jug boiling water until it is really warm rub it into
your skin from your back hips all over your stomach and boobes. from the first day of pregnancy.
I I heard calendula is not recommended during pregnancy (topically & orally).
Will this also work on ladies with none pregnancy stretch marks?
Hello,
Thank you for the great recipe. My wife will love this after just giving birth.
Can you please tell me how much 1/4 cup butter and cream is in grams or ml?
I tried a converter on the interrnet, but don’t know wether to use loquids, or butter etc.
And how important is the calendula? It’s the only product I dont have in my home, and since it is optional…
Thank you!
1/4 cup is 59 mL
Hello,
I really want to try this so I biought Shae butter and coconut oil.
In these comments everybody is saying that their mixture remains solid, but both the butter as the oil I bought are in solid state at room temperature. It twill be very difficult to smear this on the body.
Have I bought the wrong supplies?
I am in the medical field and have always been told that stretch marks are hereditary. My mother and sister both have stretch marks, but I wasn’t going down without a fight, so the doctor I work for recommended the Lady Soma Stretch Mark Cream, I ordered it online. I used it throughout my entire pregnancy…EVERY morning and EVERY night. I started using it at about 8 weeks pregnant. I am so happy that I did not get 1 stretch mark!!!!
I was so surprised considering that my mother and sister both have them. For those who are wondering, I carried my baby for 37 4/7 weeks with not one stretchie!
Please Toni. What’s the cream that your doctor recommended for you and how can I buy it am in Nigeria. Thanks
Hey thank you so much for this recipe i just wanted to say you might want to try out honey for stretch marks and for highlighting your hair honey has a natural bleaching quality
very nice this cream just a little note when you make an oily macerate it would be better not to put it back on the fire loses its oil calendula I do it with fresh flowers and olive oil by putting it in the sun for 40 days is your method hot and that’s okay .. but then my advice is not to heat it more.
I was wondering if you could use magnesium oil instead of almond oil?
I’ve been using your homemade lotion (coconut oil, olive oil, cocoa butter, vitamin E oil, and a little bit of beeswax) as well as 100% aloe vera gel and am not seeing any improvement in my stretch marks. The recipe in this article has all the same products. What am I doing wrong?
I’ve also seen articles that recommend exfoliating with a sugar scrub, lemon juice or potato juice. If I add these products to what I’m already doing what order do I do them all in? Is there any harm in trying all of it?
What are you doing internally? If those aren’t changing anything, I’d look at making sure there are enough fat soluble vitamins in your diet and enough Omega-3s.
I like to think I have a widely varied and balanced diet (mostly because I get bored with a food easily). I eat many different kinds of nuts, including walnuts. All my cooking is done with coconut oil or olive oil. I eat plenty of greens and to supplement my greens make a green smoothie most days. What else can I add?
I was wondering what you thought about the use of vitamin e oil for prevention of stretch marks. I had read that large amounts of it by supplementation can cause dangerous heart defects to the fetus. I was wondering what you thought about the use of Virgin Palm oil which contains high concentrations of a powerful form of Vitamin E called “tocotrienols”. Surely, it isn’t harmful because it is natural and not supplemented. What are your thoughts?
Do you have before and after pics?
Hey Wellness Mama, I made this salve the other day and the day after I made it and ever since it has been melty and sort of grainy. Is there any way I can fix this?
Does this lotion work for stretch marks on thighs also?
I have a very clean diet and I juice once a day as well and yet I still struggle with stretch marks. I have never been over weight in my life, never been pregnant, and I exercise. And yet I still struggle with these ugly scars. Will this get rid of the stretch marks or just prevent more from appearing? Also, do you sell this lotion?
It should help with any stretch marks.
I love the guide of all the different oils to use. It is important to make sure the skin is moisturizing during drastic weight changes because the skin needs to be elastic to bend with the body instead of tear and create stretch marks. What do you prefer? use this during pregnancy or after giving birth? Looking forward to your response. Thanks
Both!
I love the guide of all the different oils to use. It is important to make sure the skin is moisturizing during drastic weight changes because the skin needs to be elastic to bend with the body instead of tear and create stretch marks. What do you prefer? use this during pregnancy or after giving birth? Looking forward to your response. Thanks
Both!
Almond oil: 2 tbs
Wheatgerm oil: 1 tbs
Borage seed oil: 10 drops
Carrot oil: 5 drops
18 drops of chosen EO
Shake the oils together and use when needed
I found this in a book on essential oils and I plan on using it to prevent stretch marks. I’m not too sure if it will get rid of stretch marks, but it’s worth a try! 🙂
Ok so I have been reading all the comments and I have come to the conclusion that Katie has an abundance of patience. For the umpteen people who repost their concern about the consistency of their balm, you just need to make sure there is a higher ratio of solid butters/oils to liquid oils. Stretch marks on your tummy, bum, legs, breasts, eyelids (excuse the sarcasm) it doesn’t matter, Lastly, I would recommend some light reading on how our cells are renewed. This will help you to see why Wellness M has recommended a healthy diet in conjunction with the balm. It’s a change in lifestyle darlings, which is continuous and progressive.
Best comment ever! 🙂
May I ask why you use Shea butter vs Cocoa butter for this recipe? Sorry if I have missed this question in the previous comments, I tried to find an answer before posting.
Is dried ginger root the same as the ginger powder I bought in the spice aisle at my grocery store?
Yes.
one of best way to remove stretchmarks during the pregnancy try to use dermelastic Serum. really it’s work awesome my wife also using that product she got amazing result now she have no any stretch mark on her tummy.
I recently ordered a ton of ingredients to make quite a few things on your website & got must if them in the mail, so I’m going to make this!
The eyelid comment may have been sarcastic but due to an autoimmune disorder my face swells and I have tiny stretch marks above my jawline…
I am using grapefruit oil, coconut oil, glycerine and shea butter. The glycerine keeps the mixture from being “grainy”.
This salve sounds fantastic. I was wondering…. I have some infused Calendula oil already, can I put a drop or two or three of ginger essential oil into the salve instead of infusing the ginger root? If so, how many drops would you recommend? Thank you for all your wonderful advice!
I was wondering the same thing! I have read up on ginger and its ability to fade the hyper pigmented skin back to regular skin color but was wondering if ginger essential oil would be more or less effective than regular ginger or powdered ginger. I have a whole bottle that hasn’t been opened! Thanks so much for your amazing blog. It is becoming an amazing resource for me for so many areas!
can i make it as a body butter?Looks very greasy in your picture.Is it greasy?Thank you so much
It has more of a salve consistency, so yes, it will be a bit more greasy than your average body butter. You could add more shea butter, or add 1/4 cup of mango or cocoa butter to it, although I found this consistency to be optimal for preventing the stretch marks.
Have you ever added arrowroot powder to any of your salves to see if it cuts down on the greasiness? Also – any thoughts on adding ginger essential oils to the salve instead of infusing dried ginger. Love your site! Love your ideas! Thanks for much for sharing!
Thank you..Phew.. it looks greasy… but if helps with stretch marks I will do it:):)Thank you for your answer.
I have used bio oil during my pregnancy. Now I don’t have pregnancy marks in my tummy.
I have heard about bio oil stretch mark removal cream. Is that a good stretch mark removal cream?
I have not tried it myself.
Could you whip this combination into a body butter?
You could try…
Thanks so much for sharing this! Do you by any chance sell this to buy? Thanks!
I currently do not sell this… sorry!
I read that lack of zinc could be a factor contributing to stretch marks…
try to use dermelastic it’s Best serum for helping scars to heal. Particularly good for people who are prone to keloids (raised and often darkened) scarring.
Hello Wellness Mama,
I am very interested in making your recipe but I have read that it can be very greasy, so I would like to know how long it takes to be absorbed and if it could stain clothes. Thank you!
Honestly, it is likely to vary by person (since how fast your skin absorbs product will be particular to you). I have not had issues with this staining clothing. IF you are concerned, you could apply it immediately after exiting the shower and then do any remaining after-shower activities (I usually brush my teeth and do my hair in my robe rather than clothes so as not to splash or drip on my shirt). I bet that would give it enough time to absorb.
Thanks for your reply 🙂
Katie provides good recipes using safe ingredients. When you start “substituting” with other things it might not be as effective or as safe.
Also, just because something is “natural” does not mean it is absolutely good for you. Sometimes you have to ask just how “natural” is it? For instance, for all those who were talking about using Vitamin E creams there is something you should be aware of regarding where some forms of Vitamin E cream come from. Often it contains soy. Same goes for glycerine – it is typically made using corn. Most of the corn and soy grown in the U.S. is genetically engineered (GMO) and has unnatural DNA added to it and is saturated with glyphosate which can never be fully removed from the corn or soy after harvest. I don’t consider GE corn and soy “natural” or safe but the non-organic food and supplement industry does.
The following came from Dr. Mercola’s website:
Even so-called ‘natural’ forms of supplements may not be all they’re cracked up to be if they contain ingredients like soy–which is typically used in most vitamin E supplements.
Soybean oil is simply not a healthy oil. The majority of soy grown in the US is genetically engineered (GE). As a result, it contains the potent herbicide glyphosate.
Whether it is organically grown or not, soy also contains a number of problematic compounds that can potentially wreak havoc with your health, such as…
Goitrogens – These are found in unfermented soy, whether it’s organic or not. These substances can block the synthesis of thyroid hormones and interfere with iodine metabolism.
Isoflavones: genistein and daidzein – Isoflavones are a type of phytoestrogen, which is a plant compound resembling human estrogen. Even more worrisome, there’s evidence isoflavones may disturb endocrine function and potentially cause infertility.
Phytic acid – Phytates (phytic acid) bind to metal ions, preventing the absorption of certain beneficial minerals, including calcium, magnesium, iron, and zinc. This can be particularly problematic for vegetarians, because eating meat reduces the mineral-blocking effects of these phytates.
I am 35 year old husband and I feel bad about my wife pregnancy stretch marks. I should do something to help her to make beautiful belly lady without stretch marks. I asked her to do lot of exercises to reduce her stretch marks, but it’s not worked. Finally I saw one article about Dermelastic serum and that intend my wife should try with this product. My wife told nothing happen in few days and she is fighting with me but she continued the usage. But after 3 weeks, we both happy with final result she got. You should give it a try!
As you begin your first term, it is important to start a preventative regimen against unwanted stretch marks before they appear in your later stages of pregnancy.
My salve turned out very liquidy as well. I got a good consistency after I left it in the fridge for a few hours, but at room temperature it turned back into a thick lotion. SO I melted down 4 tsps of beeswax and incorporated it all together over heat. The consistency turned out really great so I wanted to share! 🙂
Hello – Is there a reason you use Apricot Kernel Oil for stretch marks instead of say, olive oil?
Body brushing has completely taken mine away… They were pretty small and only a few, but I was amazed at the difference!
Thanks for this recipe also.
I was wondering can you use something else besides apricot oil.
I just made this and love it but was wondering if Argan Oil could be added for additional healing properties. How much and at what point in the recipe? Thanks!
Hi, can I add essential oils to this?
hi do you make this to sell anywhere?
No I don’t…
Wellness Mama, where did you get the Calendula Flowers? Is it the same as bulk tea flowers?
I just made this & it’s liquid. Initially it wasn’t turning solid at room temp so it put it in the fridge. It was a nice texture. I leftmost out of fridge overnight & it’s liquid again. For those who tried to whip it into body butter, did you add anything first? My coconut butter was partially solid, but when I added it to the other hot oils, it melted completely. I’m excited about this recipe & hope I can get it solid or whipped.