Mustela Stretch Marks Prevention Cream Review
This is a review of Mustela Stretch Marks Prevention Cream, a naturally formulated topical application specifically formulated to help with stretch mark prevention. The manufacturer claims a 96% success rate in preventing stretch marks during pregnancy.
Stretch marks are red or purple rigid, raised lines. The form during pregnancy, growth phases and when there are hormonal changes. Rapid weight gain and loss can also cause lines. The skin’s rapid expansion causes it to lose elasticity. One of the main reasons for this is due to lowered collagen. Collagen levels play an active role in the skin’s ability to remain smooth, even and healthy looking.
Ingredients
- aqua/water/eau
- di-c12-13 alkyl malate
- ethylhexyl cocoate
- cetearyl alcohol
- dicaprylyl carbonate
- hydrolyzed soy protein
- butylene glycol
- cera alba/beeswax/cire d’abeille
- Laureth-23
- Galactoarabinan
- butyrospermum parkii (shea) butter
- glyceryl stearate
- 1,2-hexanediol
- cetyl alcohol
- cetearyl glucoside
- glyceryl caprylate
- parfum (fragrance)
- xanthan gum
- cetyl palmitate
- Cocoglycerides
- sclerotium gum
- zinc gluconate
- pentylene glycol
- helianthus annuus (sunflower) seed oil
- sophora japonica fruit extract
- hydrolyzed avocado protein
- Maltodextrin
- citric acid
- lupinus albus seed extract
- tocopherol
The important thing is not to be confused by this long list of ingredients but to realize that the main ones are avocado peptides (proteins) and Galactoarabinan. The latter is extracted from Larch tree and helps the skin become more elastic. It also keeps the skin soft and supple, so it is able to handle any expansion better. The avocado relieves skin stiffness, provides much needed nourishment and also keeps it supple. Citric acid is important for its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, keeping the area free-radical free. This allows deep cell rejuvenation. Shea butter is also immensely moisturizing and helps collagen production.
A medical-strength silicone layer seals in moisture, and helps skin repair itself unhindered. This is missing, but is possible what the beeswax is intended to do. We would have liked to see more potent concentrations of Vitamin E which really help to erase the visibility of marks.
Dosage
Massage into the abdomen, hips, thighs, buttocks and belly at the onset of pregnancy and continue using after birth. Use in the morning and at night.
Possible Side Effects
This natural product is safe to use before and after pregnancy, and during breastfeeding. Do not ingest it or rub it into open wounds, or the eyes.
Price
An 8.45 oz tube retails for $30 on the product website.
Guarantee
We could not find any evidence of a risk-free trial or guarantee.
The Conclusion Of Our Mustela Stretch Marks Prevention Cream Review
Mustela is hypoallergenic, clinically tested and made from all-natural ingredients. The product gets good reviews when it comes to stretch mark prevention, and mixed reviews regarding erasing lines and marks.
Due to the high nourishing and elasticity retaining properties of the ingredients, we do believe that this cream is effective as a preventive measure. How well it works for existing stretch marks would depend on the condition of your skin – the formulation could have done with more vitamin E. The most effective anti-stretch mark formulations often contain medical-grade silicone to lock in moisture and promote rejuvenation. This isn’t the case with this product.
We recommend it as a preventive measure but not necessarily to treat existing marks. This is mainly due to the lack of a guarantee.
