There’s so much to look forward to in this next chapter of life - and some not-so-pleasant stuff to prepare for. The stretch marks fall into the latter. It’s not even just the way they look. Your skin is getting pushed to its absolute limit, and that causes quite a bit of dryness and discomfort.
The good news is you can minimize or even prevent stretch marks with the best belly butter for pregnancy. We took a deep look at what moms-to-be have recommended, what they say you steer clear of, and came up with the top 6 picks currently on the market.
Quick Overview of the Best Belly Butter For Pregnancy
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Product |
Price |
Type |
Key Ingredients |
Best For |
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8 Sheep Organics True Belly Serum |
$47 |
Serum |
Centella Asiatica + Triple HA |
Overall best (clinical evidence) |
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Burt's Bees Mama Bee Belly Butter |
$12.99 |
Butter |
Shea + Cocoa Butter |
Budget-friendly moisturizer |
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Palmer's Cocoa Butter Massage Lotion |
$8.99 |
Lotion |
Cocoa Butter + Collagen |
Most popular/affordable |
|
Belli Stretch Mark Minimizing Cream |
$29 |
Cream |
Darutoside + Regestril |
Treating existing stretch marks |
|
Mustela Stretch Marks Cream |
$35 |
Cream |
Avocado Peptides + Maracuja |
European formulation |
|
Earth Mama Belly Butter |
$23.99 |
Butter/Lotion |
Borage Seed Oil + Calendula |
Organic certifications |
How We Selected the Top Pregnancy Belly Butters
Before we dive into the best belly butter for pregnancy, we want to make sure we’re on the same page about what separates the top products from those that overpromise and underdeliver (or worse - could be harmful for your baby). This was our criterion in selecting each belly butter:
- Clinically proven ingredients: You’d be shocked to learn how many “stretch mark prevention” products don’t have any ingredients that are clinically proven to address stretch marks. The American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) has only found two ingredients have any substantial evidence for this use case - Centella Asiatica and Hyaluronic Acid.
- Pregnancy safety: This is non-negotiable. Some skincare ingredients that would otherwise work well could be detrimental to your growing baby. We made sure to avoid products that have retinoids, hydroquinone, and other red-flag ingredients.
- Real-world results: Not just the number of five-star reviews. What are actual moms saying about a product? What do the 1-star reviews point out? We looked deep into reviews and got all the tea.
6 Best Belly Butters for Pregnancy
After sorting through hundreds of products, thousands of reviews, and real clinical evidence, we managed to narrow it down to just the top 6 products you should actually consider adding to your pregnancy arsenal. And frankly, you only need one of these. Let’s look at the rankings.
1. 8 Sheep Organics True Belly Serum
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Why We Love It |
What to Consider |
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8 Sheep Organics is known for making some of the most effective organic pregnancy products available in the USA, and the stretch mark serum is by far the best belly butter for pregnancy. It’s not subjective, either. It’s the only product on this list with the two ingredients proven to support stretch mark prevention and reduction according to the AAD.
The Cochrane Collaboration review is the gold standard in medical evidence. It found that women who used Centella Asiatica ended up with fewer stretch marks. The AAD said Hyaluronic Acid may help prevent stretch marks, too. This dynamic duo helps you transition gracefully through each trimester.
What really sets the formula apart is how it gets into the layer of the skin that really needs support. Stretch marks don’t just form on the epidermis (surface layer). They start deeper, where collagen fibers tear under tension. The True Belly Serum is super lightweight and penetrates deeper than a thick butter ever could.
But we also put the True Belly Serum in the #1 spot because of what’s not on the ingredients list. There’s no nasty stuff, and the product is handmade in small batches right here in the USA.
The one catch, really, is that it's the priciest belly butter on our list. But you get what you pay for. It’s only $1.57 per day when you consider how long the bottle lasts, too. And, your order is backed by a 100-day money-back guarantee. So there’s no risk involved.
2. Burt’s Bees Mama Bee Belly Butter
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Why We Love It |
What to Consider |
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The classic drugstore pick, and it keeps showing up on lists ranking the best belly butters for pregnancy for a reason. You know the brand - it’s familiar. That makes it a lot less scary to try. You can find a tub at Target, Walmart, and countless other retailers nearby. Or, you can buy it online and get it shipped to your door.
The formula is 99% natural - that alone is enough to earn our attention. It’s powered mostly by shea butter and cocoa butter, but rounded out with some jojoba and coconut oil. These ingredients are super moisturizing, but temper your expectations. They don’t have a ton of evidence specifically for stretch marks. They’ll certainly help keep your belly feeling soft, though!
Still, you probably want the best belly butter for pregnancy because you want to avoid stretch marks. There have been quite a few randomized controlled trials run on cocoa butter, and none of them showed it performed any better than a placebo.
That might not be a dealbreaker if you aren’t worried about stretch marks and just want to nourish your belly (and the rest of your body, for that matter) as everything starts expanding. We also really like the way it goes on - fast-absorbing with no greasy residue left behind. It’s fragrance free, too, so it won’t trigger your morning sickness.
3. Palmer’s Cocoa Butter Massage Lotion
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Why We Love It |
What to Consider |
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Palmer’s Cocoa Butter Massage Lotion is another bottle you’ve probably seen on the shelves at the store - perhaps you’ve even tried it in the past. It’s the best-selling pregnancy lotion on Amazon, and it’s easy to see why at only $9.
The formula uses 45 ingredients - one of which is Centella Asiatica, which we’ve raved about in our guide already. The only issue is it’s pretty far down the list (#19). That might mean it’s not concentrated enough to really move the needle. There are some ingredients we don’t love seeing on the label, too. Petrolatum, dimethicone, and synthetic fragrance.
The brand itself says it’s the “#1 Stretch Mark Brand.” It’s true - if you’re looking at sales volume, that is. And Palmer’s does have some solid evidence behind it, to be fair. An 8-week study featuring 102 women found that 98% of them noticed their skin feeling more elastic. They pointed out better texture and tone, too.
But there’s nuance here. Those benefits are great. Do they equate to stretch mark prevention or reduction, though? Hard to say with any level of certainty. Nevertheless, it’s affordable enough that you can take a chance on Palmer’s without stressing too much.
4. Belli Stretch Mark Minimizing Cream
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Why We Love It |
What to Consider |
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Belli is a really unique brand in that it actually says it can erase the appearance of existing stretch marks. Most say they’ll prevent them at best. That alone makes it the best belly butter for pregnancy - assuming it can actually do what it claims.
Darutoside and Regestril are the hero ingredients, and they do have some good backing. Up to 72% reduction in stretch mark depth and 52% in length, according to a study from back in 1997 in France. There hasn’t been much evidence to come out since then, but it’s promising to say the least.
The other thing Belli does that we really appreciate is called teratology screening. Basically, they put every ingredient through a cross-referencing system against published medical research to uncover any potential developmental harm. That’s a way more rigorous process than what any other brand here does.
However, there is one ingredient worth noting - retinyl palmitate. This is a vitamin A derivative. Belli says it passed their screening at safe concentrations, but obviously, the stakes are pretty high when it comes to your little one. You might not be comfortable taking any chances, considering dermatologists say retinoids are a gray area. That’s a decision for YOU to make.
5. Mustela Maternity Stretch Marks Cream
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Why We Love It |
What to Consider |
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This European maternity brand has been a skincare staple overseas for decades. It’s becoming really popular here in North America as well. The ingredient list is quite a bit different from other options we’ve looked at.
The stretch mark cream uses patented avocado peptides to strengthen the skin's hydrolipidic barrier. That’s a fancy way to say it keeps your skin hydrated as it stretches, so it moves easily instead of drying out and cracking. The formula also features maracuja polyphenols from passion fruit to support elasticity even more.
The ingredients were put to the test in a clinical study of 64 pregnant women. 98% of them said they were satisfied with how much more elastic their skin became. 87% said they felt as if it limited stretch mark appearance over a 3-month span. It may not be a very objective way of gauging results, but it’s better than nothing!
The ingredient list is a little longer than we’d like (25 total), but we don’t see any red flags on it - no parabens, phthalates, or phenoxyethanol. The fragrance-free version is EWG Verified and vegan, too. It’s just a more expensive bottle with less product in it. But that’s a small price to pay when it comes to the health and safety of your baby and YOUR comfort during pregnancy.
6. Earth Mama Organics Belly Butter
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Why We Love It |
What to Consider |
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Earth Mama has more ethical certifications than any other product on this list. That means you can feel good about nourishing your belly with this butter, knowing you’re spoiling yourself AND taking care of our planet. Some of the most noteworthy are:
- NSF/ANSI 305 organic
- Oregon Tilth certified
- EWG Skin Deep rating of 1
- Leaping Bunny cruelty-free
But what’s actually in it that earns it the sixth best belly butter for pregnancy? The formula is more herbal tradition than clinical dermatology. Some people love that, others will prefer something more science-backed.
You get borage seed oil, which is loaded with gamma-linolenic acid - a compound known to make skin more elastic. Meanwhile, calendula soothes itchy, stretching skin so you feel better. There’s rooibos to calm inflammation. Then there’s a wonderful sweet orange and neroli accent - which is specifically chosen because it’s gentle enough for pregnancy nausea.
Just know that in spite of the “butter” name, it’s more like a lightweight lotion. That’s not a bad thing, though. It absorbs fast and won’t leave any sort of greasiness behind.
Comparing the Different Types of Belly Stretch Mark Products
We know you came here specifically searching for the best belly butter for pregnancy, and this could be just what you need to prevent stretch marks and stay feeling your best through this next stage of life. But there are actually quite a few other types of products to consider, too.
A belly butter for stretch marks uses a thick, rich formula - usually with either cocoa butter or shea butter as the base. Maybe both. They coat the skin and lock moisture in to ease discomfort on dry, tight skin. But most of them sit on the surface and don’t work deep enough.
That’s why you might actually consider a different format:
- Serums: These tend to be better for managing stretch marks because they use smaller molecular weights. That’s how they get deeper into the skin to fight stretch marks where they actually form. The True Belly Serum from 8 Sheep Organics falls under this category.
- Creams: These are a good middle ground between butters and serums. Pretty lightweight, but a little more viscous than a serum. Mustela and Belli both make these.
- Oils: A belly oil for pregnancy can be layered under a butter or cream for extra moisture. This is our personal favorite for massage, and they spread really easily over a growing bump.
Whatever you decide to go with, it’s what’s inside the formula that matters most.
Pregnancy Belly Butter Buyer’s Guide
You really can’t go wrong with our top picks above. But if you want to take a closer look at what separates the best belly butter for pregnancy from the rest, it’s these factors below:
- Centella Asiatica (Gotu Kola): No ingredient has more clinical evidence for stretch mark prevention. Women who use it will develop fewer stretch marks. But it has to be in a strong enough concentration. It has to be an ACTIVE ingredient.
- Hyaluronic Acid: This is the best moisturizing ingredient for stretch mark prevention, especially when it’s triple-weighted because it can penetrate deeper into the skin.
- Clean formula: Even the best stretch mark reduction ingredients are useless if they’re accompanied by sketchy ingredients that could put your little one at risk. Your skin is more sensitive during this time, too. No petrolatum, mineral oil, synthetic fragrance, parabens, phthalates, or any other junk.
- Texture and consistency: Think about what you want in a product that you rub on your belly every single day for the next few months. You have to be willing to stick with it - which means you should genuinely look forward to using it.
- Third-party testing: How do you know a product has what it tells you it does, and no nasty stuff made it through? Lab results from a third-party source. This is another non-negotiable if you’re looking for the best belly butter for pregnancy.
- Money-back guarantee: Any brand that says they make the best anything should be willing to back it up with a satisfaction guarantee of some sort. This gives you peace of mind when taking a chance on a lesser-known product.
We didn’t mention cost here - that’s intentional. There are plenty of cheap formulas on our list above, but you get what you pay for. We think value for money matters more than anything else. If a product checks all these boxes but happens to be the most expensive, it’s worth it!
What to Steer Clear of in the Best Belly Butter For Pregnancy
You know what to look for in the best belly butter for pregnancy, but what you don’t put on your skin is equally important. Some of these ingredients are fine when you’re no longer pregnant or breastfeeding, but they have some question marks in the meantime:
- Retinoids: Retinol, tretinoin, retinyl palmitate - all of these Vitamin A derivatives work great for skin renewal, but OB/GYNs almost always tell you to avoid them. Even though OTC forms are less risky, it’s just not worth taking any chances on.
- Hydroquinone: One of the most powerful skin-lightening ingredients out there, and it’s commonly included in scar and mark treatments for that reason. But it has higher systemic absorption rates than we’re comfortable with during pregnancy.
- Synthetic fragrance (AKA Parfum): These terms can hide dozens of ingredients, all of which are undisclosed chemicals. Many are linked to skin sensitivity, while others are known hormone disruptors. Not good during pregnancy (or anytime, for that matter).
- Mineral oil and petrolatum: these are both petroleum-derived ingredients. They coat the skin really well, but they don’t do anything beyond that - just taking up space in the bottle. A brand uses them when it needs “filler” ingredients.
- Formaldehyde-releasing preservatives: DMDM hydantoin, imidazolidinyl urea, and Quaternium-15 all slowly release formaldehyde over time.
Just stick with our top picks from the list above and you have little to worry about. Get the best belly butter for pregnancy today and support your skin through this trying time!
Frequently asked questions
Do belly butters actually help with stretch marks during pregnancy?
It depends on what’s in them. A lot of products only have cocoa butter or shea butter. That’s great for moisturizing, but it won’t make a difference in stretch mark prevention (or correction) for most women. You need a product that uses Centella Asiatica and Hyaluronic Acid.
What's the best thing to rub on your stomach while pregnant?
8 Sheep Organics True Belly Serum is the best belly butter for pregnancy because it has the two ingredients the AAD has called out as effective for stretch marks: Centella Asiatica and Hyaluronic Acid. It’s our #1 recommendation.
When to start belly butter during pregnancy?
The earlier, the better. Stretch marks probably won’t be an issue until the second trimester, but you want to give your skin the elasticity boost it needs well in advance. Stretch marks are very hard to erase. It’s all about prevention.
How do I actually use the best belly butter for pregnancy?
Rub it on clean, dry skin 1-2 times a day. Morning and night. Cover the entire belly, wrapping around to your sides and lower back - skin stretches there as well. You can even use it on your upper back, breasts, thighs - anywhere. Don’t be stingy. Use plenty of product, and massage it for 30-60 seconds per area.
