Justin Davies
postpartum specialist
Here's something that might surprise you.
There are only two topical skincare ingredients with any meaningful clinical evidence for helping prevent stretch marks during pregnancy: centella asiatica and hyaluronic acid.
Not cocoa butter. Not shea butter. Not vitamin E. Not coconut oil.
A Cochrane Collaboration review - considered the gold standard of medical evidence - found that a cream containing centella asiatica extract was associated with fewer women developing stretch marks compared to placebo.
The American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) also specifically notes that products containing centella asiatica and hyaluronic acid may help prevent stretch marks.
Meanwhile, multiple randomized controlled trials have shown that cocoa butter performs no better than placebo for stretch mark prevention. Same with olive oil.
So we had a simple question: Do the most popular stretch mark products actually contain the ingredients that research supports?
We pulled the full ingredient lists for five of the most recommended products on Reddit, Amazon, and pregnancy forums. Then we checked each one for centella asiatica and hyaluronic acid, the only two ingredients the research points to.
The results were... not what we expected.
Key Finding Out of 5 products tested, only one contained both centella asiatica and hyaluronic acid as primary active ingredients, listed at the top of the formula, not buried at the bottom.
What We Looked For
This wasn't a subjective review based on how products smelled or felt on the skin. We focused on one thing: Does this product contain the ingredients that have been shown in clinical research to prevent stretch marks?
For each product, we checked three things:
- 1. Does it contain centella asiatica?
- Centella asiatica (also known as gotu kola) is a herb that has been shown to support collagen production and reduce the chances of getting stretch marks. In a PubMed study, researchers found that by applying centella asiatica, 89% of pregnant women were able to avoid getting any stretch marks. And these were women who had previously gotten stretch marks during puberty and were prone to them.
- 2. Does it contain hyaluronic acid?
- Hyaluronic acid is a powerful humectant that pulls moisture from the environment into the skin. It helps keep skin hydrated and supple, and supports its ability to stretch without tearing. Ideally, a stretch mark product should be formulated with hyaluronic acid at multiple molecular weights so it can reach different layers of the skin instead of just moisturizing the surface.
- 3. Where are these ingredients listed on the label?
- Ingredients in cosmetic products have to be listed in order of concentration. If centella asiatica or hyaluronic acid is listed near the end of the ingredients list, you're likely getting a trace amount that's not going to be very effective.
With those criteria in hand, here's what we found.
OUR TOP PICK
8 Sheep Organics - True Belly Serum
- Centella Asiatica - Key Ingredient
- Triple-Weight Hyaluronic Acid - Key Ingredient
This is the only product we found where both centella asiatica and hyaluronic acid are listed at the top of the ingredients list as primary actives. The first ingredient is a centella asiatica water infusion, and it uses three molecular weights of hyaluronic acid for multi-layer hydration.
PROS
- Both clinically studied ingredients as primary actives
- Centella asiatica is the #1 ingredient
- Contains triple-weight hyaluronic acid
- Clean formula: no petroleum, fragrance, or parabens
- Non-greasy, absorbs quickly
- 100-day money-back guarantee (even if bottle is empty)
- Small-batch, made in the US
CONS
- Pricier than drugstore options ($47 vs. $8-$15)
- Slight grassy scent
(no added fragrance) - Sells out frequently due to small-batch production
Yes, this is one of the pricier options. But we still chose it as our top pick because it was the only product that contained both centella asiatica and hyaluronic acid at meaningful concentrations.
We would rather pay $47 for a product formulated with clinically studied ingredients than spend $12-$25 on a butter or oil that does nothing to prevent stretch marks.
A bottle lasts about a month, which works out to roughly $1.57 per day. That's far less than laser treatments or other stretch mark removal procedures, which can run $200-$500 per session.
We also liked that the serum comes with a 100-day guarantee. You can try it completely risk-free and return it for a full refund if you're not satisfied.
Palmer's Cocoa Butter Formula Massage Lotion for Stretch Marks
- Centella Asiatica - Trace Amount (listed 19th)
- No Hyaluronic Acid
Palmer's is the stretch mark cream your mother probably used. Affordable, available everywhere, and often the first product pregnant moms reach for.
It does technically contain centella asiatica extract. But it's listed 19th out of 40+ ingredients, meaning there's likely less than 1% in the formula. No hyaluronic acid at all. The base is cocoa butter, which randomized controlled trials have shown does not prevent stretch marks.
PROS
- Very affordable
- Available everywhere - drugstores, supermarkets, Amazon
- Familiar, trusted brand
- Good general moisturizer for dry, itchy pregnancy skin
CONS
- No hyaluronic acid
- Built on cocoa butter - shown in RCTs to perform no better than placebo for stretch marks
- Can feel greasy; doesn't absorb quickly
- Contains petrolatum, mineral oil, and fragrance
Palmer's is a solid moisturizer. It will keep your skin hydrated and comfortable during pregnancy. But moisturizing and preventing stretch marks are two different things.
The primary ingredients in Palmer's are cocoa butter, shea butter, petrolatum, palm oil, and coconut oil. These ingredients have not been shown to help prevent stretch marks. And while Palmer's does contain centella asiatica, it is likely less than 1% of the formula and present in such a small amount that it's unlikely to make a meaningful difference.
Bio-Oil Skincare Oil
- No Centella Asiatica
- No Hyaluronic Acid
Bio-Oil is probably the most recognized name in stretch mark care. It's affordable, widely available, and has thousands of positive reviews. We thought this would be our top pick. But when we looked at the ingredient list, our opinion changed.
The main ingredient in Bio-Oil is mineral oil (paraffinum liquidum). This is a petroleum by-product that is too heavy to absorb into the skin. It sits on the surface, and cannot reach deep enough to where stretch marks form. Bio-Oil does not contain either centella asiatica or hyaluronic acid.
PROS
- Affordable and widely available
- Pleasant scent
- Helps with general skin moisturization
- Trusted, well-known brand
CONS
- Does not contain centella asiatica or hyaluronic acid
- Primary ingredient is mineral oil (petroleum by-product)
- Contains fragrance and multiple listed allergens
- Oily texture can stain clothes and bedding
Moms who use Bio Oil often say it smells nice, and helps with dry, itchy skin during pregnancy. Those are real benefits.
However, if preventing stretch marks is your goal, the ingredients in Bio-Oil don't align with what the research supports.
Burt's Bees Mama Bee Belly Butter
- No Centella Asiatica
- No Hyaluronic Acid
Burt's Bees has strong brand appeal, especially with moms who prioritize clean, natural ingredients. The Mama Bee Belly Butter is fragrance-free, uses shea butter and cocoa butter as its base, and generally gets positive reviews for comfort and texture.
However, it does not contain centella asiatica or hyaluronic acid. Its formula relies entirely on butters and plant oils - which are great for moisturization, but have no clinical evidence for stretch mark prevention.
PROS
- Clean, natural ingredient profile
- No fragrance - good for sensitive skin
- Rich, thick texture that moisturizes well
- Trusted "natural" brand
CONS
- No centella asiatica or hyaluronic acid
- Very thick - can feel heavy and greasy
- Does not absorb well; can leave residue
- Relies on cocoa butter and shea butter (no clinical evidence for stretch marks)
TriLASTIN Maternity Stretch Mark Prevention Cream
- No Centella Asiatica
- No Hyaluronic Acid
TriLASTIN is positioned as a premium stretch mark prevention cream and is priced higher than most drugstore options. However, it does not contain centella asiatica or hyaluronic acid. It also contains ingredients like Triethanolamine and Phenoxyethanol, which some moms with sensitive skin may want to be aware of.
PROS
- Non-greasy texture; absorbs better than butters
- Some moms report softer-feeling skin
CONS
- Premium price ($35-$40) without the premium ingredients to back it up
- No centella asiatica or hyaluronic acid
- Contains Triethanolamine & Phenoxyethanol - may not suit sensitive skin
- Limited availability - mostly online only
The Side-by-Side Comparison
We lined up all five products based on the three criteria that matter: does it contain centella asiatica, does it contain hyaluronic acid, and where are those ingredients on the label?
Feature
Centella Asiatica
Hyaluronic Acid
Free of Petroleum / Mineral Oil
Fragrance-Free
Non-Greasy / Quick Absorb
Money-Back Guarantee
Price
-
True Belly Serum
#1 Ingredient- Triple-weight
- Yes
- Yes
- Serum texture
- 100 days
- $47
-
Bio-Oil 
None- None
- #1 ingredient
- Contains
- Oily
- Standard return
- ~$13
Palmer's
Trace (~19th)- None
- Contains
- Contains
- Greasy
- Standard return
- ~$10
Burt's Bees- None
- None
- Yes
- Yes
- Thick/Heavy
- Standard return
- ~$13
TriLASTIN- None
- None
- #1 ingredient
- Varies
- Serum texture
- 90 days
- ~$38
So What Does This Actually Mean For You?
Given a choice, most moms will naturally choose a cheaper stretch mark product.
After all, if every product claims to help prevent stretch marks, it makes sense to go for the cheapest option.
However, research points to only two ingredients for stretch mark prevention, and most popular products don't contain either ingredient at meaningful levels.
That's because these ingredients are expensive and difficult to formulate with.
True Belly Serum is the only product we found that contains both centella asiatica and hyaluronic acid as primary active ingredients. It was also the only product that came with a 100-day risk-free guarantee.
A note on expectations: No topical product can guarantee zero stretch marks. Genetics and age play a role too. However, studies show that you can minimize the chances of getting stretch marks with topical centella asiatica and hyaluronic acid. What we're comparing here is which products give your skin the best chance to avoid stretch marks based on what the research supports.
Editor's Note (March 2026):
Since publishing this review, the True Belly Serum has seen a significant increase in demand. It is made in small batches in Indiana, and once a batch sells out, it typically takes several weeks to source ingredients and produce a new one. If it's currently in stock, we'd recommend ordering sooner rather than later.
Sources: American Academy of Dermatology (aad.org), PubMed (PMID: 30293400), Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, MDPI Cosmetics Journal (2024).
Disclosure: Ingredient analysis is based on publicly available ingredient lists and published clinical research.