Everything You Need to Know Before Trying the True Belly Serum
Still unsure? Here are the most common questions moms ask before ordering.
What is the True Belly Serum?
True Belly Serum is a pregnancy and postpartum-safe skincare serum designed to help prevent and fade stretch marks.
How is this different from Palmer's, Bio-Oil, and other stretch mark products?
True Belly Serum is the only stretch mark product formulated with both centella asiatica and triple-weight hyaluronic acid.
These are the only two ingredients that have been shown in clinical studies to help prevent stretch marks, and are recommended by the American Academy of Dermatology.
Most other stretch mark products are made with cocoa butter, shea butter, or mineral oils, which do not have any evidence for helping to prevent stretch marks.
Are there any studies to show that centella asiatica and hyaluronic acid actually work for stretch marks?
Yes, there have been multiple clinical studies showing that centella asiatica and hyaluronic acid are effective in preventing stretch marks.
Centella Asiatica Studies
A 1991 study took a group of pregnant women and split them into two groups. The first group was given a centella asiatica cream. The second group was given a placebo. They found that 89% of the women who had a history of stretch marks and used the centella asiatica cream did not get any stretch marks. Meanwhile, every single woman in the placebo group got them.
A separate 2013 PubMed study found that of the women who applied a centella asiatica cream from week 12 of their pregnancy, only 5.6% of them got stretch marks. For the women that did not apply the cream, more than one-third of them ended up getting stretch marks.
Hyaluronic Acid Studies
In a separate double-blind study, pregnant women were either given a hyaluronic acid cream, a cream with vitamins, or a placebo to apply. Of the women who applied the hyaluronic acid cream, only 10% developed stretch marks. Whereas for the women who applied the vitamin cream or placebo, nearly 40% of them developed stretch marks.
Meanwhile, studies have shown no difference between cocoa butter and placebo for stretch mark prevention. Same with olive oil.
Why don't other stretch mark products contain centella asiatica or hyaluronic acid?
It's because these ingredients are expensive to source and formulate with.
It is much cheaper to manufacture a product with ingredients like cocoa butter, shea butter, and mineral oil.
That's why, if you look at the ingredients list of most stretch mark products, you often won't find any centella asiatica or hyaluronic acid.
And even those products that do typically contain less than 1% of these ingredients, listed near the bottom of the label.
True Belly Serum is different. We use a 40% titrated centella extract and triple-weight hyaluronic acid as our primary active ingredients.
You'll find both ingredients listed right at the top of our label.
Why can't I just use another centella asiatica or hyaluronic acid product?
You definitely can. However, there are three things you should be aware of.
#1
Not all centella asiatica extracts are the same.
The active compounds in centella asiatica that support collagen production and skin elasticity are Asiaticoside and Madecassoside.
Most extracts only contain 0.05% of these active compounds. True Belly Serum uses a high potency titrated extract standardized to 40% Asiaticoside and Madecassoside.
True Belly Serum
40%
Asiaticoside + Madecassoside. Titrated extract at therapeutic concentration. This is the gold standard.
#2
Most products use regular hyaluronic acid.
Regular hyaluronic acid (sodium hyaluronate) mostly sits on the skin's surface and cannot reach deep enough to where stretch marks form.
True Belly Serum uses a triple-weight hyaluronic acid (high, medium, and low molecular weight) that can sink deeper into the skin.
#3
Not all skincare products are pregnancy-safe.
Many centella asiatica or hyaluronic acid serums on the market are not made specifically for pregnant women, and may contain ingredients such as:
True Belly Serum is fragrance-free, and formulated with clean, pregnancy-safe ingredients. It is safe to use throughout pregnancy and postpartum.
Can't I just use a regular moisturizer or lotion?
Moisturizing and preventing stretch marks are two different things.
Moisturizing happens on the surface level, while stretch marks form deeper in the skin.
A good moisturizer can help keep your skin feeling soft, but they cannot reach the dermis, or middle layer of the skin where stretch marks actually form.
I was told stretch marks are genetic and there's nothing you can do. Is that true?
Genetics do play a huge role in whether or not you'll get stretch marks. If your mom had stretch marks, you are more likely to get them too.
However, that doesn't mean there's nothing you can do.
Multiple studies have shown that centella asiatica and hyaluronic acid can help reduce the chances of getting stretch marks and reduce their appearance if you do get them, regardless of your genetics.
In fact, the 1991 study referenced above specifically looked at women who were genetically prone to getting stretch marks. And 89% of them were able to avoid getting any stretch marks by using centella asiatica.
Is this guaranteed to prevent stretch marks?
No, and any product that makes that guarantee isn't being honest with you.
Genetics, age, and how quickly your body changes during pregnancy still plays a huge role in whether or not you will get stretch marks. No topical product can eliminate that risk entirely.
However, what the True Belly Serum can do is help reduce the chances of getting stretch marks. It can also help reduce the severity and appearance of stretch marks if you do get them.
Why does it cost more than other stretch mark products?
The True Belly Serum costs more because it is formulated with a high concentration of active ingredients.
Most other stretch mark products do not contain any active ingredients. They are formulated with cocoa butter, shea butter, vegetable oils, and mineral oils, which are cheap to manufacture.
Even those that claim to contain active ingredients only have trace quantities of them (less than 1% of the formula by weight). You will find these ingredients listed near the bottom of the ingredients list.
The True Belly Serum uses a 40% titrated centella asiatica extract and triple-weight hyaluronic acid at real concentrations, listed at the top of the ingredients list.
These ingredients are expensive to source and increase the costs of making the serum. But we included them because they work.
What if it doesn't work for me?
Every bottle comes with a 100-day money back guarantee, so you can try out the True Belly Serum completely risk free.
If you feel the serum hasn't worked well for you or if you don’t like it for any reason at all, send us an email at contact@8sheep.com and we'll get you a full refund within 24 hours. Even if you've already used up your bottle. No questions asked.
What if I already have stretch marks? Can I still use the True Belly Serum?
Yes, you can. Studies have shown that centella asiatica can help reduce the severity of stretch marks and help fade their appearance.
A 2013 study found that for women who had already developed stretch marks, using a centella asiatica cream helped prevent new stretch marks from forming and effectively reduced the appearance of stretch marks that had already formed.
For best results, start as early as possible. Stretch marks that are red or purple are still in their active phase and respond better to topical care than stretch marks that have already "set" and turned white or silver.
Is this safe to use during pregnancy?
Yes, the True Belly Serum is safe to use throughout all three trimesters and while breastfeeding too.
It is formulated with pregnancy and nursing-safe ingredients.
No retinoids, parabens, phthalates, arbutin, hydroquinone, artificial fragrances, or "parfum".
How long does each bottle last?
Each bottle is approximately a 30-day supply when used twice daily as recommended. That works out to about $1.57 per day.
Where is this made?
True Belly Serum is made in small batches in a GMP-certified, FDA registered facility right here in the USA.
How long does shipping take?
Orders ship within 5-7 business days from Indiana, USA. Free shipping on all orders with 2+ bottles.
In Stock - Available For Delivery by August 30th
