The best oils for combating stretch marks

ORGANIC Helichrysum Italicum essential oil

Restorative

Known for its circulatory properties, but also for its soothing and restorative effects on the skin, Helichrysum Italicum essential oil is ideal for promoting deep tissue regeneration. It soothes the inflammatory side of red stretch marks, and firms distended skin in the case of white stretch marks.

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organic Rockrose essential oil

Astringent

Rich in monoterpenes, Gum rockrose essential oil is renowned for its healing and toning effects on the skin. Ideal for reducing the appearance of old stretch marks, it stimulates the tissues deeply, encourages their repair and improves the skin's firmness.

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ORGANIC True Lavender essential oil

Regenerating

A powerful healing and soothing agent, True Lavender essential oil is a must in caring for damaged skin and scars. It promotes skin regeneration, improves skin condition and helps fade old or recent stretch marks.

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ORGANIC Egyptian Geranium essential oil

Tonic

Astringent and repairing, Rose Geranium essential oil tones tissues and encourages skin regeneration. It is therefore ideal for helping to erase stretch marks and restore tone and firmness to distended skin. It's also a wonderful anti-ageing active ingredient!

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ORGANIC Chilean Musk Rose oil

A champion

Precious and essential, Musk Rose oil is the most renowned oil for removing stretch marks and scars. It owes its powerful regenerating properties to its richness in carotenoids and plant retinol. It also has a high omega-3 and omega-6 essential fatty acid content, improving the condition of scarred skin and combating skin ageing.

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Wheat Germ Oil

Prevention

Highly nourishing and emollient, Wheat Germ oil is one of the most effective at preventing the formation of stretch marks. Its rich texture makes it ideal for massaging into the skin, while its remarkable vitamin E and carotenoid content gives it regenerating properties. It protects and softens the epidermis and helps maintain skin elasticity.

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ORGANIC Macadamia oil

Softening

With its very fine texture, Macadamia oil is quickly absorbed without leaving a greasy residue. It is ideal for massaging into the skin to soften it and prevent the formation of stretch marks. Mixed with richer oils, such as Wheat Germ or Musk Rose, it improves skin penetration and ideally complements their nourishing effect.

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ORGANIC Evening Primrose oil

Restructuring

Prized among anti-ageing skin care products, Evening Primrose oil is also useful for preventing stretch marks and reducing unsightly striae. It is particularly rich in essential omega-6 fatty acids, including a rare fatty acid, gamma-linolenic acid, which gives it restructuring and regenerating properties. It helps maintain skin elasticity, restores tone to sagging skin and helps maintain the skin's moisture content.

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Stretch marks, or striae distensae in scientific jargon, appear as parallel, irregular striae on the skin, varying in length and a few millimetres in width, resembling small "welts". Initially reddish-purple and inflammatory, they gradually take on a pearly colour slightly lighter than the skin. They appear on areas of the body likely to become distended (abdomen, breasts, thighs, buttocks, hips, upper arms, etc. ), when the skin is subjected to significant and rapid stretching . The elastic fibres in the dermis break down and the skin "cracks".

This can happen during pregnancy or adolescence. Stretch marks can also appear in the event of rapid weight gain, or as a result of certain sports involving a rapid increase in muscle mass (bodybuilding, etc.).

In addition, high levels of cortisol in the body encourage the appearance of stretch marks because it reduces the production of collagen, which maintains the skin's elasticity. High-level athletes or people taking corticosteroid medication may be particularly prone to stretch marks. The appearance of stretch marks outside the periods of pregnancy, puberty or rapid weight change should be reported to a doctor, as it may be a sign of a condition known as Cushing's syndrome.

Apart from these particular cases, stretch marks are a common condition with no consequences other than their often unsightly appearance.

Stretch marks are difficult to get rid of, so it's best to prevent them from appearing in the first place, especially during pregnancy, as pregnant women are particularly prone to them.

To prevent the appearance of stretch marks during pregnancy, apply nourishing, softening plant oils such as Wheat Germ, Musk Rose, Macadamia and Evening Primrose oil daily to areas at risk of stretching (stomach, breasts, hips, buttocks), Sweet almond or Shea butter… Gently massaged into the skin, these products will help maintain the skin's elasticity, while keeping it well hydrated.

Essential oils are not suitable during pregnancy, but can be used afterwards, at the end of the breast-feeding period, to firm distended skin and help regenerate tissues if stretch marks have appeared.

While it is not possible to completely eliminate stretch marks, which are the result of a deep tear in the dermis, regular skin care can reduce these unsightly striae and improve their appearance.

A powerful regenerator, Musk Rose oil is the champion for improving the condition of scarred skin, and is essential for treating both recent and old stretch marks. It can be massaged in, ideally combined with restorative, astringent and firming essential oils to reduce all types of stretch marks (after pregnancy, wait until the end of breast-feeding before adding essential oils to your anti-stretch mark oil). Anti-inflammatory essential oils such as Helichrysum Italicum and True Lavender will improve the appearance of red stretch marks in the inflammatory stage. To promote deep tissue repair, essential oils with healing properties, such as Gum Rockrose, Helichrysum Italicum, Rosemary verbenone, Spike Lavender or Frankincense will work wonders. Finally, to tone the skin and improve its firmness, use toning and astringent essential oils that tighten the tissues, such as Rose Geranium, Gum Rockrose, Green Myrtle, Cajeput, etc.

When using essential oils after pregnancy, it is crucial to wait until the end of the breast-feeding period before incorporating them into your anti-stretch mark routine.

Before applying essential oils, carry out a patch test to check for any allergic reactions. Choose essential oils known for their restorative, astringent and firming properties. Always dilute them in a plant oil before applying to the skin.