Don’t give way to stretch marks!
We know how much stretch marks can affect somebody’s confidence and we truly believe that everyone has a right to feel beautiful. The body positivity movement has come on leaps and bounds to celebrate our imperfections - including those pale, pink, red or purplish cracks that can appear on the skin.
No more stretch marks!
Stretch marks can appear during puberty, pregnancy, hormonal changes and weight fluctuation. Often prevention is the best method of “curing” stretch marks, so the most important thing is to keep your skin hydrated with body moisturisers and body treatment oils. If stretch marks are impacting your self-confidence and mental health, we have the tips for you.
In this Beauty FAQ, we will cover:
Stretch marks are “cracks” that can appear on the surface of the skin.
They are most likely to appear on the stomach, thighs, buttocks and chest. When they first form, stretch marks can be red and very visible. Like scars, over time they blend into your skin tone, taking on a pinkish then pale tint.
Stretch marks are caused by a loss of elasticity in the skin. Rapid and uncontrolled stretching causes the skin to lose its structure and break down the collagen fibres on its surface.
Stretch marks are most common during periods of significant change in a person’s life, such as pregnancy, puberty, hormonal changes and weight fluctuation. The areas particularly affected by weight fluctuation are the preferred target for stretch marks, such as the hips, thighs, buttocks, chest and stomach. However, stretch marks can occur anywhere on your body.
Don't play fair when it comes to stretch marks!
Stretch marks can occur during significant periods of change in a person’s life, such as pregnancy, weight fluctuation, hormonal changes and puberty. Times like these can cause your body to rapidly change in size and your skin can struggle to keep up with developments.
When life moves too quickly for the natural elasticity of our skin, this is where stretch marks can form.
If you experience stretch marks during pregnancy, this can be due to the hormone changes and altering levels of cortisol in your body, which can weaken and reduce collagen in your skin. Alongside the rapid changes with your body, this creates the ideal environment for stretch marks to occur.
To prevent stretch marks, we recommend keeping your skin moisturised with nourishing body moisturisers and body treatment oils. Our Tonic Treatment Oil is iconic for its firming properties and helps to improve elasticity and smooth the appearance of stretch marks. For something more lightweight, our Body Partner is specially formulated to target and prevent stretch marks whilst comforting the skin.
If you are going through pregnancy, or a weight loss or gain journey, it is important to moisturise your body on a daily basis. We recommend applying your moisturiser or oil after showering or bathing when your skin is damp to allow the products to lock in extra moisture. For optimal results, use a body exfoliators, such as our Toning Body Polisher, once a week to allow the moisturisers and oils to penetrate more deeply.
Boost your skin’s firmness before pregnancy and limit weight gain over the 9 months by adopting a healthy, enjoyable diet.
During pregnancy, prevention is the best cure. You must help and prepare your skin for the transformation and stretching it will undergo.
To maintain your skin’s firmness and tone, use the renowned Tonic Body Treatment Oil after bathing or showering daily. Apply the oil to damp skin, concentrating on the at-risk areas, such as your bump, stomach, breasts, hips, thighs, lower back and buttocks. The oil, with 100% plant extracts, is the perfect tonic to envelop the skin in softness. For best results, we recommend following up with our Body Partner specially formulated to prevent and treat stretch marks. Massage it in with gentle circular motions, concentrating on your bump, stomach, breasts, hips, thighs, lower back and buttocks. And once your baby is here, continue this beauty ritual several months after childbirth, to pamper and support your skin.
It is unlikely that you can remove stretch marks entirely without seeking professional help from a licensed therapist.
However, preventative measures (such as moisturising daily) and specialist treatments can significantly reduce the appearance of stretch marks.
Our Body Partner contains the specially formulated Phyto-Stretch Complex with Centella Asiatica and organic green banana extract to visibly reduce stretch marks in length, width, depth and colour. We recommend using this targeted expert treatment daily to improve skin’s firmness and reduce the appearance of stretch marks.
Avoid sun exposure on red stretch marks in their inflammatory phase.
Once they tan, stretch marks in their early phases can be incredibly difficult to remove. If you know that your stretch marks are going to be exposed to the sun, we recommend applying SPF 50 sun protection to avoid further damage.
We offer high sun protection in different formulas depending on your preference, such as:
When stretch marks become pale in appearance, note that they cannot tan. It is important to apply sun protection to avoid over accentuating the contrast of pale stretch marks against tanned skin. If you wish to minimise the appearance of them further, we recommend using our Radiance-Plus Golden Glow Booster for Body for a subtle glow and even skin tone.
Sculpting your thighs: use an anti-cellulite product, as well as embracing a healthy diet and exercise. These three steps are key to the Clarins' approach to slimming down!
READ MORE
Keeping the skin on your body moisturised is an essential everyday step. Clarins brings you all the tips you need to choose the right products and routine to boost moisture levels.
READ MORE
