These two products will prevent and minimize the appearance of stretchmarks.

What causes stretch marks?

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Stretch marks can surface on the skin due to many reasons. Most women complain and notice them during or after pregnancy and breastfeeding. While some people have them right from the beginning of puberty.

Photo by Malgorzata Frej on Unsplash

This is basically what happens, the second layer of the skin goes beyond its elastic limit and becomes so thin that the deeper layers become visible. This gives the stretch marks a band-like appearance. It is a kind of accommodation reaction of the skin. In the end, it is not able to go back to its original appearance. You can now imagine what factors may cause/predispose to stretch marks

• Genetics

Chances are if any of your blood relatives have stretch marks, then you will have them t

• A rapid gain of weight, or a fluctuating gain and loss of weight


• Drugs/Medications

Medications such as corticosteroids can cause stretch marks because, for one, they make the skin thin and very easy to tear. They also cause weight gain in the abdomen and breasts.

• Some conditions

Major examples of these conditions are Polycystic ovarian syndrome  (PCOS) and Marfan Syndrome

Areas stretch marks are seen most commonly are

• Breasts


• Abdomen


• Upper thighs


• Buttocks


• Shoulders

There is really not one effective method to minimize stretch marks or make them diminish.

• One way is by avoiding rapid weight gain and loss


• Another is the use of products that increase the skin's elasticity and firmness


• Cosmetic surgery is also an option, but that is very expensive

Now, the Reviews

Nivea Q10 and Vitamin C firming body lotion

This one is especially for dry skin (there is the light formula available for normal skin too). It really works as I have noticed a massive difference in my skin's appearance since I started using it. Q10 helps in maintaining the repair and regenerative function of the skin, while Vitamin C acts as an antioxidant. These two main ingredients act together to give the skin a youthful look. With respect to stretch marks, by making the skin firmer and more elastic, they become less visible with continuous use. The price is a bit high compared to the plain Nivea formulations at about 9 GBP, still not bad I think considering the 400ml volume.


What more? As this is for dry skin, it is really good for use during the winter when our skin is prone to dehydration.

Clarins stretch mark minimizer

The Clarins stretch mark minimizer is thicker in terms of consistency than the Nivea (discussed above). It is also meant for use on areas where one has stretch marks (more specific in action). It works more effectively when used after an exfoliating scrub. It is more costly than the Nivea at 34 GBP. I have seen reviews done by pregnant women and they highly recommend it, best to be applied to prevent the stretch marks from occurring.

See you guys on Wednesday with the review of The Ordinary xx

Yours in the flawless skin journey, Nafisah NK