Stretch marks are thin lines on the body that appear after the skin has undergone significant changes in size. Many have experienced the issue of stretch marks whether due to pregnancy, weight gain or loss, or genetic factors.
To help reduce the appearance of stretch marks naturally, use essential oil treatments at home. Essential oils are a natural therapy for minimizing stretch marks.
Although stretch marks are not painful on the skin, it is not uncommon for stretch mark stripes to inflict an individual with emotional pain, insecurities or feelings of embarrassment.
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Are you wondering which oils help with stretch marks? In this article, we’ll show you which oils help with stretch marks, and how to use them to treat your stretch marks naturally. You’ll find single oils, oil blends, and DIY recipes for stretch marks.
What Are Stretch Marks?
Stretch marks can appear on multiple areas of the body such as the abdomen, thighs, or chest.
Stretch marks are thin, long lines that usually appear on the thighs, buttocks, abdomen, and breasts of the skin. They are purple and red in color, and later turn silvery-white.
Stretch marks are damaged areas of your skin. They occur in the dermis of your skin because of strains due to overstretching. Women are more prone to have stretch marks due to pregnancy than men do. For most women, changes in body weight or during pregnancy can cause stretch marks on the body. However, thin persons can also suffer from stretch marks due to genetic factors, puberty, or other changes in hormones ¹.
How Essential Oils Help for Stretch Marks
Skin Love is an essential oil blend formulated to boost cell regeneration, prevent scarring and level out stretch marks.
Get It Here
Essential oils are helpful in reducing the appearance of stretch marks. They contain properties capable of hydrating wounded and inflamed skin cells. By applying them, you can improve your skin’s flexibility, elasticity, and slow down the effects of aging on your body.
Top 5 Essential Oils for Stretch Marks
Treat your stretch marks at home with the following essential oils:
Lavender
French Lavender from Edens Garden
$12.95 for 10ml
Lavender essential oil is a common ingredient you can find in just about every cream and oil made for the removal of stretch marks. It can tone and rejuvenate your skin. By using lavender oil on your stretch marks, you’ll also enjoy its calming essences and refreshing aroma.
Patchouli
Dark Patchouli Oil from Edens Garden
$12.95 for 10ml
Patchouli essential oil helps to moisturize aging skin and can promote the growth of skin cells and regeneration of tissues. People usually have quite a strong reaction to the scent profile of this oil… they either love it, or hate it! If you haven’t tried Patchouli yet, I recommend you just try it. Adding it to your skin care routine can help handle your stretch marks.
Helichrysum
Helichrysum EO
$48.95 for 5ml
Helichrysum essential oil is made from the leaves of an evergreen plant with a fruity fragrance. Treat your stretch marks and restore damaged skin with this oil that can even improve the circulation of blood in your body. It has analgesic, anti-inflammatory, diuretic, antispasmodic, and astringent properties that can handle ugly skin conditions.
NOTE: The price tag is no mistake. This is a very costly, luxurious essential oil… but in my opinion, worth every penny! It is SO lovely!
Sage
Sage Essential Oil
$11.95 for 5ml
Sage essential oil is safe to use topically, when properly diluted. It contains anti-inflammatory, astringent, analgesic, antispasmodic, and diuretic properties. This balanced mix of therapeutic properties are why Sage oil can enhance blood flow in the body ².
Neroli
Edens Garden’s Neroli Essential Oil
$87.95 for 5ml
Neroli essential oil not only features an exceptional aroma, it offers regenerative and restorative essences. It is produced from the flowers, buds, and leaves of orange trees. Massaging Neroli oil onto your skin helps to treat any visible lines and further appearances of stretch marks on your body. Moreover, it helps to control sagging skin.
NOTE: You’ll notice that I’ve recommended the Edens Garden brand of essential oils in this list. Eden’s Garden is one of my favorite essential oil companies! You can find more information about their oils’ quality, customer service and company practices in my Edens Garden brand review here.
Best Carrier Oils for Stretch Marks
Carrier oils are fatty base oils to use with the topical application of essential oils.
Combining essential oils with carrier oils like evening primrose, apricot, carrot, almond, and jojoba oils is ideal to give skin the best care and prevent adverse reactions on your skin.
A most basic recipe with essential oils for stretch marks is to use 1 teaspoon (= 5 ml) of carrier oil in the palm of your hand, add 3 drops of essential oils of choice, and apply immediately.
Castor oil and Rosehip oil are the best carrier oils to aid stretch mark scarred skin. Here’s why:
Castor Oil
Castor Oil, 4 oz
$13.95 for 4 oz
Castor oil is one of the most effective organic products for the removal of stretch marks, acne, sagging skin, wrinkles, and even fine lines. It is a very heavy, greasy carrier oil so do not be alarmed by its consistency when it comes out of the bottle. However, this exact fattiness gives castor oil its superb skin care qualities for stretch mark damaged skin.
Rosehip Oil
Rosehip Carrier Oil, 4 oz
$19.95 for 4 oz
Rosehip essential oil is rich in fatty acids, vitamins, and antioxidants. It is extracted from the seeds of a thorny rose. This aromatic oil is gentle and calm on the skin as it contains Retin A, which is a type of vitamin A used for making anti-aging products.
You can apply Rosehip oil directly onto your skin as much as needed to treat your stretch marks and prevent aging unnecessarily.
Rosehip carrier oil blends nicely with Helichrysum and Neroli. For a Rosehip based stretch mark lotion, blend the following recipe:
- 3 teaspoons (15ml) Rosehip carrier oil
- 5 drops of Helichrysum
- 4 drops of Neroli
Apply 2-3x daily on areas affected.
To create a larger amount of DIY stretch mark oil, simply multiply the numbers above to the size of your amber glass bottle.
Here are my favorite DIY bottle containers. Look for either 15ml, 30ml, and 60ml size.
Essential Oil Recipes to Help Reduce Stretch Marks
The following recipes will assist the removal of stretch mark lines from your skin quickly:
Stretch Mark Blend
Skin Love is an essential oil blend formulated to boost cell regeneration, prevent scarring and level out stretch marks.
$16.95 for 5ml
- In a 15 ml amber glass bottle, blend 2 teapoon of Fractionated Coconut oil (FCO) with 1 teaspoon of castor oil.
- Add three drops each of lavender, patchouli and sage essential oils. Stir well.
- For best results, apply twice per day on those streaks on your body, regularly for two weeks.
- Allow fifteen minutes for it to be completely absorbed into the body. Do not shower immediately.
This homemade recipe contains natural substances with stimulating powers and regenerative essences to handle your stretch marks. If you like the blend, continue mixing up your master blend to get rid of the stretch marks on your skin.
If you prefer a ready-made blend for you, Edens Garden’s Skin Love is specifically formulated to boost cell regeneration, prevent scarring and level out stretch marks. You can get it here, or if you prefer, on Amazon.
Whipped Coconut Oil Butter for Stretch Marks
In this recipe, you select the essential oils of your choice. You can use neroli, lavender, and helichrysum with coconut oil (NOT fractionated coconut oil) as the base of your product. Get coconut oil, all the essential oils, and a mixer. Put the coconut oil in the mixer and beat for five minutes to prepare the base of your cream using a fork, hand mixer, or a stand mixer.
However, if you are blending large quantities, it is advisable to use a fork in mixing the cream. You will get a creamy substance in the form of yogurt if allowed to mix properly for five minutes. This becomes the base where you will add other essential oils of choice to fade out your stretch marks. Another product you can use as a base is beeswax or Shea butter instead of coconut oil.
Finally, storing this product in a glass jar is recommended. Do not use plastic containers.
Lemon Lavender Stretch Mark Oil
Add 2 oz of coconut oil, 1/2 oz of beeswax, 1 oz of evening primrose, and 1 oz cocoa butter into a bowl. Melt these substances over a double boiler on medium-low heat and while constantly stirring.
If you notice that the mixture has become soft and silky, take it off the heat immediately. Then, add 7 drops of lavender essential oil and 6 drops of lemon essential oil, and stir until it becomes fluffy.
Store the product in an airtight container. Apply the cream on your stretch marks consistently until you start seeing results.
Stretch Mark Bath
Mix 3-5 drops of Sage Essential Oil into a tablespoon of Epsom salts and combine into a warm bath. Sage oil has regenerative properties that protect your skin from further damages and stripes. Apply the oil cautiously to avoid acne and other irritating skin conditions.
Final Thoughts
Most persons feel uncomfortable with lines of stretch marks on their bodies, and would like their skin to return to its original firm shape and form. Pregnant women are the most affected due to overstretching of the muscles and gestational weight gain that pushes the skin to new lengths.
The appearance of stretch mark streaks can be minimized by using a blend of carrier oils, plus essential oils of choice on the affected areas.
References
¹ Healthline.com: Stretch Marks
² Sage essential oil properties
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