The first thing top dermatologists want their patients to know when it comes to finding the best stretch-mark creams is that topical products can’t always erase the marks. And in the end that’s perfectly all right. “Remember that roughly 80% of Americans have stretch marks,” says Hadley King, MD, a board-certified dermatologist in midtown Manhattan. “I like to emphasize this to normalize stretch marks so people don’t feel bad about having them.”
The marks are widespread because they can stem from any number of causes, including pregnancy, rapid weight fluctuations, and hormonal changes. Some stretch marks may require in-office procedures, ranging from microneedling to microdermabrasion and laser therapy, but should one wish to banish any trace of them, there is hope in creams alone. “The best stretch-mark creams may help improve their appearance by hydrating the skin and delivering ingredients that support collagen production, such as peptides and retinoids,” says Sara Hogan, MD, a board-certified dermatologist and the founder of Cosmedica Dermatology.
Vogue’s Favorite Stretch-Mark Creams:
- Best Overall: Mederma Stretch Marks Therapy, $32
- Best Drugstore Find: Palmer’s Cocoa Butter Formula Massage Lotion for Stretch Marks, $14
- Best Post-Procedure: Alastin Skincare TransFORM Bodi Treatment, $228
- Best for Pregnancy: Summer Fridays Babymoon Belly Balm, $29
- Best for Collagen Production: Paula’s Choice Skin-Smoothing Retinol Body Treatment, $32
However, she stresses that prevention is key. “These products are most effective when used early, before stretch marks appear or while they are still new—and they require consistent, long-term use over several months for best results,” Dr. Hogan says. And in the process, soft and supple skin is a happy side effect. Ahead, browse the stretch-mark creams dermatologists recommend for pregnancy, post-procedure care, and more.
In This Article:
- What causes stretch marks?
- Do stretch-mark creams really work?
- What do dermatologists recommend for stretch marks?
- What to look for in a stretch-mark cream
- Meet the experts
Mederma Stretch Marks Therapy
- Why We Love It: “This is one of the top stretch-mark creams on the market,” says Ari S. Hoschander, MD, a board-certified plastic surgeon in New York. He notes that the hyaluronic-acid-based formula helps improve skin hydration and elasticity. “I usually recommend it to patients post-surgery because it absorbs quickly and has a lightweight feel that works well during recovery,” he says. What’s more, “it’s one of the few OTC stretch-mark products with any human clinical evidence, albeit limited.”
- Key Ingredients: Dimethicone, cephalin, hyaluronic acid, Centella asiatica extract
- Pregnancy Safe: Yes
- Size: 5.29 oz.
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| Clinically tested | Some users report an off-putting smell |
Palmer’s Cocoa Butter Formula Massage Lotion for Stretch Marks
- Why We Love It: “This is a classic lotion with a rich, moisturizing texture and solid moisturizing ingredients like cocoa butter and vitamin E,” says Dr. Hoschander. He adds that its affordability and widespread availability make the drugstore gem an accessible pick. “I often recommend it for women looking for something for daily use,” he says. Another key ingredient in the formula is lutein, which can hydrate the skin, reduce inflammation, and—though it’s not a stand-in for SPF—help protect the skin against UV damage.
- Key Ingredients: Cocoa butter, vitamin E, lutein
- Pregnancy Safe: Yes
- Size: 8.5 oz.
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| Easy to find, ideal for daily use | Some users have difficulty getting the pump to work |
Alastin Skincare TransFORM Bodi Treatment
- Why We Love It: Alastin’s high-tech salve is a dermatologist’s secret weapon for treating stretch marks. “Though this was originally designed for post-procedure skin, it’s also great for maintenance and improving overall tone and resilience,” says Michelle Henry, MD, a board-certified dermatologist in Manhattan. The creamy salve has two patented ingredients: TriHex Technology, which supports collagen and elastin production, and Lipodrone, which gives skin a firmer, more toned look. It’s also infused with dill extract, an antioxidant that can help skin maintain its resiliency. “This is a great option for stretch marks as it uses Alastin’s TriHex peptide technology to stimulate the production of new, healthy collagen and elastin and clear out old, damaged collagen and elastin,” Dr. King says. “This works to improve the appearance of crepey skin and fine lines.”
- Key Ingredients: TriHex Technology, Lipodrone, dill extract
- Pregnancy Safe: The cream is not specifically marketed as pregnancy safe; consult with your ob-gyn.
- Size: 6 oz.
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| Gives the skin a firmer look | It can take a while for results to show |
Summer Fridays Babymoon Belly Balm
- Why We Love It: With a velvety texture, Summer Fridays’ balm was formulated by an expectant mother. As such, the formula is filled with vegan ingredients that are deemed pregnancy safe, including the soothing calendula oil that gives the salve its light, herbaceous scent. A go-to recommendation for Anna Chacon, MD, a board-certified dermatologist based in Miami, the treatment also has vitamin E. “Vitamin E does help lock in moisture, which can help make your skin look plump and help with the look of stretch marks,” Dr. Chacon says. “It’s also a great ingredient for overall skin health.” As an added perk, the balm comes in a pretty, petal-pink tube.
- Key Ingredients: Sunflower seed, vitamin E, avocado oil, calendula oil, omega-3
- Pregnancy Safe: Yes
- Size: 6 oz.
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| Made with pregnancy-safe ingredients | Some users report a slightly greasy feel |
Paula’s Choice Skin-Smoothing Retinol Body Treatment
- Why We Love It: “Stretch marks can be tricky to treat, but creams with retinol or peptides can help soften their appearance over time,” says Anna Andrienko, a dermatologist and aesthetic doctor at Dr. Ducu Clinics in London. “Paula’s Choice Retinol Skin-Smoothing Body Treatment is a good over-the-counter option.” Also made with shea butter, evening primrose oil, and vitamins C and E, the creamy treatment evens the skin tone and makes the skin silky smooth. It can be used on the body from the neck down, and though it has a rich texture, it has a nongreasy finish. “This product contains retinol, which has been found helpful in treating stretch marks,” notes Jimmy Sung, MD, a plastic surgeon at Tribeca Aesthetics. “However, pregnant women should avoid using retinol.”
- Key Ingredients: Retinol, shea butter, evening primrose oil, vitamins C and E
- Pregnancy Safe: No
- Size: 4 oz.
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| Softens and smooths the skin | Not pregnancy safe |
Mustela Stretch Marks Cream
- Why We Love It: Made with 96% natural ingredients, Mustela’s gentle body lotion was a must-have for model Caroline Trentini during one of her pregnancies. The fragrance-free product has avocado peptides to nourish delicate skin and avocado oil to restore the skin barrier, making it a popular choice for pregnancy and postpartum body care. What’s more, the French cream has a buttery texture that melts into the skin, making it a treat to apply. “The shea butter and sunflower-seed oil in this will help moisturize and support the skin barrier, which may help improve elasticity,” Dr. King notes.
- Key Ingredients: Avocado peptides, avocado oil, shea butter, passion-fruit extract
- Pregnancy Safe: Yes
- Size: 5.07 oz.
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| Mostly natural ingredients, fragrance-free | Can be trickier to find |
Mama Mio Tummy Rub Butter
- Why We Love It: Infused with natural oils, this moisturizing butter was designed to do exactly what its name implies. Its ingredients—ranging from shea butter to argan oil and vitamin E—strengthen the elasticity of the skin, and rubbing it on the belly during pregnancy can effectively keep stretch marks at bay. It’s also a boon for scent lovers: Though there is a fragrance-free option for those who prefer it, the pregnancy-safe cream comes in lavender and mint, while another version is infused with a blend of orange, bergamot, and lime. Replica Hermes Bag Reviews Runway director Nicole Phelps reports: “I wore this every day of my pregnancy to prevent stretch marks. Not only did it smell delicious, but it really worked. I recommend it to anybody having a baby, but it’s good for after the delivery too. It takes a long time for your body to spring back to shape—every little thing helps.”
- Key Ingredients: Aloe vera, sweet almond oil, shea butter, avocado oil, argan oil, coconut oil, vitamin E
- Pregnancy Safe: Yes
- Size: 4.1 oz.
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| Clinically tested; contains nourishing natural ingredients | Some users wish it were available in a bottle with a pump |
Clarins Body Partner Stretch Mark Expert
- Why We Love It: Ideal for the postpartum period or to minimize stretch marks after weight fluctuations, Clarins’s gentle cream is made with the brand’s exclusive Phyto Stretch complex. Powered by Centella asiatica and green-banana extracts, the complex targets stretch marks by boosting collagen production. Beloved by the editors at British Vogue for its ability to calm redness, the cream can also decrease the length, width, and depth of existing stretch marks.
- Key Ingredients: Organic-green-banana extracts, Centella asiatica extracts
- Pregnancy Safe: The cream is not specifically marketed as pregnancy safe; consult with your ob-gyn
- Size: 5.8 oz.
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| Silky texture; makes skin visibly smoother | It’s best to consult with your doctor before using this during pregnancy |
Weleda Stretch Mark Body Butter
- Why We Love It: Marketed for mamas, Weleda’s thick and creamy body butter has a whirl of natural ingredients designed to deeply moisturize skin all over the body. With shea and cocoa-seed butter and a blend of plant-based oils—including jojoba seed and sunflower seed—the dermatologist-tested cream is gentle on sensitive skin. “This is a vegan product with Centella, which contains hyaluronic acid,” says Dr. Sung. “There is some evidence that hyaluronic acid, due to its moisturizing properties, can help make stretch marks less noticeable and ease their development.”
- Key Ingredients: Shea butter, cocoa-seed butter, sunflower-seed oil, jojoba-seed oil
- Pregnancy Safe: Yes
- Size: 5.0 oz.
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| Dermatologist tested; safe for sensitive skin | The texture is a bit too oily and thick for some |
StriVectin SD Advanced Plus Intensive Moisturizer
- Why We Love It: This peptide-rich, multitasking cream can be used on the face and body. Infused with cranberry biopeptides to smooth the skin and copper tripeptide to treat the appearance of stretch marks and wrinkles, the clinically tested cream also targets collagen loss. Another key ingredient, StiVectin’s Alpha-3 Peptide, was developed with the help of AI and designed to smooth wrinkles. “This targets the appearance of stretch marks by delivering fast-acting hydration and improving skin tone,” Dr. Hogan says. “Its firming and smoothing properties also make it an excellent choice for addressing crepey skin, not just stretch marks.”
- Key Ingredients: Alpha-3 peptide, cranberry biopeptides, copper tripeptide
- Pregnancy Safe: The cream is not specifically marketed as pregnancy safe; consult with your ob-gyn
- Size: 4 oz.
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| Suited for both body and face, high-tech ingredients | May not be ideal for pregnancy |
Everything You Need to Know
What causes stretch marks?
“Stretch marks form when the skin stretches faster than it can handle—like when you’re pregnant, experiencing a growth spurt or putting on muscle or weight quickly,” says Caroline Min, MD, a board-certified plastic surgeon specializing in so-called mommy makeovers and post-pregnancy cosmetic treatments in Pasadena, California. “This abrupt change causes tears in the inner layer of the skin, the dermis, and what you see on the surface is essentially a scar.”
Much of stretch-mark formation has to do with genetics and how quickly your body is experiencing these changes, she says. Additionally, some skin types naturally have more collagen and elastin, which helps them stretch and bounce back. “Hormones like cortisol also play a role on [skin elasticity],” Dr. Min adds. “Higher levels can weaken the skin’s structure, making it more vulnerable to tearing under pressure.”
Do stretch mark creams really work?
The moisturizing function of the best stretch-mark treatments might help ease the development of stretch marks in certain situations, such as pregnancy, Dr. Sung says. That said, he adds that no conclusive studies exist that prove the efficacy of stretch-mark creams.
Dr. Min stresses that stretch marks have the best chance of working when they’re used early on, with consistency. “A few ingredients like tretinoin or hyaluronic acid can help if applied early with newer marks,” she says. However, “once stretch marks are fully formed, especially those white or lighter colored ones, no cream is going to erase them.”
What do dermatologists recommend for stretch marks?
“When it comes to addressing stretch marks, consistent moisturizing is essential,” Dr. Hogan says. “For early-stage red or purple stretch marks, vascular lasers can help by targeting underlying blood vessels.” Since stretch marks are fundamentally the result of collagen disruption, she says, treatments that stimulate collagen production—such as biostimulatory fillers like Sculptra and Radiesse, fractional lasers, and energy-based devices like Sofwave—can be beneficial. “However, stretch marks are notoriously difficult to treat, and multiple sessions are typically required to achieve visible improvement,” she admits.
What to look for in a stretch-mark cream
When selecting which stretch-mark cream to buy, whether addressing pregnancy stretch marks or treating stretch marks and dry skin postpartum, Dr. King says you’ll want formulas with good moisturizing properties: “That means humectants to hydrate the skin, emollients to support the skin barrier, and occlusives to lock in moisture.” She also recommends looking for additional ingredients that can boost the synthesis of collagen and elastin, including retinoids and peptides to reduce the overall appearance of stretch marks (or get ahead on stretch-mark prevention).
Meet the experts
- Anna Andrienko is a dermatologist and aesthetic doctor at Dr. Ducu Clinics in London.
- Anna Chacon, MD, is a board-certified dermatologist in Miami.
- Michelle Henry, MD, is a board-certified dermatologist at Skin & Aesthetic Surgery in Manhattan.
- Sara Hogan, MD, is a board-certified dermatologist and the founder of Cosmedica Dermatology.
- Ari S. Hoschander, MD, is a board-certified plastic surgeon and the lead breast-reduction surgeon at Breast Reduction Surgeons of Long Island.
- Caroline Min, MD, is a board-certified plastic surgeon specializing in so-called mommy makeovers and post-pregnancy cosmetic treatments in Pasadena, California.
- Jimmy Sung, MD, is a plastic surgeon at Tribeca Aesthetics.
