Pregnancy Oil head-to-head ! - Weleda v Mama Baby Bliss !

Zebras are beautiful animals - I just wish my tummy didn't have to resemble one after each of my pregnancies ! For those of you who have just had a baby and are looking in horror at your red stripy tummy, rest assured, stretch marks do fade and become pale pinky-white and much less noticeable. But the best thing you can do is to invest in a high quality stretchmark cream or oil to help prevent them forming in the first place. Then cross your fingers that it works !

I was recently sent two "pregnancy oils" to test. I wasn't sure how useful these products would actually be, as Pierre popped out four months ago, but I decided it couldn't do any harm so I'd give them a go anyway ! They are said to help prevent but also to help reduce the appearance of stretchmarks, after all. As I had two very similar products, I decided to test both at the same time, using one on each side of my tummy so I could compare the results ! I even left a strip down the middle with neither oil so I could compare with the untreated skin.

Well, I was very dubious about how effective these oils would be, but I have to say, the skin on both sides did feel much smoother and silkier than the middle strip, that felt dry and bumpy in comparison. After two weeks of rubbing some in before bed most days, I can't say my stretch marks have totally disappeared but I think they are a bit less visible, possibly because the surrounding skin seems softer and more plumped up.

Both of the oils had pretty much the same results on my skin, so it's really a case of personal taste as to which product suits you best.


Here we have the first contender : Weleda Pregnancy Body Oil, a brand I was already aware of and appreciated due to their high quality products and natural, eco-friendly ethics. According to the website : "A base of sweet almond oil works gently, delivering intensely moisturizing essential fatty acids that keep your skin supple and protected from drying. Because pregnancy is a big job for your muscles and skin, our organic arnica flower extract helps ease tightness and provides a layer of comforting warmth when you indulge yourself with a soothing massage. Nourishing wheat germ oil conditions and refines your skin’s texture with a high quantity of vitamins A, D and E. Regular use visibly helps to correct the appearance of stretch marks on your pregnant belly; your thighs, bottom and breasts; and helps prevent the appearance of new ones."

The oil can be applied 2-3 times daily from the beginning of pregnancy right up until three months after the birth - now I'm sure that would give you optimum results, but I don't actually know any new mums who'd have time to sit around rubbing in oil two to three times a day ! The packaging says that it can be used on the breasts, but there is nothing to say that you can use it while breastfeeding. As Weleda also do a similar Breastfeeding Massage Oil, that can be used between feeds, I would assume it is safe, especially as it is aimed at pregnant or new mums who are very likely to be breastfeeding, particularly in the early days when this product is supposed to be used. A little reassurance concerning this would be nice though.

The bottle looks almost medicinal, not at all funky or feminine. As it is made of tinted green glass, you can't actually see what the product inside looks like. The fragrance is gorgeous and very relaxing so it is lovely to rub into your skin and feel pampered. It feels very slick and oily on your hands, and I found that it runs out of the bottle too fast, although this problem can be solved if you put your finger over the top of the bottle and tip it up, rather than pouring it into your hand. I was amazed that the oil is absorbed instantly by the skin and doesn't feel at all greasy or wet. You can put clothes straight on and they don't stick or get greasy stains on.



The other product I was testing was MamaBabyBliss 'Tummy Love' Pregnancy Oil. Their website says : "Massage the belly with this super enriching oil packed full of nutrients to help combat stretchmarks, including omega oils 3, 6 and 9 and Vitamins A, C and E. The perfect treat ! Natural active ingredients: Calendula oil, Sunflower oil, Jojoba oil, Rosehip oil, Starflower oil, Peach Kernel Oil, Vitamin E and Vitamin A ".

First of all, I love the name Tummy Love. I know the name makes no difference to the product inside the bottle but it's still good to come to a product feeling positive about it ! Again, I was amazed that this came out as an oil but didn't feel greasy at all after application. My skin totally absorbed the oil and, although my fingers did have a very slight amount of greasiness on them, they didn't feel at all sticky, wet or slippery. You can put your clothes straight on and it doesn't feel at all unpleasant or leave any greasy marks. I was slightly disappointed that it doesn't smell of anything much. The dropper-type lid (with a little hole, like you get on the top of vinegar bottles) makes application easy and mess-free. The bottle appears to have leaked slightly in the post so it could maybe do with an airtight seal being added. It's full of all natural ingredients with no chemical nasties. I loved the pinky-purple colour of the bottle and the flowery label - it's especially great to feel feminine during pregnancy when you look and feel like a beached whale most of the time ! - so it felt like part of a girlie pamper routine.

In conclusion, despite the different ingredients, they both worked as well as each other and certainly left my skin feeling smoother and softer than on the untreated skin. The Tummy Love is easier to apply and looks funkier and more feminine, although I did feel a bit let down by the lack of fragrance. The Weleda feels more nourishing when you first apply it and it smells lovely but the bottle does look a bit medicinal.

There you go ladies - the choice is yours !

star rating : 4/5 for both but for different reasons

RRP :
Weleda pregnancy body oil - £14.95 for 100ml
MamaBabyBliss Tummy Love pregnancy oil - £10 for 100ml

for more info :
www.weleda.co.uk
http://www.mamababybliss.com/