What They Say: "A targeted treatment for existing stretchmarks that features darutoside-- a healing plant molecule recently shown in a clinical research study to decrease the appearance of a stretchmark's length and irregular surface area by over fifty percent. The luxurious formula also moisturizes while restoring the skin's firmness.

Use on stretchmarks of any age, and from any cause (pregnancy or weight gain). Apply to affected areas morning and evening for 4 weeks, then once daily until desired results are achieved."

Polina’s Experience: I have some very old stretchmarks on my thighs, pre-dating my pregnancies by several years, so they are quite faded already. I used Belli’s Stretchmark Minimizing Cream on the affected areas, wondering if this product could really reduce the skin damage by any degree. As I said, the stretchmarks are quite old and frankly after four months of daily use, I did not see much difference in my skin. I hope that more “raw” stretchmarks would respond noticeably and enthusiastically to the regular application of this cream.

As a plain moisturizer, this cream is a pleasure to use; emollient, smooth in texture, it absorbs quickly yet has great staying power as I could still feel it on my skin some 12 hours later, while showering. It doesn’t have the lavender aroma that I’m so fanatical about, but still has a very pleasing scent that makes application even more enjoyable. But obviously for the money you’d want this to be more than just a great moisturizer.

Overall, a quality moisturizer, but the stretchmark reduction claim remains unproven – at least on my skin. I would really love to hear from readers who have seen dramatic results from the use of this product.

Retail Price: 177ml $60.00 (bellicosmetics.com
or find a retail location near you here_

DeLush Rating:

What They Say: Belli Elasticity Belly Oil is an advanced blend of pure plant extracts that prepares skin for stretching. Tocopherol (Vitamin E) and Go-To-Kola extract have been shown in medical research to help prevent stretchmarks. Lavender and sweet almond oil soothe and calm the senses while nourishing and moisturizing to help skin stretch without the damage.

Use morning and night throughout pregnancy. Rubbing in a circular motion, apply to stomach, breasts, hips, and buttocks.

Polina’s Experience: I love everything about the Belli Elasticity Belly Oil! The scent, the packaging, the feel of the product on my skin and it’s effect! Now I know that scents are a highly subjective thing, but if you are a fan of lavender, you will love the way this stuff smells. Over the years I have used a variety of products – lotions, body washes, soaps, shampoos – that had lavender as the predominant aroma. Let me just say that some manufacturers out there clearly have no idea what lavender smells like! Belli’s oil captures the essence of lavender in the most wonderful way. It’s easy to tell that they use high quality essential oils in the product and they don’t skimp. A good 50% of my enjoyment of this product and why I would buy it again has been it’s intoxicating aroma.

The packaging is great. I love the dispenser pump. It makes it so easy to control how much of the oil comes out and minimizes spills and unnecessary waste.

Because this is an oil, of course initially, things are a little more greasy than if you were to use a lotion. But this is not a bad thing. Hopefully, some of you ladies who are pregnant or can recall being pregnant can relate, but it’s kind of fun and enjoyable to rub oil on that ever expanding belly and other parts of your weary pregnant body. It’s just so, dare I say, decadent?? And the truth in, this oil is not like Baby Oil – it actually sinks in and is absorbed within 5-7 minutes of application, leaving behind soft, supple and fragrant skin. Ahh!

But what of its purported ability to minimize/prevent stretchmarks? Well, here’s the honest truth: I don’t know! I did not use this oil with my first pregnancy and did not develop any stretchmarks. I have been using it with this pregnancy and still do not have any stretchmarks. What to make of this? I’d say that ultimately things like genetics, the rate at which you gain your pregnancy weight and the extent to which your belly grows and probably a few other factors, including your moisturizing routine, all play into whether you develop the dreaded striations or not. So am I proposing that you just leave things to chance? Not at all, just cautioning you to be realistic is all.

The bottom line is this: If you are looking for a great moisturizer to use during and post pregnancy, you enjoy the smell of lavender and the feel of luxurious oil on your skin, then Belli’s Elasticity Belly Oil is absolutely the way to go. The odds are very good that if you baby your skin through your pregnancy that it’ll be kind to you in return and I can’t think of a better way to do that than with this product.

Retail Price: 1.7oz - $48.00; 3.4oz - $26.00 (at bellicosmetics.com or go here to find other retail locations)
*Or, buy it in the DeLush Delights store now!

DeLush Rating:

What They Say: "A targeted treatment for existing stretchmarks that features darutoside-- a healing plant molecule recently shown in a clinical research study to decrease the appearance of a stretchmark's length and irregular surface area by over fifty percent. The luxurious formula also moisturizes while restoring the skin's firmness.

Use on stretchmarks of any age, and from any cause (pregnancy or weight gain). Apply to affected areas morning and evening for 4 weeks, then once daily until desired results are achieved."

Polina’s Experience: I have some very old stretchmarks on my thighs, pre-dating my pregnancies by several years, so they are quite faded already. I used Belli’s Stretchmark Minimizing Cream on the affected areas, wondering if this product could really reduce the skin damage by any degree. As I said, the stretchmarks are quite old and frankly after four months of daily use, I did not see much difference in my skin. I hope that more “raw” stretchmarks would respond noticeably and enthusiastically to the regular application of this cream.

As a plain moisturizer, this cream is a pleasure to use; emollient, smooth in texture, it absorbs quickly yet has great staying power as I could still feel it on my skin some 12 hours later, while showering. It doesn’t have the lavender aroma that I’m so fanatical about, but still has a very pleasing scent that makes application even more enjoyable. But obviously for the money you’d want this to be more than just a great moisturizer.

Overall, a quality moisturizer, but the stretchmark reduction claim remains unproven – at least on my skin. I would really love to hear from readers who have seen dramatic results from the use of this product.

Retail Price: 177ml $60.00 (bellicosmetics.com
or find a retail location near you here_

DeLush Rating: