As much as I already love the little bean (or cauliflower to be more accurate, as described by my BabyCentre Pregnancy App) inside of me, there is never a more important time to take good care of your skin than during and after pregnancy. We all know that horrible itchy feeling and dryness when your tummy is being stretched to it’s limits thanks to Pregnancy, and we pregnant mamas could sure do without it. 

For me, Palmer’s was the only obvious choice when it came to my stringent plan to avoid dry skin during pregnancy. It came to me as my Mum’s recommendation during my first pregnancy, and is naturally my go-to brand to use this time round too.

Now let me get one thing clear, I truly believe that stretchmarks are our “Tiger Stripes” earned to commemorate the sacrifices our bodies go through to give birth to a little human being. So much so, that I even wrote a post about it. And I don’t think there is any way of actually avoiding them completely, unless you have some pretty special genes. But of course. the less of these marks, the merrier. Even with a rigorous skincare routine during my first pregnancy, I managed to gain a few of these tiger stripes at the end of the third trimester. As I embark on my third trimester of my second pregnancy, these previous marks have risen once again, though I have not noticed many (if any) new stretchmarks yet. (I am sure that will change as soon as publish this post! ha!)

“Many skincare brands claim to erase/remove/cure stretch marks but the best solution is actually to prevent them from occurring in the first place. You can only improve their appearance once you have them.”

My reason for following a strict skincare routine during and after pregnancy is to replenish my skin with moisture, and to avoid scratching myself silly. It is also a great way to pamper and relax myself, whilst increasing the bond of father and baby too (which I will share with you below). Also, bear in mind that the key to great skin is actually in the frequency of application of the right products.

So What is my Pregnancy Skincare Routine?

Well, it begins with my morning shower. I have been using this Palmer’s Sensitive Skin Body Wash for Pregnancy. This is the perfect first step as it gently cleanses and soothes dry, itchy and stretching skin with it’s moisture-restoring properties. The Body Wash includes Collagen and Elastin along with Cocoa Butter and Shea Butter to moisturise and balance skin’s natural pH, and therefore can be used daily.

To be honest, this Body Wash did take some time getting used to, because I am so used to using sweet scented body washes that are extremely foamy. However, knowing that this product was much better for my skin, and by making up with the sweet smelling moisturiser once I was out of the bath, it is now the Body Wash I reach out for daily.

Once I am out of the shower, I lather my stomach, hips and knees with the Palmer’s Massage Lotion for Stretch Marks. Using a special blend of pure Cocoa Butter, Vitamin E, Shea Butter along with Collagen, Elastin, Sweet Almond oil and Argan Oil, this lotion promises to help improve elasticity and suppleness of stretched skin.

I really like that the lotion is a non-greasy formula, as well as use of the push down applicator, making it super easy for me a mummy to a toddler to moisturise my skin, get dressed and get back to mummy duties without any fuss. I have been using this lotion since the end of my third month of pregnancy, when my baby bump first started to make an appearance, but of course you can start using it as soon as you find out you are pregnant.

As suggested, I reapply this lotion once more in the afternoon, and if I am heading out in the evening, then once more before getting dressed. I was suffering from a very itchy tummy during the initial weeks of my second trimester, but with the regular use of this product, I feel that my skin is very much hydrated and I rarely have the urge to scratch at my stretching skin anymore.

The Palmer’s Skin Therapy Oil has been part of my bed time routine for almost a year now. This light-weight and fast absorbing oil is ideal for daily moisturisation and to help improve the appearance of scars, stretch marks, dry damaged skin, fine lines and wrinkles. I am only 25 years old, but I use this daily on my face and neck before bed time, and I have noted such a huge difference at how quickly the marks from any spots dissapear. You can read my initial review of this oil here.

There is also the added bonus of it smelling heavenly thanks to the oil containing Rosehip, Sesame and Canola Oil, together with Cocoa Butter and Vitamin E. I am not one to go through a million steps of individual creams, each doing separate jobs such as toning and so on, therefore this one product really works for me. Just a word of caution though, the packaging along with the oil dropper is made of glass so be sure to keep away from children’s reach.

Just before getting into bed and after applying the Skin Therapy Oil, my husband helps massage the bump with Palmer’s Cocoa Butter Formula Tummy Butter. It is is the perfect nighttime treatment because it contains Lavender, which soothes and relaxes, along with the other crucial moisturising ingredients. The tummy butter is rather greasy, but since I use it during the night, I don’t mind this at all.The balm like texture melts in the palms of your hands due to the body heat, and is great to massage with.

With mothers carrying the unborn child for 9 months, feeling the flutters turns to ninja kicks, men are often left feeling very detached and not able to share the same sentiments as the mother until after the baby is born. By involving Mr Z in this skincare process, it encourages him to daily bond with the baby in his own unique way, making him feel part of the pregnancy and get excited about what is to come.

Lastly, I want to share with you the Palmer’s Massage Cream for Stretch Marks. I was rather confused at first, not knowing the difference between this Massage Cream, and the Massage Lotion (mentioned above) apart from it’s packaging. Upon reading about it, the massage cream also contains the star ingredient used in all the other Palmer’s Pre and Postnatal products, which is “Bio C-ElastE” and it is a combination of Collagen, Elastin, Centella Asiatica, Sweet Almond Oil and Argan Oil. However, unlike the Massage Lotion mentioned before which is best applied on dry skin, the Palmer’s Massage Cream can be smeared onto wet skin, after a shower, morning and evening directly onto problem areas such as tummy, hips, thighs and bust. It’s got a thicker consistency, deeply moisturizes and hydrates the skin for long periods of time. Creams are much better used in the dry weather, such as the winter time, so I will most likely be replacing the lotion with this massage cream as we embark into the Dubai winter months.

Palmer’s Postnatal and Prenatal Products… 

Palmer’s Postnatal and Prenatal products are formulated especially for pregnant women and are packed with pure and natural ingredients, that are ethically and sustainably sourced. They are Hypoallergenic, Paraben-Free, Phthalate Free and Dermatologist Tested, and are super affordable too. The range includes many other products such as a Post-Natal Firming Lotion, Bust Cream as well as Nursing Butter to help relieve sore-cracked nipples whilst breastfeeding.

Although I have been using and loving a few other skincare products too during this pregnancy, it is the Palmer’s products that I have been using religiously throughout the entire time to ensure optimum results can be achieved in terms of moisturisation. I would highly recommend these products to any other pregnant mama out there because it truly has been giving my the results I wanted, without breaking the bank. Once the second baby has arrived, I hope to carry on the skincare routine with as much  dedication, because we Mamas need pampering too, more so after just having given birth, and the Palmer’s postnatal products promise to do just that.

Palmer’s Products

All Palmer’s products are easily available for very reasonable prices at all big supermarkets and pharmacies. You can also find a couple of them amongst my Mumzworld Mumz Panel Picks.  (You get a 10% discount if you use the code Mummyonmymind10) To find out more about what Palmer’s have on offer, simply head on over to their website. For regular updates, you can also find them on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and Youtube.

Have you tried any Palmer’s products, and what are your thoughts or recommendations? What do you think of their pregnancy range? Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments section below. Thanks!

Note: Being a Palmer’s Brand Ambassador, I received SOME of these products for review. However, I have already repurchased some of the items because of how well they are working for my skin and as always, all views and opinions expressed in reviews are honest and solely my own.