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 Not surprisingly, stretch marks (also called striae) are among the top five causes for insecurity in women. Stretch marks are formed when underlying tissue grows faster than the skin layers covering it, causing small tears in the epidermal surface. Scar tissue then proceeds to grow in these tears, creating “stretch marks”. Because every person is unique and skin grows at different rates, some people suffer from stretch marks more severely than others. Some women start showing a tendency of developing stretch marks when young (e.g., during puberty), while others only experience problems for the first time during a pregnancy because of the rapid and sudden growth of their body. Because stretch marks are in essence scars, they are extremely difficult to get rid of completely. That is why prevention is key!
To prevent stretch marks and to help reduce the appearance of existing stretch marks, you should use a proven and effective stretch mark cream (see our reviews below). Stretch mark creams purportedly work by increasing the elasticity of your skin and by stimulating the production of new skin cells. While the most common time to start using a stretch mark prevention cream is during the early stages of pregnancy or when you are trying to conceive, it is never too late to start using a stretch mark treatment on areas of your body that have already been affected by stretch marks to help reduce their appearance.
With so many stretch mark prevention creams and stretch mark erasing creams on the market, how do you know which stretch mark creams work best? In this article, we are going to review three of the top selling brands of stretch mark treatments that actually work. If you want to know how to prevent stretch marks or how to decrease stretch marks that you already have, you need to read our stretch mark cream reviews so you can begin experiencing great results sooner, rather than later.
Stretch Mark Cream Reviews -
Which Stretch Mark Creams Work Best?
Revitol's Stretch Mark Prevention Cream Review
 The first product that we will review is Revitol's Stretch Mark Prevention Cream. According to their website, Revitol’s Stretch Mark Prevention Cream “contains a powerful combination of concentrated ingredients that help strengthen the skin, improve collagen structure, and increase natural elasticity. This cream penetrates deeply into the skin cell layers and works to improve their elasticity by strengthening the collagen and elastin-rich tissues that are responsible for the flexibility and elasticity of the skin. The product has a rejuvenating effect by stimulating cell growth and production; enhancing skin renewal…This product helps to decrease the appearance of existing stretch marks, and is also an effective preventative treatment method for them. Stretch Mark Prevention Cream can be used after pregnancy to eliminate the appearance of stretch marks by stimulating skin renewal.”
The ingredients in Revitol’s Stretch Mark Prevention Cream consist of:
Vitamin A Palmitate
Vitamin A is an essential vitamin important for maintaining healthy skin. Clinical studies have shown vitamin A to have properties that block the absorption of harmful UVA and UVB rays, as well as a stimulating effect on cell regeneration. It has been clinically shown to improve the appearance of stretch marks and regulate skin cell growth.
Vitamin E
Vitamin E is a powerful antioxidant and an essential ingredient for skin regeneration. It penetrates deeply into the skin to stimulate the growth of new cells, helping to reduce the appearance of stretch marks. Stretch marks become thinner, shorter and fade over treatments. As vitamin E stimulates the production of new skin cells, it also increases skin elasticity and firmness. Applying vitamin E makes the skin less likely to tear, significantly decreasing the chance of getting stretch marks in the first place.
Vitamin D3
Vitamin D3 is necessary for new skin cell production and complements the function of vitamins A and E in the skin regeneration process. When vitamin D3 is applied topically in high concentrations it has been shown to have beneficial effects on cellular processes. This helps to increase the cellular activity around stretch marks and to rejuvenate skin.
10% Squalene Oil
The squalene oil (Olea europeae isolates) used in Revitol is naturally derived from olive oil isolates. Squalene oil has very strong regenerative properties when used on skin because of its strong similarity to natural skin oils. When applied to the skin, squalene oil functions as a natural protector and stimulates regeneration of the skin surface. Over time, this skin regeneration results in stretch marks, as well as other scars, being less visible. It is also a potent antioxidant and protects your skin from environmental damage while keeping it soft and healthy.
Aloe Vera Extract
Aloe vera (aloe barbadenis) has anti-inflammatory properties and helps heal small wounds without causing scar tissue to form. Since stretch marks start out as microscopic tears in skin layers due to overstretching of the dermis, aloe vera helps to prevent the stretch marks from appearing. Aloe vera promotes skin regeneration and has been used for thousands of years by numerous cultures to soothe and heal damaged skin.
DL-Penthenol
DL-Penthenol is the scientific name for pro-vitamin B5. It works to improve the structure of both the lower and upper skin layers and soothes skin while stimulating cell growth and differentiation. DL-Panthenol aids in the regeneration of the skin and acts to prevent stretch marks by promoting collagen and elastin production.
Grapefruit Seed Extract
Grapefruit seed extract helps to restore damaged collagen and elastin, which strengthens and retextures the skin. As collagen and elastin are responsible for the skins elasticity, improving and stimulating production of the connective tissue cells will prevent skin from tearing and thus prevent the formation of stretch marks. The condition of the skins connective tissue also dictates how well the skin contracts after pregnancy. So not only does this compound improve the condition of your stretching skin, after the delivery it will also aid in the contraction of your skin to its previous appearance.
Other Ingredients
Purified Water, Glyceryl Stearate, Vegetable Emulsifier, Glycerin, Caprylic Triglyceride, Dimethicone, Stearic Acid, Triethanolamine, Allantoin, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Carbomer.
After assessing the ingredients listed in Revitol’s Stretch Mark Prevention Cream, it is no wonder why this treatment is extremely effective at promoting regeneration of the skin surface. Stretch marks will generally fade naturally over time due to the body’s normal skin re-surfacing process, but Revitol’s Stretch Mark Prevention Cream has the ingredients necessary to help speed up this natural process (i.e., speeding up the fading process). From an ingredient stand point, Revitol is quite capable of preventing the formation of stretch marks and reducing the appearance of already existing stretch marks.
To review, Revitol: 
- Promotes healthy skin
- Helps increase production of collagen and elastin in the epidermis
- Increases the elasticity and strength of the skin
- Decreases the appearance of existing stretch marks
- Effectively prevents the development of stretch marks
- Keeps skin healthy and firm
Out of all the stretch mark creams tested, Revitol Stretch Mark Prevention Cream was the overall highest rated stretch mark cream based on both effectiveness and value. You can get yours here. Cost: $39.95
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