Bepanthen Stretch Mark Cream

I’m not just talking a stack of trial sizes either! Here’s what’s on offer!

Bepanthen Win GIVEAWAY: Win a bundle of Bepanthen products (CD: 17/11/2014)

Bottle of Bepanthen Stretch Mark Cream
Bepanthen Nappy Rash Cream
Bepanthen Baby Moisturiser
Bepanthen Baby Bib
Bepanthen Cuddly Toy
Bepanthen Baby Sun Cream

That’s one awesome luxury bundle for your little one (with a much sought-after gift for mum too!).

This is a staggeringly generous gift as offered by the lovely folks at Bepanthen HQ as part of their recent launch of the Bepanthen Stretch Mark Cream. I reviewed this cream recently and have continued to use it on my tummy post-birth. Like most mums, I suffered from body confidence issues following the birth of Heidi. I won’t lie - It hasn’t faded my current marks BUT given I’m losing weight (a major cause of the pesky little buggers), it has stopped new ones appearing. Read my full review HERE.

Bepanthen Stretch Marks GIVEAWAY: Win a bundle of Bepanthen products (CD: 17/11/2014)

In fact, stretch marks have been cited as one of the worst aspects of being pregnant by a third (28%) of mums – with almost one in five (18%) admitting that stretch marks have made them feel depressed, and a further 31% of women saying that stretch marks have caused them to lose confidence in their bodies, according to research by baby skincare experts, Bayer HealthCare, makers of Bepanthen Stretch Mark Cream^®.

When asked about stretch mark prevention:

Over a quarter (26%) of mums wish that they had done more to help prevent stretch marks while they were expecting
Almost half (46%) would recommend using a stretch mark cream to a pregnant friend
One in four women (24%) admit that they didn’t think to take any action to help prevent stretch marks as it didn’t occur to them

So what’s so good about it…

Extract of Centella Asiatica which encourages the production of collagen
Provitamin B5 and glycerine which are proven to nourish the skin to improve elasticity
Pure Olive Oil and skin lipids to moisturiser and act as a barrier to external influences
Hypoallergenic and free from colours and preservatives

It’s pretty revolutionary in this sense. Centella Asiatica is fairly new on the skincare scene and does have a whole host of benefits. Owing to its ingredients, this product is more prevention than cure. During phases of rapid growth it nourishes your skin and delivers and burst of vitamins to help boost skin elasticity. Your skin stays super hydrated and poised to deal with skin stretching and fluctuation.

Mums-to-be should look for a stretch mark cream that can actually help strengthen the skin before stretch marks appear – rather than just trying to remedy the situation afterwards. Look for a product that not only moisturises the skin – but one that can encourage collagen production, as a lack of this is a known root cause of stretch marks. Looking after your bump when pregnant is also a great opportunity to ensure that you are bonding with your baby before the birth. Dr Faye Kennedy (GP & mum of two who has produced a number of online videos giving advice in pregnancy for mums-to-be)

The cream itself is incredibly mild (as you would expect) making it ideal for sensitive skin and for use during periods of hormonal ‘excitement’ (a.k.a. pregnancy). It smells pleasant, rubs in easy and keeps your skin really hydrated - much like an oil rather than a serum. Better yet, it has been recommended by a massive 96% of mums-to-be during a product trial on Netmums!

Enough about the Stretchmark Cream - most of you will be here as you’ve been enticed by the GIVEAWAY…

Bepanthen is a household name most of us mums here in the UK are all too aware of. Many of us will smear Bepanthen Nappy Rash Cream all over our babies bums when irritation flares. But their wider range will be unfamiliar to many. They’re experts in baby skin care and want to spread the word!

Okay the bib is a gimmick but a cot-safe snuggly toy, and a whole host of other other scrummy goodies for your little one should appeal. You can never have enough SPF suncream, baby moisturiser and bum cream after-all! AND you’ll also win the Stretchmark Cream worth £24.99! Entry is via rafflecopter so good luck everyone!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

T&C’s – a.k.a – the boring bit!

Only 1 option is mandatory (leave me a comment) – the rest only improve your chances of winning so just complete as many as you feel like
UK entrants only – you must be over 18 too (sorry)
The winner will be contacted by email and must respond within 1 week of having been emailed (I’ll try all known avenues to contact them) or a new winner will be drawn
When the giveaway is closed, Rafflecopter will select the winner completely at random
The winners name will be published on this site

Win competitions at ThePrizeFinder.com

We’re all familiar with Bepanthen as sore bum and nappy rash experts. Now they have an entirely different offering, a stretch mark cream for use both before and after pregnancy. Okay, I can’t comment on their preventative powers, but I can tell you if they’ve reduced the look of my stretch marks after 4 weeks use.

Bepanthen Stretch Marks Bepanthen Stretch Mark Cream Review

What is it?

Bepanthen Stretch Mark Cream is developed with the latest scientific knowledge and the needs of mums-to-be in mind. Unlike other stretch mark creams, Bepanthen comprises a unique formula which works to strengthen and support the skin before the first signs of stretch marks appear - thus reducing the risk of occurrence.

Contains:

Extract of Centella Asiatica which encourages the production of collagen
Provitamin B5 and glycerine which are proven to nourish the skin to improve elasticity
Pure Olive Oil and skin lipids to moisturiser and act as a barrier to external influences
Hypoallergenic and free from colours and preservatives

The lowdown before the cream…

Two babies have taken their toll. Okay, the stretchmarks aren’t disastrous (and they certainly don’t make my Craig think twice) but they might signal the end of my bikini-clad days.

Stretch Marks Bepanthen Stretch Mark Cream Review

Initial thoughts…

Before trialling this, I’ve been a big fan of Bio-Oil. It does the job, sinks in easily and eases my conscience that I’m at least trying to cover up the road-map my babies have left. I wouldn’t go so far as to pretend it works, who knows if it prevents marks you haven’t got yet, and they’re all still very much there (if a little lighter).

I have to admit that the pursuit of a scar-free tummy doesn’t consume me. I think my Craig is sensible enough to realise that the odd scar I’m sporting is because I’ve given him the best gifts on earth, more so, it could be a damn sight worse! I would like to look like Kelly Brook, but life just gets in the way.

So I used it on the odd few marks that my babies have left; twice a day (as recommended) on my tummy, my breasts and my thighs.

042 Bepanthen Stretch Mark Cream Review

And?….

Oh dear. I soooo wanted to bring you a success story!

I’m not suggesting this cream has zero benefit.I actually like the smell (although have read online that some find it unpleasant), and it does offer fabulous hydration throughout the day. It has an almost silky texture and rubs in incredibly easily.

Within minutes it dries to a matt finish and leaves the skin feeling tighter and firmer. I haven’t had any new stretchmarks since using it which could indicate it’s doing its thing, or just that I’ve finally reached the pinnacle of physical fitness and have stopped growing (that’s a joke if ever there was one!).

I also really like the bottle design which features “bag in a bottle” technology. The action of pumping squeezes the bag inside the hard exterior case so you can access every last drop of cream. Well done Bepanthen - more companies should embrace this technology so we’re not so wasteful and get the most out of our purchases. I won’t bore you with all the lengths I’ve gone to to get the last bits of foundation out of my bottles.

Bottle Bepanthen Stretch Mark Cream Review

Usually £24.99, it’s now reduced to £16.66 at Boots. If we compare this to other well regarded stretch mark lotions and potions, you can see that stretch marks are big business and Bepanthen’s offering is competitively priced :

Bio Oil (200ml) RRP £19.99

Clarins Stretch Mark Control (200mls) RRP £37.00

Mama Mio The Tummy Rub Butter (125mls) RRP £23.50

Various Palmer’s Cocoa Butter Remedies RRP from £3.00 -£9.00

Weleda Pregnancy Oil (100mls) RRP £15.00

TEN Stretch Mark Prevention & Reduction Cream (200ml) RRP £35.00

In fairness I’d buy the product again if I were to go on and procreate some more, but for now I’ll be sticking to Bio-Oil in a fairly half-arsed attempt to fade out my current tiger stripes. That said, it’s certainly been well received by others and was recommended by a massive 96% of mums-to-be during a product trial on Netmums.

To find out more about the entire range of Bepanthen products, head on over to Bepanthen.co.uk.