I’m sure you’re already aware I’m skincare obsessed. So much so, Craig and I have our own bathrooms so he won’t lose his shaving foam under all my lotions, serums and body butters. I’ve passed this obsession down to my children and now Dexter’s favourite post-bath ritual is to smother himself in E45.

Whilst I adore all the massages and slippery cuddles with the kids, I often neglect my own skincare routine. There are days I’m so exhausted I’ll fall asleep next to Craig with a full face of make-up, and gone are the days I have baby soft legs against our bedsheets every night.

As such, I love products that are specifically designed for the dehydrated and tired skin of a new mum. Making the transition from breastfeeding to formula, late nights, and an erratic diet can play havoc with your skin. With Heidi only 16 weeks old, I can definitely testify to this. Most notably, my boobs have lost some of the elasticity they once had. Okay, compared to some, I’ve got off lightly. They’re not yet drooping and are still firm enough to look good in a bikini, but there are some stretchmarks at the top of my chest where gravity and rapid growth are taking their toll.

So for the last few weeks, I’ve been trialling Clever Skin’s new -TEN- Skincare Breast Care Cream. This has been specifically formulated to combat stretchmarks, improve elasticity and firm up the breasts during pregnancy and beyond. Their no nonsense brand message promises to use skin science that is as natural as possible and will offer the very best results.

At -TEN-™ we have a no-nonsense approach to skincare and empower you with making the right skincare choice for you. We tell you what the key ingredients we use are, and most importantly, why these are used.

My hope was that the weakened skin around the top of my breasts would receive some much-needed nourishment. Fluctuating growth throughout pregnancy and nursing, then switching back to the bottle quickly, saw them grow to a staggering 34HH from a 36G so the skin has certainly been stretched. I just wanted a smoother appearance and a bit more firmness to counteract even more stretchmarks as I attempt to lose the baby weight.

So what’s in it?

Rice extracts (Oryza sativa) - Rich in anti-oxidants and essential fatty acids which are an effective substitute for lanolin, this can help reduce inflammation and itching. It is also a great source of vitamin E which helps to protect dry, scaling and chapping of skin.

Papaya extracts - Elastin and collagen are two fibers in the skin that contribute to skin firmness and help restore skin elasticity. The papain (a digestive enzyme) in the papaya can help rebuild the elastin and therefore help improve the elasticity and firmness of your skin.

Whoa!

I know what you’re thinking! Didn’t -TEN- say they were going to leave out all the science jargon for the benefit of us mere mortals…? They definitely could dumb it down further. However, the proof is in the pudding so to speak.

To my surprise, the cream has made a notable difference to my boobs. This might just be because they’re now receiving more attention than before and getting a daily massage. Regular massage can help improve your circulation and encourage new tissue growth so it wouldn’t be unusual to see visible results if the skin is getting a bit more love than usual. But all in all, I’m really happy with the results.

I’d described the smell as a mixture of sun lotion and cocoa butter that isn’t at all unpleasant. Give it 3 minutes to sink in and it dries to a matt finish. I’ve also been using this on my hands and have noticed they look much younger. At £34.50 (inc tax) this is undeniably expensive compared to high street alternatives, but I just can’t argue with how great my skin looks.

I also trialed the Hydration Body Cream which has an exhaustive list of ingredients including Vitamin B5, Vitamin E, Vitamin F, Camellia Oleifera Seed Oil, Avocado Oil, Cacao Butter and Wheat Germ Oil. There’s an explanation on the website behind each ingredient that is just as mind-boggling as the breast cream, but once again this stuff really works.

The smell is equally good, it’s incredibly hydrating and leaves your skin silky smooth. It’s also really cooling and refreshing and would be a real treat for swollen tummies & legs during pregnancy, particularly as the skin can undergo some fairly dramatic changes due to hormonal activity within the body. At £31.80 (inc tax), once again it’ll be one of the more expensive brands available to you, but you do get a soft sheen that lasts the entire day.

My only criticism of the range (and this is perhaps a little unfair) is that the Clever Skin website clearly needs some proof-reading. I spotted several spelling mistakes that might ultimately put people off what is essentially a premium product. Other than that, the rest of the range looks to be equally impressive with products tailored to expectant mummies, babies, and the everyday woman, with face, body and hair all covered.

Okay, the range isn’t cheap, but it’s a lovely range for mama & baby pampering. It’s lightly scented and incredibly delicate for sensitive baby skin, and skin that’s undergoing the trauma of pregnancy. It would make a fabulous gift for new and expecting mums, or an ideal treat for yourself if you’re feeling a little jaded with your post-baby body. If you’re into skincare, or have a specific skin complaint that’s affecting your comfort or confidence, you won’t be disappointed by -TEN-.

You can buy the range from CleverSkinCare.com or from Boots. You can also see what other mums thought of the range by checking out TENSkincare on Facebook and Twitter.

Samples were provided for this TEN Skincare Review