This is a something I meant to post about ages ago, but kept forgetting to
do once I signed on, and remembered once I signed off.

I'm 34 weeks pregnant and knew that I was going to have some itchy skin on
my abdomen and the possibility of stretch marks. I used three different
types of cocoa butters (and some other random products) and just wanted to
briefly compare them for anyone else out there who is a CB lover and/or is
prego and wants to try something. Stretch marks and genetics go hand in
hand. I've read it, been told it, have processed the information. However,
my grandmothers and mother had stretch marks during their pregnancies. I
haven't as of yet.

Queen Helene's Cocoa Butter: One certainly gets a lot of product for the
price. I think I spent around $2.50 give or take some change for 32 fl oz
or 1 quart of this stuff. Upon initial sniffing it smells like sun tan
lotion, which is not unpleasant. The consistency is slightly thicker than
suntan lotion and but doesn't absorb as well as I had personally wanted. A
few times (perhaps during some rapid expansion) I ended up with flaky skin
on my abdomen. I probably would not purchase this again.

Palmer's Massage Lotion for Stretch Marks: One word: Yuk! Perhaps I have a
sensitive nose at this point, but this stuff smelled like rancid plastic and
I didn't even want to put it on my body after the first application. I got
7 ounces of unused product left. Perhaps after pregnancy it will smell
better. If not, I'm chucking it.

Palmer's Cocoa Butter: This is divine (to me). I don't remember how much
it costs/amount of product, but I don't care. Its thick, rich, smells like
chocolate, absorbs well and for some reason is comforting to me. *This* is
the stuff for RBE (rapid belly expansion) and everyday use pre- during- and
post- pregnancy.

Other moisturizers I have used during the past 34 weeks that are good
include:

Aveeno Lotion: This soothed my skin when it was itchy and flaky.

TBS Nut Butter: I do love this stuff, but the way I was going through
lotions, I thought it was too expensive for the amount of product.

Avon's Planet Spa Mediterranean Olive Oil Whipped Body Crème. MIL gave this
to me as a gift when I went home recently. *Nice* stuff and I didn't get
flaky itchy skin.

HTH and as usual YMMV


--
M~Elizabeth

To thine own self be true