Pregnant and postpartum women have been using cocoa butter to reduce the appearance of stretch marks for years. While many women swear by the effectiveness of cocoa butter, some people believe it is just an old wives' tale. Cocoa butter cannot get rid of stretch marks completely but it can help to reduce the appearance of stretch marks. It is important to note that certain types of cocoa butter and methods of application are more effective than others.
Step 1
Use a cocoa butter product with added vitamin E oil. According to the "New York Times," women who use a product with vitamin E in it have fewer stretch marks than women who do not use anything containing vitamin E on their skin. Make sure that vitamin E, vitamin E oil or alpha tocopherol, which are all essentially the same thing, is listed in the ingredients of the cocoa butter you buy.
Step 2
Apply cocoa butter to the areas of your body which have stretch marks at least twice a day, every day for results. Some women have trouble remembering to apply cocoa butter so put it on in the morning as soon as you wake up and also at night, just before going to bed. The more often you apply it, the more effective it will be.
Step 3
Use a skin brush or body brush after applying cocoa butter to further open your pores and allow the ingredients to be absorbed well by your skin. According to the Expectant Mother's Guide, using the skin brush to gently massage the area where you have stretch marks will promote increased circulation, bringing blood, along with the active ingredients, deeper to the area, which may prevent more stretch marks from appearing in the future.
Step 4
Be persistent but realistic. Don't forget to apply your cocoa butter to the areas of your body with stretch marks every day and night for at least several months to see results. Maintain realistic expectations, as you won't be able to completely get rid of all of your stretch marks in a week. As long as you are diligent yet reasonable in what you expect, you will be able to see good progress in getting rid of some of your stretch marks.
Things You'll Need
- Cocoa butter with added vitamin E oil
- Dry skin brush
