Palmers Cocoa Butter Formula

I recently got a baby pack from Emmas Diary, which included this massage cream as a sample. The sample was quite large so I got to see what the product was like properly, as I was able to use it for a while.

**WHAT IS IT**

This product is a massage cream for stretch marks. It is a concentrated cream and is clinically and dermatologically tested so it is safe to use during pregnancy.

It includes Vitamin E, Collagen and Elastin to help your growing belly from getting stretch marks by making it healthier and potentially better to cope with stretching.

** PACKAGING**

As I received a sample it came in a white tube and you had to squeeze the tube to get the cream out.

The front of the tube has the Palmers logo in orange and brown. It has a picture of a pregnant lady and you can see her bump around the edges of the picture has a blue frame.

The back of the tube gives you the ingredients in brown. It also gives you contact details if you want to contact Palmers.

If you were to see this product in the shops it will come in a cardboard box which has exactly the same front that the tube that I received has.

**INGREDIENTS**

Water, Theobroma Cacao Extract, Glycerin, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Isopropyl Lanolate, Isopropyl Palmitate, Propylene Glycol, Dimethicone, Lanolin Alcohol, Stearic Acid, Bentonite, Theobroma Cacao Seed Butter, Mineral Oil, Microcrystalline Wax, Cetyl Alcohol, Stearyl Alcohol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Soluble Collagen, Hydrolyzed Elastin, Diazolidinyl Urea, Disodium EDTA, Methylparaben, Propylparaben, Limonene, Linalool, Caramel, Fragrance

Vitamin E is good to have in this product, as it will help to prevent of stretch marks and improve the look of age spots.

Collagen will help make skin more firmer. Weakened collagen means you are more likely to get stretch marks. So the collagen will help to prevent stretch marks by making your collagen stronger.

Elastin will help make your skin more stretchy. The stretchier your skin is the less stretch marks you should get.

Cocoa butter should help stretch marks from appearing and if they do it should help them fade or go away.

**PRODUCT**

The massage cream itself is a creamy/white colour. It is not too thick in consistency and will glide onto your skin well.

To me personally I don't like the smell of it as its rather strong and it lingers for ages. I would prefer a cream that didn't have such a strong smell.

If I had of used this at the start of my pregnancy I dare say it would have annoyed me a lot more. To me it's sort of smells slightly like artificial chocolate, which is a rather sickly smell.

Before use you are advised to use a small bit on a test area of your skin just incase irritation occurs.

To use you put a small blob on your hand and massage it in thoroughly. I tend to do this in circular motions, as it seems to work better for me. Make sure you don't put on too much or you will end up feeling sticky and oily.

The cream is rather oily and sticky and I find I need to wash my hands after using it. As I am applying it to my belly I find that it is best to not to put on a T-shirt for a minute or two after application as it takes a few minutes for it to soak into your skin.

If you haven't put too much on this shouldn't take too long. It does in my experience take longer than other lotions and oils I have used for stretch marks.

**MY OPINION**

This particular massage cream costs £5.49 from Boots for a 125g tube. I think this is rather expensive and don't think I would actually buy this product to use.

I am not fussed on the smell and find it takes longer than other lotions and oils to soak in which for me is annoying as I am usually in a rush.

So far though it has worked well at keeping the stretch marks away so it does do its job. If my stomach feels tight this cream does help loosen the skin making it feel softer and stretchier.

The cream does do what it says and it will help the condition of your skin making it feel softer and will help prevent stretch marks.

I think I would prefer to use an oil as it is less messy and soaks into your skin quicker. It does the same thing and you can get Rescue Oil for only a £1, which is far better value for money.

Its not that I wouldn't recommend this cream it's just I feel that you can get cheaper alternatives for preventing stretch marks that are better value for money.