This is an ideal time to pamper yourself

Sep 6 2008 by Hannah Davies, The Journal

Hannah Davies checks out the best beauty products on the market for those tired, stressed-out mums-to-be.

THOUGH pregnancy is a joyous, exciting time, it can also be fraught with worry and exhaustion.

There may be the occasional woman who can breeze through, but most suffer from ailments such as puffed-up legs, aching legs, puffy skin, dry skin (from so much stretching) and of course the dreaded stretch marks.

In these times a relaxing bath can transform an evening, and a massage from a willing partner is the best gift a woman could have.

But with Professor Richard Sharpe, of the Medical Research Council, saying women should consider giving up body creams and perfumes in pregnancy, you have to think twice about what you put on your skin.

Luckily beauty houses are waking up to needs of the mother-to-be, with unfragranced or lightly fragranced oils and creams, often using natural or organic ingredients. Elemis director of product and treatment development Noella Gabriel says: “During the nine months of the pregnancy journey the skin changes daily, both face and body, in response to the demands made on the body by sharing it with another.”

She advises changing from body moisturiser to oil and sealing it with balm to prevent itching. Try some of these products, keep hydrated and do light exercise (20 minutes walking a day is ideal) and make your pregnancy as relaxed as you can.

BODY OILS

Bargain Buy

Johnson’s Baby Oil with Aloe Vera makes skin baby soft, £2.49.

Saaf Pure Skincare’s organic eraser body oil is toning and soothing for stretch marks and scars. Rich in ingredients which calm irritated skin, £32.99. From www.beautyexpert.co.uk and www.organic-skincare-shop.co.uk

Elemis Japanese Camellia Oil, £25, is feted by many for preventing stretch marks. At Serenity in the City, Newcastle, www.timetospa.co.uk.

Neal’s Yard Remedies Organic Mother’s Massage Oil. A customer favourite, a nourishing oil with organic soya and almond with neroli and mandarin oils, £16, from Neal’s Yard, Central Arcade, Newcastle, and www.nealsyardremedies.com

Roc Maternity Anti-Stretch Marks.This light spray-on oil combats stretch marks, £14.99 from Boots.

This works: stretch mark oil, a gentle blend of 15 plant oils and essential oils including nourishing passion fruit seed and soothing camomile and neroli, £32, Fenwick, John Lewis and www.thisworks.com

MOISTURISING

Neal’s Yard Remedies Organic Mother’s Balm is fragrance-free and organic. Soothes expanding skin to prevent stretch marks, £16.50, from Neal’s Yard, Central Arcade, Newcastle and www.nealsyardremedies.com

Estée Lauder’s body performance Mani Pedi smoothing manicure and pedicure treatment pampers the driest skin into extreme softness, £16, from Estée Lauder counters in House of Fraser, John Lewis, Robbs and larger Boots stores.

Bargain Buy

Palmer’s Cocoa Butter Formula Massage Cream for Stretch Marks contains pure cocoa butter enriched with vitamin E, collagen and elastin, £4.99, from Boots, Superdrug and leading supermarkets.

Green baby stretchmark cream is a base cream of sunflower oil with added cocoa butter, organic jojoba oil and carrot oil for deep nourishment. Essential oils of lavender and neroli prevent stretch marks, £7.99, www.greenbaby.co.uk

Darphin Intral Soothing Cream, £35, Exceptionally gentle cream for sensitive skin. From Crowds Hair and Beauty Clinic, West Monkseaton, North Tyneside. (0191) 251-6666.

RELAXATION

Burt’s Bees Mama Bee Leg and Foot Creme, £11. Put weary legs and feet to rest with this soothing leg and foot cream. Peppermint oil soothes and conditions while rosemary leaf extract encourages healthy circulation. John Lewis, Newcastle, and www.myburtsbees.co.uk

Lush Therapy massage bar, £4.50, is a lavender-laden bar, great for soothing skin and increasing its elasticity. Available from Lush, Grainger Street, Newcastle, and www.lush.co.uk

Elemis Instant Refreshing gel, £26, is a multi-functional, instant revitaliser, perfect for tired legs and muscle tension. Combines arnica, birch and witch hazel with cooling camphor and menthol. From www.timetospa.co.uk and Serenity in the City, Newcastle.

Bargain buy

Green baby postnatal bath and body oil, is a mix of organic sunflower oil and organic essential oils of geranium, lavender and clary sage to soothe and promote a sense of wellbeing, £7.99, www.greenbaby.co.uk

Neal’s Yard Remedies Organic Mother’s Bath Oil keeps the skin in top condition and fosters wellbeing and tranquillity, £12, Neal’s Yard, Central Arcade, Newcastle, and www.nealsyardremedies.com

Sanctuary Mum to Be Soft Skin Bath Soak. Soothe dry, stretched skin with nourishing milk protein, wheat germ and sweet almond oil, £8.95, at Boots and boots.com