I was googling info on stretchmarks the other day and was quite surprised to learn that oily-skinned people don’t get them very often. Because the skin is more elastic and supple, it’s harder for scar tissue to form - so it’s just my luck that I’m one of the minority that do get them and I guess that’s down to genetics. They first appeared on the backs of my legs during my teens and I also have a few on my hips and upper thighs, some at the top of my bum and the odd barely-visible one on the sides of my breasts.

So, what can I do to get rid of or minimise them? Well, I’m currently trying a mixed regime of products and yes, it’s those Anita Grant ones again, I told you I’d find some use for them. :D Anyway, I’m applying the products as follows, twice daily:

Monoi de Tahiti Oil: This goes on the back of my legs. I’m hoping the high content of coconut oil will have a positive effect. It’s the greasiest solution I’m using, but it does smell fabulous.

Ylang-Ylang & Cedarwood Whipped Butter: This is the one I expect to have the greatest effect, containing a more traditional stretchmark remedy of shea butter and cupuaçu butter (a member of the cocoa butter family). I’m using it on my hips and thighs and though it’s a little greasy to start, it absorbs quite quickly and leaves the skin nice and soft. I’m rather partial to ylang-ylang as well and it’s very easy to apply over a wide area.

Camellia Copaiba Bath & Body Oil: Finally, this goes on my chest. It’s the least greasy of the three and instantly leaves a velvety feel. The woody aroma is gorgeous. The ingredients are a little more exotic, camellia kissi is purported to be very good at treating stretchmarks. Anita does a pure Camellia Kissi oil as well, but I went for this one because the copaiba balances out oily skin, which often causes blemishes and pimples on my chest. May as well kill two birds with one stone as they say.

I’ll post the results at a later date. Although I only have sample bottles, they are going to last me a long time by the looks of things.