As a mom, I’ve seen how amazing and adaptable our bodies can be – through pregnancy and all the seasons that follow. Stretch marks are a natural part of growth, and our skin is always doing its best to keep up. That’s why I love giving it a little extra support.
This whipped belly butter is a way to nourish stretched skin with real ingredients you can feel good about. No fillers. No mystery additives. Just simple, skin-loving oils and butters that support your body as it grows, shifts, and makes room for new life (or just new seasons).
In this article, we’re whipping up something that loves your skin right back – your own homemade stretch mark cream.
Why Make Your Own Stretch Mark Cream?
I’ve come to love making little things like this from scratch – especially with kids around. It’s one small way I feel like I’m taking care of them (and myself) with ingredients I actually trust.
Naturally, a lot of store-bought stretch mark creams are packed with stuff you probably don’t want on your skin – especially during pregnancy. Synthetic fragrances, preservatives, and unpronounceable ingredients might smell nice but they don’t always do your skin any real favors.
When you make your own, you skip all that. You know exactly what’s going in the jar – just a few natural ingredients that are safe, simple, and actually useful. Shea butter, a good oil or two, and maybe a drop of something soothing like lavender. That’s really all it takes.
It’s cheaper, cleaner, and honestly, one less thing to rely on the store for.
Ingredients for Your Whipped Belly Butter
Every ingredient in this recipe has a purpose. These are the rich, natural oils and butters your skin will absolutely drink up. Let’s take a peek at what makes this belly butter so soothing and effective.
- ½ cup raw shea butter (rich moisture and nourishment for stretching skin)
- 2 tablespoons sweet almond oil (light, absorbs easily, provides vitamin E)
- 2 tablespoons olive oil (antioxidants to soothe and soften skin)
- 1 tablespoon wheat germ oil (boosts elasticity with vitamin E – use less if scent-sensitive)
- 1 tablespoon rosehip oil (supports skin regeneration and repair)
- 1 tablespoon sea buckthorn oil (vitamin-rich, enhances skin elasticity; imparts a gentle golden tint)
- 1 tablespoon vegetable glycerin (optional) (adds extra moisture, enhances skin softness)
Pregnancy-Safe Essential Oils (optional):
(Use approximately 15–20 drops total)
- 8 drops frankincense (soothing, promotes elasticity)
- 5 drops neroli (lovely floral scent, rejuvenating)
- 5 drops patchouli (earthy aroma, supports skin repair)
You can personalize this blend based on your preferences and what’s available – adding lavender, reducing patchouli, or adjusting drops as you like.
How I Make Our Whipped Belly Butter
Stretch marks show up for all sorts of reasons – growing bellies, weight changes, hormones, genetics, or just life doing its thing. They’re normal. Totally common. And nothing to be ashamed of.
This belly butter helps in keeping skin feeling soft, deeply moisturized, and supported through all the changes.
Here’s exactly how I make it – simple, natural, and easy to tweak for your own needs.
Step 1: Gently Melt the Shea Butter
Start with a simple double boiler: place a heat-safe glass bowl over a saucepan with a few inches of simmering water. Make sure the bowl doesn’t touch the water directly. Add ½ cup of raw shea butter to the bowl and let it melt gently, stirring occasionally with a clean spoon.
Once it’s fully melted and clear, take it off the heat right away – shea butter doesn’t need much warmth and overheats easily.
Step 2: Mix in Nourishing Oils
Right after melting, stir in the nourishing oils: sweet almond oil, olive oil, wheat germ oil, rosehip oil, sea buckthorn oil, and vegetable glycerin if you’re including it. They blend smoothly into a warm, golden mixture.
Step 3: Cooling for the Perfect Whip
Pop the bowl into the fridge for about 10–20 minutes. The goal here is for the mixture to turn creamy and opaque – think soft, room-temperature butter.
If it gets too solid, just let it sit on the counter a few minutes to soften up again. No stress, just watch for that perfect texture.
Step 4: Add Essential Oils (Optional)
Once it’s soft and ready to whip, now’s the time to add essential oils if you want them. Calming options like frankincense, neroli, or patchouli are great but always optional. Keep the total to around 15–20 drops per batch. Stir gently to combine.
Step 5: Whip It Up
Using an electric mixer, start on low and work up to medium-high. In just a few minutes, the mixture fluffs up into a creamy, spreadable butter. Scrape the sides if needed and whip until it’s just the right texture – soft, smooth, and light.
Step 6: Store It Right
Spoon the finished belly butter into clean, dry jars. Go slowly to keep that fluffy texture intact. Store in a cool, dry place — or in the fridge during warmer months to keep it fresh and firm.
It’ll last around 2–3 months and a little goes a long way.
A gentle reminder: Before using this all over, it’s a good idea to do a patch test. Just apply a small amount to your inner wrist or arm and wait 24 hours to make sure your skin doesn’t react.
Storing and Using Your Belly Butter
Now that we’ve crafted and nurtured this soothing belly butter, let’s talk a bit about how to keep it fresh and how often we might use it.
Always tuck your jar away in a cool, dark corner – perhaps a cabinet or drawer away from sunlight and heat. Since we’ve chosen pure, natural ingredients and no preservatives, this butter will be happiest (and freshest) if used within two to three months.
If your home is warm, like mine sometimes is in those golden summer months, the fridge is a gentle helper. It keeps the butter fluffy and cool, ready whenever you need it. When reaching into your jar, remember to use clean, dry hands – or better yet, a clean spoon – to keep everything pure and lovely.
Using your belly butter regularly helps. Aim for once or twice a day – after a warm shower or before bed are good times.
A Quick Reminder for You
Your body is doing amazing things. Through every season of motherhood, it shows up and keeps going, even when it’s hard.
This belly butter is a simple way to support your skin and carve out a small moment of care in a full day. Stretch marks, soft spots, all the changes are totally normal. They’re part of the story. Part of the strength. Be kind to yourself.
You’re doing great – even on the messy days.
