I have a dirty little secret: stretch marks are not hereditary! Cellulite can be, but not stretch marks. And….sorry to all the skin care lines, but there’s absolutely nothing topical you can use to prevent them! My doc has been surprised to see I have no stretch marks, and he said recently “You must have great genes.” Sorry, doc! If my mom was the factor, I’d have been horribly doomed. I’ve simply used my knowledge and philosophies of the body and nutrition to prevent them, and what do ya know….it worked….as it usually does.
So, how do you keep great skin, whether you’re pregnant or not? There are 3 main things you HAVE to do: 1) Hydration–the most important. Skin must be kept supple. Lots of water, water, water! I’m a jugger–that means I carry a gallon jug and easily consume it throughout the day. Yeah, you’re gonna pee a lot, but so what! 2) Purity: a clean diet. Lots of fruits and veges, no processed foods, little sodium and sugar. Balanced with lean proteins and complex carbs. Pure, basic, nature-driven. Very little crap is to be put in the body! You want crappy skin, then put it in your body. 3) Great blood circulation. And guess how you get that? Yep, you guessed it. Exercise!! Everyday for at least 45-60 minutes. Sweat is cleansing to the poors and you must get your heart rate up moderately to improve circulation.
Now there are two other things I do which I think help, but they are based on the above necessities of hydration, purity, and circulation. 1) Body brushing. I usually fast twice a year, and when I fast, I brush my body daily to remove dead skin. I primarily do this, however, because it is fabulous for circulation. The brushing, which you do in the direction of your heart, brings the blood to the surface. You can feel it, you can feel your body warming up and the tingles. Plus, it spreads the oils on your skin. 2) If my body feels a little dry, and especially if the skin is thin (like it is for me at 39 weeks), I use either pure, organic Vitamin E oil, almond oil, or coconut oil. PURE–no preservatives, chemicals, perfumes, etc.
What if you already have stretch marks? Well, that can be a little more complicated, but I can tell you that it’s never to late to get skin you’re happy with. Acne, blemishes, spots, looseness, wrinkles, even cellulite can be hugely affected by the 3 basics of hydration, purity, and circulation! So, what are you waiting for? Think Maybeline (but don’t buy that junk)…..”Because you’re worth it!”
