Subsequent to my last review on the subject matter above in my earlier post on 9 September 2016, there are a few new updates i would like to add in as follows:
Bud's Stretch Mark Prevention Cream (150ml)
Since i started using this cream beginning September 2016, where for around 2 weeks i had used it once a day at night whilst using Palmer's Cocoa Butter Formula Soothing Oil in the day, i had changed my usage pattern in mid September 2016 to using Bud's twice daily as it was much more absorbent, less oily, and did quite well in keeping my skin moisturized and PPUD at bay.
However, this usage resulted in me finishing the cream by the 3rd week of October 2016 (probably due to the fact that my tummy was now bulged out at an alarmed rate of 40 inches in diameter around the belly button compared to an average of 36.7 inches diameter at the beginning of September 2016).
My summary review after finishing 1 bottle of Bud's on top of my earlier review:
1 bottle would last only about 1.5 months on a full pregnant belly of 38~40 inches if applied twice daily. It's light texture in my opinion might not be enough for the later stages of pregnancy where spider veins and varicose veins suddenly start popping up on my sides and back of the hips, which i had been massaging in previously but still remained unless i used a pretty decent amount for those places for over 3 days, where it then subside and return again once i let up on the amount applied.
Sebamed Anti-Stretch Mark Cream (200 ml)
Just bought this yesterday to be used since my Bud's cream above has been finished. Will submit my updated review on this cream once i have finished this bottle, which i believe should be some time during my confinement?
Palmer's Cocoa Butter Formula Soothing Oil (150 ml)
I've actually stopped using this oil daily in mid September 2016 as i felt the strong chocolaty sweet smell to be way overwhelming when applied everyday. So much so i actually felt nauseous and stayed clear of consuming any chocolate during the time i had applied this oil. There was also the slight uncomfortable feeling of my somewhat oily skin sticking/rubbing against my loose clothing, even though it would not stain.
My summary review after prolonged usage of Palmer's on top of my earlier review:
Would not re-purchase this oil in the near future. Whilst it is very cost effective, relying solely on it for a day application daily, it was still insufficient and heavier application of it would only make you feel uncomfortable throughout the day. On top of that, the strong sweet chocolaty scent i mentioned earlier is definitely not for everyone especially if applied daily.
Bud's Nurturing Nursing Cream (15 ml)
This cream has come in pretty handy around end September 2016 where my breasts and aerola have started expanding in anticipation of the nearing delivery of my little one. If the spider veins that pop out around my chest area aren't too many or if my aerola would feel dry/slightly rough after a bath, i would dab this cream on them and the marks and dryness would slowly fade over a few days.
My summary review after prolonged usage of Bud's on top of my earlier review:
A gentle cream that does a pretty good job of moisturising the skin and aerola of minor irritations and marks. Slightly more oily texture compared to the stretch mark cream, but absorbs just as well over the small surface area. Been using it for almost 2 months now, and feels like it should be able to last at least another month more.
However, the spider veins started popping more noticeably 1.5 weeks later on my chest area and my aerola had started to itch, crack and had mini bumps swelling up (looked potentially like pregnancy eczema?) despite daily application of this cream twice. Hence, it seemed like as if daily rigorous application of this cream was starting to be insufficient, which leads me to consider and discover an additional supplement to my daily regime... Virgin Coconut Oil ("VCO")!
Country Farm's Certified Extra Virgin Coconut Oil
I've been reading reviews of how VCO had multiple uses for cooking, consuming and massaging to both moms and their newborns and although VCO can come in either in oil or cream form to be warmed and melted before usage, the brand i decided to pick up was one that could be found in hypermarkets quite commonly, Country Farm's Certified Extra Virgin Coconut Oil.
1 liter would cost just below RM68.90, and at the time of purchase, there was a promotion of free 120ml bottle at the said price. I love the whiff of coconut at the point of application which dissipates pretty quickly after a few seconds and discovered that applying this on top of my stretch mark cream which has been absorbed did help to lock in the moisture longer.
After half an hour of application though i would use some tissue to just dab around the areas which had been applied to gently remove any excess oil that had not been absorbed. This oil did wonders for my aerola itch outbreak as the first time i applied it was at night after a shower where the itch had been so bad i felt like taking a bite at myself, and the tiny bumps had started forming around the nipple, and not just on 1 side of it.
I had applied a generous amount of the oil on top of the nursing cream and placed a moistened tissue on each nipple to keep the area moisturized, and would water spray the tissue every 10-15 minutes once the tissue dried up. After 2 hours of repeated spraying, the itch subsided and i managed to get some sleep for the night. Voila! Next morning, my aerolas felt soft and bouncy, leaving me feeling more confident i can be ready to breastfeed my little one once he's born.
I have since followed the above regime every night as i noticed that whilst the eczema could be kept at bay with this regime, my aerola skin was now very sensitive to any material brushing against it for the rest of the day, including my padded bra. Hence, there may be instances where it would seem like by the end of the day the aerola skin might feel slightly flaky due to dryness or abrasions and after a cool shower (warning: warm showers will dry the skin and agitate it further, even if for a short while), i would now apply the VCO on top of my nursing cream for my nipple, and stretch mark cream for my other body parts for added moisture.
Usually about 4-6 drops is all i need per application of the chest and body area and therefore, i had poured some of the VCO into a travel sized bottle for ease of dispensing and hygiene purposes.
Their benefits, which include the fact that it can still be used for topical application and massage post delivery, can be found in the facebook link herein. Another tip i read online was that VCO could also be used as a gentle moisturizer for the external perineum area, in hopes of being able to reduce perineal tear at the point of delivery. I have been trying out perineum massage for a few weeks now, but will share my opinions on it in another post at a later date.
So here's another interesting bit for both Bud's Stretch Mark Prevention Cream (150ml) and Sebamed Anti-Stretch Mark Cream (200 ml): Their normal prices in BIG Pharmacy in Taman Danau Desa, Kuala Lumpur is RM57.60 and RM65.03 respectively only! I thought my eyes were playing tricks on me but that's the price i paid at the counter, waaaaaaaaaaaay cheaper than any other pharmacy outlet in KL/Selangor that i have visited and no, these were not old clearance stocks either. Compared to the surprisingly more expensive BIG Pharmacy outlet in Bandar Puteri Puchong, this outlet was also much more well stocked with pregnancy related products, with brands like QV and Cetaphil taking up 2 whole shelves for display.
Just 2 weeks away from delivery now (if my little one decides to be come out no sooner than the expected due date), will see how well these oil massage tips i picked up in the last month of my pregnancy pans out in the process of labor and minimizing stretch marks.
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