Belly Butter Recipe For Pregnancy Stretch Mark Prevention

Each individual's body will react differently to pregnancy, and stretch marks are genetically predisposed to some individuals. That being said natural Cocoa Butter is an enduring and age old remedy to reduce likelihood or the appearance of stretch marks during pregnancy.

In it's natural state Cocoa Butter has a sweet chocolate aroma, but is very hard in texture and can be difficult to apply to the skin. It benefits the skin by keeping it supple, hydrated and able to stretch. Unrefined Cocoa Butter is rich in valuable anti-oxidants, vitamins and minerals.

Cupuacu Butter (coo-poo-a-su) is grown in South America, where it is mainly eaten for it's health benefits. It is very similar in texture to Cocoa Butter, and has a smooth hazelnut like aroma.

Cupuacu is especially good for keeping your skin well hydrated and is chock full of plant sterols which help to regenerate damaged areas of the skin. Adding this to a tummy butter will result in a super smooth feel to the creme.

A nourishing oil that is widely used in natural cosmetics. Sunflower oil is high in vitamins A, D and E, and contains a wealth of essential fatty acids.

Deeply conditioning this oil is commonly recommended to use on dry, damaged skin.

Grapeseed oil is easily absorbed and is suitable to use with sensitive skin. It is high in essential fatty acids and can cut some of the greasy feel of a tummy butter.

Rosehip oil is a rich, deeply colored oil which is very high in vitamin C. It is well regarded for it's use on areas of the skin where there is scarring or darkening.

Although Rosehip Seed Oil is expensive, it is incomparable for stretch marks which are a darker shade than the rest of the skin.

One thing to note, using Rosehip Oil in large amounts can be irritating to the skin. And is best used no more than 10% of the total oils for tender or recently scarred skin.

You will need a double boiler, or microwave proof dish, electric beaters and a clean 8 oz. container to put your tummy butter into.

makes 8 oz.

3 oz. Unrefined Cocoa Butter

2 oz. Cupuacu Butter

1 oz. Sunflower Oil

1 oz. Grapeseed Oil

.5 oz. Vegetable Glycerin

.5 oz. Rosehip Seed Oil

Melt Cocoa and Cupuacu Butter over a double boiler, or in a Pyrex dish in the microwave (using short 30 second bursts) until completely melted.

Remove from heat and add remaining ingredients, the essential oils/absolutes last to prevent exposure to high heat. You may set your mixing bowl into an ice bath (or the freezer) and mix until the cream begins to thicken. Or simply pour into the container and allow to set overnight.

You can add up to 1 tsp of essential oils if you like.

The natural chocolate scent blends well with many essential oils, such as...

Cocoa Absolute -dark unsweetened chocolate scent

Cocoa C02 Extract -sweet roasted cocoa bean scent

Benzoin Essential Oil -resinous and sweet can be used to add a sweeter note to Cocoa Absolute

Peru Balsam -A thick resin with a vanilla like aroma

Coffee Absolute -Pure rich coffee aroma.

Vanilla Absolute -Warm and true to the complexity of vanilla beans.

Orange Essential Oil -Bright orange adds a nice dimension to smooth, rich chocolate.

Peppermint Essential Oil -Peppermint is sometimes called world's oldest medicine. As well as having a pleasing and stomach soothing aroma Peppermint increases blood flow to your skin.

Bergamot -A wonderful Italian citrus that is most well known for the flavor it imparts to Earl Grey Tea and is a natural match with the richness of chocolate..