Javelina's Full Review: Organic BearShop Mama Belly Oil 8 oz For Baby
Pregnant with my second baby, one of my relatives got me a very sweet and unexpected prenatal gift - a bottle of belly oil! I remembered the discomfort and itchiness with my first pregnancy and was looking forward to trying some belly oil since I had never used any kind of oil or cream. I was very fortunate not to get stretch marks in either pregnancy, so it was not a concern for me.
Organic BearShop Mama Belly Oil
This product was purchased for me as a gift, but I see it is listed on BabyBearShop's website for $32 for 8 oz, or $22 for 4oz. I have the 8oz bottle which is a glass bottle with a metal screw-on cap. The bottle is a dark brown color with a label covering most of it. I have heard fo this line of products before, but I have actually never seen it in stores (although I should mention I don't have great health food / natural food stores near me).
no parabens, synthetic fragrance, or colors, cruelty-free, not tested on animals, vegan.
My Thoughts
The bottle lists many uses for this product, which includes protection against stretchmarks, to make relaxing baths, mama or baby massage. I actually didn't even look at the label for a while and so I was thinking how there is quite a bit of oil to go through for just using on my belly!
During my pregnancy, I mostly used this on my belly and chest, which naturally grow during pregnancy. Despite being a second-time mom, my skin often felt tight, uncomfortable, and itchy. I usually put this on after showering, because the heat from the shower and the soap (even though I use natural, gentle soaps) seems to aggravate any itching and cause drying. My skin will often be noticably dry and it is a perfect time to apply the oil.
As I mentioned earlier, I have not gotten stretch marks with either pregnancy, so I was not concerned about trying to prevent getting them by using the oil. The oil did seem to soothe my skin and probably make my skin more supple and healthy.
Although I realize this product is striving to be natural and eco-friendly with it's packaging, any time I use oils (or an oily product in general) packaged in glass, I make a note to be really careful. Oil and glass can be a tricky combination so I handle this product very carefully. (Glass is one of the best materials to recycle, so I won't complain about that). The metal screw-on lid is not too much of an issue, since it isn't particularly slippery and I don't have issues getting it on or off, despite greasy hands!
The glass jar is a dark amber color, with a light blue label that I find attractive as it has a sweet design. The oil is basically just that, an oil. It is not particularly thick, and is essentially a watery consistency. Aside from the issue of being cautious not to let the glass jar slip, dispensing the oil can be a little tricky. You screw off the lid and from there it can be a little messy, in my opinion. I usually put my palm over the opening and tip the bottle over, and then apply the dime-sized spot of oil, over and over. I don't want to risk pouring it and making a mess.
This oil has a very pleasant scent, which I can best describe as herbal and essential oils, mostly lavender. It is not particularly strong and I would not say it is overwhelming. However, if you don't like a sort of herbal, natural scent, this is not for you. This is not the kind of fake fragrance you might find at places like Bath & Body, but there is a nice scent of lavender and some other oils.
This does seem to absorb well, but after applying, my skin does feel a little "tacky" to the touch. My skin does stay a little greasy for a while, and perhaps it just wears off on my clothes, or perhaps it absorbs, but it is not instant. I did wear this during the summer, and I didn't feel slimy or gross, but I will warn that this does not absorb instantly.
I actually also ended up using this after I had my second baby. I had a horrible rash on my stomach from a bad reaction to bandages (from my c-section) as well as nylon on my stomach, and so I was looking for products that would soothe my skin. The oil was calming, it helped to reduce the dryness, and it also has vitamin E in it which is exactly what I was looking for. I have also used it on my dry feet and hands to soothe my skin and it worked well, although again, it was greasy for a bit.
Overall
I do like this product, although I am sort of split between 3-4 stars. I am giving it 4 stars for being a wonderful natural product, especially since it is organic, but I don't know that I would spend that much money on this product, or at least this size. This is a lot of oil to use unless you are sure to use it frequently (daily perhaps). It does have a lot of uses, so at least all the leftover oil goes to good use!
99% organic and 100% natural, this 8-ounce container of Mama Belly Oil from Babybearshop is perfect for pregnant, blossoming skin, and is easily absor...More at Toys R Us
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To protect blossoming skin against stretch marks, to use on mama - to - be: for protection against stretch marks, apply generously on belly and body, ...More at Amazon Marketplace
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