Boots
Maternity Stretch Mark Moisturising Balm
7.3/10 overall£5.99
A budget own-brand balm with olive and sunflower oils and vitamin E, a fraction of the price of the premium creams and oils in this category.
Check priceThe verdict
Boots' Maternity Stretch Mark Moisturising Balm is a vegan, cruelty-free balm built on olive and sunflower oils with vitamin E, priced at £5.99 for 50g — a fraction of the premium creams and oils in this category. Best for anyone satisfied that no cream reliably prevents stretch marks and who just wants comfortable, moisturised skin without guilt about cost. The clearest reason to skip it: the firmer balm texture takes longer to work in, and there's no brand-funded clinical trial data behind it.
This is Boots' own-brand answer to the premium stretch mark creams that dominate this category, and it does the basics competently: olive fruit oil and sunflower seed oil as the main emollients, a touch of microcrystalline wax and trihydroxystearin to hold the balm together, and vitamin E (tocopherol) plus a light lavender fragrance. It is not doing anything clinically novel, but that is largely the point — it is a straightforward moisturising balm sold at a fraction of what you would pay for the same job done by a designer brand.
Against Palmer's and Weleda, the ingredient lists are honestly not that far apart — all three lean on plant oils and vitamin E rather than exotic actives, and none of them has robust clinical trial data proving stretch marks are actually prevented (no topical product does, reliably; genetics and how fast skin stretches matter more). What differs is texture and price. This is a firmer balm rather than a fluid oil or lotion, so it sits on the skin a little longer before it is worked in, which some people like for a more deliberate massage and others find slower for a quick daily routine.
Compared with Clarins Body Partner, there is no contest on brand positioning or packaging, but there is also no contest on price — the balm costs a fraction of the Clarins tube, and for a product you are meant to be applying twice daily for months, that cost difference is not trivial. If you are already satisfied that no cream will reliably prevent stretch marks and just want your skin comfortable and moisturised through the stretch, this is a sensible choice to buy in volume without guilt.
The trade-off is polish: the packaging is basic, the fragrance is mild rather than a considered scent profile, and there is no brand-level clinical testing or before/after data behind it the way the premium options market themselves. If reassurance from clinical claims matters as much as the moisturising itself, one of the pricier options may feel like better value despite the higher unit cost.
Is the Maternity Stretch Mark Moisturising Balm worth it?
- Much cheaper per use than premium creams and oils in this category
- Simple, recognisable ingredient list — olive oil, sunflower oil, vitamin E
- Vegan and cruelty-free formula
- Widely available in Boots stores, not just online
What are the downsides of the Maternity Stretch Mark Moisturising Balm?
- Basic packaging and a milder fragrance than brand-led competitors
- Firmer balm texture takes longer to work in than an oil
- No brand-funded clinical trial data to back up marketing claims
Specs
- Size
- 50g
- Vegan
- Yes
- Format
- Balm (firmer than an oil or lotion)
- Fragrance
- Light lavender
- Cruelty-free
- Not tested on animals
- Suitable from
- Any stage of pregnancy
- Price per 100g
- Approx £11.98
- Key ingredients
- Olive fruit oil, sunflower seed oil, vitamin E (tocopherol)
How we scored it
Absorption & Feel
How quickly it sinks in and whether it leaves a greasy residue on clothes.
A firmer balm than the Weleda or Bio-Oil formats — sits on skin longer before absorbing, which some find less convenient for a quick daily routine.
Ingredients & Safety
Pregnancy-safe formulation, fragrance-free options, and ingredient transparency.
Value for Money
Cost per use if applied daily across a pregnancy, not just the shelf price.
At under £6 for 50g, this is the cheapest product in the category by a wide margin — strong value if you don't need a premium brand name.
Weighted by importance for this category — see our editorial policy for how we test.
How it compares
|  |  |  | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price | £5.99 | £54.00 (175ml) | £9.99 (60ml) | £24.00 (120ml) |
| Overall score | 7.3/10 | 6.2/10 | 8/10 | 6.8/10 |
| Size | 50g | 175ml | 60ml (also sold in 125ml, 200ml) | 120ml |
| Format | Balm (firmer than an oil or lotion) | Cream | Oil | Body butter (thick balm) |
| Fragrance | Light lavender | Fragrance-free | Lightly fragranced | Fragranced (also sold in a fragrance-free version) |
Frequently asked questions
What are the main ingredients in Boots' stretch mark balm?+
Olive fruit oil and sunflower seed oil as the main emollients, plus vitamin E (tocopherol) and a light lavender fragrance — a simple, recognisable ingredient list rather than anything clinically novel.
Does Boots' balm actually prevent stretch marks?+
There's no robust clinical trial data proving any topical product reliably prevents stretch marks — genetics and how fast skin stretches matter more. This does the basics of moisturising competently at a much lower price than premium alternatives.
How does Boots' balm compare to Palmer's and Weleda?+
The ingredient lists aren't that far apart — all three lean on plant oils and vitamin E rather than exotic actives. What differs is texture and price: this is a firmer balm that sits on skin longer before being worked in, at a much lower price.
Is Boots' stretch mark balm vegan?+
Yes, it's vegan and cruelty-free, and suitable from any stage of pregnancy.