Palmer's
Cocoa Butter Formula Massage Lotion for Stretch Marks
7.6/10 overall£4.00 (250ml)
A budget-friendly cocoa butter lotion aimed squarely at stretch mark prevention through pregnancy.
Palmer's Cocoa Butter Formula is the long-running budget staple of this category — a large bottle of cocoa-butter-based lotion built around vitamin E and collagen-supporting ingredients, sold specifically as a stretch mark lotion rather than a general moisturiser repurposed for pregnancy.
At under £1 per 25ml, it's by far the cheapest option here, and the bottle size (250ml) is generous enough to cover daily use across a whole pregnancy without needing a repeat purchase. It's a lotion rather than a pure oil or thick butter, so it sits in between Bio-Oil and Mama Mio for texture — thicker than an oil, lighter than a balm.
The main trade-off against the pricier options is a stronger cocoa butter scent, which some people love and others find too strong, especially if pregnancy has made smells more noticeable. For anyone prioritising value and generous bottle size over a premium unscented formula, this is the sensible default.
What we liked
- Cheapest option per ml by a wide margin
- Large 250ml bottle lasts through most of a pregnancy
- Marketed specifically for stretch mark prevention
Where it falls short
- Strong cocoa butter scent that not everyone likes, especially with pregnancy nose
- No fragrance-free version
Specs
- Size
- 250ml
- Format
- Lotion
- Key ingredients
- Cocoa butter, Vitamin E, collagen and elastin
How we scored it
Absorption & Feel
How quickly it sinks in and whether it leaves a greasy residue on clothes.
Absorbs reasonably well, though the scent lingers for some.
Ingredients & Safety
Pregnancy-safe formulation, fragrance-free options, and ingredient transparency.
Widely used in pregnancy, but strongly fragranced with no unscented option.
Value for Money
Cost per use if applied daily across a pregnancy, not just the shelf price.
The cheapest option here by a wide margin, in a generous bottle size.
Weighted by importance for this category — see our editorial policy for how we test.
The alternative
Bio-Oil
Skincare Oil
The best-known stretch mark oil in the UK, commonly recommended by pharmacists for use through pregnancy.