At a glance:
The Mother’s Balm from Neil’s Yard is deeply moisturising and leaves your skin at its softest. Not only does it feel and smell divine, our panel of mum testers reported that it kept stretch marks away during pregnancy. The balm does take a while to absorb, but once it had seeped in, you are left with the benefits of soft and supple skin all day long.
What they say:
"Our 100% organic, fragrance free balm deeply nourishes and improves the appearance of stretch marks, making it the ideal gift for new mums or mum-to-be. With a blend of skin-nourishing oils and beeswax, it’s also proven to increase skin’s firmness and elasticity in just 30 days."
Tested by mum Coral Stanley for the Mother & Baby awards 2018:
Would you recommend this to other mums?
I would definitely recommend the Mother’s Balm to fellow mums and even friends without children! It is an amazing product that really does leave your skin unbelievably soft and feeling a million times healthier. I've always struggled with creams but this one has been amazingly soothing on sore stretch marks.
How did this product make your life easier?
This cream is lovely to use and very beneficial for myself and my partner in the evenings, as we can catch up on the day while he rubs it into my pregnant belly. I definitely see and feel the benefits of this product and it does exactly what it's designed for.
Would you choose this product to win?
Apart from the fact that it is slightly expensive, I would definitely choose to use this again. Some advice - even though the cream might feel gritty, it rubs in really easily and is a brilliant product that works.
What changes would you make to this product?
The only two downsides to this Mother’s Balm are the price and the consistency of the balm. As I said, it felt a little bit rough or gritty at first use but I realised that it then sunk into the skin very nicely.
Tested by mum Llinos Griffin for the Mother & Baby awards 2018:
Would you recommend this to other mums?
The product smelt lovely and had a rich organic texture - it definitely made my skin feel suppler and soft, and so far, no stretch marks to speak of! Should you have any reservations about using chemicals in products, then this would be for you. The design is nice and looks expensive and the product clearly works. It isn't oily like other products but I did find the texture rather grainy over my belly. It also meant I wasn't able to dress quickly after using the product, however, it is great to use in the evenings and smelt great!
How did this product make your life easier?
This balm made my skin feel supple and avoided stretch marks. It came in a solid block and was nicely packaged. It had a natural feel to it and you can definitely feel the honey on your skin. It was a little fiddly to use though, as it’s a block and not a liquid therefore it’s a case of scraping the product off the top, which wasn’t ideal.
Would you choose this product to win?
No, just because of having to use it as a block. It didn’t feel too luxurious and was rather sticky, much like putting solid organic honey on your belly. I would have preferred it to be in liquid form and absorbed quicker into the skin. I also think the retail price is expensive, but I did enjoy using this sample!
What changes would you make to this product?
I would prefer it to be in cream or liquid form as the block wasn't user friendly and didn't encourage me to use it regularly, as it seemed a little hard work. I really liked the fact it was natural and the ingredients used in it were lovely, however I really didn't like the consistency of it.
Tested by mum Michelle Hall for the Mother & Baby awards 2018:
Would you recommend this to other mums?
I think I would recommend this to other pregnant women because it's a lovely product to spend a bit of time massaging in after a nice bath. It would be a good way to connect with your growing and changing body, as well as keeping your skin supple. I probably wouldn't recommend it for everyday use if you are a mum, as it takes quite a long time to soak into the skin and I certainly don't have time to wait after a shower every day.
How did this product make your life easier?
It was a good one-stop product for moisturising and I could use it anywhere on my body which meant that I didn't have to use several different products after a bath or shower, saving time and space on the bathroom shelf. The tub is a really good size meaning that it lasts for a long time and I wouldn't need to keep replacing it.
Would you choose this product to win?
Personally, I wouldn't choose this product above all others. Although it does feel very luxury and made my skin feel soft, it takes quite a long time to soak into the skin. Whilst this was fine while I was still pregnant, now that I have a newborn baby I don't have the time to wait for it all to soak in and it tends to stain light coloured clothes due to the greasiness.
What changes would you make to this product?
The one thing I would change would be the scent. It doesn't really have a scent, which I think is a shame. Nothing too strong, but perhaps a gentle lavender to help relax and unwind would be really nice. There could perhaps also be another more uplifting scent for use during the day time, maybe something citrusy.
Tested by mum Lindsay Henstock for the Mother & Baby awards 2018:
Would you recommend this to other mums?
I love this product! It looks like solid beeswax but take just a small lump and it very quickly melts in your hands. A little of this product goes a very long way and is very smooth and easy to spread across my bump and hips. It feels extremely nourishing and moisturising and I can still feel it on my skin at the end of the day so it does keep working around the clock! I like that it has no particular scent – this is great as there is nothing worse than smelling of several different perfumed products throughout the day.
How did this product make your life easier?
I've been using this product for two months. At 35 weeks pregnant I still don't have a stretch mark in sight. I'm not a slim lady with a small bump either, so for me this is a big success so far. My skin feels lovely and any excess I have on my hands, I use for my arms and chest which has done wonders for my dry skin. I usually have red rashy arms but they have cleared up a lot since using this.
Would you choose this product to win?
I would definitely pick this product over all others currently on the market. I have tried several other popular stretch mark oils and creams but won't be going back to any of them after trying this. Unlike the others, there are no colours in this product or any particular fragrance. I have also found that after a few hours, other products seem to have disappeared from my skin but this seems to last all day. A little goes a long way so the pot lasts a lot longer than you may think.
What changes would you make to this product?
The best thing about this product also happens to be part of the only small criticism I also have. It's really great that it stays on all day, but doesn't wash off your hands very easily after use. That said, get some good grease destroying soap and very hot water and all will be fine and the upside is lovely silky hands to boot!
Tested by mum Tiffany Robson the Mother & Baby awards 2018:
Would you recommend this to other mums?
I would 100% recommend this product to fellow mums. The product has great packaging and is appealing to the eye but also smells great. More to the point, it actually works! I felt relaxed about using the product and feel others would benefit from the relaxing feeling it gives.
How did this product make your life easier?
As a mum to be, this balm makes you have more confidence, as stretch marks are a big issue in pregnancy. I am currently 32 weeks pregnant and, as of yet, I have no stretch marks after having used this balm. Unlike some other stretchmark creams on the market, this smells great which is nice as my partner really prefers it to previous, more chemically, products I had been using. I feel that the balm makes you feel very relaxed, almost like aromatherapy!
Would you choose this product to win?
I think this product should win because although some people may think the price is high, I feel it is worth the money. It smells great unlike a lot of the creams or balms on the market and also looks very appealing. It is stored in a lovely eye catching and practical container as well. The product, although greasy at first, soon dries unlike other products on the market that leave you feeling sticky for a while.
What changes would you make to this product?
The balm can be hard to wash off as it seeps into your skin so deeply, leaving residue on your skin even after a shower, but I suppose that can’t be helped if you want a product with rich moisturising properties.