Somatique Stretch Mark Treatment Review

In this review, you'll read about the Somatique Stretch Mark Treatment. To read about the Somatique facial cleanser click here.

 In my last post, the Somatique Facial Cleanser review, I promised a review for the Somatique Stretch Mark Treatment, and a lot of you expressed a huge interest in it, so I'm going to be as detailed and thorough as I possibly can in this post. If any questions are left unanswered, don't hesitate to ask away. 

 Put briefly, Somatique's Stretch Mark Treatment is designed to help prevent stretch marks with its awesome, organic, effective ingredients like Shea butter, jojoba oil, tamanu oil, Vitamin E, coconut oil, aloe vera and beeswax. However, it can also be used to help fade existing stretch marks. This is why I wanted to use it. I don't have any new marks, but have had old ones since my teen years.

Now that I've had a month of use with this stuff, I'm going to tell you all about it. I'll start with my results.

My Results Using the Somatique Stretch Mark Treatment

I should start by telling you that everyone is going to be different with these things. Results are likely to vary greatly between individuals. I personally have probably moderate stretch marks. Not severe like you may see immediately after giving birth or something of that nature. My stretch marks are deep, though. My stretch marks are mostly on my legs and sides/obliques. They appeared on my inner and outer thighs as well as lightly on my calves during my teen years. I'm 24 now, so they've been with me for a while.

It's been around 1 month since I began using the Somatique Stretch Mark Treatment cream. As of the time of writing, I've seen a possible change in appearance of my stretch marks (those on my outer thighs.) However, the change, if any, is so minor that photos weren't useful here. I will certainly continue use and photograph any results after more time has passed. I wish so badly that I could've had some noticeable results by now, but the "after" photos would look identical to the ones you see labeled "before."  

At times, though, when looking at the stretch marks on my outer thighs, they seem less noticeable. The marks on my sides, the ones that are the deepest, are still just as bad as before. Hopefully, the change will appear soon as I continue to apply the cream twice daily. I won't give up hope just yet!


Things to Keep in Mind:

 I assume folks who have new stretch marks may see a quicker improvement than those who've had them much longer. I don't know if this is true, though.  I also have minor stretch marks that aren't as deep or as many on my chest. During the time I've been using the Stretch Mark Treatment, I've focused on the worst of the areas -- my thighs and sides. I've even taken photos before and after for you guys.

These are my "before" photos. If any change does happen, and the marks show any sign of improvement, I'll include the "afters".

 I didn't want to get too graphic, considering the marks appear in areas that are under my clothing, so I simply took some up-close photos of the skin to give you readers an idea of what I started with. I figure this may be helpful in some way, and better than just words.

Somatique Stretch Mark Treatment pictured on the left

I began using the Somatique Stretch Mark Treatment immediately when it arrived to me, which was around the end of February. I apply to clean, dry skin nightly and sometimes in the mornings, too.

The Somatique Stretch Mark Treatment  impressed me with its super rich, thick and highly moisturizing properties. It healed my dry skin areas (which are pretty much on every body part I have) within the first week of use. 

So far, I've seen an improvement in my skin's softness. It's never been this smooth and soft! Or this moisturized, either. I actually took a liking to this stretch mark cream as an intensive moisturizer and skin smoother, too. I realized quickly that even if I didn't receive an improvement in my stretch marks, I'd be happy with the softness of my skin alone.

What I Love About Somatique Stretch Mark Treatment:

•  Safe for pregnant & nursing women
  

•  Organic, safe and effective ingredients

• Highly moisturizing and leaves skin smooth.

• Improves skin elasticity
  

Ingredients and Their Benefits:

 Organic Aloe Vera Juice, Organic Sunflower Oil, Glyceryl Stearate, Organic Vegetable Glycerin, Octyl Palmitate, Shea Butter, Organic Coconut Oil, Cocoa Butter, Cetyl Alcohol, Potassium Stearate, Organic Beeswax, Matrixyl 3000, Hyaluronic Acid, Vitamin E, Organic Jojoba Oil, Tamanu Oil, Organic Borage Oil, Organic Flax Seed Oil, Organic Evening Primrose Oil, Organic Rose Hip Oil, Vitamin B5, Arnica, Organic Lavender, Organic Calendula, Organic Chamomile, Grapeseed Oil, Macadamia Nut Oil, Sodium Carbomer, Phenoxyethanol, Ethyl Hexyl Glycerin.

Like most of the Lady Soma products I've used, the stretch mark treatment is also high in antioxidants, which help promote elasticity.  antioxidants are responsible for not only preventing damage to the skin, but also repairing it, too.  

Jojoba Oil: It's rich in Vitamin E (antioxidant!), which means age-prevention. Restores skin's natural pH balance. 

Works as an anti-inflammatory (so that's good for redness and irritated areas, including psoriasis and eczema). Softens and smooths texture of skin (and hair), acts as an incredible moisturizer, without clogging pores. It restores skin's  normal  oil balance. Jojoba oil is hypoallergenic and safe to use on all skin. Also has fungicidal properties. It's been touted for its acne scar and stretch mark fading abilities. 

Tamanu Oil: Has also been used widely in the removal of stretch marks, and has some evidence to back up its efficiency: 
"BioScience Laboratories conducted a study of Tamanu oil's ability to improve the appearance of scars. The results showed that when Tamanu oil was applied to the scarred area twice daily for nine consecutive weeks, scar length decreased by an average 0.28 centimeters and the and width was decreased by an average 0.12 centimeters."
 Source: Botanical.com
 
It's also been used to treat many skin conditions. It has anti-microbial properties

Coconut Oil: Also well-known for its use in stretch mark treatment. Coconut oil has amazing skin benefits (and internal ones, too!) It has anti-fungal, anti-septic,  anti-microbial properties and more. It's a decent moisturizer, helps with skin problems, protects against UV rays,

Aloe Vera

Ya'll know I have to refrain from getting too excited when I talk about healthy, awesome ingredients like aloe. It has been my life-saver in more ways than just skin-related (IBS - candidiasis). Aloe has so many benefits for us, internally and externally. It's soothing to any kind of irritation, it helps heal and has anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties.

How it Feels

I wanted you guys to get an idea of the cream's awesome creamy, rich texture, so here's a photo of the actual cream.

As you'd expect in a product that contains so many awesome oils, this has a somewhat greasy feeling right before its fully absorbed into the skin, and that's something I do love -- the cream will fully absorb into skin leaving behind little residue. The residue that may be left behind usually ends up absorbed as well after some time, then I'm left with soft, smooth skin. It's not nearly as greasy as you may expect, but it's thick and rich, which makes it even better! A thin, watery cream would never be enough for stretch mark treatment.

The little glass jar comes with 4 oz of cream, and since it's so thick and rich, it takes a little more than a quarter sized drop to cover my thighs. In fact, it takes about a tablespoon full to cover a thigh. I'm not sure this would be a product that'll last throughout a whole year or anything, but so far, I have at least a several month supply left.

Now, I have to admit it -- I've been in love with the way this stuff leaves my skin so perfectly soft and hydrated that I couldn't resist but to use it on my face! I know that sounds insane, but the ingredients are safe and healthy, so they shouldn't cause any issues. My skin was just so incredibly dry that when I seen how well it worked on my thighs, I had to try it on my face, too and I was pleasantly surprised with the results!

 I guess I can also admit that during a rub-down of my stretch mark areas, I realized how perfect this cream would also be on dry feet, so.... Yeah, I used it on my feet one night, too. Hey, who could blame me? They felt so great! I slipped my socks on, and my feet have been softer ever since that one application of the stuff.

Then I decided it was best to not get too carried away and use it all on my non-stretch-marked body parts.

Disclaimer (I know, I hate them, too, but these days you kind of can't afford to note post them.):

I am not a specialist or any other kind of doctor or expert. Content on this blog is not intended to be taken as medical advice, diagnosis, treatment or advice of any sort. I'm simply sharing information about my own experiences and results from use of a product or activity in hopes of providing useful information/suggestions to readers, not to be taken as a patient/medical adviser relationship. I am not responsible for what readers choose to do after viewing the content here. Furthermore, I do not hold an "exceptional" or other special relationship with the company mentioned. I'm simply a consumer who worked with the company on a review that is in compliance with FTTC's guidelines. That means, everything you read here is my own words, not anything of the company's. I was not provided with monetary compensation for my review. All information posted has been done so with complete honesty. No action should be taken based solely on the content of this publication ( I'm not responsible.) Readers who rely on the information in this blog to replace the advise of an appropriate health care provider assume all risks of such behavior.

5-HTP Review

5-HTP -- which also goes by the name oxitriptan, comes from the bean of plant Griffonia simplicifolia in Africa --  is an amino acid used for its positive mood effects.

How 5-HTP Works

5-HTP does its job in the central nervous system and in the brain where it increases serotonin production. Serotonin is a chemical that affects our appetite, sleep, sexual behavior, temperature, and even pain sensations.

What 5-HTP is Used For

5-HTP is used for depression, insomnia, anxiety, migraine and tension-type headaches, fibromyalgia, binge eating associated with obesity, premenstrual syndrome (PMS), premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD), attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and along with prescription drugs to treat seizure disorder and Parkinson's disease.

This site (Nlm.Nih.Gov)  states that there is some evidence that 5-HTP might be as effective as some prescription drugs in treating depression.

The same site states that taking 5-HTP appears to improve fibromyalgia symptoms such as pain intensity, morning stiffness, sleeplessness.

My Experience

My first experience was with 5-HTP Gold, a supplement that's said to support positive mood, relaxation, restful sleep, overall emotional well-being, and again, appetite control. 

I have had some successful days taking 5-HTP Gold and some not-so-successful ones. Sometimes I'll experience stomach discomfort and other times I'll be fine. 

The positive results I've experienced with 5-HTP Gold include: improved rest, a subtle increase in my ability to focus, and often times, I'll notice an improvement where my anxiety is concerned.  

Pro's 

• 100% natural source of 5-HTP

• Made with organic, food based, whole-food, and clinically-proven ingredients.

• No GMOs, artificial ingredients, preservatives, allergens, stearates, sulfates, laurates or dioxides. 

• Free of "Peak X," a contaminant linked to EMS-like illness that's been found in commercially available 5-HTP supplements. According to the NutriGold website, "5-HTP Gold™ is manufactured using a pure extract that is guaranteed by an independent, third-party lab to be Peak-X free."

Con's

Side effects of 5-HTP could include nausea, constipation, reduced libido and gas.Occasionally, I've had stomach pains and felt nauseous after taking it.

Precautions

5-HTP affects serotonin and is not supposed to be used in combination with other anti-depressants or MAOI inhibitors. There's the risk of "serotonin syndrome," which is serious.

5-HTP also should not be taken with some OTC cold remedies, or with products containing ephedrine or pseudo-phedrine.

I shouldn't have to, but let me do the disclaimer thing:  
you should consult your doctor before taking things... including advice. Just kidding. 

You should make sure that it's okay to take supplements like 5-HTP with whatever other meds you are on.

To learn more about 5-HTP's interactions with other drugs, I recommend going here. If you scroll towards the bottom, you'll find information on using 5-HTP with other drugs and the effects.

-           

Extra disclaimer (I know, I hate them, too, but these days you kind of can't afford to note post them.):

I am not a specialist or any other kind of doctor or expert. Content on this blog is not intended to be taken as medical advice, diagnosis, treatment or advice of any sort. I'm simply sharing information about my own experiences and results from use of a product or activity in hopes of providing useful information/suggestions to readers, not to be taken as a patient/medical adviser relationship. I am not responsible for what readers choose to do after viewing the content here. Furthermore, I do not hold an "exceptional" or other special relationship with the company mentioned. I'm simply a consumer who worked with the company on a review that is in compliance with FTTC's guidelines. That means, everything you read here is my own words, not anything of the company's unless otherwise stated, and put in quotations (such as product descriptions or claims).  I was not provided with monetary compensation for my review. All information posted has been done so with complete honesty. No action should be taken based solely on the content of this publication ( I'm not responsible.) Readers who rely on the information in this blog to replace the advise of an appropriate health care provider assume all risks of such behavior.  This is a sponsored post. I was provided with a product in exchange for my honest review and opinion. I receive no monetary compensation for writing this, and you can rest assured that my post (and all of them) is in compliance with the FTC's Guidelines.

Tend Skin for ingrown hairs, bumps and more

A few weeks ago, when I discovered a 3+ inch ingrown hair from my... ahem, bikini area, I decided it was high time I found something to help with my terrible case of ingrown hairs. I use an epilator as my down-stairs hair removal method (a razor everywhere else), so obviously, my ingrown hairs are a problem. Epilating and waxing seem to cause more ingrowns than anything.

To remove the huge ingrown hair, I actually had to lance open the skin (just a tiny bit) and work to remove it. Afterward, I was so stunned at the length that I kept the hair in a baggy and showed it to my sister and partner, claiming that I must have broken some kind of world record here.  Never could figure out what the actual record for longest ingrown hair was, but I still have that hair! Ha Ha. I would post a photo, but I didn't want to gross some of you out. 

Anyways, so my journey to help my serious ingrown problem led me to Tend Skin and I got my hands on a few sample bottles and here we are. I'm going to share everything with you guys.

The Tend Skin sample bottles come with .25 fl oz.  each          

Directions for use: Apply at night and again after shaving until appearance improves. Do a test patch 1 hour on first use. Be sure to change razor blades after 2-3 shaves.

Cologne/moisturizer can be applied over Tend Skin, once it has dried. 

The instructions, expiry date and other information is on the label of Tend Skin.

It says Made in USA. The Tend Skin Company.

Warning: Flammable. Keep away from children and do not ingest. Do not use if allergic to aspirin. Avoid eye contact. Also, don't use Tend Skin within one week of having a medical/salon strength exfoliant treatment (AHA's, glycolic and Accutane), any other prescribed topical treatments or depilatories unless otherwise advised by your dr. The combination of agents can lead to chemical burning of the skin or skin discoloration.

Tend Skin is a clear liquid just like rubbing alcohol. I apply it by placing my finger over the hole on the bottle and dabbing it onto my skin. I considered using a cotton ball at one point, but it would just absorb the liquid instead, so you’re better to apply directly, using fingers. Since it’s so runny, it’s easy to apply and Tend Skin dries very quickly on the skin, so there’s no waiting before dressing or getting in bed. 

Tend Skin is very easy to use and takes less time and effort to apply than using a moisturizer.

Here you can see that theTend Skin product is a clear liquid (through the bottle)

Tend Skin is also available in a roll-on applicator.

What Tend Skin Does:

“Tend Skin – The Skincare Solution for “unsightly” razor bumps, ingrown hairs and razor burn for men and women.”

Those are the best things about Tend Skin – it’s effective for both men and women and works to take care of razor burn, bumps and ingrowns.

A lot of times, when you have one of those problems (razor burn, ingrowns or bumps) you tend to have all of them. I personally don’t have such big troubles with razor burn or bumps as I do ingrowns and ingrown bumps. This is because my hair removal method mostly consists of epilating (using an epilator that basically plucks hairs right out). In my experience, when you use a hair removal method that removes the entire hair from the follicle (waxing, epilating, etc.) you have far more ingrown hairs than if you used other methods such as shaving, which comes with razor burn and bumps! There always seems to be a downside to any hair removal method. Since I epilate my entire bikini area (I use a razor for other areas like my legs, arms and underarms), I have ingrown hairs and bumps daily. It’s a never ending thing, really. 

Plucking and digging ingrown hairs causes scars and little scabs, which all leave marks. This is what my biggest struggle has been, so I’ve been on a mission to try and at least reduce the number of ingrown hairs  I get  as well as reduce the appearance of all the discolored bumps and spots. However, I really appreciate an all-in-one kind of product, so this led to my big interest in trying Tend Skin. Most of the products I’ve used for these problems were either 100% ineffective and more like “novelty” products sold by adult product manufacturers (for a little extra cash) or products that didn’t give enough results for me to bother using it, much less continuing to buy it. Yes, I’ve tried the drugstore versions with very unsatisfactory results, so that’s when I started looking elsewhere and got my hands on all those products made my adult toy manufacturers, which gave me even less results and just angered me when I looked into the ingredients that showed the products were little or nothing more than a simple moisturizer! 

So, here we are. Almost week into using Tend Skin. To start off, I only applied Tend Skin to one side of my epilated area (bikini area) and I did this a few hours after epilating and before bed. The next morning, I noticed the skin I applied it to was softer and I had less of those tiny bumps down the side of my bikini line. The other side that I did not apply Tend Skin to, obviously was still red with little ingrown hairs and bumps. I wanted to see up-close the difference, so this is why I only applied it to one side before using it all over. I was happy with the results and was excited to see more, so from then on, I’ve been using it all over the area – everywhere needed. 

The skin looks better and is softer. It also seems the hairs come out slightly easier after applying it and allowing to dry. I’m not sure if this is my imagination or if Tend Skin is helping during the removal process too.

I’ve highlighted some of the details in the informative papers I have from Tend Skin and thought was important to include here.

Razor bumps (pseudofolliculitis barbae) occur on the faces of men with wiry, curly hair. 50-80% of African American men and 15-20% of Caucasian men suffer from this  daily. Beard hair tends to curl as it grows and can eventually burrow into skin adjacent to the hair follicle. 

Shaving sharpens the hair ends, making it easier to penetrate the skin. Razor bumps cause itching, burning and make shaving impossible. When applied regularly, Tend Skin Liquid effectively and safely reduces the appearance of unsightly razor bumps as soon as it’s applied. 

Ingrown hair

Ingrown hairs form under after the hair has been cut or removed below the skin’s surface. As the hair continues to grow it’ll curl over within the follicles and fail to reach the surface. The result is a bump on the skin. Women tend to get them after hair removal by shaving, waxing or electrolysis on their legs, bikini lines and underarms. Men get ingrown hairs on the face and neck. Regular application of Tend Skin Liquid will reduce the appearance of ingrown hairs for both men and women.

Razor Burn Redness  

Use TendSkin Liquid to reduce the appearance of redness after all hair removal procedures. 

Facials

You can use Tend Skin Liquid for a daily facial. Tend Skin cleanses the skin better than most cleansers and acts like a mild peel, and causes your skin to shine.

Foot/Underarm Deodorant

Tend Skin is an extremely effective underarm deodorant in addition to helping reduce the appearance of ingrown hairs and skin redness. Apply Tend Skin to feet before putting on socks and shoes or when removing them. 

Necktie Redness

Tend Skin customers have reported using Tend Skin to reduce the appearance of “cherry neck” caused from neckties rubbing the area and irritating it after shaving. 

Tend Skin can also remove ink from your skin. 

For ingrown Hairs

Apply to existing ingrown hairs to reduce the appearance within 48 hours. Apply daily to determine your level of maintenance and adjust application accordingly. Tend Skin recommends avoiding tweezing to reduce damage – increased ingrown hair formation can result. 

Shaving Razor Bumps

Apply before bed and again after your morning shave to dry skin. After skin has cleared, apply daily to determine your maintenance level and adjust application accordingly. 

For razor burn or tie-redness, apply after shaving to clear the skin, then daily to maintain.

Waxing

Instead of powder, use Tend Skin to keep the wax from sticking to skin. Apply before waxing and allow to dry, then perform your hair removal.

After waxing, apply another thin layer to treated skin to reduce the appearance of redness and post-wax bumps.

Electrolysis

Apply before procedure to clean and help protect skin during the procedure. After procedure, apply another thin layer to soothe skin, reduce the appearance of redness and to minimize appearance of next-day bumping. Apply several times weekly to determine maintenance level.

Laser Hair Removal

After procedure, apply thin layer to reduce appearance of redness and minimize appearance of next-day bumps. To ensure full penetration of laser light, do not use before procedure.

Facials

Apply to face to cleanse. For mild exfoliation, leave on overnight.

Tips: Make sure to use a new razor every few uses. Blades are made of low-grade steel. If you use a dull blade Tend Skin may not work to reduce appearance of ingrown hairs and razor bumps, so replace the blade when it loses its new-blade feel.

Epilators: Tend Skin advises against these devices. They say epilators cause injury to the skin that is than razor blade scraping.  They also say tweezing can damage follicles and make ingrown hairs worse – this is true. I say that from experience. I’ve tweezed for years (bikini area) and it does make my ingrown hairs far worse, but I’ve learned to catch them early and dig them from underneath the skin, which is a real pain!

Loofah Pads: Tend Skin also recommends against the use of abrasive scrubbing. They say it can lead to an increase of ingrown hairs and works against the product. 

There is a scent to Tend Skin. It smells just like rubbing alcohol, but the odor (not unpleasant anyways) dissipates soon after applying. It doesn’t leave my skin smelling of alcohol and even more important, it doesn’t leave any residue behind! Now that is something I love.  I remember in the past using a product that promised to “inhibit hair growth” so I bought the cream and used the spray-liquid version too. Both left behind a slimey residue and the spray left me somewhat sticky and I dreaded that feeling down stairs every day I used it! I expected Tend Skin to leave my skin dry since it smells of rubbing alcohol, so it was a lovely surprise to have seen no dryness, but my skin was replaced with a softer texture rather than the usual rough-like texture from so many years of hair removal.

PS. Tend Skin care’s brochure says “You will see results in 24 hours.” I mentioned above the softer skin, a few reduced bumps/redness I seen the first time I used it (the next day.)

USE

I apply Tend Skin to my bikini area after epilating. I apply it to my underarms after shaving and on other “problem areas” where I experience bumps or burn. 

As I said, I use it mostly on my bikini area, but I avoid getting it… you know, in any overly-sensitive areas such as the inner labia. I imagine it may burn there, so I wouldn’t encourage doing that. Not to mention, and this is really strange/interesting to me, but I never have ingrown hairs or razor bumps on the inner labia minora! The worst area for me is the vulva – very top and around my legs/bikini line. So the good thing is, I don’t need to apply it in the inner parts. 

Instructions

Test a small area before and again after hair removal. Allow 1 hour to test for a reaction. Proceed with full application if no reaction occurs. 

In all instances of use, only a thin layer of Tend Skin Liquid is needed. Use a cotton ball (or your fingers, if you’re like me). To prevent unwanted peeling of skin, wash hands immediately after contact. Apply only to dry skin. 

Ingredients: 

Water, Glycerin, Polyquaternium10,  Dimethicone Copolyol, Polysorbate 20, PVP/VA Copolymer, Parometachloroxylenol, Tetrasodium EDTA, Propylene Glycol, Diazolidinyl Urea, Mehylparaben, Propylparaben, Chloroxylenol, Fragrance, FD&C Blue #1.

*You might want to avoid use if you are sensitive to parabens and artificial coloring or other ingredients listed.

You can use moisturizer or cologne over Tend Skin, once it dries. 

More information that's included in the papers (note: I've not included every detail, but have focused on the information on Tend Skin Liquid) is troubleshooting, which I thought was a really nice bit of info to add. Here is what it says:

For ingrown hairs that don't want to lift: 

If ingrown hairs have been present for several months or longer, the product will need more time to show results.  Ingrown hairs will continue to grow even though they are under the skin. People have reported finding ingrown hairs up to an inch or longer -- like me! Like I said earlier, less than a whole month ago, I had one that was about 3 inches!! 

To remove these hairs, Tend Skin recommends using tweezers near the end of the hair and gently "teasing"  to expose the hair from under the skin and then pluck it. 

This is something I deal with daily -- removing my ingrown hairs. When I had the 3 inch long ingrown, I actually had to cut the skin a little bit to get to the hair and remove. I applied some aloe to prevent infection or bacterial (aloe vera is a natural anti-bacterial, anti-fungal and even more) and the thing healed up in no time with no scarring. 

What I usually do for my ingrown hairs is basically what Tend Skin says. I use my Tweezerman's (these are great tweezers! You can find knock-offs similar. They have a sharp, slanted tip and are amazing for ingrowns.) Then, I try to locate the end of the hair that's under the skin, not the top where it grows out of the follicle. Then I use the tip of the tweezers to scrap in an upward motion and it usually causes the end of the hair to protrude from the skin quickly and with no injury or blood, although I have had bleeding in some cases. Once the hair is showing, just pluck that sucker!