Curél Life’s Stages Nurturing Comfort Moisture Cream for Pregnancy & Motherhood ($7.65, Amazon.com) and Curél Life’s Stages Fortifying Moisture Lotion for Menopause & Beyond ($7.65, Amazon.com) are specifically designed for women going through life’s stages. “Factors such as hormonal fluctuations and the simple passage of time have a profound impact on every part of our bodies, including our skin,” says dermatologist Dr. Diane Berson in the product press release. “Each of the three formulas in the Life’s Stages™ Collection from Curél® Skincare is specifically formulated to counter the side effects our skin suffers from during a major biological event in our lives.”
Will Curél Life’s Stages Pregnancy & Motherhood Lotion prevent or decrease the appearance of stretch marks?
According to the product press release, Curél Life’s Stages Nurturing Comfort Moisture Cream for Pregnancy & Motherhood increases skin’s elasticity 70% better than the leading pregnancy cream. The reason for this is a high concentration of shea butter, which, according to OB/GYN Dr. Miriam Greene, “is known to increase hydration and elasticity in the skin, helping to reduce the appearance of existing stretch marks.” Therefore, Curél Life’s Stages Nurturing Comfort Moisture Cream for Pregnancy & Motherhood should help to reduce the appearance of existing stretch marks, and the increased elasticity resulting from use of the cream should help prevent additional stretch marks.
If stretch marks are a severe concern, I recommend using Mederma ($8.95, Amazon.com) on the affected areas twice daily under a shea-butter rich lotion like Curél Life’s Stages Nurturing Comfort Moisture Cream for Pregnancy & Motherhood. Mederma is clinically proven to decrease the appearance of existing stretch marks, while Curél Life’s Stages Nurturing Comfort Moisture Cream for Pregnancy & Motherhood increases skin’s elasticity to prevent future damage and improves the appearance of existing stretch marks immediately with its very hydrating formulation.
Is Curél Life’s Stages Pregnancy & Motherhood Lotion safe to use during pregnancy?
According to the product press release and what I have researched about lotion ingredients not to use during pregnancy, Curél Life’s Stages Nurturing Comfort Moisture Cream for Pregnancy & Motherhood is safe to use during pregnancy.
One note: always keep in mind that the collagen and elastin in products have never been shown to actually trigger collagen and elastin production, but rather, collagen and elastin act as effective hydrating agents. With that said, it is primarily the shea butter and other hydrating ingredients in Curél Life’s Stages Nurturing Comfort Moisture Cream for Pregnancy & Motherhood that makes it so effective.
What will Curél Life’s Stages Menopause & Beyond Lotion do for my skin?
Curél Life’s Stages Fortifying Moisture Lotion for Menopause & Beyond is primarily a very hydrating cream. According to OB/GYN Dr. Miriam Greene, “The common menopausal side effect of hot flashes causes women to sweat, which can strip skin of essential moisture. Curél Life’s Stages Fortifying Moisture Lotion for Menopause & Beyond for menopause & beyond helps re-hydrate extra-dry, transitional skin.” As skin’s hydration level decreases by about 10% every 10 years after age 21, it is important to keep skin well-hydrated, and Curél Life’s Stages Fortifying Moisture Lotion for Menopause & Beyond contains a high concentration of glycerin and petrolatum, in addition to shea butter, collagen, and elastin to keep skin well-moisturized.
Curél Life’s Stages Fortifying Moisture Lotion for Menopause & Beyond also contains antioxidant grape seed extract to prevent additional free radical-induced damage.
Should I be in menopause or beyond to use the Curél Menopause & Beyond lotion?
No, the benefits of hydration should be the same. However, in comparison to my usual everyday body lotion, Olay Quench, I am not really impressed with Curél Life’s Stages Fortifying Moisture Lotion for Menopause & Beyond. I prefer a lotion with more antioxidants and niacinamide, like Olay Quench. Despite my personal preference, however, Curél Life’s Stages Fortifying Moisture Lotion for Menopause & Beyond is a very hydrating lotion, and should be excellent for dry skin.
Overall opinions?
I like Curél Life’s Stages Nurturing Comfort Moisture Cream for Pregnancy & Motherhood, due to its high concentration of shea butter and the fact that it has been shown to increase elasticity 70% better than the leading pregnancy cream. However, I would use it over a stretch mark treatment, like Mederma, for the best results. Product rating: 8/10 (High concentration of proven ingredients: 3/3. New technology: 2/3. Value for the money: 3/3. Sunscreen: 0/1).
I also like Curél Life’s Stages Fortifying Moisture Lotion for Menopause & Beyond, due to its plethora of hydrating ingredients for dry skin. However, I personally prefer a hydrating body lotion with more to offer, like more antioxidants and niacinamide in like Olay Quench, or retinol and peptides. Product rating: 7/10 (High concentration of proven ingredients: 3/3. New technology: 1/3. Value for the money: 3/3. Sunscreen: 0/1).
For a full review of Curél Life’s Stages First Signs of Aging Lotion, please click here.
Ingredients in Curél Life’s Stages Pregnancy & Motherhood Lotion
Water, Glycerin (Skin Conditioner), Distearyldimonium Chloride (Skin Conditioner), Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea Butter), Isopropyl Palmitate (Emollient), Cetearyl Alcohol (Stabilizer), Propylene Glycol Isostearate (Emollient), PPG-15 Stearyl Ether (Emollient), Hydrolyzed Collagen, Hydrolyzed Elastin, Tocopheryl Acetate (Vitamin E), Dimethicone (Skin Conditioner).
Ingredients in Curél Life’s Stages Menopause & Beyond Lotion
Water, Glycerin, Distearyldimonium Chloride, Isopropyl Palmitate, Petrolatum, Cetyl Alcohol, PPG-15 Stearyl Ether, Propylene Glycol Isostearate, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea Butter), Betaine, Vitis Vinifera (Grape) Seed Extract, Hydrolyzed Collagen, Hydrolyzed Elastin, Corn Starch Modified, Dimethicone, Polypropylene, Menthyl Lactate.