This £9 beauty product has been key to Meghan’s pregnancy skincare

Stretch marks, narrow pink or purplish streak-like lines that can develop on the surface of the skin, are common during pregnancy.

In fact, according to the NHS, they affect 80 per cent of pregnant women, and it seems Meghan Markle is one of them.

Not known for slacking on her skincare regimen, you won’t be surprised to hear that Meghan has employed a fairly comprehensive armoury of products with which to tackle her stretch marks.

What you might be surprised to know though, is that the frontrunner in her pregnancy skincare collection is a cult product you can pick up at Superdrug for less than a tenner.

According to an ‘insider’ who spoke to The Sun, the 37-year-old has been using iconic brand Bio Oil to avoid stretch marks.

“Meghan’s pregnancy standby is Bio Oil which is non greasy and does the job effortlessly without messing up her clothes or five-star sheets,” the source explained.

Bio Oil is frequently touted as a cure-all skin issues, from wrinkles to stretch marks. Since its launch in 2002 it has won 223 skincare awards and is the No.1 selling product to help minimise the appearance of scars and stretch marks in 18 countries worldwide.

It’s derived from calendula, lavender, rosemary and chamomile oil and has a lighter texture than most oils, thanks to the patented ‘dry feel’ formulation. Bio Oil also contains a ‘breakthrough’ ingredient called PurCellin Oil, which is a replica of the oil that ducks produce to keep their feathers waterproof.

Does Bio Oil work?

The NHS stresses that, whilst there are myriad products on the market which claim to prevent and cure stretch marks, they’re not proved to work: “Some creams claim to remove stretch marks once they’ve appeared, but there is no reliable evidence that they work. There is also limited evidence about whether oils or creams help prevent stretch marks from appearing in the first place.”

Bio Oil has however won countless awards and there’s plenty of anecdotal evidence on forums and blogs supporting the products claims to improve the appearance of scars and stretch marks.

Note: Bio Oil state on its website that the product ‘can never remove them.’

Other celebrities swear by Bio Oil for their bump:

‘I smothered myself in Bio-Oil three to four times a day. I kept it in my handbag and put some on when I popped to the toilet, because my baby belly was always so dry’. – Billie Faiers  

 “I keep Bio-Oil in my shower and before I get out, I drench myself in it from head to toe” – Khloe Kardashian

“It prevents wrinkles around my eyes and stretch marks over my body” – Kim Kardashian

“While I was pregnant I rubbed Bio-Oil all over my body, morning, noon and night.” – Jourdan Dunn

Kate Middleton also reportedly used Bio Oil during her pregnancies, so it’s evidently a Kensington Palace fave.

The other products in Meghan’s pregnancy skincare regime:

However Meghan is not solely relying on Bio Oil. According to the insider she has a whole bevvy of hardworking products in her pregnancy skincare arsenal, including:

Elemis Japanese Camellia Body Oil,  £38.50, Johnlewis.com

The Elemis oil contains plant collagen, antioxidants, vitamin E and sweet almond oil to soothe and nourish sensitive skin.

Mama Mio Megamama Super-Rich Omega Body Lotion, £24.50, SpaceNK.com

Formulated with Omegas 3, 6 and 9, this lotion replenishes skin left dry and dull by pregnancy. Containing natural ingredients like chia seed, almond and coconut oil and shea butter, it’s free from parabens, petrolatum, colourants, xenoestrogens and phthalates.

Erbaviva Pregnancy Massage Oil, £18 and Erbaviva Mommy Belly Butter, £21.43, Skinstore.com

The young royal is also said to be a fan of A-list products Erbaviva belly butter and back rub oil – which are both available in the UK on SkinStore.com and priced at less than £22.

Why do we get stretch marks?

Common in pregnancy, stretch marks can also happen with growth spurts in puberty, and when we lose and gain weight suddenly. They coloration occurs when the middle layer of skin (dermis) becomes stretched and broken in places. 

Whether or not you get stretch marks depends on your skin type; those whose skin is more elastic suffer from them less.

According to the NHS website, “you are more likely to get stretch marks if your weight gain is more than average in pregnancy. Most women gain between 10kg and 12.5kg (22 and 28lb) in pregnancy, although weight gain varies a great deal from woman to woman.”