Pregnancy and natural skin care -- can pomegranate seed oil help with these strechmarks or cellulite problems?

Natural skincare in pregnancy

The thin blue line! Not the Police, but the Clearblue positive pregnancy test meaning months of anticipation and planning ahead. Everything changes, not least your diet, and how you look after yourself from the outside in is paramount. Yes, pregnancy is an exciting time but seems to come part and parcel with skincare concerns. Myself, I wanted to take the natural route as often as possible, and just try to be more aware of what I'm putting in to my body and therefore into baby. Here are some botanic and organic products for stretchmarks, cellulite and swollen ankles, for when we want to use healthier solutions during pregnancy, from brands that are attempting to redress the chemical nature (that's oxymoronic, isn't it?) of skincare.

Many women are only too familiar with the little c. No matter how much exercise we do or how healthy we eat, cellulite still seems to be there! And this is especially true after you've been pregnant. While sufficient exercise and a healthy diet can assist to counteract the cellulite, improving circulation with massaging the affected areas is the key. The newly developed Dr.Hauschka Lemon Lemongrass Body Oil ($47) is the perfect massage oil to treat these annoying problem areas. It’s fruity, fresh composition of jojoba oil, lemon peel, mistletoe, horsetail and lemongrass assists to firm the skin and strengthen the connective tissue by stimulating circulation and facilitating the skin’s natural rhythms and functions. The divine aroma helps to release your thoughts to relax while strengthening your inner well-being.

What some women don't realise is the stretchmarks can come in AFTER the baby is born, once the skin is slacker. My friend said she had none during pregnancy and then they appeared after the birth. If your skin was stretched a lot during pregnancy -and whose isn't? It's not just your tummy, it's your thighs and bottom too- and if there are signs of stretchmarks, try using Dr.Hauschka Birch-Arnica Body Oil. Extracts of birch, arnica, burdock and nettle help eliminate waste products, stimulate the blood flow in the tissues, remove congestion and make the skin soft and supple.A major problem, commonly known as "cankles" (or calf-ankles) is the accumulation of fluid in your arms and legs. It can even be hard to zip up your ankle boots some days! If your legs feel tense, encourage emptying of the veins by massaging the legs for about 3 minutes a day with a brush, from the toes to the thighs, or splashing them with warm and cold water alternately and then rubbing with Dr.Hauschka Rosemary Leg and Arm Toner.

I have been smoothing Trilogy Rosehip Oil on my bump and it feels very rich and luxurious on the skin. With 80% essential fatty acids (oleic, linoleic and linolenic), vitamin E and the antioxidant lycopene, all well known for their ability to promote skin repair and rejuvenation of skin cells, it is an excellent skin moisturiser (whether you are pregnant or not) and is clinically proven to improve skin moisture by 44%, decrease the visible appearance of fine lines and wrinkles by 23% and improve skin softness by 21% within eight weeks. Certified organic, with no added preservatives, colours or fragrances, it is suitable for both mother and baby. I only need to let it dry for a minute before I get dressed as it doesn't leave an oily residue.

Trilogy Everything Balm is an all-purpose wonder cream in a tub that many mums swear by. It comes in a value large size and a small convenient tub perfect for popping into the nappy bag when you're out and about.

Palmer's Organics Cocoa Butter Massage Lotion and Cream for Stretch Marks (from $16.95) is paraben free, propylene Glycol free, mineral oil free and cruelty free. I smoothed it on after a hot shower and it absorbed well and smelt absolutely divine, and almost edible! The cream had a very rich consistency that felt more expensive than its low price tag. Bio Oil Already well-known as a scar and stretchmark reducing oil, this is great to add to the bath as well as direct to the skin and is well-priced at under $20 a bottle from pharmacies and department stores everywhere.

I used pomega5 products during my pregnancy

They contain no parabens