It has officially been 9 weeks since I had Charlie and I’m finally coming to terms with the fact that my body went through the ringer and bouncing back is harder than it appears! I think it is tough with social media these days, constantly reminding women that there are celebrities, models and just generally really skinny people who have the ability to bounce back from having a baby within weeks and I am not one of those people.

I loved being pregnant. I felt pretty awesome until the last few weeks. I ate relatively healthy, aside from my daily ice cream pint or bag of cheetos, and thought I did a good job of taking care of myself. Little did I know that my baby bump sure hid any damage that was happening to my muscles and skin! My poor stomach, I honestly can’t imagine it ever looking the same. My muscles ripped and it’s going to take a lot of barre classes to build that back up. Also you guys, I never said goodbye to my boobs. My beautiful, tiny, perky boobs. Those things are looooong gone. Replaced with swollen nipples, veins, and just enormous breasts. Seriously, it’s ridiculous. Dave told me I look like I should be on the cover of National Geographic. Thank you, milk!

I will say that the one thing I did a really good job of taking care of while I was pregnant was my skin. I had heard horror stories about stretch marks and wanted to ensure that it didn’t happen to me. I used three products throughout my pregnancy and am still using them today – Mustela Soothing Moisturizing Balm, Mustela Bust Firming Serum and Mustela Stretch Mark Prevention Oil. Thank the lord for these products because I am proud to say that my body is 100% stretch mark free! Here is why I loved them…

Soothing Moisturizing Balm: Your skin gets really dry when you’re pregnant and this stuff is like silk sheets to your skin. It smells amazing, sinks into the skin and lasts all day. I tried a lot of different lotions and honestly, this is the only lotion that didn’t make me feel like a hot mess when those lovely pregnancy hot flashes or sweat sessions kicked in. It kept my body cool and moisturized.

Bust Firming Serum: Thank the lord for this product! It is a cooling gel that I rubbed on my boobs every night and I still use it today when I get out of the shower (it is safe for breast feeding!). It kept my skin hydrated as my breasts grew and now it helps to soothe any swelling/pressure.

Stretch Mark Prevention Oil: Ive used this every night for the last 6 months, specifically on my stomach, hips, butt and thighs. It does exactly what it says it will and is ultra moisturizing for areas that have the most expansion while pregnant. Although it is an oil, it also absorbs super quickly and doesn’t leave your skin feeling slippery and wet. Just moisturized enough to prevent stretch marks from settling in!

To be completely honest, Mustela sent me their products originally and I’ve since re-purchased these three items, three times. They are great for anyone – pregnant or not! – and smell absolutely amazing (a plus for new mom’s because for some reason we start to sweat like men after having a baby, can anyone relate?). For any of you going through body changes, these products should be part of your daily routine.

Mustela is offering $5 off your purchase with code SEQUINS5 through 1/3!

Thank you Mustela for sponsoring this post!