Having stretch marks during pregnancy is very common. The bad part is that when you do have them, they mostly won’t go away that easily. Over time, they’ll fade from that first pink and purple to silvery gray, and less noticeable. If you follow some tips to reduce stretch marks, you may be able to make them even less noticeable.

The basic rules to prevent stretch marks during pregnancy are to exercise, eat healthy foods, and keep your skin moist. How moist your skin is depends largely on whether you drink enough water and eat water-rich foods, get the right moisture-balancing nutrients, and also the climate in which you live. For example, if you live somewhere with very dry air, which can be found in both hot and cold places, your skin will naturally become less humid.

Of course, exercising and eating healthy means you’ll likely stay in a good weight-gain zone and not gain extreme amounts in a short time. Gaining weight at a steady pace is good if you want to avoid stretch marks, but it’s not really something you have full control over when you’re pregnant.

Another thing you can do to keep your skin elastic is to stretch your extremities regularly, for example by doing yoga or Pilates.

Keep eating nutritious foods like berries, dark leafy greens, avocados, fish, and wild and pastured animal products. This is to make sure your skin has everything it needs to be strong, keep collagen production high, and prevent skin damage.

While it’s important to keep your skin hydrated, you’ll also want to use a fortifying and healing concoction on your skin. Natural belly balms and creams rich in vitamin E and healthy fats are great for keeping skin strong and elastic.

Avoid regular moisturizers from drugstores and retail stores, as most of them contain mineral oils and synthetic chemicals. Mineral oil is also known as paraffin wax, liquid paraffin, and petroleum jelly. It can clog pores and then strip oils from the skin, leaving it dry and vulnerable. It is safest to stick to 100% natural creams.

Good examples of ingredients to look for are shea butter, jojoba oil, cocoa butter, active manuka honey, and grapeseed oil. In their natural, unheated state, they are rich in healthy fats and nutrients that are especially good for stretch marks during pregnancy.