L'Occitane Shea Baby Karite Bebe Bonding Time Massage Balm

In early April, I was using up my backup bottle of Kuramoto Bijin Komeyu Beauty Oil. By this time, I'd already finished both the large 118.3mL/4oz. as well as the smaller 30mL/1oz. jars of Egyptian Magic All Purpose Skin Cream and still got some stretch marks--my Dr. said my tiny guy must have had a big growth spurt and my skin couldn't keep up, apparently something common with second pregnancies.

So I was in the market for another belly balm of some kind, just to keep my ever-expanding belly moisturized, stretch marks and all. When I spotted this new Shea Baby collection from L'Occitane, I was keen to try the 125mL/2.3oz. round tin of Karite Bebe Bonding Time Massage Balm. I figured with 70% shea butter, I could try it for my belly and if I really like it, I'd buy more for my baby.

This balm has a whipped, super thick texture that makes me think of refrigerated whipped butter. It's hard to scoop some out, but once I do it melts in my hand. It's rather greasy and doesn't really absorb at all. I've tried to just let my belly hang out, but the balm just sat on my skin until I gave up and put on a tshirt, then it just smeared onto my tshirt :(

But neither the texture or the greasiness is the reason I don't like it. Instead, it's the strong scent I hate. Make that really strong scent, and not a nice scent either. I was hoping it would be a baby-friendly powdery scent, but it turns out to be harsh and perfumy and I just can't stand it on myself, much less my baby. Urgh. What a disappointment!