Top tips for tackling cellulite
First thing's first - there's absolutely nothing wrong with cellulite. Most of us have dimples and we shouldn't feel ashamed to show them off BUT, if your confidence is sparring with your feminist ideals that's okay too. It's fine to have some hang-ups (we all do!) and, in spite of wanting everyone to celebrate the skin they're in, we know that some of you will want to prep before you don your itsy bitsy new bikini...
Symptomatic of a multitude of factors - from hormones to your gene pool (thanks parentals) - cellulite is due to fat deposits causing skin to look a little... orange-peely. It's normal and something we shouldn't feel awkward about however, shrugging off a legacy of shame-inducing campaigns starring marble-smooth posteriors is easier in theory than in practice. Few of us are totally beyond the occasional wince when we think of our swimsuit and, nobody's immune to cellulite! Yep, even those who're über slim can find their thighs are less than super smooth. So, although we strongly advocate acceptance, here are our top tips to help diminish indentations.
Firstly, pick your weapon: We swear by Mio's {Body Brush} - made with naturally firm yet non-abrasive boar bristles and rubber 'massage' nodules to help coax skin out of hibernation. Little and often is the best tactic. We know someone (ahem) who's gone at body brushing like they're sanding floors - be firm but gentle, and remember that one cannot buff one's bottom into nothingness... however hard you try. Do it dry (!?) before showering - it opens up your pores and will get your skin glowing.
Or try Sarah Chapman's {The Bodylift} - a torturous looking 'device' that massages your thighs to breakdown fat deposits while toning and 'tightening' skin.
And if you can bear it, embrace an {Acupressure Strap}. Ouchy to begin with, the 'needles' on the {Bed of Nails} work wonders for persistent lumps and bumps - boosting circulation to kick-start disintegration of the underlying fat groupings.
There's also a new quirky kid on the cellulite-banishing block. A weird silicone cup, Legology's {Circu-Lite Squeeze Therapy} is miraculous - even in spite of its 'basic' appearance. This vacuum is key to achieving smooth, dimple-free thighs when it's used with a rolling technique. By reducing retention of fluids and boosting bloodflow to the targeted areas, it visibly smooths and improves your skin’s tone and texture.
And it isn't just tools! We've a legion of treatments to further enhance the appearance of bottoms. Mio's {Shrink to Fit Cellulite Smoother} is packed with a high concentration of caffeine and antioxidants, alongside their 'Adipoless' and 'Adiposlim' complexes, which work to ‘shrink’ fat cells and inhibit storage to your skin skin feeling incredible supple.
Alternatively, {Cellu-Lite Salon Secret For Legs} uses the same intensive, detoxifying and stimulating oils (including grapefruit, Tunisian rosemary, patchouli and green mandarin) used by massage therapists during leg-lightening, inch-loss treatments (it's incredible).
Or try Sol de Janeiro's formidable {Bod Buff Smoothing Scrub 'N Mask} with Brazilian quartz crystals and Amazon river clay to exfoliate, soften and detoxify skin, while a cocktail of potent plant extracts help nourish and cleanse so that you can brave even the teeniest g-string (just pretend you're on Ipanema) and say 'Sayonara' sarong.
Cult Beauty’s Content Editor and a Cult Beauty OG, Verity loves nothing more than the marriage of language and lip balm. A quintessential Libran, she’s a self-professed magpie for luxury ‘must-haves' and always pursuing the new and the niche — from the boujee-est skin care to cutting-edge tech. Balancing an urge to stop the clock with her desire to embrace the ageing process (and set a positive example for her daughter), Verity's a retinol obsessive and will gladly share her thoughts about the time-defying gadgets, masks and treatments worth the splurge...