What is cellulite?
Cellulite is just deposits of fat that push against the connective tissue beneath your skin, which causes the surface of the skin to dimple or pucker and look lumpy.
Several factors influence whether a person has cellulite and how much they have. Your genes, your gender, the amount of fat on your body, your age, and the thickness of your skin all come into play. Unfortunately, female hormones including oestrogen have a role to play in cellulite's formation, which is why us ladies suffer more.
What Can You Do To Smooth The Appearance Of Cellulite?
If you have found yourself within the 90% of women who have been lumped (pardon the pun) with cellulite, there are some steps you can take to lessen its appearance. Keep in mind though- a few dimples on your thighs does not make you any less beautiful! Most women have cellulite and there's more to life than obsessing over it. No matter how bumpy or smooth you feel on any given day, you should never feel ashamed of your body!
Firstly, stay calm. Stress hormones contribute to the formulation of cellulite, so try a relaxation, meditation or yoga class to keep stress at bay. It’s also important to drink plenty of water, as being adequately hydrated will help your body eliminate any toxins. Exercising is important too, as improving your circulation will help your body deal with the fatty deposits while an improvement in muscle tone can smooth out that cellulite.
Dry body brushing is another great way to smooth the appearance of cellulite (Miranda Kerr swears by it!). Brush your whole body in long, sweeping strokes, from toes to chin. Aim towards your heart. This will help stimulate your circulation and support your lymph glands to eliminate excess fluid which can make you look lumpier. My favourite tool for this is the Hydrea Vegan Dry Body Brush as it’s made of plant bristles which have been uniquely cut on a smooth angle to hug the body without scratching the skin at all.
Try using a specific cellulite oil on your affected areas to help reduce the appearance of cellulite. The Weleda Birch Cellulite Oil is one of the best natural ones on the market, using young organic birch leaves extracts and rosemary to support the body's regulating and regenerating processes while a combination of natural essential oils revitalise and enliven the skin's appearance. This amazing combination of ingredients work to tone the skin and leave it looking and feeling firm and supple.
If your body holds on to water, this can make the appearance of cellulite more obvious. Keep drinking lots of water and try boosting your day with a Nourishing Protein Powder like this one from WelleCo . It is a nice clean source of protein as it is all-plant.
Salt can also causes the body to retain water, so try to stick to brown rice, steamed veggies and lean fish and meat. I like to season my meals with fresh herbs and lemon or lime juice. Caffeine and alcohol also don’t help, so try switching your coffee to an organic tea, and reduce the amount of alcohol you consume to minimise the toxins you allow into your body. Another great alternative to coffee is dandelion tea, you can read more abou the benefits of dandelion tea here
If you want to disguise the appearance of cellulite as quickly as possible, my favourite temporary fix is an organic fake tan. A light wash of colour will make any cellulite look far less noticeable as well as defining your muscles and making you look more toned overall. It may not be scientific, but anything that delivers a quick boost of body confidence is okay by me! My favourite fake tan is the Eco Tan Cacao Firming Mousse, this is amazing because not only does it give you a beautiful mocha-dipped colour, it also uses certified organic ingredients including coffee, blood orange, ginger and mandarin to help smooth the skin. Plus it develops in just 1 hour so ideal for the time-poor!
