Every year, another new cellulite treatment comes along, promising it’s not just the latest but also the greatest way to get rid of it. And a huge price tag is often attached to the hype. We spend one billion dollars each year on new ways to eradicate cellulite and often end up disappointed. Fortunately, there are some very effective and natural ways to combat it.
Drink up.
Plain tap water helps flush toxins that hide in the fat layers beneath the skin and accentuate lumps and bumps. Hydration plumps the skin and makes it look less lumpy, definitely camouflaging cellulite. The key is to drink half of your body weight in fluid ounces daily! So if you weigh 150 pounds, you should drink 75 oz. (a little more than nine cups) of water. Be sure to avoid beverages with caffeine and alcohol, as they tend to be dehydrating.
Use a caffeine cream.
Slimming creams containing 3.5% water-soluble, antioxidant-rich caffeine and xanthenes are proven to help hide cellulite by plumping skin cells. Topical caffeine increases blood flow to the surface of the skin, plumping it up for a couple of hours. Or try this DIY scrub: Mix 1/4 cup of ground coffee with 3 Tbs. of sugar and olive oil to form a smooth paste. Massage into cellulite-prone areas in a circular motion for five minutes, then rinse off in a warm shower. Repeat at least twice weekly.
Take gotu kola.
This herbal extract ups your supply of collagen and elastin, improving elasticity and thickening the skin to minimize the appearance of bumpy cellulite. Take 150 mg. to 250 mg. of gotu kola two to three times daily, and you will see a difference in the appearance of cellulite within three days. Find the supplement in health food stores at Vitacost.com.
Try laser therapy.
Low-level laser therapy, which can be done with at-home devices, can improve the cellulite in your thighs and buttocks. As with caffeine creams, these devices work by stimulating blood flow. In addition, they increase the production of collagen, which can also mask the appearance of cellulite.