Sad fact of the day: Doctors actually measure cellulite based on a five-grade scale. One is minimal. Five is pretty awful. If you shell out thousands of dollars to have your cellulite vacuumed out by a professional, you may see a change of two grades -- if you're lucky. On the other hand, if you slap on Vichy Cellu Destock for four weeks, their clinical data says you'll be able to improve by one grade. And as any overachiever will tell you, there's a big difference between an A and a B.
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A Non-Invasive Cellulite Treatment Option
Townhouse Spa Celluless Method, prices vary
For those looking for a non-invasive cellulite treatment, try the Celluless Method, available at Townhouse Spa in New York City. It uses an ultrasound to help with lymphatic drainage and break down fatty tissue, then a suction to help smooth things out and improve circulation, tone and texture.
Jamie Ahn, owner of the spa, recommends doing a series of treatments once a week for best results, but you can enhance the results you get by staying hydrated, exercising and cutting back on sodium. You can expect results like skin that is slimmer, less bloated, smoother in texture and appearance and less dimply, says Ahn -- and you'll be in and out in 45 minutes to an hour, depending on the area you want to treat. (Note: Ahn says that because the tummy, thighs and butt are denser areas, you'll notice more results there than on areas like your arms.) Perfect for those last-minute occasions where you need your butt to look really good, really quickly.
Brazilians are kind of known for their amazing (and cellulite-free) bums -- and with this cream, you could be well on your way to a smooth, firm derriere. The secret: guarana, an Amazonian plant. If you recall from your days of downing energy drinks to pull all-nighters in college, guarana is packed with tons of caffeine (as in, five times as much as coffee), which immediately helps tighten and firm your skin. It also contains acai and cupuacu butter, which help moisturize and restore skin elasticity. And, even better, this cream is made without parabens, animal by-products or synthetic colors. (Don't even get me started on the phenomenally nutty, rich vanilla smell.)
With this kit, you get the My Body Fitting Room Firm and Tone Body Serum, as well as the My Body Smooth It Out Shaper. While the serum is great, I really fell for the shaper. It feels like an old-timey thing to do -- like wearing a girdle -- but it's actually fun to use. You start by applying the serum, which contains antioxidant and anti-inflammatory ingredients, plus retinol to stimulate collagen production and make your skin glow. (According to the Mayo Clinic, a twice-daily application of 0.3 percent retinol can improve the appearance of cellulite in about six months.) Then, you roll away your cellulite.
If you're interested in the instant tightening effect of caffeine coupled with permanent dimple diminishment, this one's for you. It has 10 percent active caffeine (quite a bit more than other products) to firm skin, smooth cellulite and help the area eliminate excess water. And it also contains botanical ingredients -- like lotus and white willow -- plus peptides to help boost collagen production and protect elastin from glycation (the harmful effects of sugar). Your thighs will look smoother longer.
Not so fun fact: Nearly 90 percent of all women have cellulite. You know, those annoying dimples on your thighs, butt and stomach (if you don't know what I'm talking about, consider yourself lucky). These dimples are caused by fat that pushes through the connective cords that attach your skin to your muscles (kind of like mesh).
So it makes sense that cellulite cream has been around for years. But do cellulite products actually get rid of cellulite? The best cellulite treatments hydrate skin -- making cellulite appear less obvious. And many are loaded with caffeine, which has an instant tightening effect -- a 2012 study showed that it also helps prevent the accumulation of fat in cells, and protects against photo-aging.
The newest crop of anti-cellulite products and treatments rely on so much more than a jolt of caffeine to temporarily get rid of cellulite -- instead, they're packed with plant extracts, peptides and amino acids. And in-office treatments promise even longer-lasting results. Here, the best anti-cellulite products and treatments that actually do something -- whether you're looking for a quick pick-me-up before hitting the beach in your swimsuit or want to invest in a long-term solution that might just get rid of cellulite for good.
