You're trying on some new underwear, and when you turn around to see your cute tush, you notice something not so cute — cellulite. When fat cells push up against our skin and the fibrous tissue that connects our skin to our muscle pulls down, we're left with dimply, orange-peel-looking flesh. Although you can't get rid of cellulite completely — and just about all women have it — here are five things you can do to reduce its appearance.
Shapewear has been a woman's best friend for decades now, but much has changed since the original girdle. While smoothing undergarments still streamline our silhouette, English brand Triumph, also the official lingerie supplier of London Fashion Week, is launching a whole new concept. Triumph's Light Sensation is the first collection of shapewear that moisturises your skin while you wear it.
The range, which includes tank tops and shorts, among other pieces, is infused with tiny aloe vera micro-moisture capsules that can hydrate and smooth your skin on contact. The smoothing properties last for up to 100 washes and can help with cellulite and other lumps and bumps, according to The Daily Mail. Light Sensation will be available from Britain's Spring/Summer '13 season initially, and fingers crossed it hits our shores, too.
Triumph isn't the first brand to jump on the "smooth-as-you-wear" bandwagon. Last year, Wrangler announced its Denim Spa collection, providing jeans that cater to a whole host of skincare woes. A lump-free posterior and sleek silhouette are on almost every woman's wish list, so Triumph's line may be the next big thing in shapewear. Would you give it a go?
What in the world is Hypoxi, you ask? Well it's a bum-smoothing, thigh reducing machine. Yes, that exists. Towards the end of last year I wasn't feeling my best, and when I was offered to trial the 12-week Hypoxi exercise program — I nearly ran there. Nearly. But instead I took a cab and herein lies my problem, I'm lazy. As it turns out, the program was practically invented for me. You see, you perform 30 minutes of cycling — ideally three times a week for a month — while lying down inside a vacuum-like egg. Before each session, I was fitted with a compression skirt and slotted (almost like a jigsaw piece) into the machine where I then pedalled like a mad woman inside my maximum fat burning zone. The results were kind of amazing, so to find out how many centimetres I lost from my most stubborn areas, keep reading.
I'll be honest with you, anything remotely related to getting rid of cellulite and I'm onto it. I'll use the creams, I'll do the leg massages, and I'll even get wrapped in tin foil to resemble a chicken, primed for roasting. Which, as it happens, was exactly what I did at Venustus day spa in Paddington, Sydney, last week. Their Slim & Tone Detox Body Wrap ($154) is an intensive anti-cellulite treatment using ingredients known for their ability to dramatically increase blood flow, strengthen, firm and reduce fluid retention. Ah, yes please. It included a body salt exfolation using their very amazing Cellulite Eliminator Body Polish ($19) — I now use this nightly at home — and an application of Cellutrim Gel and the Cellulite Elliminator Serum ($49). They then place a "space blanket" over your entire body (roast chicken stage) to help infuse the ingredients. The whole process is by no means relaxing because it feels so hot, but it is effective. After my treatment, I spoke to Venustus owner Jeannie to quiz her on all things cellulite reduction — keep reading.
Ask any personal trainer about the positive effects working out has on the body, and prepare to have your head talked off. Getting the blood flowing does do a beauty good, after all. But just how much and why? In honour of the Olympics, test your workout wisdom now.
It's time to reveal the final winners in our 2012 BellaSugar Australia Beauty Awards. Turning our attentions to all things body, find out which products — including body wash, self-tanner, firming body product and fragrances for ladies and gents — earned the high praise of our readers. From a shower gel designed (and used!) by a supermodel to some hot home-grown heroes, all are well worth a coveted spot in your bathroom. So what are you waiting for? Find out what they are!
Between them, these body products promise to firm, tone and smooth, setting us on the pathway to perfect pins and much, much more. But which one will win earn your coveted vote and take out the Best Firming Body Product Award? Will it be Sisley Sisleya Anti-Aging Concentrate Firming Body Care, a premium product that combines the comfort of a cream with the effectiveness of a tightening agent and anti-ageing benefits of a serum, Clarins Extra Firming Body Lotion which uses lemon thyme extract, centella and bocoa extracts to improve the appearance of slackened skin, Elixia BodyShaper Cellulite Contour Crème which got a formula update in February making it more lightweight and fast-absorbing, Priori CoffeeBerry Body Shaping Complex, a 99 percent natural body treatment that targets tone as well as firmness or Soap & Glory Sit Tight, the lazy girl's guide to firming where the heat generated by sitting down puts the product to work!
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2012 BellaSugar Australia Beauty Awards: Vote For the Best Firming Body Product
It's hard to believe thatLauren Conrad shies away from being in a bikini. But having your cellulite zoomed in for the whole world to see will (quite rightly) dent a girl's ego. This was something Lauren was subjected to a few year's back and it's had a noticeable effect on the reality-star-turned-beauty-guru: "On the vacation to Cabo, I wore a bathing suit on the beach for the first time in years. Usually I’m just petrified. A couple of years ago someone zoomed in on my cellulite and it was so mean. I took it really personally. I haven’t worn a bathing suit in LA in years because of that." Opening up to Glamour magazine — she covers their May issue — it's clear to see that Lauren has put the nasty incident behind her as she happily poses in a variety of one-pieces, bikinis and sun dresses, even going topless on the cover. You show 'em, LC.
Summer's just over two weeks away so we're stepping up our beauty routine. Stat. Over the next week we'll be bringing you deets on the best exfoliators, self-tanners, sunscreens, cellulite busters and more in order for you to stay in tip-top shape this Summer. First up we're tackling the tough areas: cellulite and stretch marks. If you have them, trust us, you're not alone. But there are plenty of ways that you can reduce the appearance of dreaded "orange peel" and stretch marks. See how now!
Karl Lagerfeld's "multifaceted vision" was the inspiration behind his new women's fragrance, Karleidoscope — WWD
