How To Reduce the Appearance of Cellulite for Less Than $15 Dollars

Having cellulite anywhere on your body does nothing to boost your self-esteem, especially if you happen to see the latest model on the cover of any magazine. We women often think to ourselves, 'yeah, she can afford a personal trainer and has all the time in the world to workout 3 hours a day to look like that.'

That's probably true to some extent, but before we get too discouraged, I've discovered there are ways that we can help reduce the appearance of cellulite on our body and for less money than you would expect. You can feel better about your body even if you're not a model and don't have time to workout 3 hours a day.

I've listed the ways you can reduce the appearance of cellulite according to how fast you need to see results. Whether its a party you you'll be attending or an unexpected date with an amazing guy, you can feel more confident in your looks by following any or all of my suggestions. The best part is, you don't need much money!

According to the website Medical News Today, "Cellulite is a term used to describe the dimpled appearance of skin caused by fat deposits that are just below the surface of the skin." This dimply appearance of the skin is identified with resembling an orange peel.

What separates cellulite from just plain ol' fat is its fatty parts because they are structured into specific chambers by strands of linked tissue around it.

What Causes Cellulite?

Seems the jury is still out as to the exact cause of cellulite. There are several factors that can contribute to the development of cellulite:

• Hormones- certain hormones such as estrogen, insulin, noradrenaline, thyroid hormones, and prolactin play a role in the development of cellulite.
• Genetics- Depending on what genes you have been blessed with, you may be predisposed to the development of cellulite depending on factors such as your metabolism, circulation, and even your race.
• Diet- As can be expected, people who consume too much fat, carbohydrates, salt and not enough fiber in their diet are more likely to develop cellulite and more of it than others.
• Lifestyle- Cellulite shows up more frequently in the bodies of smokers, people who do not exercise regularly and people who stand or sit in one position for long periods of time.

There are 2 ways you can instantly reduce the appearance of cellulite. They are:

The Hairspray Method:

I learned about this from my experience in beauty pageants ( when I had to wear a bikini). All you need is a bottle of stiff aerosol hairspray. With bare legs simply bend over as far as you can and keep your knees straight. Take the hairspray and generously spray the back of your thighs.

You don't want the hairspray dripping down your legs, but you do want to spray enough to coat the back of your thighs. Stay bent over for a few minutes until the hairspray dries. You're all set.

Pantyhose:

That's right, a good pair of ultra sheer pantyhose will hide quite a lot of cellulite.

This option may not be a great idea in the hot summer months when everyone else has bare legs, and you definitely can't wear pantyhose with a bikini, but if you have a dress or outfit that shows more leg than you're comfortable with, pantyhose works wonders.

The price difference between poor quality pantyhose and good quality is minimal. Always go with the sheerest pantyhose you can find so that its not obvious that you're wearing pantyhose. You can easily buy a good pair for less than $15. Spend the few extra dollars and get yourself a decent pair that is close to your skin color. Check the little sample booklets on the pantyhose stand to see how they look on your skin before buying.

So, you've got 24 hours or less until the big party, or the big date and you want to look amazing. Unfortunately you haven't been able to shed those pesky 10 lbs and there's no time left, where is Jack Bauer when you need him?

If you want to reduce the appearance of cellulite and you have less than 24 hours I recommend using a sunless tanning lotion. With a tan your skin will hide many imperfections, including cellulite.

On the side I have listed 4 of the best choices for self tanning lotions under $15. I have used all four of them. The best lotion is the L'Oreal Sublime Glow. It doesn't streak and it has a pleasant fragrance. If you're worried about streaking use a sunless tanning lotion with bronzer. You get an instant sun-kissed look and you can see as you apply an places you may have missed. The Nivea Body Firming lotion is good if you just want a hint of colour and works best when you have more than 24 hours to get ready. The Neutrogena Mist gives you the best even coverage of all sunless tanning products I've tried. The downside is that it tends to have a strong smell.

Shave your legs and exfoliate in the shower before using any tanning creams.

Be sure to use gloves when applying sunless tanning creams, or remember to wash your hands every 5 minutes to avoid orange palms.

There are some natural sunless tanning solutions, although I must admit I haven't tried any of them so I don't know how effective they are. They are ideal for people who don't want to put unnecessary chemicals on their skin that sometimes come in the sunless tanning creams the stores sell.

The three most popular natural self tanning solutions are black tea, cocoa powder and coffee.

A word of advice: test these solutions on your skin in an inconspicuous area first before using them anywhere else on your body to see if you have a reaction and to see how dark the results on your skin will be.

Black Tea

There are 2 methods out there on the web for using black tea. The first method is to boil 3/4 cup of filtered water and steep 3 bags of black tea for 10 minutes. Allow time to cool and then pour in a spray bottle. Spray the tea on your body and allow to air dry. Repeat until desired darkness is reached.

The other method is to steep 3 bags of black tea in 3/4 cup of water like above, but then add 1/4 cup lanolin and 1/4 sesame oil and blend well before applying.

Cocoa Powder

Mix 1/4 cup cocoa powder and 1 cup of white skin cream. Apply evenly to skin.

Coffee

Brewed coffee can be sponged directly on to the skin and left on for 20-30 minutes. You can also apply used coffee grinds (fine ground works best) on your skin and leave them on for 30 minutes before rinsing.

Carrots and Turmeric Powder

This was a mixture I used on my face to give it a glow and it helped with my acne. I'm sure that it could be used elsewhere on the body. I used grated carrots, some water and turmeric powder. You would probably need 2-3 medium to large sized carrots and grate them on the finest setting. Put the grated carrot in a bowl and add approximately one teaspoon of water and 1/8 teaspoon of turmeric powder.

Rub the mixture evenly all over your skin and leave on for 10 minutes before rinsing.

If you have 48 hours before the big day, whether it's your wedding, a date or party you can reduce the appearance of cellulite on your body by making a few diet modifications to help you lose any water you might be retaining. When your body retains water you look puffy and bloated, this can excentuate the appearance of cellulite on your body.

The first thing you will need to do is drastically cut your intake of salt and sugar and increase your intake of foods rich in potassium.

Warning! If you are on any kind of medication, be sure to contact your doctor or pharmacist before modifying your diet. Many medications cannot be mixed with foods high in potassium!

Foods to avoid:

Soda pop
Potato chips or other snacks high in salt
Processed meats such wieners, ham, deli meats, etc.,
Canned vegetables, tomato juice
Excessive amounts of carbohydrates such as breads and pastas
Foods high in sugar (that includes high fructose corn syrup, etc.,) such as candy, chocolate bars, etc.,

Foods rich in potassium to add:

Tea (green tea is great)
Coffee
Water
Celery
Bananas
Oranges
Asparagus
Cabbage
Watermelon
Cucumbers

You are not restricted to only eat the foods listed that are rich in potassium, but substitute them for snacks or foods you would normally eat that are high in salt such as canned vegetables or chips for example.

If you have 30 days or longer and you want to reduce the appearance of cellulite, there are 3 things you can do to achieve your goal.

Skin Brushing

One of the most effective and inexpensive solutions for reducing the look of cellulite, and eliminating it, is skin brushing.

There is a long list of benefits and they include:

• Dry skin brushing aids in the removal of dead skin cells, which can help improve skin texture and cell renewal.
• Dry skin brushing increases circulation, helping your body to eliminate toxins through lymphatic drainage of the entire body.
• Dry skin brushing also helps to tighten the skin because it increases the flow of blood. Increasing the circulation to the skin can also help lessen the appearance of cellulite.• Dry skin brushing helps with muscle tone and more even distribution of fat deposits.
• Dry skin brushing also rejuvenates the nervous system by stimulating nerve endings in the skin.
• Dry skin brushing helps your skin to absorb nutrients by unclogging pores.

Skin brush your body for 5 minutes every day, paying particular attention to your thigh area. Brush upwards toward the center of your body (where your heart is) in long sweeping strokes. Be sure to brush before showering and always brush skin that is nice and dry.

A skin brush should have natural bristles, not synthetic.

Stretches for the backs of your legs

Stretching is important in reducing the appearance of cellulite because the connective tissues must stretch and become elongated thereby helping to seperate fat cells to allow for proper lymphatic drainage.

There are 3 different hamstring stretches that can really help reduce the appearance of cellulite:

The first hamstring stretch is where you sit on the floor with both your legs either flat on the floor directly in front of you or one leg at a time and slowly bend forward from the waist towards your toes. Once you have reached forward as far as you can without causing pain in the back of your legs, gently hold the stretch for at least 40 seconds or longer.

The second is the same stretch but having one leg up on a high surface such as the kitchen counter or the back of a sofa as if it were a ballet barre. Keep the leg that you are standing on slightly bent and bend forward from the waist. Hold the stretch for 40 seconds or more.

The last is where you are lying flat on the floor on your back, legs straight out in front of you. Gently bring your right leg up towards your chest and place both hands around the side of your knee and bring your leg in towards your chest. Hold for 40 seconds or longer. Repeat with your left leg.

The use of creams, masks and exfoliants on your skin, particularly on the thigh area improve your skins elasticity, tone and texture.  No cellulite cream out there can actually eliminate cellulite from your legs.  By improving the condition of your skin, you can reduce the appearance of cellulite.

The first step would be to exfoliate once a week with a gentle product.  You can accomplish this in the shower.  Exfoliating help to bring the blood to the surface of your skin, encouraging cell renewal.

The second step would be to apply a firming mask once a week.  This will help your skin regain its firmness and elasticity.

The last step would be to moisturize your skin every day with a good firming lotion such as the ones I have listed.  When applying any cream to your body always use upward strokes towards the center of your body.

By making an effort to change your eating habits and increasing the amount of time you exercise, not only can you reduce the appearance of cellulite on your body, but you can also help to eliminate it as well.

Lifestyle changes such as quitting smoking, consuming less caffeine, sugar, sodium and saturated fats will have a positive effect on your body.

Cellulite is still fat after all, so the less you have on your body, the less likely you will have cellulite. Remember, factors such as genetics play a role in whether we are prone to having cellulite, something that is beyond our control. What we do have control over is what we put in our bodies and what we do to improve our well being.