It’s probably safe to say we all hate cellulite. Short or tall, thin, or not—cellulite is not selective when it comes to body type. Nine out of ten women have some form of cellulite! It appears in the customary locations regardless of body type, but usually because of poor diet, slow metabolism, body fat, lack of physical activity or hydration, hormones, or simply genetics.
Let’s face it. Cellulite doesn’t look great, and it can make us super self-conscious. It’s so frustrating that I just want to know how to get rid of it. No matter how many squats we do, sometimes it just sticks. What the heck, right?! Not fair!
Since cellulite ultimately can affect each and every one of us, what is there to do about it, if anything? Creams and lotions designed for battling cellulite can be expensive, and their results unclear. But do not despair!
We’ve researched some natural remedies that can help you get rid of cellulite rather than spending hundreds or thousands at the plastic surgeon’s office. There are plenty of tried-and-true solutions out there to give a try before splurging on expensive professional treatments.
11 Cellulite Remedies That Actually Work
These at-home DIY cellulite remedies can help improve those dimples, lumps, and bulges that appear on our thighs, bottom, and abdomen—and they won’t leave a dimple in your wallet!
1. Hydration
Water intake is crucial for helping alleviate the signs of cellulite. Our skin plumps up when we are hydrated, and the dimples are less noticeable. Try to drink at least 64 ounces of water each day.
Need a little excitement in your water consumption? Try these infused waters and vitamin-infused beauty waters to help liven up your daily water bottles. Eating fruits and veggies, like melons and cucumbers with high water content, can also help plump up your skin, along with all of the other proven benefits of consuming fresh, raw foods.
2. Diet
A healthy diet is essential to not only how we feel, but it can help or hurt our cellulite-prone areas. Heavily processed, refined foods have unhealthy calories with too much fat, salt, and sugar. These cause the body to store the excess in our fat cells, causing them to expand. So check out these healthy recipes for some fat-busting alternatives.
3. Coffee scrubs
Coffee is a real go-to ingredient in products that combat cellulite. Why? The caffeine in coffee grounds triggers lipolysis—fat breakdown [source] as well as inhibits fat formation [source].
It has the ability to penetrate the upper layers of skin to induce its action beneath [source]. So, when it’s applied directly to the skin, it is thought that the caffeine in coffee can work on fat cells from within your skin, which can decrease the appearance of cellulite.
Caffeine also appears to tighten and improve the appearance of those troublesome areas. Plus, the grounds make an excellent exfoliator to remove dead skin. To see if it works for you, try a cellulite-fighting coffee scrub that combines ground coffee with just three other common pantry ingredients that moisturize and exfoliate.
4. Dry brushing
Improving lymphatic drainage by massage has been shown to be effective in reducing cellulite (source). One way to approach this at home is to try dry brushing. By stimulating the skin with a brush, you can improve circulation in the upper layers of the skin and combat cellulite. And, all you need is a good stiff, natural fiber brush!
This will help boost lymphatic drainage, plump the skin, and ultimately decrease the look of cellulite. It’s important to use long strokes of the brush on the problem areas, working towards the heart and counterclockwise on your stomach. The pressure of the brush stroke should be medium or light, never painful.
It’s best to do this right before showering and follow with a gentle tissue massage with coconut oil (which has its own benefits as a cellulite-buster). This can be done several times a week, even daily. Plus, it’s a great way to exfoliate!
5. Honey
Applying honey to problem areas will give them a boost of anti-inflammatory action by the activity of antioxidants that work to repair the skin (source). Our honey cellulite massage recipe combines honey with a follow-up anti-cellulite oil made up of jojoba, orange, rosemary, and juniper essential oils.
6. Exercise
Exercise can do wonders to help with the appearance of cellulite. When we tone and strengthen our muscles, we are helping the overall appearance of our bodies. And, more specifically, we are toning the muscles beneath those unsightly lumpy areas.
7. Seaweed wraps
Seaweed is a natural skin toner, and it has antioxidant and anti-aging effects on cells (source). Skin wraps can be made with seaweed, which is also known to stimulate blood flow and circulation.
This is just what the cellulite-affected areas need. We have a great seaweed wrap for you to try that helps to improve skin texture with the aid of vital minerals and vitamins.
8. Essential oils
Essential oils penetrate deeper into the skin’s layers so they can often have a greater impact than lotions when applied topically. Some essential oils are especially useful for tackling cellulite—you can even use them while dry brushing.
Grapefruit essential oil contains large amounts of naringenin, an anti-inflammatory that has been shown to help break down fat tissue by reducing inflammation [source]. Unbelievably, just the scent of grapefruit essential oil activates nerves in fat tissues and aids in lipolysis, which helps break down cellulite [source].
Juniper berry essential oil contains flavonoids, powerful antioxidants that have detoxifying and purifying effects [source].
Rosemary essential oil is known to stimulate circulation and vital metabolic processes and has antioxidant properties [source].
As with all essential oils, we’re carefully diluting them in a skin-nourishing carrier oil in order to get the most out of them and prevent skin irritation, so make sure you combine them with a carrier oil, like in this grapefruit cellulite oil.
Grapefruit Cellulite Oil
—¼ cup sweet almond oil
—8 drops grapefruit essential oil
—6 drops juniper essential oil
—4 drops rosemary essential oil
Combine oils in a glass jar and swirl to combine.
To use, apply a small amount of oil to damp skin. During the first 4 weeks of use, massage the oil into skin with circular movements, at least twice a day. For ongoing maintenance, continue with the daily application.
9. Tomato Paste
Lycopene can help prevent the breakdown in collagen that leads to cellulite. As we know, tomatoes are full of lycopene—but it’s even more concentrated in paste form. It’s also helpful to know that cooking tomatoes helps the body better absorb lycopene by making it more bioavailable (source). Some experts recommend eating a couple of tablespoons a day to prevent and treat cellulite.
10. Boost Circulation
Both green tea (source) and ginkgo biloba (source) have been used to improve cardiovascular health. Increased blood flow helps create healthier skin, more uniform skin texture, and a better transfer of stored fat from cellulite to muscle tissue, where it can be burned. Try this refreshing iced green tea and chia drink—it also works as a face mask!
11. Gelatin
The weakening of collagen can certainly be a major cause of cellulite. Gelatin is full of the building blocks of proteins and dietary collagen, which can help you build back lost collagen and reduce cellulite (source).
And as an extra bonus, taking gelatin, like in this easy fruit gummies recipe, can also benefit your hair and nails! Next time you make a smoothie, think about adding a little gelatin in to help fight those unwanted dimples.
Try a few of these simple and inexpensive remedies at home to fight the war on cellulite. Do you have any additional tried-and-true DIY cellulite remedies you’d like to share?
DIY Grapefruit Cellulite Oil + Scrub
Equipment
- Small bowl
- 16-ounce container with lid
- 2-ounce bottle
Materials
Grapefruit Cellulite Scrub
- ½ cup white sugar
- ¼ cup coffee, ground oats, green tea, or cacao nibs
- ½ cup jojoba oil (or almond, olive, coconut, etc.)
- 15–20 drops grapefruit essential oil
- ½ teaspoon cinnamon or beetroot powder (optional for color)
Grapefruit Cellulite Oil
- ¼ cup sweet almond oil
- 8 drops grapefruit essential oil
- 6 drops juniper essential oil
- 4 drops rosemary essential oil
Instructions
Grapefruit Cellulite Scrub
- Combine dry ingredients in a small bowl.
- Add the oils and stir well.
- Add more oil or sugar to achieve the desired consistency. To get a soft pink color, I added a pinch of beetroot powder and cinnamon at the very end—but it’s totally optional.
- Store in a lidded container. To use, apply to the skin and scrub in circular motions over areas with cellulite. It will last several months unless water is introduced.
Grapefruit Cellulite Oil
- Combine oils in a glass jar and swirl to combine.
- To use, apply a small amount of oil to damp skin. During the first 4 weeks of use, massage the oil into skin with circular movements, at least twice a day. For ongoing maintenance, continue with the daily application.
Notes
This article was medically reviewed by Dr. Gina Jansheski, a licensed, board-certified pediatrician who has been practicing for more than 20 years. Learn more about Hello Glow's medical reviewers here. As always, this is not personal medical advice and we recommend that you talk with your doctor.
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