Cellulite is a natural part of being human. Some people embrace their imperfections with open arms while others aren’t as thrilled. If lumps and dimples on your thighs, belly, or behind get you down, a good cellulite cream can smoothen and tighten your skin. To help you find a product that works for you, StudyFinds consulted beauty experts and created a top five list of the best anti-cellulite creams to try out.
The body positivity movement encourages people, especially women, to be proud of the way they look and accept their extra pounds, stretch marks, and cellulite. However, three in four women still state that their self-confidence is greatly impacted by the look of their skin, with insecurities prompting them to cover up their bodies.
Cellulite is a normal, harmless skin condition caused by increasing fat cells and can affect men and women alike. Yet it is perceived as one of the “imperfections” that, according to a survey, more than half of Americans are worried others will notice. Social media is increasing insecurities: According to Russian researchers, active social media users are most concerned with improving their appearance and spend a large amount of time chasing unrealistic beauty standards. This applies to both genders.
A recent U.S. study found that Gen X and millennials are in fact so insecure about their appearance that half of the selfies they share online are filtered. And a whopping 73 percent of study participants were focused on hiding their imperfections from others, with uneven skin tone being a top concern. However, the study further showed that “millennials are proactive when it comes to their skincare routine, even seeking inspiration from dermatologists and experts via social media more so than Gen X does (53% vs. 45%),” says author Dr. Suchismita Paul.
Additional solutions to reduce cellulite include weight loss, laser treatment, and exercise. But for something you can easily incorporate into your routine, smoothing lotions take a bit less effort. To discover the top products to improve your appearance and confidence, StudyFinds visited ten beauty websites and extracted the five most recommended anti-cellulite creams with the best reviews. If we missed any, please let us know in the comments.
The List: Best Anti-Cellulite Creams Most Recommended by Experts
1. SOL DE JANEIRO Brazilian Bum Bum Cream
The clear expert favorite was a cellulite cream for your, um, bum bum. Out of a total of eight recommendations, SOL DE JANEIRO’s Brazilian Bum Bum Cream was listed as “Best Overall” twice, twice as the “Cult Favorite,” as well as once as “Best Smelling.” “Sol de Janeiro’s cream has become something of a gold standard in cellulite-diminishing formulas for the butt and legs, thanks to its blend of coconut oil, açaí oil, and cupuaçu butter, the last of which is said to work specifically to retain moisture and improve elasticity,” writes Women’s Health.
“There’s a reason why this body cream has thousands of five-star reviews and has amassed a cult following,” so Cosmopolitan. “It’s absolutely loaded with skin-smoothing caffeine,” which, when applied topically, “can dehydrate fat cells in your skin so they temporarily flatten, helping to make your cellulite look a little less visible.”
“Caffeine is ideal for stimulating circulation, an important component for promoting the look of smoother skin,” explains Byrdie. “Paired with hydrating cupuaçu butter and coconut oil, plus antioxidant-rich acai, and you’ve got yourself a cream that’s ideal to use all-over, not just on your derriere. But quite possibly the best part? The delectable pistachio-caramel fragrance.”
2. Paula’s Choice Retinol Skin-Smoothing Body Treatment
Paula’s Choice is a close second to our number one based on its number of expert recommendations. “A retinol cream is one of the best formulas to temporarily minimize the look of cellulite, thanks to retinol’s ability to trigger collagen and elastin production, gradually leading to smoother, firmer skin,” explains Cosmopolitan.
“While it’s more commonly found in products for the face rather than the body, […] seeking out retinol in a cellulite cream is a good move,” according to Byrdie, as it improves “skin elasticity by 10.5 percent when used topically to address cellulite” and “helps stimulate cell turnover to improve the overall look of skin.”
In addition to retinol, this cream’s formula also includes antioxidants, as well as “natural oils like grape seed oil and primrose oil [that] help shield skin from the negative impacts of environmental stressors, like UVA/UVB rays, pollution, and more,” writes InStyle.
3. Augustinus Bader The Body Cream
The consulted experts often referred to the product in the fancy deep-blue jar as the “favorite splurge:” “You’ll find Augustinus Bader in so many celebrities’ skincare stashes,” writes Us Weekly.
“Everyone from Kim K. to Victoria Beckham to beauty editors everywhere is a fan of the face creams created by German physician and researcher, Augustinus Bader,” Byrdie name-drops. “This particular formula took a whopping 30 years to develop, time we think was well spent; a clinical trial conducted by the brand showed anywhere from 64 percent to 75 percent reduction in the appearance of cellulite after 12 weeks.”
That’s why the cream wins Women’s Health’s “best science-backed formula!” “Despite its steep price tag, this luxurious cream from cult favorite brand Augustinus Bader has become a best-seller for a reason. A proprietary blend of amino acids, vitamins, and synthesized molecules that naturally occur in the skin, are said to work together to trigger the body repair process while Brazilian candeia oil purportedly softens and hydrates.”
4. Tie: Nivea Skin Firming & Toning Body Gel-Cream AND Bliss Fabgirl Firm Body Cream
Our number four pick brings us into a more affordable price range. The Nivea product is a popular expert drugstore pick, while the Bliss cream is not exactly cheap, but still saves you money by being an “all-in-one” product.
“If you just want a one-and-done body lotion that also doubles as a cellulite cream, you need to try this stacked formula,” Cosmopolitan writes about the Fabgirl Firm Body Cream, which brings “immediate results after one use,” according to a tester. “It’s filled with squalane and shea butter to moisturize, caffeine to temporarily firm your skin, hyaluronic acid to plump, and antioxidant-rich botanicals to help protect and repair.”
“An oldie-but-goodie, this remains our go-to drugstore cellulite cream year after year,” is Byrdie’s take on the Nivea Skin Firming & Toning Body Gel-Cream. “It obviously gets major points for the affordable price tag […], but also for the fact that it really does work, thanks to ingredients such as CoQ10 and L-Carnitine that help firm up skin. The lightweight, refreshing, and fast-absorbing gel texture is an added bonus.”
5. Palmer’s Cocoa Butter Formula for Stretch Marks
Another affordable product concludes our list. Women’s Health refers to Palmer’s Cocoa Butter Formula as a “cult-favorite drugstore cream” and points out that it’s “known for its use during and post-pregnancy to help with stretch marks.”
For Marie Claire, this is the most budget-friendly: “Shea butter is known for its soothing properties and for diminishing the appearance of stretch marks and discoloration over time. For long-term anti-cellulite results, remain consistent with applying this butter.”
“Despite its ultra-affordable price, this formula boasts many of the same star ingredients as much pricier counterparts,” writes Byrdie. “Collagen and elastin to help firm and tone, along with antioxidant-rich CoQ10 and vitamin E to soften and smooth skin. Reviewers also note that it’s effective for reducing the look of stretch marks, too.”
You might also be interested in:
- Best Skin Tightening Cream
- Best Anti-Wrinkle Creams
- Best Hand Creams for Dry Hands
- Best Body Lotions
- Best Face Moisturizers
Sources:
- Byrdie
- Cosmopolitan
- InStyle
- Elle
- Us Weekly
- Healthline
- Good Housekeeping
- Women’s Health
- Best Cellulite Treatment Products
- Marie Claire
Note: This article was not paid for nor sponsored. StudyFinds is not connected to nor partnered with any of the brands mentioned and receives no compensation for its recommendations. This article may contain affiliate links.
Lea la versión en español en EstudioRevela.com: Las Mejores Cremas Anticelulíticas: Las 5 Mejores Hidratantes Suavizantes, Según Expertos en Belleza.