What can anti-cellulite products really do? SHAPE Online wanted to know exactly before the start of the bikini season and has called orange peel the fight.
Photo: Thinkstock
- Tight gut feeling
- Mission: Great bikini legs
- Body manager with smoothing effect
- Intelligent fine grinding
- Pure excitement
- Po sycophant
Who does not know the feeling? The next vacation is pending or the trip to the trendy lake and the view in the mirror barely exposes the relentless truth: thighs and buttocks are not taut enough and show unsightly dents. Cellulite Alert!
Even athletic stars like Halle Berry, Jennifer Lopez and Co. do not seem to be against the unloved orange peel despite regular workouts with personal trainers. This is reassuring on the one hand, but it does not make our thighs smoother on their own.
But we do not give up and do the test: What are anti-cellulite products really worth? By joining forces, we took a close look at the current products with a promising smoothing factor. Knowing that lubrication alone, of course, no cellulite conjures away, but at least in combination with sports and balanced nutrition can support.
Read also at our partner stern.de: "Cellulite: dimples on the Po"
Tight gut feeling
Women usually have three major problem areas: the legs, the butt and - yes, the stomach! I also secretly dream of a crisp model center. To get at least an idea, I test "Celluli Laser Size Code" by Biotherm, which was developed especially for the abdominal and waist area.
Application: I am to massage the orange creamy gel cream in the morning and in the evening using a very specific technique. First I apply them in a circle, then pinch myself into my - of course not even in the beginning existing - rolls and knead them between the fingers. Yikes, that's pretty exhausting! After a few minutes, the freshly fragrant citrus scented cream is already absorbed.
Effect: The number one goal of my test cream: Tighten what it takes. But it contains a protein that is supposed to activate the metabolism of my fat cells. Brewer's yeast, green coffee, pomegranate seed oil and lotus extract should also make the skin beautiful. To be honest: I do not recognize a dramatic tightening effect after two weeks of massaging the test, but my skin is wonderfully soft and looks rosy thanks to the peeling effect.
Value for money: The 150 ml tube costs about 39 euros - this is the "Celluli Laser Size Code" in the mid-price segment.
Conclusion: Even though I have come a little bit closer to my dream of a model belly, the effect of petting skin convinces me. I will definitely continue to cream!
Text: Frauke Hansen
Mission: Great bikini legs
My legs could use a little wake-up and toning program before the bikini season - a test for anti-cellulite products is just right for me! So I'm testing Doctor Duve's "Medical Skin Care Activating & Firming Cellulite Gel".
Application: When screwing me a little spicy, but quite pleasant smell comes against me. This is probably due to the contained extracts of African pepper and horse chestnuts. The product is absorbed quickly. So far so good!
Effect: After a few minutes, however, I'm not astonished: Suddenly, my skin on my thighs gets crimson, gets hot and starts to itch. Whether this is probably the circulation-promoting effect of the product or is it an allergic reaction? Not really pleasant. My legs stay red for almost an hour before the color returns to normal.
Although I am a bit unsure of the extreme skin reaction, I hold out with the application for a few more days. And lo and behold, something is actually happening! As soon as the redness subsides, my thighs are really firmer and the skin is smooth. But if I should take daily itchy legs in purchasing? I'm sure I'm not!
Value for money: The cellulite gel has visibly tightened my skin and made small dents on the thighs disappear. However, I find the application not very pleasant - which of course could be because I have a very sensitive skin. At a price of 79 euros for 200 ml I would have hoped for a slightly better compatibility.
Conclusion: The "Activating & Firming Cellulite Gel" from Doctor Duve really helps to tighten the skin on the thighs, but unfortunately is only recommended for robust skin types.
Text: Christine Butler
Body manager with smoothing effect
The preparation phase for the bikini season is opened. And so, in addition to regular training sessions, the cosmetic fight against unsightly dents on thighs and buttocks is on the program. For this I have selected the product "Cellulite Offensive" by Elancyl.
Application: Thanks to the handy pump bottle, the hydrogel can be dosed in portions without any problem. The use of the product itself is designed to be pleasantly simple: massage two pump strokes of the serum in a clockwise direction for each problem, and you're done, without a massage glove or brush. You can easily do that within the tight morning toilet.
Effectiveness: Admittedly, I was a bit skeptical before the test. But after two weeks of using "Cellulite Offensive", the initial skepticism was, at least to a large extent, massaged away in the truest sense of the word. In fact, the power trio of xanthoxyline, caffeine and phloridizine contained in the hydrogel showed initial effects. Anyway, the skin texture seemed much smoother and more refined.
Value for money: The pump bottle (100 ml) costs about 30 euros. Since you need little daily, you have at least a month of it. Compared to competing products, I think the price is okay.
Conclusion: The product has really convinced me and is a small miracle cure. And what I liked the most: Already after 14 days show clear effects. So you do not have to start it half an eternity before the bikini season.
Text: Dörthe Seubert
Intelligent fine grinding
I want a bikini figure without cellulite - now! Unfortunately, my genes did not mean that much to me, let alone my above-average chocolate consumption. But with a healthy diet, lots of sports and a little helper called "Intelligent Minceur" by Dr. med. Pierre Ricaud should work it out. The firming serum should visibly smooth my problem area, the thighs.
Application: After reading the application instructions, I would like to back down: I have to massage the serum for 28 days in the morning and in the evening for a few minutes with circular movements. But the gel smells great of bamboo and absorbs quickly. From time to time I should use an exfoliation, so that the active ingredients caffeine for drainage and carnitine for purification can penetrate better into the skin. I try to hold out!
Effect: After a month the first check: The skin on the thigh has actually become finer. I have to admit that in the end I was a little inconsistent. The result nevertheless looks good. In addition, my skin feels nice tender and well-groomed.
Value for money: For women with stamina worth the 25 euros for 150 ml very well. The serum actually seems to work and casually leaves a soft, silky skin.
Conclusion: It actually holds what it promises. "Intelligent Minceur" is for anyone who really wants to fight cellulite and invest a few minutes a day.
Text: Monika Fojcik
Pure excitement
I want tension! And not only in my life, but also in my skin. The firming body gel "Body Lift" from La Mer wants to soften the waves with sea silt and brown algae extracts - and promises new elasticity and elasticity with regular use. I hope for exciting results!
Application: In order to prepare the skin for the gel, the affected area should be premeasured with the enclosed massage glove, then the gel is added. A fresh scent tickles my nose like a sea breeze. The turquoise gel feels pleasantly cool on the skin. The fact that the gel causes a subtle tingling after a short time, I find pleasant.
Effect: Thanks to the preparatory massage, my skin feels soft to the touch, the moisturizing gel does the rest with the care extracts caffeine, carnitine and tiger grass. And indeed: After a few weeks of regular use my skin is noticeably changed. The mini-bumpers track? Already much smoother!
Value for money: For 200 ml of the little helper I pay for 30 euros - and I leave for the fragrant refreshment like to jump.
Conclusion: The product has it all! Because my skin feels - albeit not completely dellenfrei - softer, neat, simply beautiful. Prima smell, sympathetic ingredients, noticeable effect: I am convinced!
Text: Katrin Jahns
Po sycophant
I love my bikini! And even though I have not been struggling with cellulite so much, I find that my butt can never look crisp enough in the tight two-piece suit. Let's see what Balea's "Cellulite Gel Cream" does for me.
Application: The gel should be massaged once or twice a day on the problem areas. Here we go! With the practical tube, I can dose the amount well. The turquoise gel smells fresh and can be massaged well. This feel-good program will now get a buttock and thigh once a day for a month.
Effect: Balea relies on an active ingredient complex of ginko, caffeine and algae. Ginko should contribute to drainage, caffeine promote detoxification and algae to tighten the skin. The anti-cellulite effect should already be visible after one month.
The "Something's happening" feeling I get right after the first applications - and while doing sports: My skin begins to tingle at the treated areas.
Value for money: 200 ml cost around 4 euros - a very fair price that I can present my bikini in the future confident.
Conclusion: I am very satisfied with the result after my test month, because my skin actually feels firmer. The only downside: The tube is empty after one month. So if you cream twice a day, you will need a new tube to see the effect after the first two weeks.
Text: Melanie Melzer
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