Body Care Tips: Can Massage Remove Cellulite & Stretch Marks?

Cellulite and stretch marks often go hand in hand. Identified by the distinctively lumpy, streaky appearance on areas such as the thighs, hips, stomach and buttocks. While perfectly harmless, both cellulite and stretch marks can look unsightly, so how do you deal with them? Sift through the many remedies available online and you will find massages being listed as one of the options. Not just a soothing way to de-stress your body, massages can actively help to reduce visible signs of cellulite and stretch marks if done correctly, particularly when paired with cellulite and stretch mark removal creams.

What causes cellulite and stretch marks?

Contrary to popular belief, not being overweight doesn’t guarantee that you’ll be cellulite-free. Cellulite can also be genetically inherited and it may show up on your skin even if you’ve never been overweight in your life as it’s caused by the lack of elasticity in your skin and your tissues being unable to hold back your body’s natural adipose layers. Women are genetically predisposed to having cellulite due to their hormones. Stretch marks on the other hand, can be caused by several factors such as puberty, pregnancy, sudden and rapid weight gain or weight loss.

Do massages really work?

Massages are a great way to unwind and unknot muscles, but they can also help to stimulate lymphatic drainage and reduce cellulite dimples by stretching, rolling and lifting skin to better eliminate traces of cellulite. However, like many other beauty or skincare routines, consistent massages are required for visible and long-term results. Pair them with products that specifically target stretch marks and anti-cellulite creams such as our Body Fit and Body Partner for best results. Massages help promote proper blood circulation and may even help with breaking up the tissue bands that cause dimpled skin. Over time, consistent massaging may help in redistributing fat cells that cause the dimpled effect as well.

What type of massages should you do?

Massages essentially comprise repeated movements to pinch, squeeze and roll the fat away from connective tissues. There are several types of massages such as kneading, wringing, knuckle and dry brushing massage. However, the one you should be pairing with your anti-cellulite and anti-stretch mark creams is the knuckle massage. The knuckle massage employs a crushing movement to pummel fat deposits into submission so they dissolve faster. Kneading your skin gently with your knuckles to simulate rollers will help improve lymphatic drainage and stretch skin tissue which helps to stretch out cellulite lumps too. Simply start massaging from your feet then work your way upwards to increase blood flow throughout your circulatory system and you’ll be well on your way to plumper, smoother skin. Focus on problem areas such as your waist, hips, thighs and buttocks for optimum results. Incorporate Clarins’ Contour Body Treatment Oil for a more luxurious massage session to simultaneously unknot tense muscles and moisturise your skin.

Anti-cellulite and anti-stretch mark creams

Your skin loses elasticity over time due to several reasons such as age, hormones and genetics. Incorporating stretch mark or cellulite reduction creams, lotions or treatment oils can help give your skin a much-needed collagen boost while targeting the root cause of cellulite. Address the lack of skin elasticity by moisturising your skin more with a body treatment oil such as Clarins’ Tonic Body Treatment Oil. Not only does it do wonders for your skin’s hydration levels thanks to plant extracts such as Rosemary, Geranium, Mint and Hazelnut oil – it helps to reduce stretch marks too! A slimming cream for your tummy, a solution to your pregnancy stretch marks or simply as a cellulite-busting cream – the Clarins Tonic Body Treatment Oil is a skincare solution that’s suitable even for individuals with sensitive skin. Its 100% pure plant extracts make it the go-to product for pregnant women since 1965 and a great option for dealing with stubborn stretch marks that result from sudden weight fluctuations. Simply apply to damp or dry skin and massage gently from ankle to waist. You may opt to wash it off with cool water after application as well.

Should you need a cream that handles stretch marks with ease, then our Body Partner Stretch Mark Expert that’s infused with Centella Asiatica, Banana, and Hazelnut oil is the best choice. This lightweight cream helps to boost your skin’s elasticity while nourishing it. It also promotes the protection of collagen fibres and rebuilds connective tissues to reduce the appearance of stretch marks. Individuals with fragile skin stand to benefit even more with this cream’s ability to alleviate pulled skin and restore skin to its former suppleness, leaving it velvety soft. Simply massage it on after a bath, working your way from your waist, belly and hips to the ankles in kneading motions.

Shop more body care products to combat your cellulite and stretch mark woes here.