6 Anti-cellulite massage techniques

Today I’m going to discuss another handy topic about cellulite – I will get you through different cellulite massage techniques that you can do at home to make your legs look smoother and toned.

As you probably know, cellulite is the condition when the fat cells squeeze between the bands of fibrous tissue under the skin. Men have much less cellulite because their tissue has a shape of a net which helps to hold fat in place. But women have them in parallel lines so the fat cells are more prone to protruding from the fibrous tissue around them. That creates this lumpy “cottage cheese” look.

Cellulite is not only caused by hormonal imbalance and poor nutrition, but also by problems with blood and lymph circulation and increased toxins in fat tissues. In the modern world, we are surrounded by toxins from the air, plastics and food additives, synthetic hormones and more, which accumulate in fat tissue and partially do cause cellulite.

As for the blood circulation, it’s also a very important reason for cellulite. Cellulite is very common especially in the leg and hip area. It happens because the blood circulation is mostly slow in these parts (especially if you are sitting in front of a computer all day long!) and the fat tissue is much more intense in this region.

Taking these both things into consideration, it becomes obvious that in order to get rid of cellulite you need to strengthen your body’s cells and the connective tissue in your body, which can be achieved through massage therapy as well as exercising. Massage also improves blood and lymph circulation and helps to remove toxins from your body.

Does cellulite massage work?

I’ve read many opinions about massage and know that many people don’t believe in its benefits for cellulite reduction. But I personally see the difference and think that anti-cellulite massage works in my case. Yes, it’s not as powerful alone so you have to incorporate fitness activity, clean eating and watch your hormones to achieve great results. But massage can be an amazing addition to a daily skin-care routine. It does improve the quality of my skin, make it firm and smooth. So I really encourage you to try it for yourself.

And, in fact, you don’ have to spend too much time for a massage. Sometimes 20 minutes of intense massage every day is enough to see the difference. Besides, you can always massage your legs while watching TV or listening to podcasts – this is a “win-win” situation!

So let’s figure out what anti-cellulite massage options you may have at home.

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1

Regular self-massage

They say that regular massage with anti-cellulite oils helps with cellulite reduction. The combination of herbs and oils applied to the skin surface will infuse through the skin and begin to break down excessive cellulite.

But the most important aspects of self-massage are the right moves. If your aim is to get rid of cellulite, don’t be afraid of applying force. This massage should be performed with firm, strong movements. That’s because you are working to stimulate blood flow to fight water retention and dimpled skin caused by cellulite.

You can use a broad variety of techniques including pounding, circular motions and kneading. Pinch and press the skin of the buttocks strongly with both hands.

The general rule while performing anti-cellulite massages is their centripetal direction – so the movements are made towards the heart, from down upwards.

Massage the buttock with circular movements (counter-clockwise), starting from the hip and moving towards the thigh, and then going back to the hip.

Such intense movements with your hands and some oil boost circulation and lymphatic drainage. And if you alternate those upward movements with some strong skin kneading with your fingers you will probably give your legs a ten times better massage.

A cellulite reduction massage in the saloon may about one hour, because they will be working on areas of the body to relax them and stimulate good blood flow. But if you do it at home, 15-20 minutes will be enough to treat the cellulite on your legs and thighs.

2

Lymphatic drainage massage

Manual lymphatic drainage massage (MLD) is a technique that moves lymph, the fluid responsible for fighting bacteria and infection in the body, towards lymph nodes. Those nodes then filter the lymph and expel any toxins.

Lymphatic drainage is really powerful in toning your legs and remove excess water, to reduce inflammation and, therefore, minimize the appearance of cellulite. No matter what, you do need to do it, for everything. If you have heavy legs (like I do) or blood-circulation problems, this cellulite massage is perfect for you!

Even though the moves are more gentle that in regular anti-cellulite massage, it can be really powerful. If you do it in a saloon, you may experience pain and shock as it moves your entire body and releases the toxins out of the body.

Therapists typically begin the treatment by working the neck area to open up lymph nodes. Once the nodes are open, practitioners work to move fluids towards them from all around the body.

This should be your main focus if you do this massage at home – follow the direction of the lymph flow when you massage your skin. It’s important in order to achieve a lymphatic drainage effect. I recommend to check the video below that shows the proper technique for at-home lymphatic massage that also slims thighs and calves.

3

Dry brushing

This method is very controversial as some people swear by dry brushing and some proclaim that it’s the total waste of time and money (little money though!).

Of course, I need to test it myself and I found out that dry brushing improves the quality of my skin. Which is always a good thing because my legs tend to be lumpy and rough. I can’t say whether it is effective for reducing cellulite because I use a complex approach – focusing on the right diet, workouts, massage and skin-care, improving my hormonal balance – that’s what really gets me results.

Brushing is invaluable in helping with so many skin problems, because its main advantages are exfoliation and detox. Brushing the skin helps to stimulate the normal lymph flow within the body and to detoxify itself naturally.

Dry can really help to reduce the appearance of the “orange-peel” skin if the main causes of cellulite in your case are hormonal imbalance and excess toxins. If you have different reasons, this method may not be as helpful.

So how to do this cellulite massage?

You need a high-quality brush with soft bristles. The skin should never be scratched or damaged. I use this one and encourage you to avoid boar-based bristles, they are not better than plant-based bristles at all!

Start brushing your skin preferably before bathing, to stimulate blood and lymph flow, remove dead skin cells, and encourage new cell growth. It’s recommended to start at your feet and brush upward toward the heart. Similarly, when you do it on your arms, begin at the hands and work upward. You can work in a circular motion or use firm, small strokes upward. For the stomach and bum, work in a clockwise direction.

You want to brush the skin 3-4 times a week. So it’s incredibly easy to incorporate into your routine. Most experts recommend dry-brushing in the morning, rather than before bed, because they believe it has energizing qualities.

4

Vacuum cupping

This massage is probably my favorite because I see the result immediately. No, it doesn’t remove the cellulite in seconds (haha, I wish!). But it improves blood circulation and makes the skin alive right away. While massaging you see how your skin becomes red and warm. I personally struggle with blood circulation in my hips and these parts usually are always cold. So I believe this treatment is just needed!

So what is a vacuum cupping? It’s a cellulite massage where you use suction cups (moulded silicone cups) and apply them directly to the skin. The cups should glide over the body and put the skin into a vacuum, activating circulation and breaking down fat deposits that can cause cellulite.

Vacuum cups help to stimulate circulation and encourage the detoxification process. This results in the overall reduction of water retention and less dimply looking skin. By using a vacuum massage, you rejuvenate and tighten the skin for a healthier appearance. It’s even said to help in the reduction of stretch marks and minor scarring and aid in weight loss.

How to start this cup massage?

• Firstly, you need to get these affordable silicone cups. I’ve bought just one and it lasts for many years.
• Start your routine with a body scrub to prep the area.
• Next, apply some body oil (olive, coconut or any other you prefer) that will help lubricate the area where you will be using the cellulite cup. This step is really important to avoid bruises and any damages to the skin. Put a lot of oil.
• Then simply place your cup over the area of cellulite (hips, bum, stomach), gently squeeze the base to create a vacuum, and move it around in circular movements for a few minutes.
• Just make sure that the cups are constantly in motion, rather than being left in one place, in order to avoid bruises.
• You need some time to figure out how much to squeeze a cup to get the tension you need. If you feel pain, try to squeeze it lighter. Ideally, you want to see how your skin becomes red and warm without feeling any strong pain.

Also, be careful – avoid using cups on areas where you have spider veins or they can get even worse.

5

Coffee Scrub

Another method to improve cellulite on legs is a coffee scrub. I love it so much because it makes my skin smooth instantly!

Caffeine is the most common and effective ingredient of anti-cellulite creams and masks. It has a tightening effect, it encourages the metabolism of the fats and removes accumulated water from the fatty tissues. But it works only in the form of concentrate. So, unfortunately, there is no caffeine in the regular coffee scrub that you use for exfoliating the skin.

But, again, the exfoliating itself is really beneficial for everybody who has lots of cellulite. Besides, I use pure ground coffee so the fractions are quite big which creates an amazing effect while I massaging my legs. I instantly see how my skin becomes red and how my blood circulation becomes better. And the smell!!! You are gonna love it!

Some people suggest to mix coffee together with cane sugar and coconut oil, but I personally prefer to use ground coffee alone. I keep it in a glass jar in my bathroom so I can remember to use it every time I take shower.

Massage the scrub into the skin for several minutes using firm pressure and circular moves. Wash it as usual and enjoy the softest skin ever! Use 2-3 times a week or more if needed.

After you’ve finished bathing, you may want to apply essential oil to your problem areas to stimulate the circulatory and lymphatic systems.

6

Roller for cellulite massage

This one is another favorite of mine! I used to love foam roller for reducing muscle tension and back pain, but since I learn how to use it for cellulite massage, I fell in love with this simple tool even more.

You can see some techniques in the video below. My favorite pose is on the side of my hips because I really feel how it targets my saddlebags and massages this problem area. You may experience a little bit of pain when starting. That’s totally normal and it, in fact, indicates that you do everything right.

I personally use this simple roller for cellulite massage because it really works and costs just about $20 which is really affordable for such multi-functional tool.

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So there were my favorite methods to do anti-cellulite massage at home. I hope you will give them a try and find what works best for you. The main thing is to stay consistent. Massage doesn’t give impressive results right away. You need to make it a part of your everyday routine – this way it will improve the quality of your skin tremendously!

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xo,
Jane

Posted By: Jane EvergreenJane · In: Weight loss tips