In Parts 1 and 2 of this series on DIY Anti-Cellulite Treatments, we looked at what cellulite actually is and ran through the techniques for effective body brushing.
Now we’re going to look at two DIY anti-cellulite recipes for you to make at home. The first of these recipes is a DIY Coffee Body Scrub. As we all know coffee contains caffeine, a powerful stimulant. Caffeine is actually found in virtually every single cellulite-reducing lotion on the market, so what does caffeine do to target cellulite?
A 2013 study showed that caffeine easily penetrates the skin barrier and prevents excessive accumulation of fat in cells. It also has potent antioxidant properties and slows down the process of photoageing of the skin. It increases circulation of blood in the skin and even stimulates hairgrowth.
Caffeine also works as a diuretic, which means that it removes moisture from the skin, temporarily firming the skin and its connective tissue. This temporary firming process makes it harder for those little fat cells to poke through weaker areas of skin, reducing the appearance of cellulite.
The key word here is ‘temporary’. Unfortunately scientists believe that no caffeine-based cream is going to create a permanent or even long-lasting effect. In order for the skin to remain firm, any caffeine-based product will need to be re-applied regularly. However, caffeine is a double-edged sword as its ability to reduce fluid retention may even worsen the appearance of your cellulite in the long-run by dehydrating the skin… so go easy on that lotion.
You can easily make yourself a DIY Anti-Cellulite Body Scrub at home using fresh coffee grounds. Don’t add in used coffee grounds as most of the caffeine will have already leached out of those and all of your anti-cellulite goodness will be percolating in your coffee maker instead!
You will need:
25g fresh coffee grounds
25g brown sugar
25ml sunflower oil, organic & unrefined
5 drops of rose geranium essential oil
Blend together the coffee grounds and brown sugar to ensure they are fully mixed. Next blend in the sunflower oil and make sure there are no lumps. Finally, mix through the essential oil droplets.
Apply this DIY Coffee Body Scrub in the shower. Scrub firmly over your body in a circular motion, avoiding the face. Rinse properly with a washcloth and pat yourself dry with a towel. Make sure to check back for the next part in this Anti-Cellulite series where we’ll be making a DIY Chocolate Body Masque!
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About our DIY beauty solutions editor:
Lorraine Dallmeier runs Herb & Hedgerow, an artisan herbal beauty business based in Dorset, UK. She writes for the HerbBlurb blog about herbs for beauty and the science of natural skincare. Herb & Hedgerow sells BeautyCraft app for iPhone – a beautifully illustrated recipe book with dozens of DIY natural beauty recipes. BeautyCraft has been sold in over 50 countries around the world.
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Lorraine is currently offering a free eBook on natural beauty ingredients to people who sign up to her newsletter at www.herbhedgerow.co.uk. Follow Lorraine on Twitter @herbBlurb.
