Do skincare and cellulite creams get absorbed? We analysed the subject of natural skincare active ingredient absorption in detail earlier. This article is specifically of one aspect of cosmetic active absorption: the 500 Dalton rule.
What is more effective cost-wise: a cellulite cream or a cellulite treatment?
This is a common question we hear at the clinic. Cellulite creams are much more economical than treatments, so if they do work they make more sense, at least economically. On the other hand, many people do not believe that creams are even absorbed or they believe that their benefits are due to massaging the cream on the legs, two myths that we addressed in detail in previous articles. Of course a good cellulite cream is absorbed; and the effect of massaging the cream into the skin is negligible. On this article we are looking at the pros and cons of cellulite treatments vs cellulite creams.
Learn why slimming / fat burning creams do not work - and have an advanced cellulite reduction treatment at LipoTherapeia
First off let’s clarify that no cream/gel/serum can actually ever burn any fat. This is biologically impossible. Fat is oxidised (what people call “burned”) in muscles and organs after being released by fat cells. No fat oxidation occurs in white adipose fat tissue (what people call “fat”). So in essence a “fat burning” cream that works (most don’t), is a cream that helps stimulate lipolysis (= fat release from fat cells) in specific areas where stubborn fat has accumulated…
Do anti-aging / cellulite creams get absorbed?
“Cellulite creams do not get absorbed, it’s the massage that you do while applying the cream that works”. Is this statement based on any knowledge of skin and skincare science? Most people are misled by ignorant so-called beauty "experts" to believe that cosmetic products do not get absorbed by the skin. This is in contrast to a huge body of scientific evidence, comprising entire textbooks and thousands of research papers written on the subjects of dermal/cutaneous and transdermal/transcutaneous absorption…
EGCG from green tea: one of the most important anti-cellulite cream active ingredients
Green tea is widely researched for it lipolytic, skin firming, microcirculation-boosting, ani-inflammatory, anti-glycation, antifibrotic and antioxidant action, i.e. it directly acts on all seven aspects of cellulite. The health benefits of green tea are due to its polyphenol content, especially EGCG. EGCG, or EpiGalloCatechin Gallate, is the most important active molecule in the green tea plant (camellia sinensis) and it is widely researched with literally thousands of studies.
Centella asiatica / gotu kola: how it works for cellulite and other skin conditions
Centella asiatica (gotu kola) is one of the most important herbs for skincare and skin diseases, due to its multifunctional action. This review summarises the main modes of action of gotu kola on multiple aesthetic and medical skin conditions: acne, acne scars, burns, atopic dermatitis, vitiligo, fibrosis, hair loss and cellulite…
Cellulite vs stretch marks: differences and similarities
Cellulite and stretch marks: differences and similarities. As many women instinctively know, cellulite and stretch marks are intimately connected. There are similarities, described below, and there are differences, the main one being that cellulite also involves adipose tissue, which complicates things further…
The best cellulite treatment at home, with anti-cellulite massage, a real cellulite cream and 100+ lifestyle tips
Coffee, lipolysis, weight loss, fat reduction and cellulite
All you ever wanted to know about caffeine, weight loss, fat reduction and cellulite. If caffeine is lipolytic, why doesn't coffee help me lose weight? How do caffeine creams help with local fat loss and cellulite? Why does caffeine cause cellulite? Get the facts, not the hype with our detailed guide based on science.
What is the best cellulite treatment? [2025 edition]
![What is the best cellulite treatment? [2025 edition]](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5294cad9e4b009e918124a61/1641138005146-91SMZXJURXP3XNB5657E/shutterstock_1603693762.jpg)
A list of the most effective cellulite treatments - in real life, not in the virtual reality of social media
As most women know by experience, most cellulite treatments simply do not work. And when we say they don't work, we mean that they either do not work at all or that they offer so poor results that you would need 20, 30 or 50 sessions to be happy with the results. Here we will review the best treatments, according to effectiveness (more effective treatments are presented first, ineffective treatments are presented last)…
Do cellulite creams work independently of cellulite treatments?
Cellulite creams and cellulite treatments work on slightly different aspects of cellulite with some differences and some overlaps. In fact, cellulite creams can do things that cellulite treatments can’t. On the other hand, treatments work faster than creams. Cellulite treatments, for example, cannot act on free radical damage, glycation or inflammation. On the other hand, a good cellulite cream (I know, they are very rare, but they do exist) will…
Hydroxyproline: the ultimate skin firming cream ingredient
Collagen is a protein that contains higher amounts of proline, glycine and hydroxyproline than other body proteins. Hydroxyproline, specifically, is only found in collagen in the body - nowhere else and it is THE most important aminoacid in that protein. Studies have shown that a hydroxyproline peptide stimulates collagen I and III synthesis, as well as elastin synthesis. In addition it inhibits collagen breakdown…
Guarana, caffeine and cellulite
Guarana (Paullinia cupana) is a South American plant whose seeds, the side of coffee beans, contain caffeine. The concentration of caffeine is twice that of coffee beans. Drinks made with the seeds are popular in Brazil. Many commercial “energy drinks” contain guarana. These drinks are no different to drinks containing caffeine from. coffee beans…
Are the benefits of a cellulite cream from the product itself or the skin massage involved in applying it?
Is it the cellulite cream that works or the massaging action by which the cream is applied? This is the natural evolution of “creams don’t get absorbed” idea. If creams do not get absorbed and yet people are happy with them, that means that something else works, other than the cream. And what else can that be than massaging the cream into the skin? Makes sense, right? Well, let’s look at the facts…
Cellulite creams: should emphasis be on water retention, fat reduction, skin firming of fibrosis?
The four main visual aspects of cellulite are hypodermal fat accumulation, water retention/puffiness, skin looseness and fibrosis. Hypodermal fat accumulation combined with fibrosis is what makes fat globules protrude from the skin surface. Fat pushes up and fibrotic collagen fibres push down, resulting in the mattress effect. Water retention makes cellulite more visible by increasing volume in the hypodermis and dermis. Likewise, loose skin makes it easier for the fat globules to push up…
Why cocoa flavanols comprise one of the most important anti-cellulite cream actives
Cocoa flavanols are widely researched for their microcirculation enhancing, collagen protecting, antioxidant, elastin synthesis stimulating and adipose tissue anti-inflammatory action. Cocoa flavanols act directly on four aspects of cellulite. Due to these qualities, cocoa flavanols (purified cocoa extract) is one of the most important skincare actives today for anti-aging, stretch marks, post-liposuction aftercare and anti-cellulite creams…
The ‘flavo diet’: flavonoids, skin anti-ageing and cellulite
Most women, and an increasing number of men, use anti-ageing skin products to stay young and fight the signs of ageing. In addition, an increasing number of consumers also use nutri-cosmetics, i.e. nutritional supplements that are specifically geared to protecting skin from within. In this article we examine a class of natural compounds that can boost skin health and beauty from both within and outside.
For a cellulite cream to work, you have to use it (sounds obvious, right?)
Indeed most cellulite creams do not work. Most cellulite creams are diluted junk, with little or no active anti-cellulite ingredients in them and are designed, manufactured and marketed for one reason: maximum profit. So even if you apply them religiously they do not have a chance in hell to work. Most people do not change their habits that initially led to the creation of cellulite and expect the cellulite cream to do all the work. Again, under these circumstances, even if you apply your cream religiously it will not work. And many people only use their cellulite cream from time to time. No skincare product, cellulite cream or not, will ever work if you don’t apply it…
The perfect cellulite reduction plan (when money or time is not an issue)
Here is the IDEAL cellulite removal plan, without any cut corners or compromises, i.e. where the usual time and money constraints are not issue. Most people only have two weeks left before their holidays to do something about cellulite, a limited budget (fair enough), limited time to receive treatments or to apply creams and no intention, energy or time to follow an exercise / healthy nutrition regime. But for those who have the time, money and energy, this is the best possible plan, without gimmicks or compromises.
Why gotu kola (centella asiatica) is the ultimate cellulite cream active
After 20 years in anti-cellulite cream formulating, if I had to choose one anti-cellulite active ingredient that would be high-purity centella asiatica extract, i.e. one that contains 95%+ Asiatic Acid, Madecassic Acid, Asiaticoside and, if possible, Madecassoside. These four triterpenes are the active molecules that give gotu kola / centella asiatica its anti-cellulite (and anti-ageing) properties and are extensively researched for multi-functional action against all seven aspects of cellulite: skin laxity, water retention, fat accumulation, glycation, oxidative damage, inflammation and fibrosis…