Hey everyone! It’s the middle of summer- hooray for my fave season of the year! But… it’s also swimsuit season, and as much as I love swimming and the beach, a tiny part of me hates putting on swimwear!
I eat healthy, lift weights, run, and do yoga. Yet I still have cellulite… SO frustrating! Unfortunately, most women, no matter how fit, tend to have some sort of cellulite issue. Our skin structure is different from men’s, so it’s more common for us to deal with the pesky ripples.
While I have yet to find a permanent solution that actually changes skin structure, I’ve often used caffeine products to temporarily reduce the appearance of cellulite. Spa procedures and cupping can also help, especially when used in conjunction with caffeine creams. One issue that I haven’t been able to resolve is a “dent” on the side of my thigh. It’s like a divot that no cream or procedure has been able to reduce.
So, when Jan Marini, a brand I already trust and love, released a new cellulite cream, I was SO excited to have the opportunity to try it out! CelluliTx is not just a caffeine cream- it has a host of great, high quality ingredients that all work together to reduce the appearance of cellulite.
Sacred lotus flower extract, along with ingredients such as aminophylline and glaucine, have been shown to help reduce inflammation and enhance the fiber structures in the skin. For example, research has shown improved elasticity and tone, along with a firmer, more lifted appearance (Saxena, Duque & Schirripa, 2015).
And of course, I have to mention retinol, as retinoids are some of the most researched and proven ingredients in skincare. Retinol helps increase collagen production, improving skin structure and hiding the appearance of wrinkles and dimpling (Mukherjee, Date, Patravale, Korting, Roeder & Weindl, 2006).
CG Lipoxyn, or Tripeptide-41, is a biomimetic molecule that has been shown to increase lipolysis, which is the breakdown of fat (Treacy, 2014). Acetyl decapeptide-3 is shown to strengthen skin elasticity by encouraging collagen and elastin synthesis (Caregen, 2018).
Despite being a “hot” spice, it has been demonstrated that capsaicin actually has an anti-inflammatory effect and helps increases blood flow (Bell, 2012). Mustard sprout extract is not only shown to increase firmness, but enhances circulation, thereby reducing water retention (Schmid, Sacher, Belser & Zulli, 2011). And finally, caffeine topically stimulates the skin and increases circulation. It also acts as an antioxidant, and has an effect on reducing the appearance of wrinkling (Binic, Lazarevic, Ljubenovic, Mojsa & Sokolovic, 2013). So, with such a fantastic formula, I couldn’t wait to get this stuff on my thighs!
Jan Marini has also made cellulite a bit easier to understand. Connective fibers lose elasticity and create fixed anchors to underlying tissue. Encapsulated fat pockets push up on the surface of the skin. Fat cells can become engorged due to decreased circulation, while water retention and inflammation increase upward pressure (Jan Marini Skin Research, 2018). There’s a helpful graphic on their site, just click here to see it.
As with all the other Jan Marini products I’ve tried, the packaging is simple and sleek, and looks lux on my counter. The CelluliTx is housed in a convenient squeeze tube, so it’s easy to dispense, and safe from degradation by air and light.
Before
Before
The instructions say to use sparingly once a day for a week, then increase to twice a day if tolerable. If irritation occurs, decrease the amount used. Btw, as it contains a retinoid, be sure to use sunscreen when you go out if the area is uncovered!
I had no problems with irritation the first day, so I actually started applying twice daily right away. The lotion doesn’t really have a discernible scent, it absorbs very easily, and it’s not greasy or anything. I was able to go to bed right after applying, and in the mornings I could get dressed right away without ruining any sheets or clothes.
I trust Jan Marini as a brand, and their formulas are top-notch, so I was pretty sure I’d see at least a small difference. What I was NOT prepared for, though, was how drastic this difference actually was! After nearly four weeks, that dent I mentioned earlier was all but GONE. I honestly did not expect any kind of treatment to work this well.
After
After
The only negative is that CelluliTx is a bit pricey at $130.00 for 4 ounces, but the instructions say to apply sparingly, which I did. With so little product needed to see results, the tube will last a long time- my tube still feels almost full. Plus, you don’t even need to see a doctor to get it- so no office visit fees, etc., and it costs less than a single spa treatment. So, it actually ends up being a good value.
If you have any areas you’d like to improve for bikini season (or if you’re like me, for every season…lol), you should seriously try out Jan Marini CelluliTx, available at JanMarini.com, more info at cellulitx.com. Happy summer!
Sources:
Bell, N. (2012). Spotlight on: Capsaicin. FutureDerm, August 15, 2012. Retrieved July 25, 2015, from www.futurederm.com.
Binic, I., Lazarevic, V., Ljubenovic, M., Mojsa, J. & Sokolovic, D. (2013). Skin ageing: natural weapons and strategies. Evidence-based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, v.2013. Retrieved July 25, 2018, from www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov.
Caregen (2018). Biomimetic peptides. Rejuline. Retrieved July 25, 2018, from www.caregen.co.kr.
Mukherjee, S., Date, A., Patravale, V., Korting, H., Roeder, A. & Weindl, G. (2006). Retinoids in the treatment of skin aging: an overview of clinical efficacy and safety. Clinical Interventions in Aging, 1(4). Retrived July 23, 2018, from www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov.
Saxena, S., Duque, D. & Schirripa, M. (2015). Assessment of a comprehensive anti-aging neck cream. Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 14(9). Retrieved July 23, 2018, from www.jddonline.com.
Schmid, D., Sacher, R., Belser, E. & Zulli, F. (2011). Vegetable sprouts: a potent source for cosmetic actives. Household and Personal Care Today, March, 2011. Retrieved July 25, 2018, from www.mibellebiochemistry.com.
Treacy, P. (2014). Lecture on biomimetic molecules and their application to cosmetic medicine. Health & Medicine, April 17, 2014. Retrieved July 24, 2018, from www.slideshare.net.
