Hot summer months are fast approaching. And with that, all things skin care. I recently started showing some patches of cellulite so I started looking at the best essential oils for cellulite. In the process, I created this essential oils recipe to share with you!
In my DIY home, I always blend my own body lotions and essential oil recipes. I love varying the essential oils I choose per season, and always having a fresh product to put on my skin.
In this article, I will list the best essential oils for cellulite and why they work. I will also address oils that work for cellulite and weight loss combined.
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You can bring balance to your skin with this DIY essential oils body cream recipe for cellulite.
What is Cellulite?
Cellulite is a serious cosmetic condition affecting over 90% of women. Adult females are particularly often affected (1). It typically appears on the stomach, hips, breasts, thighs, and buttocks.
The symptoms include (2):
- Dimpled or bumpy skin.
- The skin has a texture such as orange peel or cottage cheese.
- Affected areas on the body appear scruffy and grubby with peaks and valleys.
Cellulite is a result of our skin’s cells and connective tissues undergoing changes. Most often, significant weight changes contribute to cellulite.
Cellulite often appears on thighs, stomach, hips and buttocks.
Pregnant women also undergo drastic changes to their skin and body. These ladies often suffer cellulite and stretch marks as a result.
Sometimes, the age of the patient is the deciding factor. As a person gets older, the skin loses elasticity and becomes thinner.
The change in skin cells and tissues happens gradually. Thus, a patient may encounter different degrees of cellulite at different times. It is important to categorize them and treat them early to ensure effective results.
If you have major concerns about your cellulite, please consult your medical professional or family doctor. The following are simple natural home remedies for cellulite. They are not to replace medical treatment.
5 Best Essential Oils for Cellulite
If you’re finding yourself in the unfortunate situation of cellulite on your body, here are the best essential oils you can reach for:
Cedarwood essential oil
Cedarwood Atlas
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Cedarwood oil contains beta-cedrene, thujopsene, and cedrol. The oil has caustic and diuretic properties that make it work against inflammations leading to the appearance of cellulite on the skin (3).
Geranium essential oil
Geranium Oil
Get it here
This essential oil contains limonene, linalool, citronellal, geranyl butyrate, myrcene, a-pinene, and menthone. The combination of these ingredients can assist to remove the accumulation of fluid in body cells and tissues. Moreover, geranium oil balances the hormones and reduces inflammation. Use this essential oil for radiant and beautiful skin in the summer months!
Grapefruit essential oil
Grapefuit essential oil 10 ml
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Grapefruit essential oil is useful for managing food cravings and weight gain. In 2010, a study found that grapefruit oil may help reduce the growth and development of fatty cells and tissues in the body, thereby eliminating the appearance of cellulite (4).
Lemongrass Essential Oil
Lemongrass oil has the potential to increase blood circulation. It helps to prevent the appearance of cellulite and maintain your natural complexion during the warmth of summer.
Lavender Essential Oil
Organic Lemongrass Essential Oil
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Lavender essential oil has calming and rejuvenating properties. It can help soothe the pains associated with cellulite and other skin problems. Further, this oil can enhance the growth of new cells in the body, and ease minor pains and discomforts.
DIY Cellulite Cream Recipe
Now you know which essential oils can help with cellulite! Let’s combine them in an easy-to-apply cellulite cream. Here is how to make your very own cellulite body cream with essential oils.
Homemade body cream for cellulite
I formulated this recipe for summer. It is light and airy to apply, and doesn’t thicken up. If the area you live in tends to get extremely hot, the cream may turn even more liquid. Don’t fret – this is totally okay! The ingredients still all work the same, whether liquid or semi-solid. Place it into your refrigerator for a few hours to get it to harden up.
Ingredients You Need
- 1/2 cup Coconut Oil (solid)
- 1/4 cup Grape Seed Oil
- 1 tbsp Beeswax Pastilles
- 14 drops Grapefruit Essential Oil
- 8 drops Geranium Essential Oil
- 4 drops Lemongrass Essential Oil
- 6 drops Lavender Essential Oil
- 4 drops Cedarwood Essential Oil
- A small glass jar (2 oz)
- Double boiler
This recipe uses a 2% dilution rate. If you are pregnant or nursing, use a 1% dilution rate. This means, use the same amount of base oils (coconut, grape seed, beeswax), but half the number of drops of essential oils. The oils themselves are safe for pregnancy, but you want to use a reduced dilution rate for pregnancy (5).
Substitutions
If you happen to be out of a few ingredients as you read this cellulite cream recipe, here are some suggestions for substitutions:
- Instead of grapeseed oil, use sweet almond oil or argan oil.
- Instead of lemongrass, use juniper essential oil.
- Instead of cedarwood, use sandalwood essential oil.
How to Make this Recipe
- Use a double boiler to melt the solid ingredients.
- Once you have the coconut oil and beeswax pastilles in a liquid format, remove from heat.
- Add grape seed oil and stir well.
- Add essential oils.
- Stir well.
- Pour into small container before the mixture solidifies again.
- Store in fridge to keep the consistency, and for that extra refreshing feel when you apply.
As you apply, gently give yourself a cellulite massage. Work the cream into the affected areas in circular motions in clockwise direction.
Double Boiler Options
How to create a double boiler with minimal extra tools is a great question!
The first and easiest way would be with some water in a small pan and a slightly larger glass or aluminum bowl over top. Like so:
Melt your solid ingredients in a double boiler.
If you make a lot of DIY recipes, this handy double boiler container from Amazon might make sense. I have it and use it for all my DIY recipe making. It has a handy spout to the side which makes pouring super easy and mess-free (especially when it comes to pouring things like lip balm into small tube containers!).
A handy double boiler accessory to melt solid DIY ingredients like coconut oil.
A third and last option to melt your solid coconut oil ingredient is: place it in a small glass mason jar, and surround that with water.
Heat water gently over medium heat and watch the coconut oil dissolve.
This method is the slowest, but it creates the least waste. Your ingredients are already in their final container, which means there is no pouring, scraping, or scooping your recipe into its final container. The minimal waste is definitely a plus, so I still use this method quite often.
Place your ingredients into the mason jar, which you’ll place right into the hot water in your pot.
The Skin’s Natural Renewal Cycle
The skin is one organ in the body with the capacity for self-renewal. In every human being, the skin has natural renewal cycles that can happen up to a thousand times in a person’s lifetime (6). In adults between the ages of 50+, the skin renews itself every 84 days. In other adults, it takes only about 28 to 42 days for the skin’s self-renewal process. In teenagers, this number further shortens to about 28 days. Moreover, babies experience the renewal of their skin every 14 days.
The living cells from the lowest layer of the epidermis come up gradually to the upper part and this is a repetitive process in humans. The cells of the upper skin die and shed off to bring out a more radiant and younger skin growing underneath.
The average adult’s skin takes about 28 to 42 days to fully renew. Support your skin during this time frame with your essential oil lotion for best results.
Also, due to a person’s age, the renewal process may take longer causing an accumulation of dead skin cells on the body. This makes your skin appear rough and the complexion dull. But, essential oils can help nourish, smooth, and protect your new skin, especially during summer months when the weather is hot and difficult.
A simple application of your choice essential oils can help rejuvenate your skin and let it radiate with beauty in the warmth of the summer.
Essential Oils for Weight Loss and Cellulite
If you are fighting cellulite as part of weight gain, some essential oils can help you to lose weight. A reduction in weight can also reduce the appearance of cellulite on your body. Substitute the essential oils in the recipe above with oils targeted more at weight loss. Alternately, apply the essential oils to your body after diluting them in some liquid carrier oil.
For example, Lemon essential oil can help minimize your cravings or appetite for food. It can also increase your energy for exercise.
If you are applying essential oils towards weight loss and cellulite, please know that results are not immediate. These natural remedies take time. Continue applying the oils for 3-4 weeks until you make your judgment call.
Cellulite Home Remedies
In addition to using essential oils, you can try the following home remedies to help reduce cellulite:
- Dry brushing. Before each shower, brush your body with a soft-bristled brush and long strokes that always move towards the heart. This means, brush up your legs, and up your arms, to help the blood circulation towards your heart.
- Natural foods. Eat healthy fruits & vegetables with plenty of vitamins and minerals to help tighten skin and reduce water retention.
Cellulite Natural Formula
H-Cellulite oil
Shop Here
Bring out the shorts and bathing suits, it’s officially summer! For some, the summer wardrobe can bring out insecurities about cellulite. Enter H-Cellulite, which nourishes, moisturizes, and improves skin elasticity.
Final Thoughts
Cellulite isn’t a comfortable condition, I can speak from experience.
A publication (7) titled “Commercial Essential Oils as Potential Antimicrobials to Treat Skin Diseases”, listed some essential oils that can help remove cellulite. I have used these well-researched oils in my DIY anti cellulite body cream recipe.
Natural help such as using essential oils is a non-intrusive, healthy, and non-toxic way to treat your skin. For best results, please create your DIY recipes with high quality essential oils.
I wish you much success in reducing the appearance of cellulite with essential oils!
References
- An Integral Topical for cellulite Reduction: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3933246/
- Cellulite Symptoms & Causes: MayoClinic.Org
- Inhibitory effects of cedrol: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25343299/
- Grapefruit oil: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20143292
- 1% Dilution Rate for Pregnancy: https://www.mother.ly/lifestyle/5-rules-using-essential-oils-safely-pregnancy
- Epidermis and its Renewal by Stem Cells: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK26865/
- Evidenced Based Complement, Alternative Medicine: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5435909/table/tab1/
Jenny
Could you add DIM powder to this as well?
Emma Carter
Hi Jenny, thank you for your question. I apologize I am not familiar with DIM powder at all.