Don't Like The Look Of Stretch Marks, Cellulite And Sagging Skin? Try A Body Firming Oil Or Lotion

Cause and effect

There are many factors that can lead to skin issues like loose and saggy skin, stretch marks and cellulite. While ageing causes slower production of collagen—a fibrous protein that supports your skin—which leads to sagging and wrinkles, rapid weight loss can also take a toll on your skin, making it look run out.

Common during pregnancy, stretch marks can also be caused by excessive weight gain or loss, or in some cases, due to an adrenal gland disorder, which leads to over-production of cortisol hormone. Cellulite, on the other hand, is a fairly common and harmless skin condition in which the flesh on the thighs, hips, buttocks and abdomen starts looking lumpy and dimpled.

How to tackle it

While there’s no substitute for exercise to tone your body, firming creams, lotions and oils can work as supplements (in combination with your workout routine and a balanced diet) to help you get better results.

These creams and oils work on the basic premise of moisturizing the skin from within, because a skin that’s hydrated invariably looks plumper and firmer. Most of them come with active ingredients to tackle specific issues that can help your skin appear smoother and healthier. Ingredients such as caffeine, antioxidants, vitamin A, vitamin E, coconut oil, sesame oil, almond oil, calendula oil, lavender, rosemary and chamomile oils are all known to nourish and improve the appearance of your skin.

“Firming creams are best at preventing sagging or may give modest improvements in sagging skin when used alone,” dermatologist Joshua Zeichner, director of cosmetic and clinical research in dermatology at Mount Sinai Hospital in NYC, tells Marie Claire.

For best results

Whether you’re using a cream or oil, the most important thing is to be consistent. You can’t expect a product to miraculously change the way your skin looks in one application. Be diligent and make it a part of your everyday skincare routine.

If you’re using oil, massage it all over your body or the problem area with firm upward strokes followed by circular motions. Massage the oil for at least 10 to 15 minutes to allow your body to absorb it before you shower. If you’re using a cream or a lotion, massage it into the skin using circular motions, concentrating on scars, stretch marks and sagging skin areas until it’s completely absorbed.