Essential Oils
Best Essential Oils for Cellulite
Aug
All About Cellulite
Before we can understand essential oil treatments for cellulite, it is important to recognize what cellulite is. Lumpy skin around the thighs and hips, called cellulite, occurs when skin attached to deep connective tissue is pulled down.
When there is fat beneath the skin, this creates an uneven texture on the surface of this skin. Because fat deposits are common in the area around the thighs and hips of women, this condition predominately affects women.
But what exactly causes cellulite? And is it dangerous?
Cellulite may be more likely due to genetics, hormonal signals, and the amount of body fat near your thighs, but cellulite can affect people of many different shapes, sizes, and ages.
In fact, most women experience some degree of cellulite after reaching puberty, as fat stores are directed towards the hips and thighs. Some reports estimate that nearly 85% of women experience cellulite. But, if you are inactive, aging, or gaining weight, cellulite may become more pronounced.
Fortunately, cellulite does not pose any danger to your health. Cellulite is a very common skin condition, and treatment is pursued for cosmetic reasons.
What are common treatments?
Many topical treatments, ranging from caffeine creams and retinol creams are used to reduce the appearance of cellulite. Unfortunately, these products can be awfully expensive, are not long lasting, and can increase sensitivity, redness, and dryness to the skin.
Essential oils offer a natural alternative to expensive lotions and creams. The real difference, however, between these creams and essential oils is the results. While retinol creams and caffeine cream may reduce the appearance of cellulite, they are not effective at actually treating cellulite.
Essential oils, on the other hand can specifically treat the inflammation and drainage issues that result in excessive cellulite. Thus, the regular use of essential oils, massages, exercise, proper nutrition, and water intake can reduce the appearance temporarily and treat the condition long-term.
Essential Oils for Cellulite
Essential oils are extracted from plants. They harness the natural properties of plants, which is why they have been in use since 4500 BC! Even in modern medicine, 74% of medications are derived from plants, proving that essential oils have a strong place in the effective treatment of many conditions.
When essential oils are kept natural, organic, kosher, and vegan, they are a remarkably effective treatment for all sorts of ailments.
In the treatment of skin conditions alone, dermatologists recommend the use of more than 90 different essential oils! This makes it difficult to decide which essential oils are best for cellulite, so we have gone ahead and compiled a list of the absolute best.
Top Essential Oils for Cellulite
Every essential oil out there has powerful properties specific to the plant it is derived from. This makes choosing the best one for your needs important. The list below includes the best essential oils for cellulite, the reasons why they work, and the dilution rate for each oil.
Lemon Essential Oil
Lemon essential oil is a powerhouse of skincare. It is well regarded for stimulating lymphatic drainage, detoxifying skin, and for its antiseptic properties. It can be used to treat a wide range of conditions, including foot fungus, ulcers, cuts, and, of course, cellulite. In particular, the lymphatic drainage quality of lemon essential oil makes it particularly well-suited to treating cellulite.
In addition, lemon essential oil is highly regarded for its health benefit of reducing blood pressure and stimulating healthy digestion. The use of this oil can result in unexpected additional positive health benefits.
Recommended Concentration for Dry Brushing and Massage: when using any essential oil, it is important to properly dilute it. Essential oils are incredibly potent and can cause irritation when used without a carrier oil. For lemon essential oil, make sure that your dilution is 1% or less.
When measuring, use 1 teaspoon of a carrier oil for every 1 drop of lemon essential oil. Choose a neutral scented carrier oil, such as organic coconut oil, avocado oil, jojoba oil, extra virgin olive oil, almond oil, an unscented lotion, or shea butter.
Juniper Berry Essential Oil
Juniper has been used in skin condition treatments so successfully that it is bowed to in a show of respect in some European communities. With its anti-inflammatory and stimulating properties, it has long been used in the treatment of scarring and uneven skin conditions, including cellulite.
Recommended Concentration for Dry Brushing and Massage: For juniper berry oil, make sure that your dilution is 2% or less. When measuring, use 1 teaspoon of a carrier oil for every 2 drops of juniper berry essential oil. Choose a neutral scented carrier oil, such as organic coconut oil, avocado oil, jojoba oil, extra virgin olive oil, almond oil, an unscented lotion, or shea butter.
Lavender Essential Oil
Lavender essential oil is a favorite cellulite treatment for many. Lavender oil boosts the immune system and calms skin with its anti-inflammatory properties. As cellulite is worsened by inflammation, lavender essential oil works to directly treat it.
In addition, lavender is a powerful aromatherapeutic oil, which results in stress-reduction when inhaled. To increase the positive mental boost of lavender oil while using it to treat cellulite, make sure to practice deep, intentional breathing.
Recommended Concentration for Dry Brushing and Massage: For lavender oil, make sure that your dilution is 0.5% or less. When measuring, use 2 teaspoons of a carrier oil for every 1 drop of lavender essential oil. Choose a neutral scented carrier oil, such as organic coconut oil, avocado oil, jojoba oil, extra virgin olive oil, almond oil, an unscented lotion, or shea butter.
Cedarwood Essential Oil
The active ingredients of cedarwood essential oil are anti-inflammatory. It is also astringent, allowing it to improve blood circulation and tighten loose skin. Cedarwood may be particularly well-suited to you if your cellulite is caused by a high body fat percentage. The reason: individuals with a high percentage of body fat often have high blood pressure, where cedarwood essential oil can be a part of a healthy treatment.
Recommended Concentration for Dry Brushing and Massage: For cedarwood essential oil, make sure that your dilution is .05% or less. When measuring, use 2 teaspoons of a carrier oil for every 1 drop of cedarwood essential oil. Choose a neutral scented carrier oil, such as organic coconut oil, avocado oil, jojoba oil, extra virgin olive oil, almond oil, an unscented lotion, or shea butter.
Palmarosa Essential Oil (Indian Geranium)
Palmarosa has high levels of antioxidants that reduce the appearance and onset of skin aging. As cellulite develops during aging, Palmarosa may be an effective preventative treatment before the onset of cellulite.
Additionally, Palmarosa essential oil firms the appearance of skin, hydrates the skin, and relieves psychological conditions, such as anxiety.
Due to the societal demands of skin perfection, cellulite can cause individuals severe anxiety, which Palmarosa can treat as well. For individuals looking for one essential oil to treat-it-all, this might be the one for them. Palmarosa is also regarded as safe for use in households with dogs and cats and is safe for children over the age of 2.
Recommended Concentration for Dry Brushing and Massage: For Palmarosa essential oil, make sure that your dilution is .05% or less. When measuring, use 2 teaspoons of a carrier oil for every 1 drop of Palmarosa essential oil.
Even if you eventually want to use a higher concentration of the oil, it is important to start with a low concentration to make sure you do not have an adverse skin reaction. Choose a neutral scented carrier oil, such as organic coconut oil, avocado oil, jojoba oil, extra virgin olive oil, almond oil, an unscented lotion, or shea butter.
Eucalyptus Essential Oil
Eucalyptus oil can also be an appropriate treatment for cellulite. It reduces skin inflammation, increases hydration, and it increases blood circulation. This helps reduce puffiness of cellulite, smooth skin complexion, and break down fat pockets occurring on top of deep connective tissue. It also strengthens the immune system and fights against symptoms of the flu and cold, making it a great treatment option during the winter months.
Recommended Concentration for Dry Brushing and Massage: For eucalyptus essential oil, make sure that your dilution is .05% or less. When measuring, use 2 teaspoons of a carrier oil for every 1 drop of eucalyptus essential oil. Choose a neutral scented carrier oil, such as organic coconut oil, avocado oil, jojoba oil, extra virgin olive oil, almond oil, an unscented lotion, or shea butter.
Clove Bud Essential Oil
Clove bud oil is a stimulant that improves blood circulation. It also improves the immune system, reduces stress, and works as an antiseptic and anti-microbial skin treatment.
Recommended Concentration for Dry Brushing and Massage: For clove bud essential oil, make sure that your dilution is .05% or less. When measuring, use 2 teaspoons of a carrier oil for every 1 drop of clove bud oil. Choose a neutral scented carrier oil, such as organic coconut oil, avocado oil, jojoba oil, extra virgin olive oil, almond oil, an unscented lotion, or shea butter.
If you are having trouble deciding which of these essential oils are best for you, then you are in luck. Below, we will detail how to blend essential oils for your specialized cellulite treatment. We will also go over how to use these essential oils properly.
3 Essential Oil Blend Recipes
As you now know, each essential oil has unique properties that make it effective at treating cellulite. Fortunately, blending complementary essential oils is an easy way to harness more benefits than a single oil can provide.
Blend 1: Rosemary, Juniper Berry, and Cedarwood Essential Oils
You can use these essential oils as a combination for powerful results. Juniper berry’s anti-inflammatory and stimulatory properties, cedarwood’s astringent properties, and rosemary’s antiseptic and lymphatic draining properties make this blend an active part of cellulite treatment and prevention. All three are anti-inflammatory and target the root causes of cellulite.
To make your own blend, apply one drop of each essential oil to 6 teaspoons of a neutral carrier oil. This oil can be used effectively for both massage and dry brushing.
Blend 2: Vivorific Energy Essential Oil
This is a pre-made essential oil blend that you can order from Vivorific. It is an ideal option if you’re looking for all of the benefits of an essential oil blend without needing to purchase multiple separate oils. This blend contains lemon peel, rosemary, eucalyptus, and peppermint essential oils. As it contains many of the single oils that effectively treat cellulite, it is a safe way to target cellulite. In addition, you will find that this blend reduces stress, supports adrenal health, and reduces both fatigue and insomnia. It makes a great cost-conscious purchase.
To apply the Vivorific Energy blend topically, simply use 1 drop of the blend for every 19 drops of a carrier oil. The diluted oil can then be used for either a cellulite massage or for dry brushing.
Blend 3: Vivorific Health Mental Clarity Blend
This is another pre-made essential oil blend offered by Vivorific. This one is made from a combination of lemon, basil, bergamot, and grapefruit essential oils. This is a great essential oil blend for cellulite treatment because it contains both lemon and grapefruit essential oils. The benefits of lemon are discussed above. Grapefruit essential oil is very impressive because it contains the enzyme bromelain. This particular enzyme is known for its inflammation-reducing properties that help to break down fatty buildups that cause cellulite.
Like blend 2, this blend works best topically using 1 drop of the blend for every 19 drops of a carrier oil.How To Use Essential Oils for Cellulite
There are three different methods that can be used as standalone or combination cellulite treatment: dry brushing, massage, and soaks. Look above at the specific essential oil you are going to use to get suggestions on safe concentrations for both dry brushing and massaging.
Cellulite Massage
After referring to the appropriate dilution of your essential oil above, you can massage diluted essential oil directly onto the skin. You can use the anti-cellulite massage strategy (below) to further increase circulation, increase drainage and reduce the appearance of cellulite.
Anti-cellulite massage: apply a dime-sized amount of the essential oil blend to your hands. Then, starting at the hips, massage in a circular method down the thigh. Next, closing your hands (make a fist), use your knuckles to knead with an even, firm pressure from just above the knee to the hip. After a few minutes, move to the other leg.
This method of using circular motion and firm pressure can also be performed successfully wherever cellulite occurs. Most frequently, this is in the buttock or stomach area. It can be repeated daily.
Dry Brushing
Dry brushing is actually considered a form of massage that uses a brush instead of a hand. However, it exfoliates the skin better than a massage by hand. As a result, skin is left looking healthier because dead skin is removed, and circulation is improved.
Dry brushing can be an effective standalone way to reduce the appearance of cellulite. When it is used in combination with essential oils, this treatment is a no-brainer. Before you begin, make sure that you use a brush made from natural fibers, wash the brush, and allow it to dry completely. You also want to be sure that the brush is easy to hold in your hand. If you will be using it in hard-to-reach areas, you will want to be sure that the handle is long enough to reach them comfortably.
When you are ready to brush, prepare your diluted essential oil (refer above for dilution rates) to the brush. Then, make sure to brush in an upward, circular fashion. If there are areas where you have any open wounds or injuries, you will need to avoid them, as dry brushing can be too vigorous for them.
Dry brushing can be done up to three times per week. However, if you have sensitive skin or conditions such as eczema, you may want to hold back to 1-2 times per week. Additionally, it can be tempting to brush too vigorously. Remember to maintain a firm pressure but brushing too hard could cause more harm than good.
Soothing Bath Water
As you fill your tub with warm water, you can apply six drops of your preferred essential oil, along with a teaspoon or two of a neutral oil. Adding the oil to the faucet while filling the tub will ensure adequate dispersal of the oil throughout the bath. While bathing, rub floating oil droplets into the skin.
After bathing, be sure to drink plenty of water, and apply either unscented lotion or a diluted essential oil to the skin to maintain skin hydration.
Using All Three
If you want to pursue treating your cellulite with all three methods, just remember to follow this order. First, dry brush, then take an essential oil bath, and then follow it up with an essential oil hand massage. It’s important to remind you that the hand massage can be done daily, but it is best to limit the dry brushing to 1-3 times per week.
For the best benefits, make sure to drink plenty of water. During any massage or dry brushing session, remember to breath deeply to reduce tension, and sip water frequently. Additionally, a healthy diet and lifestyle will enhance results.
You May Also Like
