Why do we do that to ourselves? When over 90% of women have cellulite, we’re just setting ourselves up for failure. And, we’re making the cellulite industry (yes, there is a cellulite industry) millions of dollars every year.


Cellulite-the problem-is an invention of the media and the industry it serves. We didn’t even consider cellulite to be an issue until a salon owner in the 1970’s started using the term to advertise her product which removed ‘those unsightly dimples and bumps’. Yep, it’s only been a ‘problem’ for 40 years. And it’s only been a term for a couple of decades before that–used to reference extreme cases.


Think about it. The ‘it’ girls pre-1960 were curvy. They had hourglass figures. I guarantee you they had cellulite. And, no one batted an eye. Why do we get so worked up about it now?


In short, because it’s everywhere. We see it on tabloids at the grocery store–’Which actress/model was spotted wearing a bikini with-heavenforbid-cellulite on her legs?’ When we visit our favorite websites, before and after photos pop out at us, asking us to buy the latest, the greatest cellulite treatment. Guaranteed to work.


And then, we turn to our mirrors. For 90% of us, our mirrors tell us that yes, we do indeed have cellulite. We don’t look into those mirrors and admire our bodies or praise ourselves for being so healthy. We obsess about this ‘flaw’ that we are destined to have. It’s ridiculously self-defeating.


What’s worse is that most of the websites you visit to learn more about cellulite will reinforce this insanity. They call it embarrassing and unsightly and lead us to believe there is something we’re doing wrong if we have cellulite. Oftentimes, they’ll give scientific explanations of what cellulite is, what causes it and how to prevent it. And then, they’ll try to sell you something.


It’s time for us to be more realistic about what cellulite really is, accept that it’s part of being a woman and stop setting ourselves up to fail. I’m not a scientist or a cellulite expert. This article is just the sense I’ve made from the mess, the mixed messages and the actual research I have found. I hope it will make you feel a little better about yourself when you look in the mirror.

What is Cellulite?

Put simply, cellulite is fat. But, you don’t have to be obese to have cellulite. Athletes, dancers, models and actresses all get cellulite. Super thin women get cellulite. Why? Because cellulite is different. Cellulite is fat that has pushed through the connective tissues meant to hold fat cells in place. Women are cursed with vertical connective tissue (men’s tissue is crisscrossed) which allows fat to sneak through much easier. As we get older and/or have more weight fluctuations, those connective tissues get stretched out. They’re not as elastic and more fat is able to sneak through the gaps. Thus, we have cellulite.


If women and men are built differently, we’d guess there’s a biological reason for getting cellulite, right? There is. The purpose of cellulite is to provide insulation, cushioning and temperature regulation. What’s more, it indicates you are receiving sufficient calories to carry a pregnancy full term. Most doctors and scientists (the ones who don’t work in the cellulite industry) have begun to think of cellulite as a characteristic developed in puberty–like breasts. It’s that inevitable.


So, basically, cellulite is spill-over fat that, in small amounts, shows you’re getting the nutrition you need.

Prevention and Treatment

We’re fed a lot of bologna about the latest cures for cellulite. Most of these ‘cures’ will start by telling you diet and exercise can prevent cellulite. Then, they tell you diet and exercise might not work for you. In extreme cases, you should use their cream or laser treatment. If we go by this logic, 90% of women are ‘extreme cases’.


It’s true diet and exercise will reduce the appearance of cellulite. But, chances are good (90% good) you’ll still have cellulite in some form. We all have fat in our bodies and it’s a good thing–there’s a purpose for it. And, in women, some of that fat makes it through our connective tissues, creating what we refer to as cellulite. Because it’s supposed to. An article from The New York Times put it best, “Curing cellulite requires nothing short of changing the structure of the skin.”


So, what do those creams do? Great question.


Remember the snake oil salesmen? The ones we see in old movies who travel from town to town selling you ointments guaranteed to cure baldness, prevent sadness and ensure world peace? Yeah, cellulite creams are pretty much the same thing. Modernized.


Cellulite creams can have a temporary effect on the appearance of cellulite because they irritate the skin. As the skin is irritated, it swells, camouflaging the dimpling. So, your cellulite never goes away. Your skin just swells to even out the bumps. Remember. Cellulite is a fat cell issue. Creams work on your epidermis. Two different things.


The same is true of lasers and massages. The results are also temporary and due to the swelling of the skin rather than any change of the actual cellulite. I read somewhere (don’t quote me on this) that Jennifer Aniston receives laser and massage treatments for her cellulite (she’s one of the only celebrities who doesn’t have a cellulite bathing suit photo floating around). Her treatments are twice a month, at $1,000 a pop. First of all, that’s a price most of us can’t pay. Second of all, that shows how temporary this treatment is. It’s something she has to have ‘touched up’ every 2 weeks. Really, she’s just paying them to irritate her skin so it swells and smooths.

Reality

So, the harsh reality of the matter is that you are most likely going to have cellulite. Should it be embarrassing? No. Should you consider it unsightly? Definitely not. (Almost) Everyone has it. Even the very thin.


The very best thing you can do to make your body appear healthy and its most beautiful is eat well, exercise often and build lean muscle through targeted resistance training (lifting weights, doing pilates, etc.).


Actually, the very best thing you can do–we can all do–is start changing your attitude when you look at yourself in the mirror. Instead of focusing on what the media has told you is unsightly, notice how healthy and beautiful you are. That should be your goal.


Photo Credit

Hair this Fall is all about extremes. Extremely short, extremely long, extremely dark, extremely blonde…
The most fashionable looks are those that have pushed the envelope. This is what happens during times of economic crisis; women show their style by relying on what they have. Bright makeup, extreme hair and DIY fashion (ripped jeans, restructured pieces) become trendy again because they are cheap and attention grabbing. We’ve seen this in our study of the bright, bold and repurposed runway shows.


That’s not to say you have to dye your hair pink and style it into a mohawk this season. However, if you’ve been considering an extreme hair cut, now is the time to be daring and go for it!

1. Pixie

The Pixie has been popular for a few seasons now. Victoria Beckham was the forerunner of this trend. She managed to pull off the look by over-styling and wearing with ultra-feminine clothes. Katie Holmes followed suit about a year after Posh, but didn’t style her do much at all, making her look boyish at times and middle-aged at others. As both Victoria Beckham and Katie Holmes have moved on to other styles, Rihanna has kept the look in season with her super chic do.
It’s not just Rihanna that has this look in vogue for the season. Posh and Katie basically introduced the style but it took a few seasons for it to become mainstream. This Fall, we’ll see many women, young and old, taking the plunge to try the Pixie. If you’re one of them, remember the trick is to over-style and wear feminine clothes.

2. Cropped Bob

Agyness Deyn made a huge impact last Fall when she stepped onto the Michael Kors runway with a bluntly cut cropped bob. Since then, we’ve seen derivations of the look including Paris Hilton’s messy cropped bob. Just to clarify, the cropped bob is not the same as a pob (Victoria Beckham’s hairstyle a few seasons ago). The cropped bob is much chunkier and is usually one length (right below the ears) with blunt shorter layers and bangs. Even Posh has grown her hair out to a very sleek version of a cropped bob.

3. Shoulder-Length Bob

Is the cropped bob a little too edgy for you? Or, maybe you’re growing out a pob from last year. The shoulder-length bob is a nice in-between haircut that also happens to be stylish. Though it’s not as extreme as the other styles here, it can be pushed to the extreme with a super dark or super light hair color. Heidi Klum, Gwyneth Paltrow and even Lauren Conrad have all shown how sophisticated this classic style can look. To wear this long bob, style it super straight and sleek or with flowing curls. Shoulder-length bobs are also nice because they are a great length for adding extensions.

4. Long

Long, flowing hair is the top hair trend this season. Unfortunately, this is a difficult style to attain if you cut your hair short for last year’s hair trends. Luckily, extensions have become quite mainstream. Quality extensions are now accessible and affordable for us regular women. Just take a cue from Katie and augment what you have.
If your hair grows fast or you already have long hair, you’re in luck. Style your long hair with retro waves, loose beach waves or smooth and sleek.

What about bangs?

As you can tell from the images above, bangs are still in this season. For more information about different bang types, read my article that outlines the top bang styles for 2009.

Thoughts?

Personally, I like the pixie and the cropped bob but they’re just not my style. My current hair cut is a shoulder-length bob that I’m growing out to a long hairstyle. Unfortunately, my hair isn’t growing as quickly as I’d like. Might be the season to try extensions!


What will you do with your hair this Fall? Will you go for a daring new cut like the pixie? Or, will you aim for the extreme lengths of the long hairstyles?


In the coming weeks, I’ll also be posting the top hair color trends and hairstyles for Fall 2009.

About e.l.f.

e.l.f. claims to use the same formulations as name brand cosmetics, but they keep their overhead down by advertising mostly online and using very little packaging. The products are ‘designed to improve and accentuate the individual–not hide her away’.
The company was started in 2004 by Scott-Vincent Borba, a beauty professional who also create Borba nutraceuticals–an inner-skincare line.

Reviews

I’ve scoured sites for e.l.f. reviews. The consensus seems to be favorable. Some people complain about shipping, but others say shipping issues have been taken care of and are no longer an issue (the company is only 5 years old). The biggest complaint I’ve read has been about their eyeshadows being crumbly and powdery. This makes sense if you’ve read my best drugstore makeup post. Most inexpensive makeup lines use high amounts of talc as a filler in their powder makeups. The most favorable reviews were for eyeliners, mascaras and lip glosses.

My Take

I would try any of the products that are not powder. The blush and bronzer sticks look promising as do the eyeliners, mascaras and lip products. The brush descriptions do not list what the brushes are made from, so I’m guessing they’re all synthetic. With that in mind, I’d try any brush that I’d use for liquid makeup: concealer or foundation. I’d also try their makeup cases since they’re so affordable.
Yes: eyeliner, mascara, cream blush, cream bronzer, lipstick, lipgloss, concealer brush, foundation brush, makeup bags
No: eyeshadow, mineral makeup, powder, blush, bronzer, powder brushes

Your Take

Have you tried e.l.f. products? What do you think?

Ways to Get a Tan Without Sun

Airbrush Tan

Self-Tanner

DIYing a fake tan is more cost-efficient and less involved than airbrush tanning. Depending on how deep you’d like your tan to be and how soon you want to see results, there are a couple of different options.
Daily Lotion
Jergens recently came out with their Natural Glow Daily Moisturizer. This product applies just like a regular lotion, but gradually adds color to your skin like a self-tanner. It’s almost completely streak-free and dries in a mere 2 minutes. There’s even a special formula for your face. Many drugstores are now coming out with their own versions of the Jergens product. I’ve tried the version from CVS and have found it to work just as well for about half the price. The benefit to using a daily lotion is the ease and simplicity of use. The downfalls are depth of tan and the time it takes to see results (about 2 weeks). I did get a fairly decent tan by using a complete bottle for fair skin and then upgrading to the version for medium skin. But, of course, that was over the course of a couple months.
Sunless Tanning Lotion
If you’re looking for a darker tan and/or quicker results, opt for a true self-tanner. Self-tanners can be tricky to use, they do tend to leave streaks and they sometimes can leave you looking like an oompa loompa. When they first came out in the 90’s (?), self-tanners were pretty much a disaster. You could always tell which women had fake tans by the orange lines on their legs and their discolored palms. Lucky for us, self-tanner technology has come a long way. Today’s tanners are much easier to use, almost completely streak-free (when applied correctly) and much more believable as legitimate tans.
Read more for How to Apply Self-Tanner and Self-Tanner Recommendations.

Tricks to Create the Appearance of a Tan

How To Apply Self-Tanner

Applying self-tanner can be a bit daunting. Follow these steps to avoid streaks or unnatural-looking tans.

1. Exfoliate

Self-tanner will adhere to your dry skin first. Make sure to exfoliate your entire body before applying self-tanner. Use a body polish or body scrub with a loofah to make sure you get rid of as many dry skin cells as you can.

2. Apply

Try purchasing a basic kitchen sponge and using it to apply tanner as evenly as you can. Squeeze 4 lines of tanner along the sponge. Starting at your ankles, pull the sponge up your leg in an even line. Working around your leg, start at your ankles and work your way up. If you see any build up of product, use the sponge to smooth the tanner from bottom to top. Keeping a uniform motion like this will help you make sure you’ve covered all of your body and will prevent odd streaks from swiping the product all over your body. Use the same strategy on your arms, starting at your wrists and moving toward your fingers. Do not apply tanner under your arms. Apply a little more tanner to the sponge and apply to your chest and stomach, using the same vertical motion as before.

3. Face

Make sure your face will not break out by doing a spot test a few days before applying. Most self-tanners have a separate version for the face or specific directions for the face. Check into those options before doing anything else. You can completely avoid your face if the color you’re tanning the rest of your body is just a shade or two different.
Otherwise, apply tanner as you would your foundation; work from the nose in sweeping motions out to your jawbone. Avoid your brows and hairline. After applying to your entire face, dip a q-tip in a soap solution and go over your eyebrows and along your hairline.

4. Feet

To apply tanner to your feet, stand flat and apply to tops of feet making sure to go between your toes. Do not apply tanner to the bottoms of your feet and pay special attention that no product builds up on the bones of your feet (the same is true of your knees and elbows).

5. Hands

Avoid getting the dreaded orange palms by washing your hands immediately after applying the product (since you used a sponge, you won’t have as much on your hands). Then, reapply some tanner to the backs of your hands by rubbing them on your inner arms or legs.

6. Wait

One of the hardest steps to follow when applying a self-tanner is waiting for it to dry. You should stand naked for about 30 minutes. Stay fairly still for the first 10 minutes or so. Then, you can move around some as you wait for the product to dry. Be careful, it can seem dry long before it really is. Give your self-tanner a full 30 minutes before putting clothes on or sitting down.
After that, make sure you do not shower or go in the water for about 6 hours.

Recommended Self-Tanners

Department Store

Clarins Self-Tanning Instant Gel: This gel is instantly absorbed so there’s no need to wait for it to dry. You begin to see results in 2 hours. It’s also safe to use on your face (just make sure to spot test first).
Estee Lauder Bronze Goddess Self-Tan: This milky lotion glides on smoothly and dries quickly. You can reapply to achieve a darker color.
Lancome Soleil Flash Bronzer: This self-tanner glides on smoothly and dries quickly. See results in less than one hour.

Drugstore

Coppertone Sunless Tanning: Like the Jergens daily lotion, this lotion from Coppertone gives a gradual tan when applied as your daily body lotion.
Neutrogena Instant Bronze: This product has a bronzer built in that allows you to see exactly where you’ve applied the self-tanner. It dries in less than 5 minutes.
Jergens Natural Glow: Jergens Natural Glow acts just like your daily body lotion. Make sure to wash your hands after applying because they can start to look a bit orange after a few days of use.

What do you think about these tips for looking tan? Have you tried airbrush tanning or self-tanners? What about the tricks (clothing, bronzers, etc.)? Share your thoughts in the comments.