Cellulite Cures

Prevent Cellulite With Food

Diet and exercise can minimize the look of cellulite from the inside out, Murad and Moy agree. Exercise aids circulation and can minimally break up fat, and eating certain foods can improve circulation and strengthen skin. "Eat foods that help build collagen and elastin," says Murad, like lean meats, eggs and whole grains. Raw fruits and veggies help with hydration and antioxidants, while the good oils in black cod, almonds, flax seeds and walnuts help build skin cell walls.

No time to cook? Take supplements to reap similar benefits. Try Murad Firm and Tone Dietary Supplement Pack, $137.50.

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What Causes Cellulite?

Cellulite is likely genetically inherited. But it starts with "poor circulation," says Murad. Circulation usually feeds the dermis (middle layer) of your skin, keeping it strong -- but when circulation is poor (due to a sedentary lifestyle, smoking or poor nutrition), the dermis becomes weak and it can't hold down the layer of fat below it. The fat layer then migrates into that middle layer of skin, creating that lumpy, cottage cheese look. There's no cure for cellulite, but you can minimize the appearance of it.

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Cellulite Products That Work

Though creams only offer very temporary results, they may help when used regularly. "Anything that hydrates the skin will make [cellulite] less obvious," says Moy. Murad recommends lotions with cayenne pepper and cats claw (for circulation), and Vitamin C (to produce collagen). Caffeine may also help shrink the size of water molecules that surround fat.

Products to try: Clarins Total Body Lift "Stubborn Cellulite Control," $46 uses caffeine, which "really helps smooth my skin out," says one reader. "I have to admit I notice some firming going on," says another. Buy it.

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Cellulite Products That Work

Another smart buy is Nivea Good-Bye Cellulite Gel-Cream, $12, which uses L-carnitine as its cellulite-fighting ingredient. "The dimples are almost completely gone," says a reader after a few weeks. "Combining it with an intense daily workout has helped a lot," says another. Buy it.

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More Aggressive Treatments

If over-the-counter treatments and diet and exercise don't help, you have other options. Mesotherapy ($500 to $750 per treatment) injects bits of vitamins and pharmaceuticals into your body to break up fat; Endermologie ($250 to $500 per treatment, pictured) smoothes and tones temporarily via a machine-assisted massage; and Thermage ($2,000 per treatment) smoothes and tightens skin using radiofrequency.

You can also opt for invasive treatments such as SmartLipo, which uses laser technology to melt fat and tighten skin. Though results can be permanent, you will have down time, and it costs around $7,000.

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Why Stretch Marks?

When skin is stretched after weight or muscle gain, weight loss or pregnancy, red lines appear, and over time fade like lines in sand. "On dark skin, they appear a dusky red, then move on to white," says Murad. For treatments to be effective, you need to act when they're still reddish.Though it's unclear why some people get them and others don't, hormones and genetics are likely at fault. Tuberculosis and overuse of steroids like cortisone (taken orally or applied topically), which Murad says "thin the skin and connective tissues" have also been known to make skin susceptible.

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Stretch Mark Camouflage

"Tanned skin gives the illusion of being firm," says Meredith Braf, tanning and bronzing expert for Victoria's Secret. She recommends applying self-tanner and a cellulite treatment cream for a one-two punch. Apply separately or use a dual-purpose product like Victoria's Secret Bare Bronze Gradual Tan Firming Body Moisturizer, $18, pictured. Then top with a true self-tanner for a deep, dark tan. If you have dark skin, you can indeed use self-tanner -- but rather than providing a tan, it simply evens out your skin color, thereby camouflaging the lines once they've turned white. (The liquid makeup featured is also a great option, as it comes in a wide variety of shades, including darker skin tones.)

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Stretch Mark Prevention

If you're pregnant or planning to build muscle at the gym, apply moisturizers with cocoa butter or Vitamin E to the soon-to-grow areas, Murad advises. Try Burt's Bees Mama Bee Belly Butter, $13.49, which a reader who's had two 10-pound babies claims "worked wonders against horrific odds." Buy it.

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More Stretch Mark Prevention

Another option in the battle to prevent stretch marks is Carol's Daughter Sexy Belly, $17. "I have yet to get one stretch mark despite the fact I'm six month's pregnant," says one reader. "You can really feel your skin is in better condition," says another.

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Stretch Mark Treatment

You must treat stretch marks immediately, before they turn silver or white. While they're still red in color, "you can make a difference" and fade them, says Murad. Treat stretch marks twice daily with products containing ingredients that "thicken skin by building collagen," says Moy. A few to look for: retinoids (like Retin A; note, pregnant women should not use retinoids), Vitamin C and glycolic acids (in products like ProCyte Striae Stretch Mark Creme, $70 which one reader claims, "made me a believer." "target="blank">Buy it.

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Vampire Detox

OK, so Demi Moore may have punk'd us when she claimed blood-detox by leeches is the secret behind her youthful appearance. But the very same bloodsuckers used from Hippocrates' time actually do have modern uses; mainly, in surgery. Some doctors use leeches rather than a post-surgical drain to suck out blood from a wound or graft. The powerful blood thinner in leech saliva improves both cosmetic outcome and cuts down chance of infection.

Butt Really

Preparation H cream is marketed to treat hemorrhoids, but beauty queens have long used a tiny dab under the eyes to reduce bags and dark circles after a long night. One ingredient in Preparation H is shark liver oil, a folk remedy for skin conditions. In Canada, the cream is formulated with BioDyne, a yeast derivative thought to smooth wrinkles. However, the maker of Preparation H, states that the product is not to be applied on the face.

Baby Face

What could be more powerful than the placental protein that surrounds growing babies in the womb? Placental protein is high in antioxidants, amino acids and nutrients, making it a rejuvenating ingredient in facial creams reportedly used by ever-youthful Hollywood stars. It's known to be effective in eliminating wrinkles and improving skin texture. If putting placenta on your face doesn't freak you out too much, consider popping placenta pills -- a remedy for fending off the baby blues.

Toxic Beauty

Who knew food poisoning could be sexy? Botox, Hollywood's must-do skin tightening injection, is derived from Botulinum toxin A, a neurotoxin produced by the same bacteria that causes botulism. Need another reason to be ambivalent about this face-lifting wonder? New research points to evidence that Botox may make a beeline from the injection site to the brain. The bottom line? Botox may affect what's going on upstairs, which is nothing to smile about.

Snake Charming

Afraid of needles, but desperate for the results of Botox? How about applying a little snake venom instead? Gwyneth Paltrow brought attention to a venom-like synthetic ingredient called Syn-Ake, a key element in her UltraLuxe 9 facial cream, which claims to de-wrinkle skin by relaxing facial muscles. The cream costs nearly $185 an ounce, so you may want to opt for a cheaper alternative, but don't think of inducing a viper at the zoo to inject your cheeks free of charge.

Frog Face

Kissing a bullfrog may not get you a fairy prince, but it may leave some anti-oxidant rich extract on your face. Scientists have recently discovered a peptide in the skin and muscles of bullfrogs that reduces the appearance of wrinkles on human skin. Expect to see new skin creams with this magical bullfrog extract soon. But it gets better. Since the extract is water-soluble, it can be added to a variety of products, perhaps even future beauty drinks. Cheers to that!

Fant-ass-tic Skin

Donkeys have served as beasts of burden for centuries, but they have never been known as a means of skin restoration -- until now. After a 116-year-old Ecuadorian woman attributed her long life to drinking donkey milk, women flocked to purchase skin care products that included it as a key ingredient. Donkey milk is said to be extremely effective as a moisturizer and has numerous regenerative properties that may reduce signs of aging.

Sticker Shock

Maybe you wouldn't have so many wrinkles if you didn't move your face. Ever. One brand of sticky facial pads called Frownies, which are made from natural materials, make this solution a reality. Frownies pull skin flat while you sleep, which is said to correct the deep lines formed as a result of repetitive facial movement, like furrowing your brows. Applied directly to the wrinkle, Frownies are said to produce results in up to 3 weeks. Plus, you're allowed to smile during the day.

Pretty in Pink

Although you may acquaint it with a bad case of the runs, Pepto-Bismol works double duty as a facial mask. Thrifty women looking for the benefits of a spa facial, apply the chalky pink substance to their face and let its salicylic acid, a great facial peel, do its duty. Some believe that Pepto may be even milder and gentler than most commercial salicylic products because the same ingredients that coats your tummy also coats the face.

(Castor) Oily Hair

If your hair is lacking moisture, castor oil can dampen your locks and amp up the shine. Catherine Zeta-Jones attributes her shiny mane to castor oil, which can be added to conditioner in the shower or brushed through wet hair. The smell of castor oil isn't pleasant, but it does keep hair lustrous and healthy, which makes the smelly sacrifice worthwhile to many women.