Cellulite or adiposis edematous is an embarrassing medical condition. Adolescent and adult women suffer from this problem around the world.
It leaves you with lumpy and dimpled flesh similar to ‘cottage cheese’ stored in your upper arms, breasts, thighs, buttocks, abdomen, and hips. (1)
There are various surgical and laser treatments and hundreds of cellulite dissolving creams and massages available on the market. Some of these traditional treatments include liposuction, mesotherapy, shock wave therapy, subcision, Cryolipolysis, etc. (2) (3)
Clinical research suggests some essential oils have anti-cellulite effects. Essential oils may be complementary natural remedies for cellulite. (9) (10)
This article reviews the efficacy and uses of essential oils for cellulite removal, plus some facts and causes of this medical condition.
Why Use Essential Oils for Cellulite Removal?
Unlike traditional surgeries and drugs, essential oils address the underlying root causes of cellulite. The over-the-counter drugs are more concentrated on removing the symptoms of the disease.
Some of the ways essential oils help remove cellulite:
- Essential oils can detoxify your body, especially the fat cells from harmful components. Thus, the oils prevent cellulite.
- Essential oils can boost blood circulation in your body. A healthy circulation process leads to enough oxygen supply to your blood and tissues. A healthy level of oxygen can heal cellulite on its own.
- Essential oils can treat the underlying causes of cellulite such as sleeping disorders, dehydration, stress, menstrual irregularities, etc.
- Essential oils can restore and fix the imbalanced estrogen hormones. This important hormone in overproduction may lead to obesity and cellulite.
10 Essential Oils for Cellulite Removal
1. Grapefruit Essential Oil
Grapefruit essential oil comes from the distillation of seeds, peel, and pulp of the grapefruits.
This essential oil abounds in nutrients, antioxidants, and antibacterial properties such as Limonene and vitamin C to detoxify your body and regenerate it from the inside. (10)
Moreover, this citrusy essential oil can help you lose weight, one of the primary reasons for cellulite.
You can dilute a few drops of grapefruit oil with your favorite carrier oil and massage it in the affected area. Repeat this treatment twice daily to get speedy results.
Alternatively, you can intake fresh grapefruits on a daily basis. Make sure to drink a lot of water to balance out the water level in your body.
2. Peppermint Essential Oil
Peppermint essential oil originates from the evergreen peppermint herbs. The medical uses of this herb date back to ancient Egyptian civilization.
Peppermint oil has extensive use in the cosmetic and medical industries. Among a host of therapeutic components, it contains omega-3 fatty acids, vitamins, and antifungal properties. (11)
This mint flavored essential oil can regulate your blood circulation and help the metabolism of the fat in your body. Thus, it has healing effects on cellulite.
Related: Peppermint Oil for Hair: 8 Reasons to Use
3. Rosemary Essential Oil
Rosemary essential oil comes from the woodsy and citrus fragrant leaves of rosemary plants. From the Latin word ‘rose’, and ‘Marinus’ the etymological meaning of rosemary is ‘dew of the sea.’
This aesthetic flowering plant gives blue blossoms. Hence it has a sacred connotation to Mother Mary as well. Rosemary means ‘Rose of Mary.’
This amazing plant has a plethora of uses for promoting health and in Mediterranean cuisine.
Rosemary essential oil is enriched with anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, antidepressant, sedative, analgesic, and expectorant properties. These high-quality therapeutic components can boost blood circulation and battle lymphatic blockage.
Thus, Rosemary essential oil is an ideal remedy for cellulite. This refreshing oil can boost your mood with its mind-blowing aroma and relieve your stress as well. (12)
Related: Rosemary Oil: 13 Benefits and Uses for Skin, Hair, and Health
4. Cypress Essential Oil
Cypress essential oil comes from the tender twigs, needles, and stems of the evergreen cypress tree. Cypress is a popular therapeutic tree because of its host of botanical properties.
The steam distilled herbal oil has a strong reviving aroma. The major chemical components of cypress oil are careened, alpha-pinene, and limonene.
These medicinal constituents are full of antimicrobial, antiseptic, astringent, antirheumatic, and mood-enhancing qualities.
Cypress oil can treat cellulite by flushing out the toxins from your body and improving the circulation process. The oil also prevents excessive water retention in the body which may cause cellulite. (13)
You can blend a few drops of cypress oil with a carrier oil to massage your cellulite-affected area thoroughly. The process will give you good results in no time.
5. Geranium oil
Geranium oil comes from the leaves and stems of the geranium plant. This aromatic oil is very popular in aromatherapy for many health-promoting components. From ancient times onwards people have used this herbal oil as a holistic remedy.
Some of the major botanical components of geranium oil include alpha limonene, pinene, menthone, myrcene, and linalool. (14)
These medicinal properties can balance the hormonal tide; tone down your skin and regulate blood circulation. Thus, geranium oil becomes an active remedy for your cellulite problem. For availing yourself of the benefits of this super oil massage it on your cellulite-affected skin regularly.
6. Juniper Berry Essential Oil
Sweet and woodsy fragrant juniper berry oil is steam distilled from dried berries of the Juniperus osteosperma plant. This potent essential oil has more than 87 health-promoting components.
These medicinal properties are rich in polyphenol antioxidants and flavonoids to fight off free radicals and detoxify your body.
A Juniper oil massage can effectively prevent water retention in your body and bad cholesterol from accumulating. Its antibacterial and immune-boosting properties help you get rid of cellulite as well. (15)
7. Lemongrass Essential Oil
Lemongrass is a popular herb in Thai cuisine. From this citrusy fragrant herb, we get lemongrass essential oil. This oil is exceptionally versatile in medicinal use and benefits.
The sweet and strong aroma of lemongrass oil has a stimulating and sedative value to relieve your stress, one of the passive causes of cellulite.
Lemongrass oil gets its high astringent values from the two major chemical compounds citronellal and terpenes. These components treat cellulite by flushing out the toxins and dissolving the fat deposits. The oil boosts blood circulation and has the diuretic quality to excrete retained water from your body. (16)
You can readily rub this aromatic oil on the cellulite-affected skin by mixing it with any of the carrier oil.
Related: 12 Essential Oils for Stress Reduction & How to Use Them
8. Fennel Essential Oil
Fennel essential oil comes from the fennel seeds. This essential oil has the most powerful diuretic quality to eliminate excess water and toxic materials from your body. This superb oil helps metabolism by breaking down fat deposits. (17)
The combined force of fennel and rosemary essential oil can work marvel at your cellulite-affected skin.
You have to mix the oil blend with your choicest carrier oil such as jojoba or coconut oil. The treatment can give you a more comfortable experience if you warm up the oil solution.
9. Tangerine Essential Oil 
The zesty fragrant tangerine essential oil comes from the oily peels of tangerine. Tangerine is a citrus fruit belonging to the mandarin orange family.
Tangerine oil’s medicinal values are a result of its rich chemical composition that includes thymol, limonene, a-pinene, y-terpinene, myrcene, citronellal, neral, Linalool, carvone, etc. (18)
If you massage this oil topically the flavonoid nobiletin in it helps you fight obesity. Tangerine oil can reach deep into your skin and purify your blood and quicken the metabolism process.
It boosts the circulation and balances digestive juices in order to detoxify your body. The aromatic oil has calming sedative properties as well.
10. Patchouli Essential Oil
Patchouli essential oil comes from the dried leaves of the bushy genus Pogostemon herb of the Labiatae family. It is a native of South East Asia. Mint, sage, and lavender are other herbs that belong to this family.
This oil is popular for its exotic scent and is widely used in perfume industries. Patchouli oil has a high level of diuretic values. It can improve the metabolism of your body by decomposing the food better. (19)
It absorbs only the healthy nutrients and helps you lose weight. You can mix a couple of drops of patchouli oil with warm water and consume it as an anti-cellulite tonic.
How to Use Essential oils for Cellulite Relief
You can use the above-mentioned essential oils in various ways to beat the unsightly cellulite problem. The methods include Essential oil massage and brushing technique, essential oil bath, and essential oil inhalation. (20)
Let’s get a closer look at these processes.
Essential oil massage: this simple method refers to topically rubbing the essential oil on the cellulite-affected areas. It is recommended that you dilute the essential oil with your favorite carrier oil such as jojoba, almond, avocado, coconut oil, etc. every time you are up for a treatment.
For creating a massage blend limit the quantity of essential oil to 3-4 drops in 1 tablespoon or 2 ml. of carrier oil for 1 drop of essential oil. Rubbing the oil blend on your cellulite-affected area can hydrate, detoxify and tone firm your skin.
The proper massage technique is rubbing the affected area with your finger pads in a circular motion. A regular 15 minutes essential oil massage can give you a speedy recovery from cellulite.
Brushing technique: this natural method is very effective for treating cellulite if you do it prior to the shower. You should use a soft and organic bristle body brush for the treatment. It’s good to have the bristles stiff but not too harsh for your delicate skin.
At the outset apply the essential oil blend of your choice to the affected area. Now, they start brushing the oil in a semi-circular motion directed towards the heart. Keep on brushing until you see the oil completely absorbed and your skin is mild reddish.
You should take another hot shower after this treatment. Regular practice of this technique will give you good results in no time.
Essential oil shower: aromatic oil bath is a rejuvenating experience for your skin and health. You can simply mix 10 drops of your choicest essential oil into the tub water and dip in. This purifying shower will speed up the process of detoxifying your body and heal cellulite.
Cellulite: Some Facts
Cellulite is normal fat beneath your skin. The fat lies between the skin and the muscle underneath. Once this fat gets accumulated it pushes the skin above and pulls down the connective tissues or cords of the muscles. Thus, you see the appearance of uneven or bumpy skin areas. (4)
Women are more prone to suffer from cellulite than men. It is because women have their body fats distributed in the areas vulnerable to cellulite. Study shows, that 85% – 98% of obese women are predisposed to developing cellulite.
However, it’s a misconception that only obese women can get this medical condition. You may suffer from this skin condition irrespective of being slim or obese. (5)
Causes of Cellulite
There are no absolute causes of developing cellulite. However certain factors may trigger this condition. Let’s look at these factors: (6)
- Genetically conditioned
- Weight gain
- Unhealthy diet
- Slow metabolism
- Inactive lifestyle
- Hormonal changes in puberty
- Dehydration
- Pregnancy
- Dehydration (7)
Weight gain, the thickness of your skin, and skin complexion have big roles in making cellulite more obvious in appearance.
Bottom Line
Cellulite is not a life-threatening medical condition. You don’t need to make an emergency doctor’s appointment unless you are very concerned about the appearance of your skin.
Consult with a dermatologist or plastic surgeon if you want to resolve your cellulite problem immediately.
The essential oil remedies discussed above may be effective in removing cellulite naturally and provide you with a firmer, toned figure. Apart from these natural remedies make sure to incorporate some physical exercises, fiber diets, and a lot of fluid intake into your daily routine.
Read more: 10 Essential Oils for Sinus Congestion, Headaches, and Infections
