The £6 brush that tackles cellulite

Telegraph

08-04-2025

There are some beauty products that are completely worth splashing out on, but when it comes to cellulite creams, I am mostly unimpressed. (Although there is one I've been testing recently that has shown great promise – more on that later.)
Most creams don't work because cellulite is partly the result of an underactive lymphatic system. This is a network of channels that drains waste from the body via lymph fluid and, as explained by Legology founder Kate Shapland, is primarily found in and around areas where you typically have more fat cells. If you're sitting at a desk most of the day, lymph circulation becomes sluggish and this waste can settle between fat cells, which can contribute to the resultant unevenness on the surface of the skin.
Pleasingly, one of the most effective ways to get that sluggish lymph moving is available on the high street for just a few pounds in the form of a dry body brush. I have the Botanics version, which is £6.50 from Boots, and does the job well.
Botanics dry brush, Boots, £6.50
To use a dry body brush effectively, work in short, sharp strokes from the feet, always in an upwards motion. You can focus on the thighs and the tummy area, which I do, working in firm strokes in a clockwise direction around the abdomen. It should only take a minute or two and is best used on dry skin before you bathe or shower (this has the added benefit of gently exfoliating the skin, too).
Another method is using a body tapper, such as the Bamboo Body Tapper by Hayo'u (£45), which is inspired by Chinese medicine. It's a bunch of bamboo sticks held together by a handle, and you tap the bamboo up and down the limbs to encourage circulation. It's invigorating, too, and is a handy remedy for tired or sore muscles. Just tap it gently on the skin, focusing on the thighs if cellulite is your concern, or on any sore muscle points: you only need to do it for a couple of minutes a few times a week.
Bamboo Body Tapper, Hayo'u, £45
To really see the benefits of dry body brushing, 'the key is in the frequency', says the physiotherapist and lymphatic drainage specialist Flavia Morellato. Try it four to five times a week and you'll notice a difference by the summer months.
If you are able to book in for the occasional professional lymphatic drainage massage, all the better. In Morellato's native Brazil, a weekly lymphatic drainage massage is as popular as a manicure. While a regular deep tissue massage aims to get through the knots in achy shoulders and sore legs, 'lymphatic drainage massage is a lighter massage that focuses on moving and draining waste from the body', she explains.
Morellato has opened up a new space in London but her team of physiotherapists can also do home visits – otherwise look at apps such as Secret Spa or Ruuby, which are great for finding local therapists. You'll see an instant benefit with this type of massage if you feel like you carry extra water weight or are generally feeling sluggish.
Now on to that cream that seems to have potential. You're probably familiar with retinol and retinal in skin creams (retinal is a more potent form of vitamin A than retinol), and the active ingredient is now also being used more in body care. Murad's Retinal ReSculpt Body Treatment (£79) is packed with an encapsulated retinal, which makes it far less sensitising on the skin. I've tried a few products for cellulite over the years and this is the first that seems to make a difference.
Retinal ReSculpt Body Treatment, Murad, £79
The before and after clinical trials by the brand are seriously impressive, not just on the firmness of the skin but also for minimising the look of stretch marks (since retinal works on rapidly increasing cell turnover). I've been testing it out for the past four weeks, focusing on my abdomen area – which is covered in stretch marks after three pregnancies – and my thighs. The skin texture and quality already looks better. I'll keep you posted.
Three more skin saviours
Sweet Almond Body Oil, £25, Kama Ayurveda
Body massage, or abhyanga as it's referred to in Sanskrit, is a core principle of body care in Ayurveda. If you have the extra time before bed, I would pop this bottle in a bowl of very warm water for a few minutes, then massage your limbs with the warmed oil. Heavenly.
Exfo-Lite Exfoliating Body Scrub, from £12, Legology
If you are looking for body care done well, check out British brand Legology. This is one of its bestsellers. A smoothing, detoxing body scrub designed to be used on the legs, the Himalayan salt blend is brilliant to use once a week. It helps to improve the look of dry skin and contains lemon peel, which is immediately invigorating.
Intensive Moisturising Lotion by CeraVe, £15, Boots
If dry skin is your main concern, this new intensive moisturiser by American brand CeraVe is an excellent remedy. It's a rich formula of ceramides, hyaluronic acid and urea that powerfully tackles flaky, itchy skin. The best news of all? It doesn't feel remotely greasy or tacky.