Cellulite is the bane of most of our existence. The uneven layers of fat under the skin. Ever wondered why the men don’t get it?
There are several reasons women are more prone to getting orange skin, and one of them is that our collagen structure is weaker than that of our male friends. Collagen is a connective tissue that helps to hold fat together, so the stronger it is, the better the fat sticks together, and the less uneven they will be. For guys, their collagen looks like a criss-cross wire fence. Something like this:
Whereas for us women, our collagen looks something like this:
Now that, my dear readers, is something no amount of genetic modification can change, so we might as well submit to fate. Yet, I always say that if I could choose whether to be male or female, I’d surely choose the latter because, hey, how else are we going to have fun without all that clothes, makeup and shoes!
So since cellulite is in-built for us dainty fellas, obviously we should do something about it (unless we don’t really care). I’ve tried cellulite busting creams and the latest on my dresser is the Mary Kay TimeWise Body Targeted-Action Toning Lotion. I had previously tried it when I was given a sample tube, and I fell in love with the results that I went ahead and bought a full-sized one from a random independent consultant I found online.
I won’t bore you with details about what 77% of women who tried it said about the product, but I’ll tell you what it does for me – my thighs look more toned, and the appearance of cellulite is definitely reduced. While Mary Kay does not claim that the product reduces cellulite – and it most probably does not (I’ll explain why later) – the results is good enough for me. Everyone knows that cellulite has many contributing factors and just one cream isn’t going to banish it completely, no matter what we may like to believe.
The Targeted-Action Toning Lotion has quite the many botanical extracts and antioxidants, all aimed at moisturising the skin and firming it. After scrutinising the ingredient list, I’ve found that the main ingredient which deals with cellulite is caffeine. The way caffeine works is to prevent the making of fats by our body’s alpha receptors. With regards to fat, our body has two types of receptors – alpha and beta. Alpha makes fat, beta destroys it. The good news is that we have both types. The bad news is that for every one beta receptor in our thighs, we have nine alpha receptors. For men, it’s a one-to-one ratio. Now you see why cellulite loves us so much?
That said, by reducing the ability of our alpha receptors to make fat, the Targeted-Action Toning Lotion indirectly (and locally) reduces our fat content. So to put it in another way, the product does not kill fat but prevents it from being formed as much as possible. And that’s how most cellulite-busting creams and lotions work!
While Paula Begoun, author of the bestseller Don’t Go to the Cosmetics Counter Without Me, has cautioned about wintergreen (an ingredient in this product) being an irritant, she does agree that the formulation of this product is otherwise beneficial. So far, my skin hasn’t showed any signs of irritation, and it’s so far so good.
If you’ll like to get your hand on this product, you can try locating an independent consultant near you via the Mary Kay global website. In the event that you do get it, do share how it has worked for you!