Suffering from the dreaded lumpy and bumpy skin? We try out three of the city’s top treatments to help you say goodbye for good to nasty fat deposits resulting in that orange peel look.
It’s the same old story. Summer comes around, you eat well, you exercise and you start losing weight but you can never get rid of cellulite. But don’t feel that you are alone. ‘The majority of women suffer from this orange peel effect skin. The skin on your thighs, bum, stomach and sometimes arms can become weaker as you get older and so the fat cells begin to show through the weakened structure of the skin,’ says Franke Philipp-Jakob Franke, spa manager at Iridium Spa, at The St. Regis Saadiyat Island Resort.
‘Sometimes it’s to do with genetics, sometimes diet or bad circulation. You need to know what causes it in order to know how to prevent it. The more toxic your body is, the more fatty deposits you will have and the worse your cellulite will be.’
Tropical Oasis at Zayna Spa
This firming and brightening treatment uses the power of mango and passion fruit extracts in a scrub and body wrap intended to even the complexion, invigorate and tone. The treatment begins with a full-body scrub which is delightfully exfoliating and smells deliciously fruity. After hopping in the shower to rinse the scrub off, it’s back on the table for the wrap.
The body masque is full of anti-ageing ingredients like vitamins A and C and is pretty chilly when first applied. The skin soon warms up though, wrapped in plastic and blankets and left to marinate for 15 minutes or so. Luckily, during that time a soothing and relaxing head massage is given. Then it’s back in the shower to rinse off the masque before a nice and non-greasy lotion is applied to finish off the treatment with a neck rub given while the lotion sinks in. Afterwards, skin feels smooth and even, it looks tighter and we feel refreshed and energised.
Tropical Oasis scrub and body wrap, Dhs675 for 90 minutes. Grand Millennium Al Wahda, Hazza Bin Zayed Street (02 495 3822).
Mama Mio hip and thigh toning treatment at Atarmia Spa
Atarmia Spa have recently acquired the Mama Mio range of products, which hail from the UK and are mostly used by pregnant women, but they are also fantastic for toning and reducing cellulite. The treatment starts with a full body scrub and then a fruit acid that is applied to our thighs, bottom and stomach to get rid of any dead skin cells and to open our pores for the products to sink it.
A rice powder is then applied over the acid peel which further exfoliates our skin and then the products are removed with a hot towel. Our skin already feels much smoother. A very thick detoxifying mask is then whipped up and placed all over the same areas. Our therapist then wraps us in a heated blanket so the mask can really moisturise our skin.
This is left on for about 20 minutes while she massages our lower legs and back. The treatment has detoxified and reduced water retention to reveal a nicely toned and smooth rear, thighs and stomach. We feel light and totally refreshed.
The Mama Mio hip and thigh treatment, Dhs550 for 60 minutes. Park Hyatt Abu Dhabi, Saadiyat Island (02 407 1107).
Anti-cellulite wrap at Iridium Spa
This is quite a hardcore treatment for people who have real problems with dimply skin – it’s not a relaxing spa session. It starts with a dry body scrub of oats and milk. Our legs, bottom and stomach are then massaged quite roughly to increase circulation. A very intense yet effective thermal cream by beauty brand Babor is applied to problem areas and then our legs and stomach are wrapped in bandages.
The vitamins A, C and E in the cream promote epidermal renewal which will help with cellulite. The heat from the thermal cream is no problem for us even though we have sensitive skin, our skin went red for about 30 minutes but then the redness disappeared. It sort of looks like you have been sunburned, but this treatment works well and it’s not just for cellulite. It really toned our thighs and got rid of our water retention. This is our top pick of the three.
Anti-cellulite wrap, Dhs490 for 45 minutes. The St. Regis Saadiyat Island Resort, Saadiyat Island (02 498 8996).
Others to try
The Slenderizer
Developed by experts at The Nail Spa while working with Deborah Mitchell, known for her work with celebrities and her beauty brand Heaven, this deep tissue Slenderizer Massage promises to help improve the tone and elasticity of your skin, eliminate toxins and visibly reduce the appearance of cellulite.
The Slenderizer, Dhs310 for 70 minutes. The Nail Spa, Al Wahda Mall, Hazza Bin Zayed Street (02 642 3444).
Endermologie Lipomassage (LPG)
LPG involves a vacuum-like machine with two-roller heads making various sucking and shaking movements, which apparently encourages your body to release fat pockets, as well as stimulating collagen and elastin production. Endermologie Lipomassage for the body cost Dhs350 per session.
Bellacure Nails, Shop 3, Golden Tower, Al Mamoura (02 658 4100).
