Target recently added a new skincare brand to its shelves with the addition of Nip + Fab, skin and body care collection from the U.K.’s Maria Hatzistefanis. Nip + Fab’s products are reportedly clinically tested.

The line is made up of 14 products, each developing with a specific beauty issue in mind, from anti-aging and eye brightening, to  skin plumping and cellulite smoothing. Each product blends natural and lab-made products that aim to smooth, moisturize, and firm the skin.

Among the product offers are items to lessen the appearance of cellulite, quick face wipes, potions to tackle under eye circles and frown lines, a hyperpigmentation item, and a tinted moisturizer.

Products range in price from $5.95 to $18.95. Visit Target.com for more info.

Click here for the Nip + Fab website.

The baby boomer generation of women don’t understand why generation X cares so much about cellulite. I guess that’s because they weren’t dating in the age of Photoshop. We are supposed to feel like men appreciate women with curves but everyone prefers firm to flabby. Genes do ultimately define our shape but how toned we are is something we can control, a bit at least, with a healthy diet, regular exercise, and a little help from some lotions. NIH Medline defines cellulite as “fat that is deposited in pockets just below the surface of the skin, usually around the hips, thighs, and butt.” The closeness to the surface of the skin is why it looks a bit unsightly.

There are spa treatments to help eliminate the appearance of cellulite, also dubbed cottage cheese skin or the orange peel look, but they are costly and require maintenance. Most sources say people should eat enough fruits, veggies and fiber, drink a lot of water, dry brush, avoid yo-yo dieting, cut smoking (if you still do), and exercise regularly–yes, the same things we read everywhere! Some may also offer certain exercises to help, but the quickest solution, if maintained, is swapping your body cream out for a topical that will help lessen, but not eliminate, the appearance of cellulite. Here Trendcetera presents some of the newest options in the cellulite cream category. They won’t make it disappear, because as Medline reveals, once you have it, it’s not going anywhere and the majority of women have it. But, using a topical daily might tighten skin a bit to make bathing suit season and lights-on sex a bit more carefree.

Though Nude was recently acquired by luxury goods giant Louis Vuitton Moet Hennessy, it was until recently, an indie British skincare brand. Packaged in sleek modern bottles, the body and face products are free of parabens, sulfates, silicones, mineral oil, GMO, and phthalates, and come in recyclable bottles made of 40% post industrial recycled plastic. Translation: bottles made with less plastic and products made without chemical nasties. The line also differentiates itself with a beat that’s focused on probiotics. The Smoothing Body Refiner ($70) is comprised of organic mountain ash, phytoactive ginger, green coffee, gingko and organic fig. The company claims that clinical trials resulted in all participants losing about six pounds after use twice a day for three months. The weight loss translated to about 1″ loss from the waist, and almost an 1″ off the hips and each thigh.

Liz Earle makes a bust oil and a thigh gel but I prefer the latter. The Hip and Thigh Gel ($33) is worth a shot; if a woman plans to have children and nurse, I think only good bras, hope, and plastic surgery can bring back the shape of youth up top. Founded in 1995, Liz Earle was recently acquired by Avon. The products are earthy and usually feature a handful of essential oils and plant extracts, which explains why using them makes one suddenly want to garden or take a botany class. The Hip and Thigh Gel product doesn’t promise to eliminate cellulite but to help firm and tone certain areas. The company has an ingredients policy that bans the usage of GMO and petroleum, as well as mineral oil.

Lubatti from Tracey Malone is a boutique beauty brand sold at Space NK stores. The Anti-Cellulite Oil ($59) has an herbal scent thanks to the inclusion of orange blossom, lavender, lemon, and peppermint. While the oil does include mineral oil, the base is also made of jojoba and wheat germ oils, which collectively claim to “revitalize and tone” cellulite through regular applications. Instructions recommend warming the oil by rubbing it in your hands and then massaging onto skin, in upward motions.

Osmotics Cosmeceuticals’ Blue Copper 5 Age Repair Body Lift ($95) is an addictive gel-cum-cream is marketed as an “anti-aging body treatment” for the breasts, tummy, and bottom. The “treatment” is comprised of a copper peptide, a few other peptides, green bean extract and rutin, and biopeptides, which collectively are said to halt the development of stretch marks, stimulate collagen production, and improve the firmness of skin by improving elasticity. Bottom line, I experienced the fastest results with this product, with a noticeable firmness on the rear of the thighs within a few weeks to a month of using it.

Like the rest of the products in this category, the items available from St. Ives require regular usage, but at this price point, that is feasible for everyone. Available at all major drugstores, “the anti-cellulite regimen” from St. Ives is made with the “MicroSmooth Complex” that reportedly reduces the appearance of cellulite in two weeks. The regime involves using the Cellulite Shield Gel Crème, which contains menthol and caffeine, and then the Cellulite Shield Advanced Body Moisturizer, which contains shea butter, among other ingredients. The first product, the gel creme, contains caffeine for micro-circulation, green tea to fight free radicals, tangerine and lemon peel extracts to energize the skin, and other botanicals that claim to moisturize and “hydrate the skin.” The body moisturizer is made of caffeine, green tea to fight free radicals, and a blend of glycerin, silicone and shea butter to hydrate.

CelluFIGHT ($15) is a buildable self-tanner from Tarte Cosmetics that shows a gradual tan after multiple applications. It is designed so there is enough time to firm the skin and deal with cellulite issues before the color gets too deep and appears over-bronzed. Tarte is a trend setting cosmetics company and is always ahead of the gang, so it’s no surprise they were one of the first to create a combined self-tanner and anti-cellulite product. The blend of caffeine and retinol is aimed at tackling cellulite while a gradual tan forms.

Finally, one of the newest products in this category on the market is L’Occitane’s Almond Delightful Shape ($38). A clinical study of 50 women showed a loss of 1.3 inches around the thighs after four weeks of consistent usage, after which the “appearance of cellulite” reduced too.

Whatever your choice, now is the time to start using a cellulite topical, if you think it’s worth it. Of course, it’s important to stay within your budget and stick to a healthy diet and exercise at least a few times a week, for mental and physiological health.

Got another cellulite treatment plan you prefer? Let us know by Tweeting us at @Trendcetera

Mama Mio Skincare is a mecca for safe personal care items that aim to diminish the visible signs of time and gravity. While there is no quick fix, we can hope–and eat right, exercise and use quality products that force mini massages, such as body oils and serums. Some think it’s unnecessary to use firming and anti-cellulite treatments but living in Photoshop times is stressful. NYC is a metropolis where the average women likely wears a size 6, about half that of the average American. Are we advocating conformity? Of course not. Uniqueness is something to aspire to, but if having more taut skin and fewer visible lines or cottage cheese spots in the making can translate to a bit more spunk and confidence, we’re all for it.

Mama Mio is now conducting a search for a new member of its fictional band, Belle and the Buttons. To encourage interactive window shopping and branding, the skincare company, which offers a skincare range from Omega Oil to scar treatment products, is looking for people to audition. Follow the link to the site and simply supply your name, email and a photo of your tummy, and those that pass the process will get their picture posted and $5 off their next buy at Mamamio.com

Click here to submit your photo!

Plus, two lucky winners will get a free full size bottle of Get Waisted. Geared at slimming the abs, the product has the usual firming product ingredient, caffeine, but also boasts a few algae extracts that help boost circulation, as well as Rock Samphira to increase fat breakdown, and wheat protein to tighten. All of this comes without the questionable chemicals, such as phthalates, SLS, fake fragrances, and parabens. The 100mL bottle normally retails for $56 but the first two readers to Tweet this post will score a freebie.

To be entered to win, copy the following and Tweet it!

@Trendcetera MamaMio Get Waisted Giveaway! http://bit.ly/980FE7 #GetWaisted #Trendcetera #firming #MamaMio please RT:)

*If you decide to buy a bottle, $1 from each Get Waisted bottle purchased at MamaMio.com will go toward cancer charity Look Good…Feel Better.

Alcohol Killer is to the morning after what Red Bull is to the night before. While the latter amps you up, the former helps you recover from the dehydration and intoxication that resulted from many energy drinks and much vodka. Plus, for all of you who are too embarrassed to use Pedialyte, this is a product whose packaging might meet your cool factor. Plus, the folks behind this North American extension of Europe’s SPACElab are planning on tackling many other common issues, from aging to cellulite. Sure, there are doubts about the efficacy of a product that promises to help drain the fat cells that on the outside are–gasp–cellulite, but there is some promise to these products.

Immediately what make this different from the other hangover solutions is the light consistency and the lack of after taste. A base of spring water and glucose-fructose syrup are augmented by L-Ascorbic Acid, vitamins B1, B3, and B6, and the proprietary complex: elderberry, long used in natural cough syrups and cold prevention syrups, as well as lemongrass and beta glucan, an assumed anti-inflammatory and immune booster.

The Cellulite product is lacking the glucose because it is naturally sweetened by the orange, pineapple, and red superfruit juices, which are mixed with the proprietary blend. The juice in its collective form hydrates, without adding too many calories, and is said to help promote lymphatic drainage. In real terms, it claims to help flush the body of the fat cells that manifest as cellulite on the outside.

Coming soon, the Free Radicals killer will compete with the other beauty anti-aging drinks, such as Glowelle and the mix from Noah’s Natural. Packed with anthocyanins, flavonoids, and antioxidants, the amounts and specifics are unknown, but if you are already drinking juice or real soda, this is a good way to swap synthetic for natural and add some supplements.

How is age killer different from free radicals? Free radicals can impact the body in many ways and add stress, which makes the body less immune to illnesses. This explains the inclusion of elderberry in the company’s proprietary complex, which is included in the anti-aging tonic-cum-drink, which also includes white and green teas and antioxidant and detoxification elements, such as alpha-linolenic acid and omega-3 fatty acids.

The real questions we should be asking of all products like these are: 1) where are the ingredients, such as omegas, coming from, and 2) is there a high enough concentration to have any positive or negative impact? In our opinion, what all these products do is offer consumers a way to transition from the unhealthy eating and drinking practices, such as high-glycemic sugars and fatty brunch binges, to low-glycemic, low-carb meals. If Alcohol Killer gets you off the unhealthy breakfasts filled with three-egg omelets, home fries and toast, all likely cooked in pork fat and justified by the hangover, give it a shot. If it means at 3 a.m. you grab one of their drinks instead of a slice of pizza to soak up all the booze in your belly, it’s a positive move. If keeping one in your fridge at work means one less trip to the vending machine for processed food free of vitamins of nutrients, we are fan.

A pack of 12 costs $40. Think this is pricey? Depends on how much you paid for an energy drink at the Deli last night… Click here for more about Alcohol Killer or to purchase products.

The quick fix. That’s what the consumer seeks. In the past, this approach didn’t fare well in the anti-cellulite department, but things are looking up. The baby boomer generation wonders why generations X and Y worry about a bit of cottage cheese, but perhaps, it’s all about self-improvement. Amid the selection of firming, smoothing and tightening potions, we prefer a select few.

Lierac is part of the injection of European personal care products in American drugstores. Serving as a midway point between the budget drugstore brands and the pricey department store brands, Lierac offers a complete lineup of products for nearly every personal care need. We tried the Lierac Morpho-Slim Anti-cellulite concentrate for a few weeks and noticed smoother skin on the back of the thighs. Plus, the creamy gel-like concentrate absorbed quickly and was not sticky. The alcohol-free product contains 10% active caffeine, which works alongside the glaucine complex to stimulate fat breakdown, paving the way for the other host of ingredients to stimulate collagen production. The whole process enables the body to break down fat cells and produce more collagen so the skin can plump up, lessening the appearance of dimpling and creating a firmer look.

We also developed a fondness for the Amala Detoxify Firming Body Treatment, a high-end offering geared at the organic-seeking consumer. Certified organic by the strict European ECOCERT organization, the earthy lotion contains myrtle, sea algae and apricot kernel to smooth and firm skin. The green product is both feminine, moisturizing and invigorating, thanks to a mix that includes shea butter, sesame oil, fig extract, juniper oil, sandalwood, willow bark extract and cardamom seed oil, among other things. The result is a luxurious lotion that smells great and slowly firms and smoothes skin.

Janson Beckett, a pharmaceutical company, makes an amazing collection of cosmeceuticals. Their cellulite product, Profile Anti-Cellulite Treatment, is a powerful blend of engineered chemicals and natural products that together heat on contact and break down fat cells.

Where:
The Amala Detoxify Firming Body Treatment is $44 for a 50mL bottle, available at Barneys New York. To learn more about Amala or to buy items, visit the Amala website. Lierac Morpho-Slim Anti-cellulite concentrate is $48 for a 7oz bottle, available at CVS, Duane Reade and Beauty.com. To learn more about Lierac or to buy items, visit the Lierac website. Janson Beckett Profile Anti-Cellulite Treatment is $69 for a 12oz bottle. To learn more about Janson Beckett or to buy items, visit the Janson Beckett website.