Draining plants & other tips
The arrival of sunny days is often accompanied by guilt-inducing articles and advertisements whose aim is to offer solutions for “having the perfect body”.
Aside from the mental stress it causes, what is never explicitly stated is that everyone has skin irregularities and cellulite!
We reassure you! At Belle Luce, we encourage well-being and overall health , and with this in mind, we're sharing some information with you today that will guide you if you want to add a complementary skincare routine to your daily routine, without pressure.
What is the difference between cellulite and water retention?
Cellulite is the result of excessive accumulation of fat in the deeper layers of the skin and can block blood circulation and disrupt lymphatic flow.
Little by little, fats, toxins and fluids accumulate because it is more difficult for the body to eliminate them. This will cause dimples to appear, also called “the orange peel effect” . Mostly located in the lower body (legs, thighs and buttocks), cellulite can also be found on the stomach and arms.
“The root of the problem is an imbalance between the amount of fat ingested and the amount that is expended, so the accumulation of fat in adipose tissue prevents the circulation of toxins which, once blocked, create inflammation.” COMPAGNIE DES SENS.FR
Water retention is a feeling of swelling also called edema.
Often, lymphatic fluid does not circulate well, particularly due to prolonged static positioning, lack of physical activity or clothing that is too tight and uncomfortable.
Over time, water will accumulate in the body and swelling will generally appear in the lower part of the body (legs, thighs, ankles).
Our 8 tips for improving blood and lymphatic circulation
1. Use fabulous draining medicinal plants in herbal tea
Although numerous, here is a selection of plants known for their benefits on blood and lymphatic circulation.
Nettle: Rich in flavonoids and minerals, it is known as a depurative and diuretic. It remineralizes the body and helps eliminate toxins that accumulate in the body.
Meadowsweet: Rich in flavonoids, toning and draining, it improves blood circulation and thus facilitates the elimination of water and toxins.
Dandelion Leaves: Known as an exceptional diuretic plant, they are effective in reducing water retention and promoting detoxification.
Luce's Tips: Don't hesitate to ask your herbalist to prepare a blend of several of these plants - ideally organic - for your herbal tea. Enjoy hot or cold once infused! Discover our draining infusions: Nettle herbal tea .
Please note that not all plants are suitable for pregnant or breastfeeding women; always seek the advice of your doctor.
2. Body brushing
©: Unsplash
This beauty technique, known in Asia, involves using a brush to remove long-standing cellulite while reducing the appearance of new layers. Brushing activates microcirculation and lymphatic drainage. It helps release dead cells and toxins.
Method:
- Brush your naked body dry (without water or oils) for about ten minutes before showering.
- Start at the feet, then move up the body in circular motions starting from the ends of the limbs.
Luce's Tips: Use a soft-bristled brush made from natural fibers, neither too hard nor too soft.
3. Peels
© The Fashion Spot
Exfoliating once a week on targeted areas of the body helps regenerate the epidermis and smooth out irregularities.
Luce's Tip: Mix in a bowl:
- ½ cup ground coffee or coffee grounds
- ¼ cup sea salt
- ¼ cup brown sugar
- A few spoons of nettle oil (or olive/hazelnut oil)
Then apply the mixture to wet skin and massage gently.
Other tips: Use an exfoliant.
Our gentle, natural scrub exfoliates for instantly soft skin. For smoother skin, our nourishing formula with calendula macerate leaves skin feeling deeply hydrated.
4. Oil massages
©Unsplash
Massage yourself with draining oils!
Apply and massage until absorbed so that the oils penetrate well into all layers of the epidermis. Ideally, when the skin is still damp after showering for better absorption!
If you have treatments at a salon, ask your specialist to use your own oil with natural draining properties!
Luce's Tip: Try our "tonic" treatment oil with Nettle and Rosemary :
Invigorating Body Oil that tones and stimulates. It contains a blend of nettle and meadowsweet plant oils as well as essential oil with draining properties.
If you are pregnant, we recommend Nettle Oil which does not contain essential oils.
5. Cold water jets after showering
Cold water has a vasoconstrictor effect that increases blood pressure by constricting blood vessels. While showering or getting out of the bath, spray cold water from your ankles to the top of your thighs, from the bottom up.
Luce's Tip: To avoid too much temperature shock, gently lower the temperature gradually until it reaches freezing.
6. Lymphatic drainage
This is a very gentle massage performed by a licensed therapist that stimulates lymph circulation and helps eliminate various waste products through the lymphatic system. Several sessions are required, and it's a treatment that can be performed year-round to stimulate the body.
7. Hydrate sufficiently
Remember to stay hydrated daily! It's recommended to drink about 1.5 liters of water per day, which is equivalent to about ten glasses of water. If you suffer from cellulite or water retention, it's essential to improve your blood and lymphatic circulation to help your body eliminate toxins.
8. Adapted clothing cuts and textiles
One of the main factors that hinders proper blood and lymph circulation is the choice of tight clothing, which compresses the body and promotes the accumulation of cellulite. Ideally, especially in summer, you should wear looser-fitting clothing made from natural materials such as cotton, silk, linen, etc. Remember that the body needs to breathe!
The opinion of our expert Samuel Rayburn, Holistic Nutritionist (ASCA)
"Diet and drainage of the liver, intestines and skin are essential in addressing cellulite and water retention. For better circulation and elimination of endogenous (internal) and exogenous (external) waste, it is necessary to analyze the quality of our food, our hydration, our air and also to take into consideration our lifestyle because chronic stress creates a lot of endogenous waste."
"There are two circulation routes in our body, the blood and the lymph. To illustrate, the blood is the highway and the lymph is a residential area limited to 30 km/h. When there is a traffic jam, traffic can be paralyzed, some vehicles can overheat (inflammation) and break down or remain immobilized by other vehicles (fatty substances). So for better fluidity, we will have to decongest the liquids and for this, drain, detoxify and prevent other exogenous waste from clogging our internal circulation routes."
Samuel's Tips:
1) Choose fruits and vegetables (organic or untreated from your region) rich in vitamins and minerals.
2) Reduce salt and ask ourselves if we are not in “survival mode”, because this conditions our brain to store water and lipids.
3) Also reduce our glycemic index to prevent the pancreas from secreting insulin which transforms sugar into a poor quality fat and then stores it for possible need in case of famine.
4) Beware of refined sugar and poor quality and industrial lipids.
LEARN MORE ABOUT OUR NUTRITIONIST SAMUEL RAYBURN
Our products with draining plants
