Do you find yourself sucking in your stomach when you look at yourself in the mirror? Or resisting certain foods because you don’t want to deal with the dreaded bloat? Whether your tummy bulge is a result of multiple pregnancies, yo-yo dieting or a lack of exercise, these beauty breakthroughs and expert tips may be just what you need to help keep your midsection slim and trim for good.
Can Aromatherapy Help Banish Belly Bloat?
We’re all familiar with the unpleasant feeling of a bloated belly—like a big, heavy balloon in your stomach that you just can’t pop. According to Hope Gillerman, founder of H. Gillerman Organics, essential oils can help to relieve this uncomfortable puffiness in a more natural way. “A blend of peppermint and lavender essential oils are an effective way to reduce bloating due to indigestion and IBS,” says Gillerman. “To reduce bloating due to fluid retention, use birch and cedarwood diluted in anti-inflammatory olive oil or grapeseed oil.” And how should you apply it? Gillerman says to use your belly button as the center of a clock and tap one or two drops of the oil blend on 12, 3, 6 and 9 o’ clock. “The effect is almost immediate,” she adds.
Inside Tip
Gillerman says you can also inhale a few drops of peppermint oil to reduce nausea from morning sickness and travel sickness.
THE BODY SHAPER
This body-shaping treatment helps smooth and improve dimpled areas around the waistline that beg for more of a contoured appearance while also refreshing the skin and diminishing visible signs of aging. Nu Skin ageLOC Body Shaping Gel, $49, nuskin.com
Why We Like It: It acts like a spa treatment but it targets aging and fat at the same time.
THE SKIN FIRMER
Hypoallergenic and packed with natural, safe ingredients, this rich yet lightweight body oil helps prevent stretch marks and loose skin throughout the early stages of pregnancy until three months after childbirth. Mustela Stretch Marks Care Oil, $30, skinstore.com
Why We Like It: It absorbs right into the skin, making it feel super soft and silky.
Target Unwanted Tummy Fat with Liposuction
If you have good skin tone, meaning you don’t have stretch marks or wrinkled, droopy skin, and you are bigger than you want to be in your middle but are faced with a few stubborn fatty areas that just won’t whittle away, liposuction may be the right choice for you. “Nowadays we’re seeing noninvasive technologies popping up in the market making claims to remove or reduce fat, but people want dramatic results, and you just don’t get them without surgery,” says Ellicott City, MD, plastic surgeon Daniel Markmann, MD. “Liposuction removes fat from under the skin so that the result is a slimming effect.” Plastic surgeons commonly perform liposuction on women who want the entire waist area treated, including the abdomen, waist and love handles. “Not only can liposuction make women smaller, but it can also be used artistically to define their natural contours for a healthy, ‘I’m in shape’ look,” adds Dr. Markmann.
Did You Know?
Liposculpture is a form of liposuction that provides enhanced body contouring through fat removal. “More and more women are requesting this procedure to give them curvy hips or six-pack abs,” says Dr. Markmann.
THE FAT BUSTER
Packed with seven clinically proven fat-burning ingredients, this potent slimming lotion helps shrink down the size your fat cells and give you a sleeker silhouette by increasing the breakdown of stored fat cells within your stomach. Mama Mio Get Waisted Body Shaper, $56, mamamio.com
Why We Like It: It tightens, softens and smooths with a fresh, minty scent.
THE SLIMMING SYSTEM
Designed to help you firm your midsection with a built-in ab-activating applicator, this toning tummy gel relies on circulation-stimulating ingredients to decrease bloating and slim your stomach. Bliss FatGirlSixpack, $38, blissworld.com
Why We Like It: We can use it along with our regular exercise routine to see enhanced results.
THE SKIN TIGHTENER
This rich, skin-tightening formula combines eight nourishing essential oils with powerful firming ingredients to restore density and reshape the skin for a visibly more toned physique. Decleor Aroma Sculpt Divine Rejuvenating Cream, $88, spalook.com
Why We Like It: The creamy texture makes skin feel incredibly smooth—it works great on dry and aging skin types.
THE ANTI-AGING ALLSTAR
Designed to help prevent multiple signs of aging while also helping firm the skin, this daily treatment features fruit acids to brighten, algae extracts to tone, essential oils to hydrate and vitamins to protect. Kerstin Florian Multi-Vitamin Firming Creme, $65, kerstinflorianusa.com
Why We Like It: A hefty dose of added antioxidants helps fight skin-damaging free radicals.
THE TUMMY TONER
Active ingredient caffeine helps burn and eliminate fat cells and refine body contours around the tummy area while claiming to smooth and tighten the skin over time for a healthy, toned appearance. Nip + Fab Tummy Fix, $19, ulta.com
Why We Like It: It dries quickly, leaving a cool, refreshing feeling on the skin without a goopy mess.
THE POST-WEIGHT-LOSS FIX
Ideal for use after weight loss to help firm slackened skin, this lightweight contouring gel-cream helps tone the skin by decreasing the inflammation of fat tissue. Phytoceane Sculpt’Intense Contouring and Firming, $72.50, phytoceane.com
Why We Like It: It absorbs easily and also helps reduce the appearance of cellulite.