A cellulite cream should actually be referred to as an “anti-cellulite” cream, as the aim of the product is to reduce or eliminate the dimpled skin appearance of cellulite. Many people are now using a cellulite cream as a more affordable and safer alternative to medical procedures.

Creams and other cosmetics typically try to give the appearance of a smoother surface to the skin. No topically applied cream or product can penetrate the skin deep enough to actually eliminate cellulite. What a cellulite cream can do is make the skin look better by providing a diuretic effect where excess fluid is removed which leads to the skin having a tighter, smoother appearance.

Certain cellulite creams also claim other benefits such as the removal of toxins stored in fat cells, increasing local metabolism so that more fat is burned, decreasing in the size of fat cells and increasing in the elasticity and strength of your skin’s connective tissue. Most of these claims are only supported by anecdotal evidence and not backed up by any independent scientific research.

All cellulite products will claim to be the best on the market and better than the competition. The truth however is that most of these products are cosmetic products. As a general rule, consistency in application is important for any cellulite cream to show results. Cosmetic products however simply mask the cellulite problem temporarily, no matter how often you apply it on your skin. Once you stop using the product any effect that it has will be gone.

While many doctors are not convinced they help there have been some studies that support the notion that there are creams and lotions that have some effect. These studies pinpoint methylxanthines (one form of which is caffeine) as the key ingredient.

A study published in the journal “Dermatologic Surgery” in 1999 found that methylxanthine containing creams reduced fat cells in skin, with visible results in about eight weeks. The study found that the higher the concentration of methylxanthine, the better the cream worked.

Creams containing caffeine creams work to pull fluids out of the spaces between cells and induce lipolysis ( fat burning) in the layer just below the skin’s surface. It is thought that a good delivery system to drive the creams into the cells, like liposome technology, is also important.

Many cellulite treatments found in local stores are basically glorified skin creams. They either don’t contain any key ingredients such as caffeine, or don’t contain them in high enough concentrations to act on cellulite and your skin to diminish the appearance of the cellulite.

However there are products such as Revitol Cellulite Solution which contain an effective concentration of caffeine, and also offer a 90 day money back guarantee if you are not satisfied with your purchase.

While there are a variety of cellulite creams, gels, oils and other treatments that claim to help you reduce the appearance of cellulite, to have maximum effectiveness the use of a cellulite cream should also be combined with changes in lifestyle habits like diet and exercise.