Carrying a baby bump for nine months sure isn’t easy. Imagine how it taxes the body. Weight gain, feelings of massive bloating, nausea, swollen ankles and major backaches are obvious grievances pregnant women grumble about, yet once the baby’s popped, these symptoms tend to disappear. Lingering nuisances, however, include awful stretch marks and frightful cellulite that loiter on our bodies like white on rice. While I have already found a remedy that alleviates stretch marks (hello, Strivectin!), tackling cellulite is a whole other animal. Whether you are slender or a bit robust, you can still be prey to cellulite’s embrace. Talk about an equal opportunity employer.
From Saint-Malo, France, comes Phytomer to the rescue. This marine based skincare line has been around for nearly 40 years and has a brilliant track record. Aptly titled Phytomer (“ocean plants” in English), they have transformed the benefits of the marine world into beauty products that perform effectively and which never disrespect the environment. (Yay! Eco-friendly!) There are many similarities between sea elements and human skin, which pave the way for Phytomer products to be well tolerated and absorbed wonderfully by the skin.
The sea essential anti-cellulite treatment they offer is fantastic. Lasting for about an hour, it’s a two-part treatment that is hot and cold. The first part consists of the application of a self-heating marine mudpack that warms up nicely. While the mud is working on your body, it draws out all the impurities and stimulates the body to shed some of its surplus. Once the mud is rinsed off, an anti-cellulite cooling gel is massaged into the skin that helps drain out excess water and combats cellulite on problem areas. Marine peptides are used to act on cellulite and extra fat while algicelite, derived from seaweed, prevents fat deposits from forming and assists in cellulite disappearing. Waste is eliminated as the gel is massaged into the skin.
While you can definitely notice the treatment going from intensely warm to ice cold, the therapists who perform the treatments do all they can to make it as comfortable as possible for you. The music they played was perfect and the treatment room had a gentle, inviting smell of calm. I felt completely relaxed and was psyched for the treatment to work its magic.
I was measured before and after the treatment was performed on me and, let me just say, I was astounded with the results. The circumference of my arm subsided by half an inch, as did my waist. My hips deflated by three-fourths of an inch but surprisingly my thighs remained the same. I was elated that I looked more contoured and that my skin felt baby-smooth and firm. Simply blown away by the results, I’d jump at the occasion to have this treatment done again as the benefits were quite staggering. Yes, you can always hit the gym to get into shape but this is a perfect add-on to keep the blubber at bay without having to pump that iron.
So picture how svelte your mom must have been before she bore you and your sibs. This anti-cellulite Phytomer treatment can serve as a wonderful thank you gift for the nine months (and probably much more) she had to endure carrying you and as an ideal way for her to slim down. While you may cringe at your mom gaining MILF status, it would surely be all praises for her.
* * *
Phytomer treatments are available at the Getaway Spa, The Courtyard, 26 Sgt. Esguerra Street, South Triangle, Quezon City (tel. 928-9847/928-9539).