Looking to lift and tone your body with a brand new sculpting regime? Don’t flash your plastic before you read our tried and tested reviews of some of the newest treatments around.
The Product
The Regen treatment.
The Promise
A brand spanking new revolutionary treatment for anti ageing, sagging skin and cellulite, the Regen treatment uses Tri Polar technology to sculpt, tighten and lift several areas of the body including the face, neck, jowls, bingo wings, stomach, thighs and bottom. It works by focusing radio frequency energy directly at fatty tissue deep in the skin, contracting collagen fibres for lift, plus heating and breaking down fat cells – no surgery necessary.
The Verdict
My therapist, Shenaz Shariff, massaged the treatment area (in my case, my butt) in slow circular movements, using what looks like a large brush, but with three metal prongs instead of bristles. The applicator heats up quite hot with radio frequency, and I could actually feel it penetrating my fat cells. It may sound like a medieval torture device, but it’s actually like a warm, rhythmical massage and it really works. Sceptical? Ask your therapist to let you compare your butt cheeks in the mirror after she’s done one side – you’ll notice it’s much perkier and firmer than the other! Even though the results are instant though, you’ll need a course of eight treatments for permanent results, plus occasional upkeep.
The Details
The Face and Body Clinic is located on London’s Harley Street. One 30-45 minute session costs £100, or for the larger thigh area £125 for 45-60 minutes. Visit www.thefaceandbodyclinic.co.uk or call 020 7436 3936.
The Product
Elemis Body Sculpting System
The Promise
Body Sculpting Lipo-Refining Serum and Body Sculpting Firming Cream are two new products that together form the innovative two-step Body Sculpting System from Elemis. The products use powerful ingredients like Bitter Orange Petal and marine extracts for drainage as an alternative to the commonly used Caffeine, which is actually a toxin. The Body Sculpting Firming Cream progressively smoothes and firms the skin using Peru Liana, Sea Fennel and Brown Algae to detoxify and inhibit fat storage, while the Lipo-Refining Serum uses a trio of marine and plant extracts, Laminaria Digitata, Theophylline and Cecropia Extract, to break down fatty deposits. Together, they inhibit fat storage, fight cellulite, help drain toxins and contour the body for a slimmer, more toned shape.
The Verdict
It does take a bit longer to apply two products rather than one regular moisturiser, but the creams leave your skin feeling really soft and moisturised, and they smell gorgeous. After about four weeks of applying the Body Sculpting System every morning and evening, I started to notice definite firming and toning results, and my skin felt more even and supple too. And like all the other products, I do think you’ll see even more drastic results if you use the system at the same time as stepping up the exercise and eating more healthily.
The Details
Body Sculpting Firming Cream 200ml/RRP £40. Body Sculpting Lipo-Refining Serum 200ml/RRP £40. Visit www.elemis.com
The Product
The PowerPlate
The Promise
It’s basically a toning fitness machine that vibrates incredibly fast, forcing your body to generate between 30 to 50 involuntary muscle contractions per second, rather than just one per rep during conventional training. A 25 minute session on the PowerPlate (which includes a warmup, stretching and massage) offers the same benefits as over an hour of working out intensively at the gym.
It recruits up to 97% of the muscle fibres during exercise, increasing your metabolism, reducing cellulite, improving circulation, flexibility and fitness and even improving your bone density, preventing osteoporosis. Trend-setter Madonna already has her own machine at home, but it’s not just a fad – vibration therapy was first developed by scientists to help keep astronauts fit, is medically recognised as a wellness machine and is often used for sports rehabilitation as it puts no pressure on the joints.
The Verdict
This is not a miracle cure, it’s an exercise regime, just much quicker and more efficient, and that’s what I liked about it. If you do it properly, it’s really hard work and you’re sweating by the end of your 25 minute session and incredibly stiff the next day – people who say they do their PowerPlate session in their work suits are either lying or simply not working! You do normal exercises like squats and push-ups on the machine, except that each lasts only 60 seconds and has far greater results.
To see real results, you have to keep it up two to three times a week. It’s toning rather than cardio, but obviously toned muscles make you look slimmer and burn more calories, so you will lose some weight too.
The Details
You can buy a home version from about £2,599 from John Lewis, but it’s best to learn how to use the PowerPlate with a trained instructor first. We recommend The Powervibe Studio in Notting Hill. The instructors are all professional personal trainers, who will tailor make your session to really compliment your personal fitness level and goals – ask for Veronica, she’s lovely. A 25 minute session in a workout group of 4 costs £20, a personal training session is £30 and home visits are £35. They also offer spinning classes. Visit www.powervibe.co.uk or call 0207 229 9614.
The Product
L’oreal NutriSummer Tone-Up
The Promise
L’oreal NutriSummer Tone-Up gradually builds a natural looking sun-kissed tan, while the caffeine boost firms and tones your skin.
The Verdict
As a self-tanner, I absolutely love this product. The tan builds up gradually, is easy to apply and looks really natural – plus it made my skin feel really moisturised, and unlike similar products it smells lovely. I’m not sure how effective it is at toning though. I noticed my skin did feel smoother and looked more even, but this is not the cream for you if you want to see real lifting and toning results.
The Details
L’oreal NutriSummer Tone-Up, £7.99. Visit www.lorealparis.co.uk
The Product
Bio-Oil
The Promise
Bio-Oil’s secret ingredient is PurCellin Oil, an excellent “carrier oil” for Vitamins A and E and other natural herbal ingredients such as lavender and chamomile, which helps fight stretch marks, uneven skin tone and sagging, ageing skin.
The Verdict
This isn’t a specific toning product, but I found that it really did reduce my stretch marks and tightened my skin, making it look unbelievably smooth and more toned. The oil takes a few minutes to absorb into your skin so it can be a pain if you’re in a hurry and it takes about a month before you see results, but it doesn’t stain your clothes and once you reach that point you will become totally addicted. I used to have noticeable stretch marks on my hips and it’s made them disappear almost completely over a period of about 3 months – plus it’s an amazing moisturiser for areas that need extra care, for example your décolletage.
The Details
Bio-Oil, 60ml £8.95, 125ml £14.95, 200ml £19.95. Available from larger Boots stores, Lloydspharmacy, Superdrug, Tesco’s and more.
The Product
ThalgoSculpt Firming Concentrate by Thalgo.
The Promise
ThalgoSculpt Firming Concentrate leaves your skin soft and targets sagging skin that is losing its elasticity and firmness. It uses active ingredients including Marine Pro-Collagen for restructuring and Shea Butter for moisturising and nourishing, so you’ll end up toned and sculpted, with gorgeous regenerated skin.
The Verdict
ThalgoSculpt has a lovely ginger scent and feels luxurious. It immediately makes your skin really soft and supple, and slowly makes it firmer. After a month, I definitely noticed my skin looked smoother and more toned.
The Details
ThalgoSculpt Firming Concentrate, 200ml RRP £42.00. Visit www.thalgo.com or call 0800 146041 for stockists.
