Beauty: Cellulite lotions have real summer ap-peel

WITH the Capital's shops displaying bikinis, kaftans and shades galore, there is no escaping the fact that summer is approaching – albeit slowly. However, when it comes to getting your body in beach shape, now is the time to get to work in the beauty department. Ah yes, it's cellulite time.

The orange peel, dimply phenomenon just won't leave those thighs and derrieres alone, and now occurs in an estimated 90 per cent of UK women. Even those young lithe ingenues are blighted with the cottage cheese effect which doesn't discriminate. It can be beaten, though.

In addition to regular aerobic exercise, resistance weights and quality nutrients, today's breed of lotions and potions will help improve the appearance of the skin. Crystal Clear's Body Firming Complex (32) offers a new "infiltration process" that helps to drain swollen tissue and boost skin tone – and it seems to work. A four-week trial revealed one tester less dimply in the thigh area and slimmer. Skin is smoother, too.

Soap & Glory's Slimwear body balm (9, Boots) is another potion winner which boasts of peptides to cut down on visible pocketing of thighs, as well as smoothing and firming the skin. Unlike many competitors, the balm isn't sticky and can be applied before dressing quickly. The best bit is that it smells pretty good, too, and you'll soon be swapping your traditional body cream for Slimwear.

If it's good enough for Reese Witherspoon, then it's good enough for us – Avon's Anew Clinical TriLaser Cellulite (17). It boasts hi-tech results and it also appears to deliver. One tester who is plagued with orange peel on her rear found that Avon's cellulite buster helped to firm up the area, create a smoother, more defined appearance, and even her clothes felt looser.

Then there's Nivea's Goodbye Cellulite (9.99, Superdrug), a gel-cream which the company claims deeply moisturises and reduces bumpy appearances within two weeks. Our tester, who wants smoother thighs for summer, was impressed with the non-greasy texture and scent, and felt her skin became baby soft, but dimpling was still noticeable.

The best instant camouflage, however, is the self-tan. Start by giving your skin a scrub-up to banish dead winter skin cells. Use an exfoliating shower gel or scrub to brighten your skin and work away the dull top layer of skin, before enveloping the skin in a rich body cream. Once the cream has sunk in, it's time to self tan.

Rodial's Brazilian tan (39, Harvey Nichols) has a natural glow, is non-streak on application and has no chemical colours. Also try Clinique's Quick Bronze Tinted Self-Tanner Mousse (13.50), Makebelieve Self Tan Lotion with Bronzer (25, Boots), Piz Buin Self Tan Light Mist (11.75), St Tropez Self Tanning Mousse (30, Boots), Biotherm Power Bronze (24), Ambre Solaire No Streaks Bronzer (10.99), and L'Oreal Sublime Bronzer (12.99).

The future is bright – and definitely not orange.