For women, some of the most bothersome skin conditions that lead them to avoid wearing shorts and even mini dresses and skirts include spider veins, stretch marks and cellulite. Among the three, cellulite is the most difficult to reduce, but what causes it and what can you do about it?
Although most people assume weight gain causes cellulite, the exact cause(s) of cellulite are unknown. In fact, even slim or trim people can have cellulite, and those who have it and have lost weight have difficulty getting rid of it.
What we know about it is that when fat cells accumulate underneath the skin, it leads to cellulite. The dimpling is caused by the accumulating fat cells pushing against the fibrous connective tissue connecting the skin to the muscles underneath.
Cellulite is more common among women than in men, and it usually appears around the hips, thighs and buttocks. And although cellulite is nothing to be ashamed of, people have devised ways to minimise its appearance.
Some natural ways of reducing cellulite include a healthy diet and exercise. Of course, combined with anti-cellulite leggings you can wear to the gym or your workouts, the appearance of cellulite can be diminished.
You might also be interested in:
Activewear for Curvy Women
Compression Activewear
Anti-Chafing Shorts
What to Look for When Buying Anti-Cellulite Leggings
When out shopping for anti-cellulite leggings in Australia, the following features count the most:
- Stretch: The smoothening effect of the best stretchy anti-cellulite leggings help to hide the condition successfully, so you’ll look cellulite-free, even as you are working to reduce it.
- Compression: Compression gym leggings help with blood circulation and generating more heat during exercise.
- Fit: Buy only leggings that are true to your size. Wearing overly tight or too-small workout pants will only enhance the appearance of your cellulite.
- Fabric: Anti-cellulite textured leggings work fine. Moreover, synthetic fabrics that can reduce the appearance of cellulite significantly include neoprene and blends of polyester, elastane/spandex and polyamide.
- Thickness: Thicker fabrics work better at hiding cellulite.
- Colour: Darker colours can minimise certain imperfections, including cellulite.
Since cellulite is essentially fat cells pressing upward against the skin, exercise and subsequent weight loss are also known to help diminish the condition.
10 Best Leggings That Hide Cellulite
Looking for the best anti-cellulite tights in Australia? No worries.
We’ve reviewed and tested 10 of the best leggings that hide cellulite with the help of our in-house experts. Whether you are a size small, require a regular fit or plus size, this review offers something for everybody.
1. Xahara Active | Bootylicious Black Ribbed Leggings
Wearing black leggings is one of the ways you can keep cellulite (and other imperfections) from peeking through your workout clothes. These amazing leggings also feature mesh panels for maximum breathability.
These pretty Bootylicious Black Ribbed butt-lifting leggings can certainly help in camouflaging cellulite. Perfect for your summer and winter workout wardrobe, these stylish booty scrunch leggings can easily take you from the gym to the streets as you take casual strolls or go on your grocery run.
Main features:
This Xahara Active pair featuring a luxe design and an anti-roll waistband is made to ensure you enjoy carefree workouts with the right amount of support. With the right fit and attitude, it’s like your cellulite never existed at all.
What is more, this this pair is easy to mix and match with a variety of sports bras and tops.
Pros & potential cons:
2. DK Active | Elite Highrider Tight
Ready to slay those hundred burpees your trainer subtly threatened you with yesterday?
These fierce yet attractive dk active anti cellulite tights promise to take you from one hardcore gym workout to meeting your friends at brunch. The Elite Highrider tight emphasises your curves at just the right spot, whilst the high waist ensures you a comfortable, carefree workout every time. Made from performance fabric with a 4-way stretch and featuring an encased elastic waistband to prevent roll down, these tights feel like second skin yet help you confidently hide your cellulite underneath.
Main features:
Featuring two convenient side pockets, these lightweight yet durable workout pants will keep you cool, comfortable and dry after each yoga, Pilates, dancing or weight training session.
Pros & potential cons:
3. Base | Women’s Recovery Tights
Looking for compression that’ll help improve your performance? These leggings are sure to become part of your go-to workout ensemble.
The Base Women’s Recovery Tight is that special pair you’ll find yourself wearing over and over again. These bona fide squat proof leggings provide a firm compression fit that’ll smoothen your cellulite and improve circulation. Its high-rise waistband is designed to provide core support, whilst the high quality fabric ensures maximum blood circulation and cell recovery stimulation.
Main features:
These workout pants are perfect for any kind of workout, so you can bend, squat and perform sun salutations all day. Their compression feature also makes this pair ideal for running as it can help reduce muscle recovery time.
Pros & potential cons:
4. Squatwolf | Flux Leggings
If you’re the type who’s into black gym bottoms, you’re sure to fall in love with these best-selling anti-cellulite tights.
These Flux Leggings by Squatwolf would make a great addition to your basic workout pants collection. Engineered using the latest in fabric technology, these leggings have a seam-free waistband ensuring an ultra comfortable fit. The high compressive waistband provides support and ensures your pants stay in place no matter the moves you make while sweating vigorously on your yoga towel or pounding the pavement.
Main features:
These fabulous leggings feel like second skin. But no worries, they won’t give your cellulite a chance to reveal itself any time soon. Wear these on your next workout or for meetups with your gang.
Pros & potential cons:
5. Dharma Bums | Motion 7/8 Legging – Day Dream
Expand your fabric options with this sustainably made legging from Dharma Bums.
Set yourself free with this Motion Legging that’ll ensure a smooth, comfortable feel – cellulite or no cellulite. Sustainably made from made using 17 Recycled PET bottles, these leggings will see you kicking butt, squatting and bending for years to come. These 7/8 leggings feature built-in side pockets and non-slip waistband support. Move freely and with support with these functional tights, even when you need to get down and do those burpees or back leg extensions.
Main features:
Wear these comfortable and supportive leggings to your workouts or casual afternoon tea with your BFFs. Either way, you’ll be free to move without a care and nary a cellulite in sight.
Pros & potential cons:
6. Deezi Active | Maddy Leggings
Expand your legging style options with these Deezi Active leggings that are designed for extra support.
These high waist leggings by Deezi Active feature firm compression that’s guaranteed to enhance your form and keep your workout pants in place. Featuring contour stitching along the waistband and legs, you’re sure to love this pair’s figure-flattering design and ability to keep cellulite out of sight and out of mind.
Main features:
7. Carra Lee Collective | Palm Springs Body Luxe Capri With Pockets
Got your summer workout look on? These capri leggings make the perfect eye candy, literally.
Carra Lee Collective’s Palm Springs Body Luxe Capri With Pockets are contour shaping and the perfect support around the waist and body. Made from from CL signature Body Luxe fabric, these capri leggings are your perfect choice for workouts during warm-weather days. Featuring a waist-slimming high waistband, this pair is sure to keep your cellulite out of the view of prying eyes who’ll be too distracted by its delightful floral appearance.
Main features:
Whether you’re performing yoga poses and hiking up a hill, these eco capri leggings are guaranteed to keep you cool and comfortable all throughout the summer.
Pros & potential cons:
8. Deezi Active | Cheekiest of Charlie’s Leggings
Want to add some cheekiness to your monochromatic collection of black, blue and grey leggings but don’t know how to start?
Add a bit of booty lift to your workout wardrobe without going overboard with the Deezi Cheekiest of Charlie’s Leggings that feature a visually reduced waistline. Made from super soft Deezi performance fabric that combines polyester and spandex, these leggings are beloved for their second skin feel.
Main features:
Lose your cellulite worries and enjoy worry-free workouts with this stylish pair that has just the right hint of cheekiness. Wear these to the gym or when you go out running.
Pros & potential cons:
9. Ryderwear Rib | Evolution High Waisted Scrunch Leggings
Searching for a comfy pair of leggings you can wear at home and at the gym without sacrificing comfort and functionality?
Ryderwear’s Evolution High Waisted Scrunch Leggings are the perfect go-to versatile pair that gives your confidence a booster – whether you’re at the gym, salon, supermarket or quietly lounging at home. Made from premium four-way stretch and seamless fabric that combines the best of nylon and elastane, these leggings are designed to hug your body like second skin, giving support where it counts.
Main features:
Just like Ryderwear’s famous ribbbed leggings design, the leopard print design makes them the ideal camouflage for your cellulite concerns. Wear these to your cardio workouts, weight training, yoga or Pilates class, and everywhere else.
Pros & potential cons:
6. LaSculpte | High-Waisted Leggings with Pockets
On the lookout for the perfect pair that combines performance and style? Check out these made-for-shaping leggings that’ll keep your cellulite out of sight.
LaSculpte’s compressive and shaping leggings perfectly marry form and function and feature a built-in shaping powernet mesh at waistband for firm tummy control. There are two convenient side pockets that help keep your small essentials. These high-waisted running leggings have a shiny reflective appearance for added visibility even in the dark.
Main features:
The fact that these leggings are made from sustainable recycled polyester could add an extra spring in your step as you hit the road. You’ll also benefit from their compressive quality – something you’ll need for faster recovery after long training runs.
Pros & potential cons:
Cellulite-Showing Leggings vs Anti-Cellulite Leggings – What’s the Difference?
Some factors to consider in differentiating cellulite-showing leggings from anti-cellulite leggings include:
1. Compression
Compression tights help enhance blood circulation, so your muscles recover faster after a strenuous workout. Normal leggings provide no such benefit. Another massive benefit of compression wear, is that it boosts muscle oxygenation and performance.
2. Thickness and Transparency
Leggings that hide cellulite are usually made of stretchy or thick material as well as patterned or textured fabrics (e.g., rib or print fabrics) can hide cellulite very well. But unlike thick workout leggings that hide cellulite, leggings that show it tend to be made from flimsy, sheer fabrics.
3. Colour
Curious to know about how to hide cellulite under white pants? Either opt for white leggings made of thick material or wear black anti-cellulite leggings instead.
Reserve the revealing white pants for later when you’ve reduced your cellulite. Another solution would be to wear long hoodies over your white pants; but then, would you be able to work out comfortably? It’s your call.
4. Waistline and Length
The best gym leggings to hide cellulite feature a high waistband. However, there’s more flexibility with the length, so you can wear full-length and capri leggings that conceal cellulite, especially since cellulite is usually confined to the hips, thighs and buttocks.
Bonus Tips on How to Hide Cellulite in Leggings
Aside from wearing anti-cellulite compression tights and sports leggings that hide cellulite, other tips you can apply to achieve a similar effect include:
- Wearing shapewear or the best Spanx to hide cellulite
- Faking a tan if you’re light-skinned as cellulite creates shadows on the skin surface
- Putting on a pantyhose with your leggings – although this can be uncomfortable if you’ll be working out.
So, if you’ve ever wondered about how to hide cellulite in leggings or how to hide cellulite on the thighs, we’re hoping we’ve given you some useful answers and easy solutions here.