Cellulite, a skin dimpling on the thighs, bottom and stomach, occurs in around 80% to 90% of women, often regardless of body weight. For some women, it can be a significant aesthetic concern.
“Cellulite appears when the connective tissue beneath the skin weakens, causing fat deposits to push through and create that characteristic dimpled look, often on the thighs and buttocks,” said Oliver Wolf, head of marketing for EMEIA for health and nutrition at Gelita.
Collagen peptides to target cellulite
To tackle the beauty concern, the firm created Verisol Bioactive Collagen Peptides, targeting the skin’s structural integrity, not just its surface appearance.
Wolf explained that the product acts directly on the dermal matrix by stimulating the body’s own collagen metabolism.
“Clinical studies consistently show that Verisol supplementation helps reduce skin waviness, decreases the degree of cellulite and increases dermal density—all key factors in reducing the visibility and severity of cellulite,” he said.
According to Wolf, the technology supports the redevelopment of the dermal layers, strengthens the connective tissue and makes the skin look smoother and firmer from within.
Clinical evidence shows a daily dose of just 2.5 g provides significant improvements as early as three months into supplementation. These benefits increase with ongoing use, and the best studied outcomes were seen after six months of continuous daily intake.
As it addresses the underlying cause of cellulite—weakening of the skin’s connective tissue—rather than merely masking its appearance, it can help improve the look of cellulite across all grades of severity.
“In clinical trials, both mild and more pronounced cases of cellulite improved, although women with lower BMI tended to see slightly more pronounced results,” Wolf said. “In essence, no matter how advanced the signs, Verisol can make an appreciable difference from within for a smoother appearance.”
The most notable study titled “Dietary Supplementation with Specific Collagen Peptides Has a Body Mass Index-Dependent Beneficial Effect on Cellulite Morphology” (Liobet, 2015) was published in the Journal of Medicinal Food.
In this randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, 105 women with moderate cellulite consumed either 2.5 g of Verisol or a placebo daily for six months. The results showed clear improvements in skin waviness, cellulite degree and dermal density—supporting Verisol’s effectiveness. Furthermore, health claims for Verisol-associated benefits have been officially recognized in Canada, Brazil and Japan.
Like many nutritional interventions, continued use is key to maintaining results. Verisol’s effects on skin structure and appearance of cellulite are sustained as long as supplementation is continued. Once supplementation stops, the skin’s collagen metabolism gradually returns to its natural baseline, and the positive effects will begin to diminish over time.
Maritime pine bark for cellulite supplements
Swiss firm Horphag Research is also innovating in this space. Its French maritime pine bark extract, marketed as Pycnogenol, was evaluated in a clinical trial in China in a group of 60 Han Chinese women between the ages of 25 and 45.
The intervention group took a capsule containing 50 mg of French maritime pine bark extract in the morning and two capsules in the evening.
The daily dose of 150 mg was selected as it has been shown to be effective in previous studies, such as addressing edema in chronic venous insufficiency and skin resting flux in menopausal women.
In the 12-week, placebo-controlled study, participants who supplemented with Pycnogenol experienced a 13.6% reduction in cellulite severity, along with noticeable physical improvements: an average decrease of 2.07 cm in thigh circumference, a 32% reduction in skin roughness and an 11.2% increase in skin smoothness.
According to Sébastien Bornet, vice president of global sales & marketing at Horphag Research, these results “position this ingredient as a compelling option for formulators seeking evidence-based, dual-action solutions—supporting both internal and visible skin benefits.”
“It’s a science-backed alternative that can complement or reduce the need for invasive treatments,” he added, noting that its proven ability to improve skin structure and microcirculation also “makes it a strong candidate for pairing with other actives like collagen or antioxidants to create synergistic, results-driven body-care solutions.”
He revealed that the company discovered Pycnogenol’s potential for cellulite after years of research into its skin health benefits—particularly its ability to boost circulation, reduce inflammation and support collagen production.
Since poor blood flow and weak connective tissue are key factors in cellulite, it was a natural next step to explore its effects in this area, he explained.
Grape-based supplement to target cellulite
Another French ingredients specialist Activ’Inside also recently launched an ingredient in this space, Celluvine. Although it is primarily designed to reduce cellulite, it has also been found to reduce body fat, according to a recent consumer study.
The formulation combines a grape extract rich in monomers and viniferin with Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) and vitamin C.
The grape component is said to support the reduction of adipose tissue, enhance microcirculation and tackle oxidative stress. CoQ10 promotes skin elasticity and firmness through the stimulation of collagen production, and vitamin C works in synergy with CoQ10 to support collagen function and protect against oxidative stress.
In a two-month study conducted on 40 women between the ages of 30 and 50, Celluvine supplementation decreased “orange peel” appearance of the skin in 70% of women. It also reduced body fat mass by an average of 12.4% in 88% of study participants, supported weight loss in 80% of volunteers, with an average loss of 2.3kg, and minimized the circumference in at least one area of their body (98% of participants).
The effects persisted for up to one month after supplementation ceased, suggesting potential long-lasting benefits.
Tart cherry and chokeberry for cellulite
Another scientific study conducted by a team of researchers from the Institute for Medicinal Plants Research in Belgrade, Serbia and published in the journal Plant Foods for Human Nutrition, achieved promising results with a blend of tart cherry and chokeberry.
The researchers noted that cellulite is caused by diminished microcirculation, weakened connective tissues and enlarged fat cells, whereby all these disturbances are closely related to oxidative stress.
The study itself featured 20 women between the ages of 21 and 49 years with a mild level of cellulite. Over the 32-day study period, the women consumed both 60 mL daytime (DF) and night-time (NF) combination formulations with chokeberry and tart cherry juice as main ingredients.
Additional ingredients in each included red beet, rosehip and lion’s mane extracts (DF) and chamomile flower, lemon balm and reishi extracts (NF). The main chokeberry and tart cherry ingredients were purchased from Sljivko Healthy Food, which had no funding role in the study.
High-frequency ultrasonography was used to assess skin structure, and biochemical and anthropometric parameters were measured before and after supplementation.
The researchers reported that supplementation improved microcirculation and skin structure, suggesting benefits for anti-cellulite treatments.
Key findings included a reduction in skin measurements, as well as a reduction in the thickness of the dermis and subcutaneous fat.
“A reduction in the thickness of the dermis with subcutaneous fat tissue, subcutaneous fat tissue alone, epidermis and dermis with epidermis (15.02, 14.34, 21.98 and 20.94%, respectively) was noticed, while the length of the fascicles [a factor related to the appearance of cellulite] was reduced by 35.93%,” the researchers wrote.
In addition, 11 of the participants had dermal edema, at the outset of the study, which disappeared by the end of the treatment period—an outcome attributed to improved microcirculation as a result of the active components of the chokeberry and tart cherry juice. Both fruits contain high levels of anthocyanins, known for their antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and vasoprotective properties.
There was also a significant increase in the number of tissue doppler signals, indicating improved blood supply to the skin post-treatment and enhancement of microvascular function.