Shopping for an outfit to wear to a wedding should be fun, but it can be stressful and upsetting if you’re self-conscious about ‘problem areas’ like your upper arms or chest. Whether you’re worried about skin laxity and sagging, wrinkles, or perhaps even stretch marks, many dresses will show off these areas, with low cut or strapless designs, and the last thing you want is to feel uncomfortable on what is supposed to be a happy day! Read on for our advice on how to feel better about yourself, no matter what you choose to wear.
Exercises to firm and tone
There are lots of simple exercises you can do to help to firm your upper arms. Here’s a short routine to get you started. You don’t even need to buy any equipment; all you’ll need is two tins of soup or baked beans from the cupboard – although if that’s too light for you, it’s a good idea to invest in a pair of weights!
1) Arm circles. This is your warm up. Start with your feet shoulder width apart, and stand up tall. Lift your arms out to your sides, so that they are parallel with the floor. Now, slowly move your arms in small forward circles. When you’ve done 30, stop and change direction, to do 30 backwards circles. This tones your biceps, triceps and your back muscles.
2) Shoulder press. Take your tins or weights, and hold them by your sides. Curl your arms up towards your shoulder, and from there, press your arms up above your head, still holding the tins. Repeat this 15 times, then take a ten second break, repeat this two more times. This exercise works the biceps.
3) Triceps extension. Take your weights and hold them above your head. Now bend your arms behind your head, so that the tins are lowered down, as far as you can get them towards the nape of your neck (your ponytail might get in the way!). Bring them back up above your head by engaging your arms and pushing upwards. Repeat the same number of times as the shoulder press. This works the triceps, which are the muscles at the back of your arms.
Oil massage for even skin
Stretch marks on the arms are very common and can cause a lot of insecurity. But you can help to reduce their appearance by massaging a plant oil, like vitamin A-rich rosehip oil, into the skin. This will stimulate cell renewal to help replace the stretched tissue with new, healthier skin.
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Radio Frequency to restore youth
Developing and maintaining upper body strength is really important for your overall health, and it will help to give your arms a firmer appearance, but major change can take a while to become noticeable. The same goes for oil massage – it will help to reduce the appearance of stretch marks, but the effectiveness is limited. If you’re truly worried about skin laxity or stretch marks on your arms and chest, you will likely also want a cosmetic treatment to help your skin look its best.
How does it work?
SkinBase Radio Frequency works in a way that not even skincare and exercise can compare to; it actually stimulates the skin’s natural healing mechanisms, to reverse ageing or scarring.
During a Radio Frequency Treatment, a specialised wand is passed over the skin and gently heats the lower layers of the skin, tricking the body into thinking there may have been an injury. This causes the body to flood the skin with healing collagen, as well as realigning the elastin fibres in the skin. By doing this, the skin’s structure becomes fortified and blemishes are healed, to effectively reduce skin sagging, stretch marks and wrinkles for firmer, smoother, younger looking skin. Radio Frequency has also been shown to reduce fat cells, so it’s the perfect complement to your exercise regime!
If this isn’t within your budget then you can simply choose outfits that will make the most of the features you do love to help you feel less self-conscious. But also try to remember, people are generally too busy worrying about themselves to pay attention to you and your worries. Read more about Radio Frequency Treatments here.
Image:istock.com/Halfpoint
