Summer is just around the corner and you dream of having more toned arms that you’ll want to show off in the sun. Don’t panic! Here are a few simple ideas covering skincare, exercise and massage to help you look after this area.
With a balanced diet, good hydration and a few easy tips, you’ll be able to build new habits into your daily routine to take care of your arms for the long term.
Targeted skincare for your arms
First things first: you’ll need to adopt a daily routine of treatments specifically targeting the arms. To look after this area and improve the look of your skin, choose body creams that will help you care for your arms and suit your habits.
Among the skincare products available, look for those that contain actives used in body care, such as green tea, caffeine, guarana or cocoa.
How can you work a cream into your arm routine? A technique traditionally used on the thighs and stomach works on the arms too: the wrap using our body care products. The method involves applying your body cream in a thick layer over your arms, then wrapping them in cling film.
Leave it on for ten to thirty minutes. By repeating this beauty trick several times a week, you’ll be able to make it part of your routine. When you choose products, look at their active ingredients and pick formulas that suit what you want.
Toning your arms with targeted exercises
Beauty tips alone won’t do it all. It’s time to build muscle with regular physical activity.
See 7 exercises to work your arms
Swimming
Among the sports that help work and firm the arms, the number one is swimming. It’s a perfect sport for a regular routine, working much of the body, and a good complement to our tips on fat.
The contact of water on certain parts of your body feels like a massage. It also creates resistance that calls for more muscular effort.
Swimming works your arms, as it primarily engages the antagonist muscles. To intensify the effort, don’t hesitate to wear wrist weights.
Boxing
Boxing is another cardio workout that particularly works the upper body. The movements are short and sharp, targeting mainly the shoulders and arms.
Dancing
Like swimming, dancing is a sport that engages every part of the body. Set to music, it’s an activity that relaxes while actively working the muscles.
It also puts the arms to work through fluid, flowing movements that still deliver a muscle workout for the upper body, focusing on mobility and tone.
Weight training
Dumbbells are a real ally when it comes to arm work. With a short circuit, you’ll be able to string several moves together.
Try curls, standing butterflies and arm extensions. To round it off, use a chair to perform tricep dips.
Planking
The plank, also known as the active hold, works the biceps and shoulders. Just a few minutes a day can easily fit into your routine.
Facing the floor, rest on your forearms and the tips of your feet, holding the position using only the strength of your arms and core.
This exercise will work the deep muscles of the arms.
Massages for your arms
Alongside a body care treatment, you can spend a few minutes massaging your arms to round off your routine.
Here are several massage techniques that you can use on your arms, depending on your preferences and comfort.
To go with your massages
The cordless massager: 2 900 rotations per minute to stimulate your skin
- A deep mechanical massage: rotations and vibrations, up to 2 900 turns per minute, knead the skin on your thighs, stomach, arms and bottom
- 2 complementary heads: the ball head kneads deep down, then the wave head smooths and tones the surface
- 5 intensity levels on a touchscreen, a blue light, cordless and quiet
The pinch-and-roll
The pinch-and-roll method is certainly the most dreaded. Yet it has long been practised. It’s a technique that targets a fold of skin directly, on areas where the skin looks uneven.
How does it work? In practice, this technique can be done on your own, but it can also be performed, when you prefer, by a certified massage therapist.
They will grasp a fold of skin, then knead and roll it between their hands. We won’t pretend it’s the most comfortable experience — it can even be painful if the fat is stubborn and the cellulite long-standing.
However, in the long run, it’s a method that has always called for regular practice and is highly dependent on the right technique.
Kneading
As the name suggests, kneading involves using all ten fingers to work and knead the skin with back-and-forth movements while pressing on fat deposits.
This technique works particularly well on the arms, especially the underside. Since both hands are needed, it’s best to entrust this treatment to a professional. They will take a fold of skin and work it with firm but comfortable pressure, while the other hand pulls the skin in the opposite direction.
The goal: to make the skin feel more supple through regular movements and suitable pressure. This technique can be practised daily for around twenty minutes over six days, then once or twice a week thereafter.
It can complement your arm care routine and pairs well with the other massages covered here.
Lymphatic drainage
Lymphatic drainage is certainly the gentlest technique. What does it involve? It consists of applying light pressure to the targeted areas, following the natural movement of fluids in the body.
It is also a method reserved for professionals, as it involves the lymph nodes. If this technique appeals to you, book an appointment with a trained practitioner.
It can complement the other care steps for your arms, depending on your preferences.
Frequently asked questions
How can I lose arm fat?
No method can target a single area of the body. What you can do is combine a balanced diet, good hydration, regular physical activity and a skincare routine with massage to look after your arms. If you have a weight-related goal, ask your GP for advice.
Which sports are good for working the arms?
Swimming, boxing and dancing all get the upper body working. For a more targeted workout, a dumbbell circuit (curls, extensions, tricep dips on a chair) and planking are good options. Adjust the intensity to your fitness level and ask a professional for advice if you’re unsure.
Which massages can I use on arm cellulite?
The pinch-and-roll technique involves grasping a fold of skin and rolling it between your fingers; it can feel a little uncomfortable at first. Kneading works the skin with both hands. Techniques that involve the lymph nodes should only be carried out by a trained professional.
How do I massage the underside of my arms?
Kneading works well on this area: take a fold of skin and knead it with firm pressure, without going as far as causing pain, while the other hand pulls the skin in the opposite direction. As you need both hands, it’s easier to leave this to a professional.
How do I do an arm wrap?
Apply your body cream in a thick layer over your arms, wrap them in cling film and leave on for ten to thirty minutes. Remove the film at the slightest discomfort and stop the treatment if your skin reacts.
Useful categories: Slimming the Arms.
