I'm not a big fan of multi-taskers (believing that they do two jobs in a mediocre fashion, rather than one job well), but I must admit that Lancaster has come up with a clever little combo. The Sunslim Body Programme features three products that each beat back cellulite whilst prolonging your tan.


There is Cellulite-Breaker Tan Stumulator, Cellulite-Burner Tan Booster (with SPF 15), and Cellulite Drainer Tan Prolonger. There are three sunscreen actives in Cellulite-Burner Tan Booster, all of which (as far as my research endeavors can tell) are relatively benign. Of the three, octinoxate comes with the most controversial baggage. A study on rats proclaimed it to be toxic, but a subsequent study concluded that the skin absorbs it in quantities way too small for it to be harmful. There is some speculation that it is estrogenic and should, therefore, be avoided by children and pregnant women. However, there isn't enough data to call it either way.

Amongst the inactive ingredients, ammonium acryloyldimethyltaurate/beheneth 25 methacrylate rosspolymer is enough of a mouthful to be scary. However, its just an emulsifier.

The cellulite crushers come in multifarious forms of caffiene. There is also niacinamide, a proven cell repairer. Arginine is an amino acid that plays an important role in cell division.

There are a good quantity of botanicals although I can't say they are proven to tackle cellulite or nurture a tan. Still there are some interesting ones that are worth calling out. Combretum micranthum seems to be a plant that has been much researched. It is an anti-inflammatory and antioxidant, according to documented studies. Ilex paraguariensis is a member of the holly family and widely drunk across south america in a brew called mate; it has been shown to have a relaxing effect on muscle tissue. I haven't found any uses for angelica archangelica in skin care other than as a fragrance, but I was intrigued to see that it could turn out to be a natural preservative. Gelidium Cartilagineum is a plant that is used as a purgative (so perhaps it can rid you of cellulite).

I have neither cellulite or a tan, so the package of all three products in tester-sized tubes isn't much use to me. If anyone wants it, leave a note in comments and promise to give us your feedback.

Ingredients in Lancaster Sunslim Cellulite-Burner Tan Booster

Active: Octinoxate (7.5%), Octisalate (5%), Octocrylene (1%)

Inactive: Water, Butylene Glycol, Alcohol Denat., Glycerin, Cyclohexasiloxane, Caffeine, Styrene/Acrylates Copolymer, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Beheneth 25 Methacrylate Crosspolymer, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/VP Copolymer, Ammonium Glycyrrhizate, Ananas Sativus (Pineapple) Fruit Extract, Angelica Archangelica Root Extract, Arginine HCI, Ascorbic Acid, Ascorbyl Palmitate, BHT, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Caprylic/Capric Triglycerides, Carbomer, Cetyl Hydroxyethylcellulose, Citric Acid, Coffea Arabica (Coffee) Extract, Coffea Arabica (Coffee) Seed Extract, Coffea Arabica (Coffee) Seed Oil, Combretum Micranthum
Leaf Extract, Copper Gluconate, Cyclopentasiloxane, Disodium EDTA, Disodium Succinate, Gelidium Cartilagineum Extract, Glycine, Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride, Hydrolyzed Soy Flour, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Ilex Paraguariensis Leaf Extract, Isopropyl Alcohol, Lecithin, Lespedeza Capitata Extract, Niacinamide, Opuntia
Coccinellifera Flower Extract, Ornithine HCI, PEG 4 Laurate, PEG 60 Almond Glycerides, PEG 8, Pongamia Pinnata Seed Extract, Propylene Glycol, Propylene Glycol Diethylhexanoate, Silica, Sodium Acetate, Sodium DNA, Sodium Lactate Methylsilanol, Sodium Polyacrylate, Sorbitol, Threonine, Tocopherol, Tyrosine, Ulva Lactuca Extract,
Butylparaben, Ethylparaben, Isobutylparaben, Methylparaben, Phenoxyethanol, Propylparaben, Parfum (Fragrance)