Shapewear

First, we hope all our customers, suppliers and other partners are getting through this crisis as safely and healthily as possible. With all the isolation and uncertainty, we thought we’d take this opportunity to reach out, let you know how we’re doing, and hopefully hear back from you in the comments. We’re Open for Business Considering the challenges faced by many businesses, we are very lucky. As an online, ecommerce business, our operations have not been affected as much as many other companies.  In remaining open during the crisis, our first priority is to protect the health and safety of our employees and their families.  We have kept a close watch on the guidelines and regulations put in place by local, national and international governments and healthcare authorities, and we put all the best practices in place. We’re Ready to Help You Keep Looking Great! While we all have far more important priorities right now than how we look, we think it’s important to maintain as much normalcy in our lives as possible to help us get through this thing, as long as we can do so safely.  If putting on one of our anti-cellulite shapewear garments helps you look and feel better, then we feel that’s really helpful. You might not have washed your hair for a couple days, but you can still look fabulous! We are well-stocked and continue to ship all our products, including Mass & Slim Anti-Cellulite Shapewear, Premium Compression Shapewear, and Sankom Posture-Correcting Shapewear.  Free Shipping Too! (But it May Take a Little Longer to Get There) As always, you get free standard shipping to the U.S. and Canada on every purchase. But, while we ship your orders as fast as we can, the USPS is experiencing slight delays and you may receive your package a few days late.  If you have any delays in receiving your orders, please let us know by email at info@theblackpurple.com.  You can also visit the official USPS website for Coronavirus updates on their service delivery. Until next time, please stay safe & healthy. Again, if you’d like to, please let us know how you’re doing in the comments.

While it sounds complicated, the word ‘lymphedema’ clearly describes the condition that it names. “Edema” is the medical term for swelling. “Lymph” refers to the lymphatic system, through which lymph fluid helps drain away impurities from your body. So lymphedema is swelling in parts of your body, usually in your arms or legs, that is due to a problem with your lymphatic system and its ability to drain away fluids.  Lymphedema can be caused by a genetic condition but is most often an unexpected, uncomfortable and long-term symptom of cancer surgery, radiation therapy, infections, arthritis, cardiovascular diseases, or bodily injuries and trauma.  For those who suffer from it, reducing their lymphedema and the associated pain and discomfort, can be a constant pursuit. More Ways That Compression Leggings help Reduce Lymphedema We’ve already told you about some of the direct benefits of compression leggings for treating lymphedema.  Compression wear like Active Slim Compression Leggings can help reduce swelling, support the affected limb and offer longer treatment times, versus medical-grade compression garments. But there are extended benefits that sufferers should consider too. Less Discomfort - If there is one issue that may be tougher to deal with than others, it is the constant discomfort from the swelling, which can affect everything you do, from your mobility to getting a good night's sleep. With the reduction in swelling they offer and the support they provide, the leggings reduce the discomfort of lymphedema. Faster Recovery - While lymphedema can be a permanent condition, there are treatments to reduce the swelling and help sufferers lead a relatively normal life. Compression leggings can speed-up the process. More Activity - Exercise is one of the main forms of treatment for lymphedema. But it can be difficult and painful due to the swelling. By supporting the added weight in your legs, not only will the leggings reduce the swelling, but they will help you be more active to lower it even more. To learn more about how to reduce lymphedema swelling, check out our article “How To Treat Lymphedema At Home”.

Yes, just about every woman has cellulite. Yes, you know it's normal and it doesn’t mean anything is wrong with you. Yes, you can see through all the “get rid of cellulite” hype. But none of that means you wouldn’t mind if you could at least reduce the appearance of your cellulite. Cellulite appears when the layer of fat beneath your skin pushes up around strands of your skin’s connective tissue to produce the dimpling of your skin, variously known as the ‘orange peel effect’, ‘cottage cheese’ and ‘hail damage’.  2 Ways Compression Garments Help Reduce Cellulite So, if cellulite happens because of the interaction of your skin with the layer of fat below it, improving either one will help reduce the appearance of cellulite. And compression wear, like Secret Slim Compression Shorts, are clinically-proven to reduce inches around the areas they cover and improve the appearance of cellulite on your skin. Here’s how. Anti-Cellulite Effect - You get an anti-cellulite effect from a combination of the seaweed-based 3D ceramic fiber and cosmetics-infused microcapsules. The active ingredients in the microcapsules are released as you move and the ceramic fibers help generate heat. The result is better-looking skin and increased fat loss. Micro-Massage Affect - As you move, the 3D knit fiber of Secret Slim creates a massaging effect. The massaging effect, in turn, stimulates your blood and lymphatic flow. Your blood brings healthy oxygen and nutrients to help strengthen your skin and make it more elastic, which makes it look smoother, and your lymphatic system takes away impurities that can slow down fat loss. Another bonus of Secret Slim shorts is the instant body contouring reshaping effect you get the moment you put them on. And that does wonders for how you feel about yourself too. To find out more about reducing your cellulite, check out our article “3 Customized Ways to Reduce Cellulite According to Your Body”.

There will be no other time in her life when a woman will experience the same emotional and physical roller coaster of giving birth. At once, it's an indescribably amazing sense of excitement, joy and love to actually hold and meet the person you conceived and carried for nine months. But you can also have some concerns about the days to come and parenting. And you may be relieved to be free of the physical burden, but still worried about if you’ll ever lose the “baby weight” and get back to normal. 4 Ways Compression Leggings Helps New Moms Get Back into Shape Fortunately, there is one thing that can help you get back into your pre-pregnancy shape, both emotionally and physically. Compression wear, including Active Slim Compression Leggings, helps you look and feel better in a number of ways. Supports Stressed Muscles - From your abdomen to your legs, your body has just endured incredible stress. Your abdominal and pelvic muscles and skin have been extended way beyond their normal range of motion; to the point where they won’t “bounce back” like normal. By tightening your belly, hips and waist, compression wear stabilizes your muscles and skin, and reduces the discomfort that can accompany your recovery. Improves Posture - By helping support your lower back and hips, compression wear also helps you maintain better posture, which can further reduce muscle and joint stress. Helps You Look & Feel Better - In addition to adding flattering shape the moment you slip them on, and keeping everything “in place”, compression garments also help reduce the swelling that can occur after you deliver your baby. You won’t be afraid to look in the mirror and you’ll feel better about yourself. Speeds Up Your Recovery - The combination of support for your body, reduced swelling and an improved look adds up to faster recovery times after the baby is born. If you want to find out more about the benefits of compression leggings, check out our post “4 Reasons Why You Should Wear Compression Leggings”.

You hear it touted as a benefit of everything from acupuncture and massage therapy to strength training and jogging. Improved circulation, including blood and lymph flow, can deliver lots of benefits too.  But what if you don’t want someone to stick tiny needles in you; or you don’t have the time for regular massages, or the idea of working out is out of the question, and don’t even mention jogging? Fortunately, there is one easy, comfortable way to improve your blood and lymph flow. Compression garments, including Secret Slim Compression Shorts, use a bi-ceramic fiber and unique 3D honeycomb fabric structure to exert a gentle massaging effect on targeted areas of your body as you wear them.  Comfortable enough to be worn for eight hours or more, compression shorts are like getting an all-day massage. Benefits of Improved Blood Flow It's no secret that your heart pumps blood through your lungs to carry oxygen all over your body. But how does the increased blood flow from compression shorts help you? Can Reduce Cellulite - Oxygen itself is important for your skin. The more it has, the stronger it gets, which makes your cellulite less noticeable. More Skin Elasticity - In addition to the variety of nutrients brought to the skin by your blood, it also stimulates the production of the hormone collagen, which gives your skin more wrinkle-reducing elasticity Benefits of Improved Lymph Flow  Not as well-known as blood circulation, lymph flow works in much the same way. But instead of bringing healthy nutrients to your skin, lymph fluid removes toxins, lactic acid and other waste materials, while also fighting infections. Better lymph flow paves the way for the nutrients brought to the skin in your blood to do their work in making your skin look better, instead of having to deal with all the nasty stuff that’s removed by your lymph system. To learn more about the benefits of compression wear, check out our article “4 Reasons Why You Should Wear Compression Leggings”.

If you’ve never had them before, leg swelling can make you think you're putting on weight because your pants, stockings and socks seem to be fitting tighter than usual. If you’ve had swollen legs for a long time, you may avoid some activities, even walking, because of discomfort, or you might not like to wear anything that shows your legs. In any case, you have edema, or fluid buildup, in your legs. Swollen legs can have a variety of causes, including damaged lymph nodes (lymphedema), some medications, eating too many salty foods, pregnancy, damaged veins in your legs, or kidney damage.    How to Reduce and Prevent Swollen Legs You should always talk to your doctor if you notice your legs swelling. They may recommend one or more of the following things that you can do to help prevent leg swelling and/or reduce its symptoms Activity - Keeping active, especially with the muscles in the area of your body affected by the edema, can help move the excess fluids. Elevate Your Legs - You can put gravity to work by elevating your legs above the level of your heart to help drain the fluid. Wear Compression Leggings - Compression wear, like Active Slim Compression Leggings, helps reduce swollen legs in many ways. They help to improve circulation and remove the existing fluid buildup while helping to prevent more fluids from entering the affected areas. Reduce Your Salt Consumption - When you eat too much salt, your body produces more fluids to counteract its effect. While some sources of salt in your diet are obvious, like if you can’t imagine dinner without a salt shaker in front of you, others are not. Most of us don’t realize how much salt we get from things like processed foods (check the nutrition label on your next can of soup), and even ice cream.   If you’d like to find out more about lymphedema, check out our article “The Benefits of Compression Leggings for Lymphedema”.

Plastic surgery seems to suffer a bit of an image problem. Often called cosmetic surgery, because it is used to improve a patient’s appearance in some way, most people associate it with nose jobs, facelifts and tummy tucks.  But not so many people know the other common name for plastic surgery: reconstructive surgery. Burn patients, those who have had tumours removed and people who suffer severe facial injuries depend on plastic surgery to improve their condition as well as appearance. Regardless of whether the surgery was for an abdominoplasty (tummy tuck) or to repair scar tissue from a burn or surgical procedure, compression leggings are ideal for post plastic surgery recovery.  3 Benefits of Compression Leggings for Plastic Surgery Recovery Times Compression leggings, like Mass & Slim’s Active Slim Compression Leggings, offer one big benefit for post-op patients. They help speed up recovery times. But that’s just the first of many benefits of compression wear. Before we begin, it's important that patients consult with and follow the advice of their plastic surgeon for all aspects of their post-op care.   Reduces the Risk of Seroma - Seroma is the collection of fluid in a pocket under the skin after surgery. By exerting gentle pressure on the entire area, compression garments reduce the chance of the pockets forming and collecting fluid. Improves Circulation - Your blood and lymph fluids bring oxygen and nutrients to the affected area to help it heal, and they remove toxins and inflammation-causing agents that can make recovery less comfortable. Compression leggings promote blood and lymph flow. Better Body Contouring - While cosmetic surgeons are skilled at proportionally contouring the area, they have no control over what happens after you leave the medical center. Contour issues can emerge and, if everything isn’t held in place by compression wear, the issue might heal that way and be permanent. You can learn more about the benefits of compression wear by reading our article “4 Reasons Why You Should Wear Compression Leggings”.

In your search for answers for reducing the appearance of your cellulite, you’re probably tired of reading headlines like “foods to eat to get rid of cellulite”, or “X exercises to blast away cellulite”. If so, even the headline of this article might make you a little suspicious. For the record, this post is written with the following truths in mind. There is nothing wrong with having cellulite. You can never get rid of cellulite. There are no particular foods or exercises that will zero-in on reducing the appearance of your cellulite.  But all that doesn’t mean there’s nothing you can do about your cellulite.  The Best Things You Can Do to Reduce Cellulite The following guidelines will help you set the stage for cellulite reduction. Get the Right Mindset - Cellulite is a physical thing, but it can cause serious emotional issues. Instead of looking for fast, “get rid of” solutions, prepare yourself mentally for two things. One, your cellulite is not worth the effect it has on your life so stop beating yourself up about it. Two, you can take action. Eat Healthily - Starting with a balanced diet, the more healthy food you eat, the better. Extra weight can make your cellulite more pronounced. Eating a healthy, balanced diet, or, perhaps more importantly, avoiding unhealthy, processed foods, is a great first step to reducing the skin dimpling you hate so much. Not to mention all the other health benefits of healthy, nutritious food. Get Active in Any Way You Can - It would help if you found a personal trainer and went to the gym three or four times a week. But, if that’s just not you (and it isn’t most people) don’t let that stop you from doing something. Try to find a way to get regular activity. If you can’t bring yourself to walk, jog or ride a bike, see if there’s an activity at the local community centre that appeals to you. Try yoga. Park further away from the mall entrance. Anything that involves more movement.Even if the idea of any extra activity triggers your anxiety, there are still things you can do. Anti-cellulite compression shapewear like Active Slim Compression Leggings, is clinically proven to decrease the appearance of cellulite and its comfortable enough to wear all day.  To learn more about compression wear, check out our article “Using Compression Wear for Weight Loss”.

Wondering if compression leggings are worth it? Learn how they differ from regular leggings in fit, function, and health benefits so you can make the right choice.

We all want to get the most from every workout because we see the amazing difference they can make to our fitness, health, and even how we look. If that even partially describes your workout goals, then you must ask yourself one thing. Why am I working out in regular shorts when I could be swapping shorts for compression pants?  5 Benefits of Swapping Shorts for Compression Tights During Your Workout  Wearing compression clothing during your workouts, including The Black Purple’s Secret Slim Compression Shorts and Active Slim Compression Leggings, helps you improve your workout in the following ways. Reduces Muscle Fatigue - You know you’ve had a good workout when you just couldn’t do another move. But what if you could? Compression gear helps to increase blood flow and circulation, which helps reduce the lactic acid build up that causes muscle fatigue and soreness. Reduces the Risk of Stress and/or Strain - You know what it feels like when you go a little too far with a move, or for a little too long. Wearing compression garments keeps your muscles and tendons in the right place, which helps reduce strains and other injuries. Faster Recovery - When you can’t help but take some time off due to an injury or sprain, you can’t wait to get back at it. Compression wear also improves lymph flow, which gets rid of the impurities that cause the debilitating soreness that’s keeping you out of action.  More Oxygen in Your Blood - Your muscles run on oxygen. By improving your circulation, compression wear helps increase how much oxygen your blood delivers to your muscles, which helps you work out longer and harder. You Look Great - Yes, we know this isn’t what your workout is about. But it doesn’t hurt! Compared to regular gym shorts and common leggings, compression shorts and leggings give the body parts they support a flattering shape. If you enjoyed this post, check out our recent article about three benefits of compression during pregnancy.

If you love the comfort and versatility of wearing leggings, it's time to turn it up a notch. When you wear compression leggings, you don't just get the look and feel you want, you’ll get a lot more things you’ll love.  Why You Should Wear Compression Leggings Leggings are great. Compression leggings are better. Here’s why.  They Were Developed for the Medical Benefits of Compression - Among other applications, compression clothing is used in the medical field to help those with low blood pressure and/or poor blood circulation following surgical procedures. They Can Help You Be More Active - Compression leggings apply pressure to your legs that support muscles to reduce muscle soreness and fatigue. When you add the fact that some compression leggings, including Mass & Slim’s Active Slim Compression Leggings, are comfortable enough to wear all day, it means you can be more active throughout the day.Compression wear has been shown to boost your post-exercise or post-workout muscle recovery so you can get back at it sooner. Many athletes wear compression garments for improved athletic performance. An Instant Slimming Effect - If there’s one downside to regular leggings, it’s that they are not always flattering. But compression wear helps to add shape and dimension from the moment you put them on. Cellulite Reduction - In addition to the support you get from compression wear, the Active Slim Compression Leggings also exert a massaging action on your skin. That helps further improve lymph and blood flow, which, in turn, can bring strengthening nutrients to your skin that can reduce the appearance of cellulite. They have also been shown in independent clinical trials to reduce the circumference of target body parts, including hips and thighs. If you enjoyed this post, check out our recent article “3 Benefits of Compression During Pregnancy”.

To get a really quick idea about what happens to your skin when you don’t drink enough water, think about a prune sitting beside a plum. When you see them together, it’s difficult to believe that the prune used to be a plum.  In a way, a prune is a plum that didn’t get enough water! Plums are about 87% water. While the human body is at only 60%, it’s still mostly water. So if you don't maintain those levels, it can affect your body in many ways. And its effects on your skin can be seen by everyone. This is Your Skin When It’s Dehydrated At 64%, your skin has a higher percentage of water than your overall body, so it benefits from proper hydration that much more. And it shows the symptoms of dehydration that much more too. Makes Your Cellulite More Visible - Without enough water, your skin can show more cellulite for two reasons. First, lack of water makes your skin weaker and less elastic, which means it will dimple easier. Second, less water means less support for your skin from below, which also increases the appearance of cellulite. More Wrinkles Appear - There are no wrinkles on a plum! IN addition to the extra elasticity that water gives your skin, it also helps plump, or “fill up” your skin’s cells to reduce wrinkling. Increased Complexion Complications - Water helps reduce conditions like acne, eczema and psoriasis not just due to its effects on the skin, but also by maintaining your skin’s pH balance and by flushing toxins from your body. You’ll Be More Itchy - Water moisturizes dry skin to reduce flakiness and the itching it can cause, including dry scalp and dandruff. Even if you drink more water and reduce the appearance of your cellulite, you still may not be happy with it. That’s when you need to instant benefits of shapewear like Mass & Slim’s anti-cellulite leggings, which add flattering shape and support the moment you put them on.   If you enjoyed this post, check out our recent article “Is Bone Broth a Cellulite Fighter?”.

In the midst of all the hype, magic cures, lotions that melt away cellulite and whatever other empty promises are being made, we promise that the methods listed below to help reduce the appearance of cellulite will be customized for each person who reads this post. Bet you’ve never read another “reduce cellulite” post with that claim before! So let’s get to the tips.  Use These Tips for Your Very Own Personalized Approach to Cellulite Reduction Like anything else, the effort you make will be reflected in the results you get. Increase Your Physical Activity - Wait. What? How is that personalized to you?! But hear us out. First, don’t follow any specific exercise program, especially those that make claims like “blast your belly fat”. Of course, increased activity burns more calories, which can reduce the fat deposits under your skin that form your cellulite. But few of us like sticking to most exercise programs because, sure enough, one or more of the exercises or activities will be difficult for us to do - or we might just not like doing them. Instead, create your own exercise program. Find exercises that you’re comfortable with. Put a few of them into your personal program, and you’ll be more likely to stick to a routine. Eat a Healthier Diet - You’re catching on to what we’re doing here, right?! It's always tough to give up all the delicious foods that are bad for us. So don’t. Start with just one, and find a healthy substitute that you love almost as much. Have you ever tried carrots and hummus? Bet you can’t eat just one! If you substituted your TV-time snack of 200 grams of potato chips for 200 grams of carrots and hummus, you will reduce your calorie intake by 800 calories! (200 grams of chips = 1,072 calories) (200 grams of hummus and carrots = 207 calories - and not to mention all the great vitamins and minerals!). Find something healthy that you like to eat and start eating better from there.  Be Good to Yourself - Yes, do it. You deserve it. Just start being kinder to yourself in some small way. Treat yourself to anti-cellulite shapewear, like Mass & Slim Shapewear Leggings, that give you flattering shape every time you put them on. Celebrate every single win. Lost a pound today? Fabulous!Or try this, if you hear the negative talk starting up in your head, especially about your body, become more mindful of it and ask yourself, “would I talk to anyone else that way?”. Let the answer be your guide to how you talk to yourself. More self-respect will help you focus and have a more realistic attitude about your cellulite, and how to reduce it. If you enjoyed this post, check out our recent article about how to make coffee scrub for cellulite.

How would you feel if someone posted a photo of you, one that shows your cellulite, on all the most popular websites around the web? Even your Mom can’t miss it.  To say you, or anyone, would be mortified is an understatement. But the times are changing and the body positivity movement is pushing us to embrace the bodies that we’re born with. Today, if you posted a photo of yourself baring your cellulite for all the world to see, that would be #celluLIT!  What is #celluLIT? We’ve written more than once about Ashley Graham and her efforts to support the body positive movement by posting unfiltered images of herself, cellulite and all. While some other celebrities took up the torch, it’s not like images of anyone sporting their cellulite started trending on social media, or anywhere else for that matter. But Demi Lovato may have found a way to change all that. As anyone who uses it knows, social media posts go nowhere unless they are tagged with a generous number of hashtags, which can represent the content of the post and/or a trending topic or meme.  In a recent Instagram post to her 74.2 million followers, Lovato stood backing the camera in a leopard print bikini. She wrote “this is my biggest fear. A photo of me in a bikini unedited. And guess what, it’s CELLULIT!!!!” View this post on Instagram A post shared by Demi Lovato (@ddlovato) on Sep 5, 2019 at 5:30pm PDT   Lovato ended the post with a recently trending hashtag: #celluLIT.  Media coverage of the post credited Lovato with being an inspiration to her fans. And that isn’t fake news. As of this writing, the post has been “liked” 9.3 million times (keeping in mind that each IG account can only “like” a post once), and its drawn 317,000 overwhelmingly positive comments. But perhaps best of all, there have been over 25,000 posts to Instagram using the #celluLIT hashtag. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Carrie Dayton (@daytoncarrie) on Sep 26, 2019 at 6:30pm PDT   Whether or not you’ll ever join the #celluLIT trend, celebrating your cellulite doesn’t mean you can’t wear shape-flattering clothing when you want to. Our Secret Slim Compression Shorts not only add instant shape the moment you slip them on, but they are clinically-proven to help reduce the appearance of cellulite and reduce inches in targeted areas of your body. The gentle compression helps with blood and lymph fluid flow to help the body get rid of excess fluid and toxins. If you enjoyed this post, check out our recent article “Is Bone Broth a Cellulite Fighter?”.

Symptoms of lymphedema can range from mild to severe. Any prolonged swelling in affected areas, usually the arms or legs may be signs of lymphedema. Other symptoms can include a heavy and/or tight feeling, reduced range of motion, pain or discomfort, chronic infections and, perhaps most seriously, lymphangiosarcoma, which is a rare form of cancer that can result from severe, untreated lymphedema. The areas affected by lymphedema can add to the symptoms you suffer. For example, lymphedema in one of both of your legs can make it difficult to walk or even get out of a chair. How Compression Leggings Treat Lymphedema Symptoms  Compression leggings, including Mass & Slim’s Active Slim Sports Leggings, are a recognized way to treat many symptoms of lymphedema. Reduce Swelling - Damage to your lymph nodes or lymph vessels, often a result of cancer surgery or radiation, is a primary cause of lymphedema. The damage restricts or blocks the flow of lymph fluids. They build up in the affected area(s) and produce the swelling. Compression leggings can help stop additional fluids from contributing to the swelling and contribute to conditions that can reduce existing swelling. Provide Extended Treatment - Many medical-grade compression garments exert levels of compression that can reduce physical activity. They are often not able to be worn all day. But compression leggings, with milder levels of compression, can offer relief throughout the day, including whenever medical-grade garments are too restrictive or uncomfortable. Offer Support - Many of Lymphedema’s symptoms, including the heavy feeling, aching and discomfort, are exacerbated by the weight of the fluid. In addition to lowering the build-up, compression leggings support the leg to better manage the added weight. If you found this article helpful, check out our recent post about using compression wear for weight loss.

There have been many amazing advances in surgical procedures. In many cases, surgery can be completed without major incisions. Still, almost every surgical procedure brings with it the risk of postoperative pain, swelling and bruising.  It’s a lot to deal with in addition to all the other circumstances and symptoms of your surgery. But there’s some good news. If you can reduce post-surgery swelling, it can help you reduce inflammation, pain, bruising and even speed-up wound healing and the recovery process too.   Use RICE to Reduce Post-Surgery Swelling Before you ask someone to visit the bulk grocery store, R.I.C.E stands for Rest, Ice, Compression, and Elevation. Your post-surgical care may include doctor-prescribed pain medication, dietary guidelines and physiotherapy. But RICE is also often prescribed by doctors to reduce swelling and it's something you can do to help your own recovery. Always check with your doctor before doing any post-op treatment. Here’s how RICE can work to reduce swelling due to almost all types of abdominal, arm and leg surgery. Rest - Your doctor will give you instructions about how to limit your activity to reduce the chance of complications after your surgery. It is crucial that you follow them even if they seem minor or you feel better. If you don’t, you risk suffering prolonged issues, such as infection, tearing or excessive bleeding. Ice - Applying an ice pack on the affected areas can reduce swelling, pain and inflammation by narrowing blood vessels and reducing the leakage of the fluids that cause swelling. Compression - Wearing compression garments, including Mass & Slim’s Active Slim Sports Leggings, helps reduce swelling by keeping fluids from building up in the affected area and promotes healing lymph and blood flow. Elevate - Elevating your leg or arm above the level of your heart while you’re lying down reduces swelling (sometimes known as lymphedema) by helping fluids drain from the area. If you found this post helpful, check out our recent article about how to treat lymphedema at home.  

You’re carrying a lot of added weight. You’re going through something you’ve never experienced before and you’re “eating for two”. You need all the support you can get. And getting the physical support you need throughout the day is the main benefit of compression during pregnancy. The Benefits of Compression Wear During Pregnancy Compression wear can provide “emotional” support too. Expectant women can get down simply because of the added difficulty of doing just about anything, and the pain that can result. Here’s how compression wear, including graduated compression socks, sleeves and shapewear, can help you get through the day and feel better about it. Help for Your Legs - Considering they are carrying all that extra weight, your legs are under increased pressure. That can affect blood circulation, cause blood clots, and trigger venous conditions like spider veins and varicose veins during pregnancy. Not to mention the leg pain that can go with them. But by wearing compression stockings and/or compression socks, you can increase blood volume to affected areas, improve blood flow and prevent blood clots and issues with your venous system. Reduce Pelvic and Back Pain - Your legs aren't the only thing under pressure. Your back must stabilize the extra weight whether you are sitting or standing. And your pelvis has to support it all. But shapewear, including Mass & Slim Secret Shapewear Shorts, can take some of the workload from your back and pelvis and reduce the pain. Supportive Compression - Shapewear also helps keep everything in place. It supports your baby bump throughout the day to minimize the discomfort you feel from movement and physical activity.  If you enjoyed this post, check out our recent article about how to manage restless legs when pregnant. 

Fair warning. You’re not going to like a lot of what you read in this post the first time you read it. This isn't going to be just about makeup tips and beauty tips for women over 40 that merely cover up the evidence.  But you will get lasting value from the tips below to help you look and feel your best - at every age.   Try These Beauty Tips for Women Over 40 Here we go with the first depression-inducing statement - you’re over 40. Yes, its just a number, and many of you are blessed with the right genes and you may not notice much difference. But for the rest of us, somewhere around 40 is when we come to the realization of two undeniable facts. First, no matter how you try to rationalize it, we’re not 21 forever. Second, it’s just not as easy to even try to look like you’re 21 as it used to be.  With that in mind, as you move on to the next stage in your life, try some of the following beauty tips that will help you look your best. Get Fit & Eat Healthily - Sorry, we sort of sprung that one on you. Let’s soften the blow a little. At least try to get as fit and eat as healthily as you can. The bottom line is that increased fitness and better health helps improve your appearance in lots of ways. In addition to a more toned appearance, and better posture, it's one of the best anti-aging treatments for your skin due to the added nutrients in your diet, delivered by increased circulation for physical activity. You’ll avoid the suitcases under your eyes by getting better sleep. You’ll be in a better mood. You’ll probably shed a few pounds. You’ll feel much better about yourself, not just because you look better, but because you literally feel better too. Apply Makeup Appropriate to Your Age - Here’s some good news. Every woman can look great at any age by simply accepting her age. That means if you’re trying to use makeup to not look like you’re 40, you probably won’t look much younger. But you’ll definitely look like you’re trying to use makeup to not look like you’re 40.  Don’t Be Afraid to Go for the Easy Win - Right, enough with the transformations. Maybe you’ve tried dieting and it just doesn’t work for you. And maybe the thought of walking around the block makes you hyperventilate. While you should never stop trying to live a healthier lifestyle, there’s nothing wrong with giving yourself an instant boost of confidence and a great shape that can come from wearing Mass & Slim anti-cellulite shapewear, including the slimming waist shaper. From the moment you put them on, they give you a flattering shape and tone. And they massage your skin as you wear them to boost circulation and reduce the appearance of your cellulite. If you liked this post, check out our recent article “5 Layered Bob Hairstyles for Over 40”.

No one really knows the mental and physical challenges of cancer treatment until they experience it for themselves. As if the fear, pain and disruption to your life are not enough, many people suffer lymphedema, or swelling in the arms and/or legs following cancer treatments. Fortunately, wearing lymphedema compression stockings and other compression wear can help improve your circulation. which in turn helps reduce the swelling.   Compression Wear Helps to Improve Circulation  Lymphedema is most often caused when your lymph nodes are removed or damaged during cancer surgery or radiation treatment. The result is that your lymphatic system becomes blocked and lymph fluid can't drain properly. The buildup of fluid makes your legs and/or arms swell. No known cure for lymphedema exists. But there are steps you can take to reduce the swelling. In addition to treatments like keeping your arm or leg as active as possible and manual lymph drainage massage, wearing compression garments like a compression stocking on your leg, or compression sleeve on your arm, can help reduce lymphedema’s symptoms. Compression wear improves circulation by keeping lymph fluids away from the areas of your body where they build up and cause swelling. But some people who use compression stockings and sleeves have reported that they are uncomfortable and can restrict physical activity. Other compression wear options exist, including Mass and Slim anti-cellulite leggings that are comfortable to wear all day and allow a full range of motion. Even better, Mass and Slim leggings deliver other benefits, including a constant massaging action as you wear them to help improve blood flow and add shape to your thighs and hips. If you liked this post, check out our recent article about using compression wear for lymphedema.

Celebrities are guzzling it. Nutritionists are recommending it. And its list of potential benefits is long and getting longer. But is bone broth a cellulite treatment too? Before we go any further, we want to make it clear that there is no evidence that bone broth gets rid of cellulite. But many advocates have reported that it can reduce the appearance of cellulite. What is Bone Broth & What Are Its Benefits? Bone broth is made by boiling the roasted bones and connective tissue of animals. Chicken bones and beef bones are most popular. The lengthy boiling process draws out gelatin and minerals from the bones and bone marrow into the broth. You can add bone broth to your diet by adding it to beverages or in cooking recipes. The following are among the health benefits of bone broth that proponents claim you can enjoy. High in Nutrition - Including vitamins, minerals and fatty acids. Protects Joints - The gelatin in bone broth has been linked to increased collagen production, which helps protect your joints. The broth itself may also contain collagen from the bones. Improves the Appearance of Skin - This is where the benefits for cellulite reduction come in. It's thought that collagen-rich bone broth strengthens the connective tissue under your skin. It’s a lack of connective tissue, or weak connective tissues, which is often blamed for the orange-peel appearance of cellulite. Helps Digestion - Bone broth may help reduce inflammation and promote a healthy gut, which ultimately helps you digest your food better. But is it a Cellulite Buster? The idea that drinking bone broth reduces the appearance of cellulite is based on unscientific evidence from two areas. First, many bone broth users have reported that they’ve seen a visible reduction in their cellulite. Second, the collagen in the bone broth may trigger the production of elastin, which helps improve the strength and appearance of the skin.  To date, unlike for Mass & Slim’s anti-cellulite shapewear, there are no independent clinical studies that show bone broth reduces the appearance of cellulite. If you enjoyed this post, check out our recent article about celebrities with cellulite and stretch marks who embrace their bodies.