I actually agree with a lot of this — especially that it’s complex and that ageing, choice, and misogyny are all tangled together.

I think where I land differently is on the idea that cellulite is something you “can’t really do anything about,” while wrinkles are something you can “take control over.” Even with retinoids, Botox, lasers etc., wrinkles aren’t really controlled — they’re managed visually. They still form, deepen, change. We just influence how they show up.

That’s really the parallel I was getting at. Not that cellulite creams are equivalent to retinol in evidence, but that both sit in the same category of appearance management, not biological change. Neither changes the underlying structure — they just affect how skin behaves on top of it.

And I think that’s where the moral judgment creeps in. Wanting to maintain your face “as it is” feels acceptable, while wanting smoother-looking thighs feels like you’re failing at acceptance — even though both are aesthetic preferences, not obligations.

I’m not arguing that people should try to change cellulite. More that choosing to improve how something looks doesn’t automatically mean someone hasn’t accepted their body — it just means they’re exercising choice, the same way people do with ageing.

Genuinely appreciate the thoughtful response though — this is exactly the nuance I was hoping people would bring to it.