I’m counting down the days to my fast-approaching beach holiday… I can’t wait to step off the plane and feel the warmth of the sun on my pasty-white skin. I’m already imagining the moment when the first Pina Colada hits my lips – and if I can swim up to the bar, it’ll taste even sweeter But the moment I am DREADING – and yes, the terror is severe enough to warrant capital letters – is when the time comes to strip off to my bikini.

I’m not afraid to admit that I have cellulite. After all, almost all women suffer from it at some point in their lives. If you boast lovely smooth thighs now, you can bet your bottom dollar that it’ll rear its ugly head at some point. Sorry, girls, but cellulite seems to be as inevitable as the depressing fade of a well-earnt holiday tan.

So, what exactly is it? The word ‘cellulite’ refers to dimpled, bumpy skin, which often appears on thighs, bottoms, and stomachs. It is often referred to as ‘orange peel skin’, as it resembles the mottled surface of our favourite citrus fruits. It is caused when fat settles in pockets just below the surface of skin – and occurs regardless of age and size.

Ladies, I am not allowing the dimples to win this war. I am on a mission to have enviously smooth thighs by the time I print off my boarding card, so will be investing in some tried-and-tested products (recommended by beauty journalist friends, of course) and will be fully committing to twice-daily applications. I’m not expecting miracles, but if the lotions and potions can make any kind of improvement, I will be one happy holiday-maker.

I love the sound of Methode Jeanne Piabert’s Body Beauty Slimming and Firming Be Svelte Refreshing Anti-Cellulite Spray, £40.16 – spraying the lumps and bumps seems temptingly quick and easy. But I know that ‘massaging’ the area twice-daily is the best way to shift toxins and improve the overall appearance of skin, so I will be opting for a cream or serum formula. Top of my shopping list is Clarins High Definition Body Lift, £34, and Givenchy’s No Complex Concentrated Anti-Cellulite Serum, £17, which have enjoyed great reviews over recent months.

I will also be investing in a body brush, sweeping my body morning and night (always in the direction of the heart) – which has the further benefit of exfoliating skin and giving it a healthy glow. And if the cellulite creams fail, maybe – just maybe – that glow will be enough to blind my fellow beach goers into missing the dimples of my thighs… Keep your fingers crossed for me.

Find out more about Louise Emma Clarke