One of the key steps in my skin care routine, and part of my overall approach to good health, is dry brushing! Have you heard of it?
What is Dry Brushing?
Dry brushing is using a body brush with firm, natural bristles to massage the skin gently. It helps to boost the body’s natural revitalization processes.
Benefits
Exfoliation: Dry brushing brightens the skin by removing dull layers of dead skin cells and boosting cell turnover. It helps to make your moisturizer more effective, too, as it exfoliates dry layers and lets your moisturizer penetrate the skin more easily.
Skin appearance: Dry brushing has a temporary plumping effect on the skin, making it look smooth and fresh. It also helps to stimulate the oil glands, allowing skin to stay supple even in the dry winter air. Cellulite can also temporarily appear less noticeable as dry brushing may help to break down fat deposits under the surface. Skin has a healthy glow!
Circulation: Some temporary pinkness is expected as circulation increases in the area that has been brushed. This extra blood flow is good for the skin!
Lymphatic drainage: Blood helps to move lymphatic fluid, which filters through the lymph nodes. Dry brushing moves more blood through the area, which helps to move the lymphatic fluid through the body, flushing away toxins and other impurities. The skin is the body’s largest organ, so detoxifying it can have a very positive effect on your health!
How to Dry Brush
- Use a brush with firm, natural bristles. It can have a long handle or no handle – whatever you’re comfortable with is best. Optionally (but highly recommended!) you can add a drop of essential oil to your brush. I recommend doTERRA’s Smart & Sassy, Lavender, Cypress, Cedarwood, Frankincense, or Geranium.
- Make sure your skin is completely dry. Don’t brush right after a workout while your skin is damp, and always do it before your shower, not after. Morning is the perfect time to dry brush as it gets your circulation going and awakens the body.
- Starting at your feet and hands, move your brush over your skin in long, circular motions or short strokes that go upward in the direction of your heart. This matches the direction of lymphatic flow. Continue to move upward over the body and toward the heart, brushing your legs, arms, shoulders, back, and abdomen. Move the brush in a clockwise motion around your abdomen.
- Maintain moderate pressure as you brush. You definitely don’t want to harm your skin, but you’ll need to feel the bristles moving fairly firmly against your skin.
- Have a shower or bath to rinse off any remaining dead skin cells, and follow with a good natural moisturizer.
- Repeat once or twice a week. Wash your brush with a gentle shampoo and let it air dry.
For more detail on the many benefits of dry brushing, a demonstration of the technique, and some more tips — here’s a short video!
Winter is the perfect time of year to start incorporating dry brushing into your routine – I hope you’ll give it a try!
