Curious what dry body brushing is all about, and how you can make it a part of your skincare routine?
Dry body brushing, or dry brushing, is the act of brushing your skin with a bristled brush, similar to the one pictured above. It is beneficial is two ways. Firstly, it's a great way to remove dead skin to boost skin's appearance—especially as we move into the colder months when skin is its driest. Dry brushing also helps to unclog your skin's pores, which helps it absorb more nutrients. It promotes healthy, breathing skin and is a real treat for the largest organ in our bodies.
Dry brushing also helps to stimulate and energize the body. The pressure on the skin and the direction you brush in helps to move lymph fluid around the body which helps to remove toxins, while boosting your natural elimination process and circulation at the same time. As a general rule of thumb, the stiffer the bristles on the brush, the better the lymphatic stimulation you'll create.
You can dry brush up to twice per day, but you'll see results if you incorporate dry brushing into your routine at least once per week.
What you'll need
A natural, firm-bristled brush with a long handle, which helps you to reach the whole body.
Tips
- It's important to always brush in an upwards direction, towards your heart
- Follow each stroke of the brush with a sweep of your hand
- Stand in your shower or bathtub so the dead skin can easily be washed down the drain
- Be gentle as you brush over more sensitive areas, like breasts. Your skin will become less sensitive the brushing the more you dry brush.
10-minute dry body brushing
Follow this 10-minute body brush routine at least once per week to see (and feel) results.
Step 1
Holding the brush with your left hand, brush up the front of your left leg. Use long, sweeping strokes in an upward direction. Brush firmly, but not hard enough to damage the skin. Follow each stroke with a sweep of your right hand. Repeat 3 times.
Step 2
Using small, circular movements with your brush, travel up the inside of the same leg, starting at the ankle and moving up to the groin. Follow each stroke with a sweet of your right hand. Repeat 3 times, then switch to the outside of the leg, moving up the leg with the same small, circular movements.
Step 3
Step 3Move to the back of the leg, and use long sweeping strokes from the heel to the top of the thigh. Repeat twice, and on the third stroke, continue around the buttock and up towards the back. These movements accelerate the flow of lymph towards the glands were it is eliminated, stimulating your circulation.
Step 4
Move the brush across the buttocks and up onto the centre of the back, using large, sweeping, circular strokes into the centre of the body. After every stroke, put down the brush and follow the same route with your hand. Repeat 3 times.
Step 5
Move the brush around the side of your body to your front torso, using long, circular strokes across the abdomen. After every stroke, put down the brush and follow the same route with your hand. Repeat 3 times.
Step 6
Passing the brush to your right hand, use long, sweeping movements to brush the outside of the left arm upwards towards the shoulder, and sweep around the outside of your left breast. After each stroke, put down the brush and sweep along the same route with your hand. Repeat 3 times.
Step 7
To finish, brush the inside of the left arm up towards the armpit, using long, sweeping, movements. After every stroke, put down the brush and sweep along the arm with your hand. Repeat 3 times. Then, repeat the whole sequence on the right-hand side of your body.
After brushing, hop into the shower or bath. Afterwards, pat your skin dry and apply a neutral body oil. Et voilá—enjoy the benefits of your dry brush, both inside and out.
Have any further questions about dry body brushing? Let us know in the comments below!
