Want Glowing Skin? Try Dry Brushing.

Have you tried dry brushing? Do you know what it is? Dry brushing is an ancient practice where you take a natural bristle body brush and brush your dry skin in a particular way, providing many health benefits. Why bother doing this or adding it to your morning routine? Here are a few of the benefits as well as how to do it.

1. Lymph System Support
   The number one reason in my opinion, is that dry brushing massages your lymph system which sits just below your skin. The lymphatic system is an important part of our immune system. It is like the garbage disposal system of the body, collecting toxins and bringing them to the liver and kidneys for elimination. We want to get the garbage out!
2. Exfoliates Skin
   Dry brushing also creates glowing, healthy skin which in the summer especially, is a lovely thing to have. By gently exfoliating the skin, dry brushing removes the dull skin on the top layer and reveals the soft, glowing skin underneath.
3. Reduces Cellulite
   People claim that dry brushing helps redistribute the fat on your body, reducing cellulite. I haven’t personally noticed this benefit but to be honest, I do dry brushing in the cyclical way I do everything—I get excited about it for a while, then drop off my practice, then get excited about it again. So I may not be a good test study 😆. Doctors would claim that cellulite is genetic but I think that anything that massages the fascia is going to be beneficial.
4. It’s invigorating
   I recommend doing this in the morning because it is definitely stimulating and energizing. Increasing the circulation in the skin gets the blood flowing and boosts your energy naturally.
5. Helps to absorb products better
   When we exfoliate the skin and get rid of the dead skin cells on the top layer, the products we put on our skin get in deeper and can be more effective than if they just sit on top.

How to do dry brushing:

1. First, it’s important to choose the right brush. Some people like a long handle to reach their back and feet easily. I have a shorter curved handle brush that I like. Amazon has lots of options for sale. The important thing is to choose natural bristles and start with a soft, gentle brush and move to stiffer bristles as your skin gets used to it. If your skin is sensitive, be extra gentle.
2. I start at my feet, brushing my soles and toes and then moving up my legs, brushing upward only which helps the lymph bring the toxins to my liver and kidneys. I go in a circular motion at the ankle, knee, and hip joints. I brush everything about 10 times. Next, I do my hands, wrists and arms, again brushing up my arm toward my body. I gently brush my neck and chest skin (the skin is thinner here) downward toward the heart, skipping my face which I will get later with a face scrub. Last, I brush my back, bum and belly, again going in a circular motion at the belly.
3. To be most effective, dry brushing should be followed with a shower and then a natural and organic body oil or lotion (I use Neal’s Yard Remedies). Sometimes, I change things up and follow dry brushing with body oil and meditation, after which I take a shower. Read about the most elaborate version of my morning ritual here.

That’s it! There are many benefits to dry brushing and it’s an inexpensive and simple practice to try. Give it a go and let me know what your experience is!