My Latest Beauty Ritual: Dry Brushing

I was never on board with the whole dry brushing thing until I saw that a friend of mine was selling natural body brushes on her wellness website. I decided they would make great Christmas stocking stuffers, and grabbed one for myself, too.

And why not? I’d heard positive things about dry brushing, including how great it is for maturing skin, so… CLICK, ADD TO CART!

But my dry brush sat around unused for a few months. I guess I didn’t want to commit to a new time-consuming beauty ritual. I was like, “I know this is supposed to be good for me, but there are only so many hours in the day!”

Three months later, after reading all the dry brushing hype, I finally made the time.

I’m happy to report it lived up to the hype and didn’t require too much effort at all!

Dry brushing leaves me feeling completely invigorated. My body feels rejuvenated and relaxed afterward, and the practice gets me into a mindfully meditative state that is always welcome.

The whole idea behind dry brushing, which is a spa-like experience, is to exfoliate the skin and increase blood circulation, promoting lymph flow to remove toxins from the body.

And perhaps most importantly, it gives you the opportunity to spend 15 minutes by yourself, for yourself, allowing for much needed “me” time.

If you haven’t tried dry brushing, you may want to add it to your beauty/wellness routine. Like me, you could start by setting aside time to do it once or twice a week. Your body will look better and you’ll feel great!  

Here are some tips to get you started:

How to Dry Brush Your Body

·       Always dry brush on dry skin.

·       Mornings are best, as it energizes you for the day.

·       Don’t brush too hard; it may irritate your skin.

·       Start with your feet and brush upward toward your heart, circling the abdomen area and not forgetting the underarm area.

·       Take a shower after dry brushing to wash away dead skin.

·       After showering, immediately apply moisturizer to your body.

Rules of Dry Brushing

·       Limit dry brushing to twice a week.

·       Apply essential oil to your dry brush for added wellness benefits.

·       Always clean your brush with soap and water after use to remove dead skin that may have accumulated.

·       Dry your brush outside of your shower to avoid mildew (I just hang mine on my towel rack).

·       Never dry brush any open wounds on your body.

·       Never use the same brush on your face as you do on your body; your face needs a softer brush.

·       If your skin becomes irritated, discontinue dry brushing. Keep in mind, though, that you may see slight redness due to increased circulation.

    Benefits of Dry Brushing Aging Skin

·       Improves blood flow, which aids in delivering oxygen to your cells and eliminates poor circulation that can lead to swelling and joint pain.

·       Helps minimize the appearance of cellulite by softening fat deposits living under your skin.

·       Exfoliates the skin by removing dead skin cells.

·       Allows moisturizing products to penetrate deeply into the skin.

·       Stimulates the lymphatic system, which consequently helps the body rid itself of toxins.

·       Boosts energy by stimulating your nervous system.

·       Relieves stress and anxiety, as this detoxing ritual allows you to focus on “the doing,” therefore creating a mindful meditation practice.