The Benefits of Dry Brushing & Body Exfoliation
Now that winter has arrived, I can feel my skin getting pasty and dry. Which means it’s time to ramp up my exfoliation and moisturization routines. It’s time to return to a habit that ebbs and flows with the weather… Time to start dry brushing again.
Have you tried dry brushing?
It’s basically what it sounds like. Essentially you’re brushing your skin with a dry body brush. It may sound a bit weird, but it has some amazing benefits!
Exfoliation
During the winter months, our skin tends to get very dry. Applying moisturizer won’t always do the trick because we have a layer of dead skin preventing our creams (or oils) from effectively doing their job. To take full advantage of that sweet smelling, luxurious feeling butter, you have to apply it on exfoliated skin!
Queue the dry brush.
The tough bristles on these body brushes help to loosen stubborn dry skin. Then hop in the shower and the water will help remove any remaining dead flakes that were loosened by brush!
But wait, there’s more!
Although exfoliation is a great reason to start dry brushing, it’s actually not even the most amazing part!
Dry brushing increases blood circulation and stimulates the lymphatic system, which is responsible for filtering and destroying bacteria, toxins,
With a more efficient lymphatic system, our bodies are faster at flushing out toxins. Additionally, with stimulated lymph, we may see a strengthened immune system, something that’s extra important this time of year.
How to Dry Brush
There are different ways to dry brush, but all of them say to brush towards your heart. Start at your feet and either do short brushstrokes up your leg or brush in circles moving up your leg. Once you reach your bum, move to your hands and brush towards your shoulders.
Pay extra attention to the areas behind your knees and in your armpits. These areas have a bunch of lymph nodes, thus extra brushing will further assist in lymphatic stimulation.
Beware: Avoid brushing any open cuts or scrapes. Also, if you have sensitive skin, start with a brush that has softer bristles.
Dry Brushing Isn’t Your Thing?
When it’s a bit chilly out, I don’t always feel like dry brushing before hopping in the shower. I’m too laser-focused on warming up under the hot water. As an alternative to the brush, I’ll exfoliate using a body scrub or a glove.
My go-to scrub is the Sabon salt scrub. I feel like it has the perfect amount of scrubbing texture mixed with a deliciously scented oil to moisturize. I always emerge from the shower feeling super soft.
Beware: The scrub is made from salt so it will sting any open cuts or scrapes.
If I don’t happen to have a scrub on hand, I reach for my hammam glove. I love to use this glove with my black olive oil soap, which has a funny gel-like texture but is super moisturizing.
Exfoliation can actually be a very rewarding process. Not only will your skin look and feel great,
Have you tried dry brushing before? Is it part of your daily habit? What is your favorite way to exfoliate?
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