You brush your teeth, you brush your hair - doesn’t it make sense that you should also be brushing your body?
Dry brushing, or body brushing, is incredibly popular, and for good reason. Wellness celebrities such as Gwyneth Paltrow and Miranda Kerr are fans of the ages-old method of exfoliation, which may even stimulate lymphatic drainage, helping to remove toxins and waste from the body.
What is dry brushing?
Dry skin brushing simply means brushing a dry, coarse brush all over your body is short, sweeping strokes. It stimulates blood flow to the skin and is an excellent way of exfoliating oft-forgotten areas such as the backs of your arms and your knees.
There are some claims that dry brushing your skin reduces the appearance of cellulite, but this has yet to be proven. Regardless, it makes your skin feel tingly and refreshed, and is a great post-workout, pre-shower ritual that focuses on making yourself feel the very best you can be.
How to dry brush
To start, you only need one thing - a dry skin brush. These come in many varieties with different kinds of bristles such as goat hair, boar bristles and even sisal. Brushes tend to come in two shapes, with a handle and without, so pick your preference depending on which you find easier to hold and manipulate.
Dry brushing your skin should always be done before a shower, so you can wash away any dead skin afterwards. You should moisturise immediately to enjoy smooth, plum and exfoliated skin.
Start brushing your arms with firm yet gentle strokes, always brushing towards your heart, and work your way down your body. It’s important not to scrub too hard - you’re not scouring a saucepan but are aiming to lightly stimulate and exfoliate skin.
Never dry brush the skin on your face, neck or décolletage, as the skin in these areas is more delicate than the rest of your body and dry brushing could be too rough for it. If you have sensitive skin or conditions such as eczema or psoriasis, it would also be wise to give dry skin brushing a miss.
If you’ve tried dry brushing and like it, you can make it a part of your beauty regime two or three times a week, as dry brushing every day can irritate skin.
Featured image source: @sanddythefrenchy on Instagram
