You may have heard of dry brushing before, but I'm bringing it up again because along with many other benefits, first and foremost it exfoliates your skin. Coming up into the warmer months is exactly when you want your skin to be looking it's best, and it'll need a little extra TLC after all those layers of warm clothes and lack of sunlight.
Why Dry Brush?
It makes your skin softer. Dry Brushing exfoliates away all of the dead skin chilling around on your body, so that your skin can regenerate and heal. Once you scour away all that ick, you're left with beautiful soft skin. Ready to be slathered in moisturiser or faux tan.
Stimulate Your Lymphatic System & Improve Circulation. I sometimes get really sore arms and legs, which means that you can gently prod me in the shoulder and I will try not to wince, because it honestly seems ridiculous. Toxins build up in your system over time, and brushing in the correct direction directs all those toxins right out of your body, well in a matter of speaking.
Help Reduce Cellulite. We've all got it. You've seen those bitchy magazine headlines, "OMG Scarlett Johansson has cellulite! Fire her from the Avengers!" I'm exaggerating but only slightly. We all have it but that doesn't mean it's pretty. Dry brushing on a regular basis is known to help budge those pesky fat pockets that make your legs all wrinkly.
What to Use
Get yourself a natural bristles brush, one with synthetic fibres can cause damage to your skin. I got myself a Manicare Dry Bristle Brush from Priceline, as you can see I didn't get one with a handle, which probably would have been worthwhile getting. But I usually just get my partner to have a go at dry brushing my back in the areas I can't reach. The hand held one means I can hold it easier when I want to focus my brushing on problem areas. A dry brush with a handle is also available at Priceline.
The body shop also currently has some great natural bristled brushes for only $12.95. Definitely worth a look at. If you want to dry brush your face, I recommend getting a smaller and softer brush to use on it. You shouldn't be using your body brush on your face, it's too rough.
How to Dry Brush
- The best time to Dry Brush is right before you plan to have a shower or bath, so all of those icky dry skin cells you've just exfoliated, can go right down the drain. The morning is good too as a lot of people say they feel energised after dry brushing, so it's a good start to the day.
- Start at your feet and using long even upward strokes, brush from ankles to knees.
- You will always be brushing in the direction towards major lymph nodes in your body. Such as the underarms, groin and base of your neck.
- Circular motions are okay too, especially on areas you would like to focus on.
- Brush over your legs, your abdomen and butt. Spend a little extra time on the booty and upper thighs if you want to work on that cellulite. Always brushing upwards towards your heart.
- Brush your back, either with a brush that has a handle, by using contortionist skills or get someone to help you out.
- Brush up along the outside of your arms, then lift your arms up and brush downwards on the inside of them, and near your underarms.
- Finally brush your shoulders and chest, being careful with sensitive areas.
Helpful Tips
Don't brush too hard. Your skin is going to go a bit red due to stimulation, but there is pinkish and then there is red raw. Calm down, that's not what dry brushing is about.
Avoid brushing sensitive areas, red patches, sunburn, open wounds or rashes. Hopefully that's pretty obvious.
After showing, give your body a good moisturising. I love using my Bondi Sands, Gradual Tanning Milk. Because then I'm moisturising, and tanning! Not even sponsored, I just love the stuff!
Be consistent, it can take quite a bit of consistent daily brushing before you will see much of the magical benefits. Apart from the lovely soft and glowing skin.
Have you ever dry brushed your skin? What did you think?
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