Do you want soft, firm and glowing skin?
Of course, you do!
What if I told you can get it in only a few minutes a day without spending hundreds of dollars on skincare products or treatments?
If it sounds too good to be true, let me explain:
You can enjoy glowing and beautiful skin by brushing it daily.
Just like brushing your hair or teeth is necessary to maintain a healthy smile and pretty hair, dry brushing your skin will keep it healthy, open your pores, detoxify, exfoliate, and improve your skin’s appearance.
And the best part? It’s so simple to do!
Dry brushing is an extremely simple technique that gives you immediate results.
What Is Dry Brushing?
Dry brushing is exactly what it sounds like brushing your skin with a dry brush.
Even though dry brushing has recently gained more popularity on the media as the beauty secret of many celebrities, it’s a technique that has been used for centuries by Scandinavians, Turks, and Russians to eliminate impurities and toxins and maintain healthy skin.
The technique is incredibly simple: Using a natural bristled dry brush, brush your whole body gently in large strokes towards the heart.
Yes, that’s it!
If you’re still wondering how something so simple could give you better results than more complicated and expensive products, just take a look at all the benefits your body and skin will receive from dry brushing:
Benefits Of Dry Brushing
1. Improves Circulation
Credit: Love live health
The gentle strokes of your brush stimulate the blood vessels under your skin, which improves blood flow towards different areas of your body.
This is extremely beneficial if you spend many hours at your desk.
Sitting for long periods of time can decrease circulation in your lower body, leading to cellulite and varicose veins.
The lack of blood flow can also cause cardiovascular problems.
The long strokes of the brush directed toward the heart promote better circulation.
2. Increases Energy
Credit: Health Tap
The circulation-boosting effects of dry brushing will make you feel alert and more energetic. The feeling of the bristles against your skin will also feel invigorating and energizing.
In fact, the brushing may feel a bit tingly the first time you do it, but your skin will get used to it the more you do it.
This is a good reason to do it in the morning so you can start your day fully awake and vibrant.
3. Exfoliates Your Skin
Credit: Zax Health
The bristles will gently remove dead cells, dirt, and other impurities stuck in your pores, leaving you with renewed, silky soft skin.
Dead cells and dirt can make your skin feel dull, tired, and rough. Dry brushing will bring back the glow and smoothness to your skin.
4. Aids Detoxification
Credit: My Detox Food
Dry brushing improves your body’s detoxification process by supporting your lymphatic system.
Here’s a quick reminder of why the lymphatic system matters:
Your lymphatic system is a network of vessels, tissues and organs that gets rid of waste and toxins from your body, carries white cells to your blood, and returns plasma to your bloodstream. It fulfills these functions through a substance called lymph.
The lymphatic vessels, located right underneath your skin, transport lymph, a clear liquid consisting of excess fluids and plasma that contains blood white cells.
The white blood cells in lymph help your body fight infections and disease.
Unlike the blood, lymph doesn’t have a pump that moves it throughout the body.
Lymph is moved by the contractions of the lymphatic vessels and the surrounding skeletal muscles. It reenters the bloodstream through two subclavian veins located near the neck.
Now that you know the importance of the lymphatic system, here’s how dry brushing helps:
Dry brushing stimulates the contraction of the lymphatic vessels underneath the skin to move lymph quicker toward your bloodstream. This helps your body get rid of toxins faster and more effectively.
5. Supports Your Immune System
Credit: Wise Geek Health
Lymph is packed with disease-fighting white blood cells. Since dry brushing helps to move lymph quicker toward your circulatory system, it supports your immune system as well.
6. Aid Your Digestive System
Credit: Health and Natural Lifestyle
The lymphatic system is also in charge of absorbing and transporting fatty acids from the digestive system.
The stimulation your lymphatic vessels receive from dry brushing helps to optimize the transport of dietary lipids your bloodstream needs.
7. Clears Buildup From Your Pores
Credit: Irish Times
Dry brushing gets rid of excess oil and sebum in your pores.
This helps to prevent acne, blackheads, and ingrown hairs.
Clearing your pores also allows your skin to breathe properly.
It’s recommended to use a softer brush in your face, different than the one you use for the rest of your body because the skin on your face is more delicate.
8. Helps To Eliminate Cellulite
Credit: Girls Gone Strong
Dry brushing is an excellent skin treatment to help eliminate dreaded cellulite in your tummy, buttocks, and legs.
Since cellulite is caused by poor circulation, loose skin, and lack of collagen, dry brushing helps in three ways:
- It breaks up the fatty deposits that form near the surface of your skin.
- It improves circulation in the areas with cellulite, diminishing the actual cellulite and preventing more fatty deposits from forming.
- It tightens your skin,which gives less space for cellulite to appear.
9. Keeps Your Skin Firm And Smooth
Credit: Wonderslist
The scrubbing effect of brushing keeps your skin soft and smooth.
Brushing also has a tightening effect on your skin, which helps to keep it toned and firm.
10. Relieves Stress
Credit: Glamasia
There’s also a psychological benefit to dry brushing. The brushing feels calming and relaxing, which may help you cope better with stress and anxiety.
A couple of minutes it takes to brush your whole body can help you calm down and start your day in a good mood.
To experience the full calming benefits of dry brushing, do it before you shower in the morning.
How to Pick The Right Brush For Your Skin
There are several types of brushes you can use in your body.
Types Of Bristles
Currently, you can find three types of bristles on the market:
- Synthetic bristles
- Boar bristles
- Vegetable fiber bristles
You should use only a natural bristle brush and skip the ones with synthetic bristles as they can be too harsh on your skin. I recommend getting a vegetable fiber bristle brush.
Bristle Strength
You’ll need to pick a brush with a bristle strength your skin can handle.
According to Bodecare, there are brushes with extra-soft, soft, medium, and extra firm strength.
- Extra-soft bristles: An extra soft brush is ideal for the most delicate parts of your skin such as your face, tummy, chest, and breast area.
- Soft bristles: A soft brush is suitable for your face as well. It’s also useful for people with sensitive skin or eczema. If you are a beginner, a soft bristled brush can help you get used to the feeling of brushing. After a while, you’ll be ready to move on to firmer brushes.
- Medium bristles: A medium brush is ideal for a total body brushing, expect on the face. This one will give you the full exfoliating and detoxification benefits I explained before.
- Extra firm bristles: An extra-firm brush is ideal for experienced body brushers. It’s best for skin that is used to being brushed. If you are new to the practice, a medium or soft bristle brush would be best for you. Extra firm bristles are also recommendable to remove dirt and grime from nails.
Brush Size
Once you pick the bristle strength that is best for your skin, you need to pick what size of body brush you will buy. You can find several kinds on the market:
- Body brush without handle: These brushes are small and easy to use. They’re perfect for you if you can easily reach all parts of your body with your hand.They may be inconvenient if you have trouble reaching your back or other areas of your body due to injuries, fractures, or obesity.
You can find a small vegetable fiber bristle brush without a handle on Amazon:
Price: $4.51
- Body brush with long handle: These brushes are easier to manage around your whole body because they come with a long handle that allows you to reach every part of your body effortlessly. They are pricier, but they’re worth it if you want your brushing session to require as little work as possible.
You can also find a brush with a handle on Amazon:
Price: $8.83
- Body brush with an attachable handle: You can also get a short and long brush in one.Brush with an attachable handle lets you switch between a small or longer brush as you need it, and it’s easier to pack.
Find one in Amazon:
Price: $11.95
- Facial brush: Finally, you’ll need a facial brush to apply the method to your face and other delicate areas on your skin. These brushes are small and have extra soft bristles.
Here’s one in Amazon:
Price: $6.28
How To Dry Brush
- Best time to dry brush
The best time to dry brush is in the morning, right before you shower. This way you’ll energize your body before your day begins. Preferably do it in your shower, so your dead skin cells don’t fall on the floor.
- Method
Step 1: Step in the shower or bathtub with your brush.Be careful not to wet your brush or your body.
Step 2: Begin to brush your feet in long overlapping strokes towards the heart, about 10 times over each skin section. Avoid a circular or back and forth motion. You want to brush in a way that moves the lymph upwards toward your chest.
Step 3: Brush your legs in the same motion, long strokes upwards.
Step 4: Brush the palmsof your hands and arms in the same motion.
Step 5: If you have sensitive skin in your abdomen and back, switch to a soft bristle brush. Brush your abdomen and chest in the same motion, long strokes towards the heart.
Step 6: Brush your back in the same motion.
Step 7: Switch to a soft-bristle face brush if you haven’t already. Repeat the same motion over your face and neck.
Step 8: Shower normally and moisturize your whole body afterward.
Try dry brushing for a month to see the incredible results on your skin.
- Dry brushing tips
- Always brush in long strokes, never back and forth.
- Always brush towards the heart. This way you’re helping your lymphatic vessels move the lymph towards the drainage area.
- Brush about 10 times over each skin section.
- Use a softer brush for your chest, abdomen, and back if you need it.
- Always use a soft brush over your face and neck.
- Your skin might look slightly pink afterward because of the exfoliation, but it should never be red.
- Use your brush gently. You want soft strokes over your skin, don’t overbrush.
- Don’t wet your brush or your body.
How To Keep Your Brush Clean
Finally, it’s important you keep your brush clean and dry to avoid germs and mildew from growing on it.
Here’s how to keep it clean:
After every brushing, clean the bristles with soap and water. Leave it in a dry, preferably sunny place for it to air dry.
Your brush should last you for years, so you shouldn’t worry about changing it often.
Conclusion
Dry brushing is a simple and affordable skincare routine that will keep your skin stay beautiful and healthy.
It will prevent sagginess and cellulite, improve detoxification, get rid of dead cells and impurities, improve circulation, and energize you.
For best results, use a medium bristle brush for your body and a soft bristle brush for your face and other sensitive areas.It’s recommendable you pick a natural bristle brush made with vegetable fiber.
Always brush in long strokes towards the heart to help move the lymph toward the bloodstream.
Make sure to wash your brush daily.
In the long run, the results will last and all you need to do is maintain them. Keeping up with this skin care routine along with choosing what you eat will give you the best results.
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