Want to soften and smooth your skin, while also indulging in a little self-care? Let us introduce you to dry brushing.
Simple yet incredibly effective, dry brushing has gained popularity in recent times for its claimed health benefits. By introducing a natural bristled brush and a five-minute body massage into your routine, you can look forward to potential increased circulation and plump, smooth skin, while kissing those pesky dead skin cells goodbye!
What is dry brushing?
Dry brushing is an ancient Ayurvedic practice that dates back thousands of years. It involves massaging the body with a dry, bristly brush to exfoliate and invigorate the skin.
Ayurvedic medicine is considered an alternative practice that treats the body holistically, aiming to balance and calm the body, mind and spirit.
This technique can be found in day spas as a part of a more indulgent treatment, but can easily be achieved at home.
What are the benefits of dry brushing?
There are limited studies done on the benefits of dry brushing, however, anecdotal evidence shows benefits for both inner and outer wellbeing.
Dry brushing aims to wake up the senses and help energise the body if done in the morning. However, regardless of the time of day, it may assist with lymphatic drainage and remove toxins from the body. By brushing in long, sweeping strokes, you may increase blood flow and circulate fluid throughout the body. Increased blood flow leads to fluid passing through the lymph nodes faster, which then helps the body filter out toxins and remove bodily waste.
An additional benefit is the gentle exfoliation that comes with dry brushing. Exfoliation removes dead skin cells and plumps the skin, all while encouraging cell renewal for fresh, glowing skin.
How to dry brush?
Dry brushing is best done before a cool shower in order to wash off any dead skin cells. Aim for long, smooth strokes on the limbs and clockwise circular motions on the trunk of the body.
Start from the feet and move in an upward direction, progressing to the legs and trunk of the body. On areas where the skin is thicker, you can use more pressure, but soften the strokes on areas of the body with thinner skin. It is always best to start lighter and you can progress to a more firm pressure as you get used to the sensation.
After dry brushing your midsection, move to the hands and brush up the arms towards the heart. Do not brush over any areas with wounds or infections.
Jump in a cool shower or bath after you have finished dry brushing, and consider using a nourishing body moisturiser afterwards to replenish the skin. Where possible, avoid hot, steamy showers or baths afterwards, as this can dry out the skin.
What are the best dry brushes to use?
For dry brushing, it is best to use a brush with short, natural bristles. The Body Shop Cactus Long Handle Brush ($24) features a long handle which makes dry brushing your back a breeze.
Try Kora Organics Dry Body Brush ($42) for something smaller. Fitting easily over your hand will give you more control over the pressure used while dry brushing.
For something in between, try the Jurlique Dry Body Brush ($40), which has a handle just long enough to help reach those hard-to-reach places, while still being able to alter your brushing pressure.
If you notice any irritation or swelling while dry brushing, stop immediately. If you have any ongoing or chronic skin issues, please refer to your general practitioner or dermatologist.
