Dry Brushing for Your Softest Skin Ever

If you’ve found yourself on Instagram or TikTok lately, you’ve likely come across a video or post about the art of dry brushing. Although this practice may seem a bit intimidating, or even a bit confusing, dry brushing has incredible benefits for your skin. 

With the changing of the seasons just around the corner, now is the perfect time to adopt this body care ritual. Here’s how to reveal your softest, glowiest, skin ever through dry brushing. 

What is Dry Brushing?

Dry brushing has been around for almost five millennia and was first used within the ancient medicinal practice in India. Ayurvedic dry-brushing, called garshana, was used to stimulate circulation and blood flow. The practice of dry brushing hasn’t changed much, if at all, since then, and contains many internal and external benefits for the body.

Dry brushing is pretty much exactly what it sounds like. You take a body brush (look for one with firm, natural bristles) and use it to gently massage your body in an upward motion. This body care process can help to brighten the skin and also makes your moisturizer more effective, as it sloughs off dead, dry skin. During this process, the brush and your skin should be dry while you do it. 

What are the Benefits of Dry Brushing?

Boosts circulation

Your skin may experience some pinkness on the skin after dry brushing, but don’t fret! This added color to the skin is temporary and is just due to increased circulation. Your body is working to push more blood to the areas you’ve recently brushed. 

Aids with Lymphatic Drainage

And speaking of blood flow, you should know that the blood in your body also carries lymph fluid, which is filtered through the lymph nodes. Not only does dry brushing increase the blood flow, but it actually speeds up the rate of the blood being pumped. This can help get the lymph through the body more quickly, in turn, removing toxins and pathogens at a more rapid pace. 

Exfoliates Dead Skin

Like most exfoliation methods, you can also expect dry brushing to help eliminate the dirt and oil you’ve accumulated throughout the day, as well as dead skin cells. This results in increased cell turnover, leaving you with more radiant, smoother skin. Additionally, if you suffer from ingrown hairs, you may see some additional benefits. 

Skin-Softening

If you’re a fan of instant-gratification beauty, dry brushing may be your new best friend. Almost instantly you’ll notice softer, smoother-looking skin. 

How Do I Dry Brush?

You’ll want to take note that one of the most important steps while dry brushing is to always brush in strokes directed towards the heart, rather than using a back and forth motion. Medium-length, smooth strokes will yield the best results.  Additionally, you’ll want to complete 3-4 strokes in place before moving to the next position. Remember, this isn’t a typical body scrub, but more of gentle and comforting exfoliation.

Feet up the legs

• Start with the top of the left foot and brush up the leg. You can do the front of the leg and then the back or work in a spiral pattern around the leg working upward.
• Repeat with the right leg.
• Pay special attention to any rough areas (heels of the foot, knees).
• Gently brush in an upward motion.

Hands up to the shoulder.

• Once you are done with both legs move to the hands dry brushing toward the shoulders.
• Again, pay special attention to brushing toward the heart.

Torso

• Start by brushing up the rib cage
• On the sides, focus on exfoliating from the hip up to the armpits.

Buttocks.

• This is the one place you work downward. Start at the waist and brush toward the side of the buttocks on the left side and then the right.

Back.

• Start at the waist and work upward toward the shoulders

Chest.

• Once you have finished with the body, you can go back gently over the roughest areas.
• The chest is the other area where you work slightly downward. Work from the center of the chest outward toward the armpits.
• Take special care around the delicate breast tissue.

The entire dry brushing process should take about 10 minutes. After brushing, we recommend taking a cool shower, which will further stimulate the skin and encourage the release of toxins.When you are finished, pat yourself dry, and while the skin is still damp, follow up with our Algae Extract, Fluid Reduction Bath and Body Oil, or Nourishing Body Cream to lock in moisture.

Some Additional Notes

• We recommend performing this dry brushing ritual within the shower, with the water turned off. You’ll want both your skin and the brush to be dry. 
• You can dry-brush at any time of the day, but it is recommended to dry brush prior to showering. This practice can be a stimulating one, so it may not be best before bedtime. 
• If you plan on heading outside post-dry brush, as always, use sunscreen, as this ritual can make your skin more sensitive to the sun. 
• If you have chronic dry skin conditions such as eczema or psoriasis, proceed with caution and brush around outbreaks. 
• To care for your brush: wash with soap and water weekly, drying in the sun to prevent mildew. Replace every 6-12 months as the bristles begin to wear.