Every once in a while we hear about a skincare “miracle” that people swear by. These skincare trends are promised to change your whole skincare game, but is that always the truth? From experimenting and researching the power of dry brushing myself, it’s safe to say that they weren’t lying.
When you first hear of the idea of “dry brushing” it seems weird. I mean, why the heck would someone brush their own skin with a harsh brush? I understand, but it isn’t like you think it is. And if it wasn’t beneficial, celebrities and supermodels with glowing skin like Miranda Kerr and Molly Simms wouldn’t have included this skincare tool as a staple in their skincare regimen.
What is dry brushing or so-called skin brushing?
Dry brushing – or skin brushing – is exactly what it sounds like; a skincare step that involves a natural bristled brush that you use to scrub (or brush) the skin while it’s still dry. This procedure is pretty similar to exfoliating your skin with a loofah or a body scrub except that it’s used on dry skin, and provides even more benefits.
What are the benefits of dry brushing?
Even though there isn’t enough scientific evidence to back up the benefits dry brushing offers us, many who has experimented with this skincare tool have reported a difference in their skin after a short period of time. Let’s say that these benefits aren’t scientifically proven, but rather agreed on by people who tried it out for a significant amount of time, and of course, skincare gurus who know their ways around beauty hacks. Now let’s hop into the benefits!
Lymphatic drainage (detox): Lymphatic drainage is naturally “detoxifying” the body through the body’s lymphatic system. This system includes organs, ducts, lymph nodes, and blood vessels. Dry brushing advocators claim that brushing the skin contributes to the stimulation of the body’s lymphatic system and therefore, naturally allows the body to get rid of harmful toxins and pathogens.
Exfoliation: When you brush with a hard-bristled brush on your skin, it removes dead skin cells which provides a number of benefits to the skin and smoothens out the overall skin texture.
Cleanses the pores: Skin brushing helps in your pores clean by getting rid of excess dead skin cells, oils, and dirt trapped in the pores.
Cellulite: It is claimed that dry brushing improves the appearance of cellulite, but the effect lasts as long as you’re frequently using the dry brush. It works by pumping your skin by stimulating blood circulation. This pump results in the appearance of less cellulite.
Energizes the body: Since dry brushing is similar to getting a massage in terms of reducing stress, it’s considered a natural energy booster. By stimulating your skin and expelling toxins, you get that extra boost in energy after dry brushing.
How to properly dry brush?
First, I advise you to experiment with different pressures to find a sweet spot where you get the maximum benefits without irritating the skin. If you’re irritating the skin, you’re doing more bad than good. What you want to do is to apply enough pressure to the skin without it being painful.
When you find the optimal pressure level, start with your feet and work your way up towards the direction of your heart (for lymphatic drainage). Go over the same area a few times. After you’re done with your lower body, do the same with your upper body. Start with your hands and dry towards the direction of the heart.
You can go a bit harsher on areas with thicker skin like your knees and elbows. In areas above the heart, you want to brush downwards in the heart’s direction. Remember to be gentler with more sensitive areas with thin skin.
The best time to dry brush your skin is before showering because you’ll want to wash off dead skin cells that will come off. Also, make sure to lather on a generous amount of moisturizing lotion on damp skin after showering.
How do I select a suitable dry brush?
The answer is a bit subjective and dependant on your preferences. Some people prefer brushes with long handles because it helps them reach their back. Also, brushing your feet and legs is easier with a longer brush. On the contrary, others prefer a short-handled brush because of the control it gives them over the process.
Regarding the harshness of the brush’s bristles, I would recommend starting with brushes that aren’t too harsh. Over time, switch to a harsher brush when you get more comfortable with the pressure.
Can dry brushing cause damage to your skin?
Anything can cause damage to the skin if not used correctly, or without precautions. As for dry brushing, this depends on your skin type and the way you dry brush. If you have extra sensitive skin, eczema, psoriasis, or any skin condition that makes your skin more sensitive, I recommend you skip this step altogether.
Also, NEVER brush on sensitive areas or open wounds. Another thing is to wear sunscreen if you plan on exposing your skin to sunlight after dry brushing. That is because dry brushing makes your skin temporarily sensitive to sunlight.
Lastly, stay away from harsh loofahs, body scrubs, or anything that is used to further scrub the skin after dry brushing. Because dry brushing already exfoliates the skin, you don’t want to over-exfoliate it and cause irritation to your skin.