The Benefits of Body Brushing

Learn how to improve your skin, health, and life with body brushing.

Look, I’ll be the first to say that one of the downsides of growing older is that our skin doesn’t look or feel the same way that it used to. And let’s be honest, the thought of having to inject my body with fillers and other toxins to appear younger seems all but appealing to me –and not to mention very expensive.

But what if I told you there was a way to help improve the overall look of your skin and heal your body from the inside out with one simple, natural and cost-effective method, would you believe me? Did I mention this anti-aging method only takes only five minutes out of your day? If you’re intrigued by what I am about to say, then you’ve come to the right place, because I am about to let you in on a little secret that has been practiced by various cultures for hundreds of years. 

What is Dry Brushing, and How Do I Do It?

Body brushing, aka dry brushing is a method that is typically performed before bathing. With a dry natural bristled brush, begin massaging sections of your skin firmly, but gently in an upwards motion towards your heart. Starting at your legs, work your way up to your stomach, and then to your arms with long circular strokes. After performing this technique for about five minutes, hop into the shower and afterward, apply a body serum or lotion to lock in the moisture. It’s as simple as that. Just make sure to wash your brush a couple of times a month to get rid of all the dead skin build-up.

Health Benefits on the Surface and Beneath the Skin

As we get older, the regeneration of our skin cells begins to decrease, often leaving our skin looking dry and dull. However, over time those who swear by dry brushing say that it helps revitalize the overall appearance of your skin by exfoliating and removing the dead cells on the surface of your body to help generate new cell growth more frequently. Don’t be surprised when you’re left with soft, radiating skin you will want to flaunt all year round.

Dry brushing also aids by plumping the skin –reducing the appearance of cellulite on the legs and arms. How you may ask? Well, cellulite is caused by various factors such as the lack of blood circulation as well as increased fluid retention. As you massage the skin, you are actively stimulating increased blood circulation to those areas of your body and redistributing the fluid build-up beneath the surface of your skin. This is why it’s normal for your skin to turn a pinkish color after you’ve body brushed.

Another health benefit of dry brushing is that it helps encourage the stimulation of your lymphatic system. If you didn’t know, the lymphatic system is found throughout the entirety of your body. Dr. Axe describes it as “the body’s inner drainage system,” which plays a crucial part in the function of your immune system. Essentially, the lymphatic system aids in removing toxins and pathogens from your body –keeping you stronger and healthier whilst fighting off infections and illnesses. As you massage the skin you activating the lymphatic nodes speeding up your body’s natural drainage process.

How Frequently Should You Dry Brush?

All skin is different –and you should, therefore, determine how often you perform this technique based on what type of skin you have. Wellness specialists do however recommend that you only dry brush once or twice a week. If you have very sensitive skin, try dry brushing once or twice a month to build up your skin tolerance and slowly build up the frequency later down the road.

Are There Health Risks to Dry Brushing?

Simply put, because you’re exfoliating your entire body, it’s recommended that you avoid areas on your body that may have “eczema, psoriasis, or other serious skin conditions.” If you begin to experience irritation try applying a softer pressure to the skin. If you continue to encounter any discomfort, it may be due to the type of brush that you are using. Luckily for you, dry brushes only cost between $10.00 – $50.00, therefore leaving you with a bit of room for trial and error for you to find a brush that works best for your skin type.

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