I tried Dry Skin Brushing years ago. I'll admit, I did it once and was a total wimp....I thought it hurt and gave it up immediately. But I've matured and live a healthier lifestyle since then and decided to give it another chance. Now I'm totally hooked. I even look forward to this amazing morning ritual. I don't want to scare you away if you've never tried it. I tell you this because the first time you try it, you might think, "screw this!" LOL. I'm here to encourage you to put your big girl pants on and give it a chance....it gets better.

BRUSHES:

The first thing I want to talk to you about is the actual brush. All skin brushes are not created equal. There are many synthetic brushes out there...stay away from those. You want to get a natural bristle brush. Many people like a boar bristle brush which is natural and good quality, but I'm an animal lover so I think there's an even better option. I recommend going vegan on this one and getting a good quality natural cactus sisal brush. Best choice in my opinion. I did some research and found the same quality brush I have, at a better price for you! Get yours here. This one is a nice hand held brush like mine, but you can also get one with a long handle so that you can reach your back. If you get one of those, I recommend getting a plant based one without a detachable handle (I linked to a good one above) as it can fall off when brushing which is annoying. Here's another plant based good one. Do not brush your face with a body brush, it's too stiff. There are special face brushes that are softer if you choose to include your face. I personally do not brush my face. So let's get to why you should dry brush...

THE BENEFITS:

It exfoliates skin. It will slough off dead, dry skin improving skin's appearance. it will clear clogged pores and allow your skin to breathe. By doing this your moisturizer will penetrate your skin and hydrate it more efficiently.
It increases circulation. It delivers oxygenated blood to the skin which encourages elimination of metabolic waste.
It stimulates the Lymphatic System. This is the system that is responsible for eliminating cellular waste. The lymphatic tublules allow waste to be collected from your tissues and transported to your blood for elimination. This is referred to as lymphatic drainage. When the lymphatic system is not working properly, waste and toxins can build up and make us sick. This is a leading cause of inflammation and disease. Skin brushing is a powerful aid in keeping this system healthy!
It helps with the appearance of cellulite. While this may be temporary, dry skin brushing may help soften hard fat deposits below the skin while distributing them more evenly, decreasing the appearance of cellulite.
It improves digestion and kidney function. Dry brushing can help with bloat. Massaging the lymph nodes can help shed extra water and toxins from the body.
It's invigorating. After you get over the initial slightly painful scratchiness of dry brushing, it actually starts to feel GOOD. Along with glowing and tighter skin, it can feel invigorating! I actually like it now! It's like an invigorating massage that leaves your skin feeling awake!

HOW TO:

Skin brush daily for best results. Some people even do it twice a day. I've been doing it once a day. I recommend doing it in the morning because it can leave you feeling stimulated and invigorated, so it's a great way to start the day. Essentially you want to brush your entire body, starting at your feet and brushing the skin in short or long strokes in the direction of your heart. Always brush in one direction in strokes, don't scrub back and forth, toward the heart...this is best for circulation and the lymphatic system. You can even start with the soles of your feet and move up the body. When you get to your stomach and chest you can brush in a circular motion. I find it difficult to do my chest, it's pretty sensitive and can be a little painful, so I'm still working on it;) Just do the best you can. Don't press too hard to leave scratches to break the skin, but your skin will be a little pink. Stay away from any broken skin and vericose veins. Clean the brush every few times with a gentle soap and water.

As soon as your done brushing, shower as usual. After showering, apply a skin oil while still wet to lock in moisture. I've been switching to all safer beauty products this year with my Safe Product Movement, so I use this Lustro Body Oil which is so moisturizing and safe with a EWG Skin Deep rating of 1. It comes in two different scents. Many other body oils can be synthetic and contain harmful "fragrances" that contain a number of toxic chemicals. You can actually get one of the body oils I use for FREE right now when you spend $200 stocking up on other safe products...that's how I got mine;) You can also use a good coconut oil which works great!

I'm turning 44 this month, so I'm loving discovering new ways to improve my health and pampering myself a little more while I'm at it. I'm a big fan of aging gracefully. Just knowing we are doing all we can, by eating well, doing healthy things for our bodies, make us feel good. I hope you give skin brushing a try! Do you skin brush? I'd love to hear from you what you think of it.