Dry Brushing- what, why and how?
Dry-brushing is one of the most effective health and beauty practices that you can easily incorporate into your daily routine. And the best part is, apart from buying yourself a brush with firm, natural bristles, it is totally free.
I had initially dismissed this practice as not being for me, after I had read an article a few years ago stating that Miranda Kerr dry brushes for 15-20 minutes every morning. As a busy working mum, I put this beauty advice in the unattainable “rich and famous routine” folder and didn’t give it too much further thought. However, after learning more about the skin microbiome and its connection to other vital systems in our body, I knew I had to do my own research to see whether this routine is truly worth the time and effort.
The first ‘big tick’ piece of information I discovered is that 3-5 minutes of dry brushing is sufficient to gain the full benefit. You can also do it at any time of the day, although most experts recommend dry-brushing in the morning, rather than before bed, because they believe it has energizing qualities.
The benefits of dry-brushing are quite remarkable and the research certainly convinced me that this simple, minimal and natural routine needs to be something I practice not just to improve the way my skin looks but for overall health and wellbeing. Here are four reasons dry-brushing is worth adding to your repertoire:
1. Boosts circulation: When dry-brushing, your skin will appear red and slightly inflamed. This is the result of increased circulation and more blood to those areas.
2. Exfoliates dead skin: As with all methods of exfoliating, dry brushing gets rid of the day's dirt and oil as well as dead skin cells. The result is increased cell turnover and more radiant, smooth skin.
3. Aids with lymphatic drainage: Aside from leaving you with glowing skin, dry brushing can encourage lymphatic drainage. All blood carries lymph fluid, which filters through the lymph nodes. Dry brushing speeds up the rate of blood pumping, which helps get the lymph through the body, therefore removing toxins and pathogens more quickly.
4. Plumps the skin: Many swear their cellulite is less noticeable after dry brushing, due to temporary plumping effect it has on the skin.
Dry Brushing Steps
To gain the full benefit of dry-brushing there are a few steps to note:
· Start at your feet and brush upward towards the heart using long circular motions. Similarly, when you start on your arms, begin at the hands and work upward. For the stomach, work in a clockwise direction.
· Maintain a slightly firm pressure as you dry-brush but remember that this is not meant to be torturous exfoliation.
· You can dry-brush at any time of day, but most experts recommend doing it right before you shower so that after you rinse off, you can slather on your Avocado Balm to seal in all of your hard work.
Product Review
I love applying my Avocado Balm all over, especially after using a body scrub in the shower. I love the smell on my skin and the way my skin feels in the morning.
Sarah, Brisbane