The Benefits of Dry Brushing

by | Beauty, Lifestyle Advice

What are the benefits of dry brushing? Let me count the ways….

Did you know that the skin is the largest organ of the human body? On average, adults carry some 8 pounds (3.6 kilograms) and 22 square feet (2 square meters) of it. (1)

That is a whole lot of skin and it’s very important we take care of it. That’s why I’m an advocate for dry brushing.

Note: If you want to learn more about our largest organ and how it works, read this.

The benefits of dry brushing are plenty. It can help unclog pores and remove toxins from under the skin, as well as stimulate circulation while doing so.

This isn’t a new concept – in fact, it has been used for centuries by Scandinavians and Russians. More than 30 years ago, a Finnish doctor by the name of Paavo Airola prescribed this technique for his patients to detoxify, exfoliate and stimulate the skin. (2)

benefits of dry brushing

Here Are 4 Benefits Of Dry Brushing:

  1. Helps with circulation and increased energy. I do my dry brushing routine in the morning, before I shower. Proponents of dry brushing state that it can increase circulation because you are stimulating the skin and nerve endings. It feels great and I always have a rush of energy before I hop into the shower.
  2. Helps to combat cellulite. Ladies, do I have your attention now? Cellulite is really just fat underneath our skin, but it pushes on the connective tissue which gives it that outward appearance of cottage cheese. Dry brushing may help stimulate the cells and break down toxins from beneath the skin to help reduce the appearance of cellulite.
  3. It exfoliates the skin. This is a very important benefit of dry brushing. As we age, it’s important to remove dead skin cells from the body to aid in the skin renewal process. You’ll have a fresher appearance and healthier skin.
  4. Stimulates the lymphatic system and helps the body rid itself of toxins. The lymphatic system removes toxins from your body and it helps prevent you from getting sick. Your skin also aids in this process by releasing some of those toxins from the body. By using a dry brush, we are stimulating the lymphatic system and then also exfoliating dead skin cells to aid in eliminating these toxins from the body.

Watch the video below to see my tips on how to dry brush!

How To Dry Brush:

Purchase a natural bristle brush with a long handle. You can find one in your local health food store, or grab one online. Here are some recommendations:

Starting at the feet,  brush upwards towards the heart with long, slow and gentle strokes. Pay special attention to your problem areas like buttocks and thighs.  I do this about 7 times on each leg.

Raise each arm up and brush downwards towards the heart. Again, about 7 times on each arm.

Here Are A Few Tips:

  • Keep it easy on the lymphatic system. Do long gentle strokes in the direction of the heart to avoid pressure on the veins and lymph vessels and to encourage blood flow to the heart.
  • Do this routine in the morning and before showering. The dry brush helps stimulate the body and I always feel a rush of energy after doing it.
  • Use caution. Use light, gentle strokes so as to not rub your skin raw. Avoid brushing on open wounds or if you have a skin rash. If you have sensitive skin, you may want to only add this to your routine 3 times per week.

Try This With Essential Oils!

After you have showered, mix one drop of lemon essential oil with fractionated coconut oil and rub on places where you have cellulite.

Lemon essential oil has detoxifying properties, is stimulating for the circulatory system, improves lymph drainage and strengthens vascular tissues. It can also tighten and tone the skin when used in a massage blend.

Caution! Lemon has photosensitivity properties. If you use this after your dry brushing routine, avoid exposing the area of skin to sunlight for 4-6 hours.

My Conclusion?

I’m a big believer in preventative care. If there is something that I can do that can help my body remain healthy, I will do it.

I’ve been dry brushing for about 4 years. I feel that I have softer, smoother and tighter skin.

I like to think that this falls into the ‘can’t hurt’ category, so go on – start dry brushing!

If you’re serious about your skin, then I highly recommend you add this to your routine. It’s nice ‘me time’ too. Go ahead and grab a brush from one of the links above. The benefits of dry brushing outweigh the reasons not to, and your skin will thank you for it!

 

Lindsey Victoria

Lindsey is the author of A Life Well-Balanced, a lifestyle blog dedicated to helping people live a more balanced life - physically, emotionally, mentally and spiritually.

7 Comments

  1. Gloria Bastidas

    It’s sounds great!! I love it ! I’m going to start dry brushing !

    Reply
  2. Sheila

    If I’m mixing a roller bottle with lemon, rosemary and FCO, what recipe would you recommend? I’m starting this today. It all makes such perfect sense that I’m wondering why I’ve never heard about dry brushing before. Thank you.

    Reply
    • Sheila

      Also, I’ve read that Slim and Sassy helps with cellulite. Would it help to add this to the mix?

      Reply
      • Lindsey

        I would add 4 drops of Slim and Sassy to a Swell water bottle (https://amzn.to/2LhEhRb) and drink throughout the day. I like Swell water bottles because they are made with stainless steel and can handle the essential oil. Slim and Sassy helps curb sugar cravings and the grapefruit is known to help flush out toxins. So this would be a good routine to try in addition to the topical treatment.

        Reply
    • Lindsey

      Hi Sheila! I always recommend a 1/10 ratio when using a 10ml roller bottle. So 1/10 of the bottle filled with essential oils and the rest FCO. Try 10 drops of lemon and 10 drops of rosemary (20 drops in total). You can play with the amounts of each – just have 20 drops in total in a 10ml roller bottle. Then fill it up with FCO! Here’s a graphic on my Pinterest board that may help too – https://www.pinterest.com/livealifewellbalanced/using-essential-oils/

      Reply
    • Lindsey

      Also Sheila – make sure to keep out of the sun when using lemon oil topically because it is photosensitive. So if you are using it on your legs, just keep your legs covered for a few hours before sun exposure.

      Reply
  3. Bianca

    Amazing benefits! Also, thanks for providing on how to purchase these brushes.

    Reply

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