Dry Skin Brushing
Ok peeps! We spent the entire month of June dishing about getting some sun, soaking up the Vitamin D, avoiding sun damage with safe sunscreen when needed (and in case you missed it, check out this nice little DIY After Sun Spray if you spent too much time on the beach).
Of course, our purpose is to boost Vitamin D levels which strengthens the immune system and turns up the body’s ability to heal- but let’s be real. We all really just want to rock a nice summer glow.
Well, I’ve got a super fun way to boost your skin’s smooth factor while aiding your body’s natural detoxification systems at the same time! It’s called dry brushing and if you haven’t given it a try yet, it’s time to jump on this bandwagon.
Dry brushing, in case you are unfamiliar with the concept, is the practice of taking dry skin brush (made specifically for this purpose) and brushing the skin, starting at the feet and moving on to the rest of the body, always brushing towards the heart.
Dry brushing is said to stimulate the lymphatic system, which helps to clear toxins from the body. The process of dry skin brushing also exfoliates the skin, helping to get rid of dead skin cells that can clog pores and make skin look dull and dry.
Read on to find out how to give dry brushing a try and where to find a dry brush of your very own.
But first, a little back story on my experience with dry brushing.
Because who doesn’t like a good story? This one even has an important moral and a happy ending. It’s a dry skin brushing fairy tale, if you will.
The first time I gave dry brushing a try, I was so excited! I was envisioning glowing, exfoliated skin that screamed “healthy glow” like a teenager at a Justin Bieber concert. And then I applied said brush to said skin- and instead my skin just screamed, “Ouch!” It hurt! I mean, in all the reading I had done extolling the praises of dry brushing for detoxing, nobody ever mentioned it felt like you were rubbing sandpaper on your skin.
So, I’m just being real here.
While I LOVE dry brushing now, it did take some getting used to. After a week or so of what sorta felt like some bizarre self-punishment ritual, my skin got used to it, and I can attest it’s TOTALLY worth the breaking in period. I think it’s important to point this out so that you don’t become discouraged at your first attempt at dry brushing. And so that you can laugh at me.
So Grab your dry brush and let’s do this!
How to dry brush your skin for detox
- First, grab you a dry skin brush specially made for this purpose- like the one here.
- Standing naked in your tub (with the water off), begin at your feet and stroke in long motions towards the heart, and moving up your body, ending with your abdomen. I use this order- feet, legs, bottom, then arms, back, chest and abdomen. Take care around sensitive areas such as the breasts.
- Use light strokes and don’t be afraid to overlap areas of brushing.
- After you are finished dry brushing, jump in the shower or tub to cleanse the skin of any leftover dead skin cells.
- Enjoy your healthy glow!
Here’s my bonus tip of the week: After you step out of the shower, don’t ruin your post-dry-brush-glow by slathering on toxic chemical laden lotions that contribute to your body’s toxic load. Pick a safe, natural and effective moisturizer like virgin coconut oil! You’ll be glowing like a star!
Have you tried dry brushing? Come back and tell me what you think after you give it a try!
