By: Arena Ellis
Trying something new in your beauty routine not only relaxes you but can also make your usual you-time much more fun and exciting. Looking for something that takes less than five minutes, can be done daily, and leaves you with glowing skin at a minimal cost? Consider adding dry body brushing to your beauty routine.
What Is Dry Brushing & What Are the Benefits?
Dry brushing is an ancient practice that has resurfaced in the beauty and wellness industry – and for good reason. Did you know that your skin is the largest organ in the human body? Think of dry brushing as the ultimate exfoliant for your skin.
Using a brush with dry bristles, dry brushing treats the skin to a massage and exfoliation. The brush bristles exfoliate your skin, while the pressure you apply from the brush helps stimulate circulation across your body. This is a great way to remove dead skin cells from your body, allowing new skin to resurface, which results in softer, vibrant-looking skin. Think of dry brushing as another way to help your skin breathe. Plus, this is something that can be done at a minimal cost and whenever it is convenient for you! The only tool you will need to invest in is a brush.
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The Best Dry Brushes to Use
To dry brush, you will want to use a brush specifically made for skin. I would suggest purchasing a new brush that has not been used for anything else. You can easily find a wide range of dry brushes on Amazon, Target, and Bed Bath and Beyond. There are also different sized brushes to choose from for different parts of the body (i.e. your hands and face). But purchasing more than one dry brush is not necessary.
So, how do you make the right choice? You will want to select a dry brush (also known as a body brush) with natural bristles. A smaller round brush without a handle will be easy to navigate around your body, but a long-handled brush will help you reach spots on your back and the bottoms of your feet.
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How to Dry Brush
Dry brushing is quite simple, but there are some recommended ways to get the most out of this practice. For convenience, it’s recommended that you do this in the shower, before turning on the water. Why? By brushing, you will be removing dead skin cells, so doing this on a tiled floor or in the shower before running the water will make for an easy cleanup.
To start, brush your feet first, then work your way up toward your heart. You will want to do this in along, upward strokes as you work your way up your body, then small counter-clockwise circular motions around your abdomen and heart. This should be performed with enough pressure on your skin to help exfoliate and stimulate circulation. However, it should not be abrasive to where it hurts or breaks the skin. A little redness is okay, but if it’s painful, you should reconsider how much pressure you are applying.
Once complete, shower, pat dry, then moisturize. Hydrating your skin after dry brushing is an important step to achieving soft, glowing skin. Looking to take your glow to the next level? Cap off your routine by adding a scoop of Vital Proteins Collagen Beauty Glow – packed with good-for-you ingredients like hyaluronic acid, biotin, vitamin C, and marine collagen – to hot water for a skin-saving tea.