Passionately Holistic

Most of us take excellent care of the skin on our face; we cleanse, exfoliate, and moisturize but what about the rest of our body? Our skin is our largest organ and is a complex system made up of nerves, glands, and cell layers that, when healthy, serves as a buffer that helps protect your body from extreme temperatures and chemicals. Our skin also plays a major role in detoxing. The skin excretes toxins that are carried in our bodies and sometimes it needs a little help. If the skin is layered with dead skin cells, it can be harder to eliminate waste and toxins through the pores efficiently.

Dry brushing is a great way to help with the detox process by activating your lymph nodes to release toxins, remove dead cells, and improve circulation. Supposedly it help can help reduce the appearance of cellulite but I have no experience with this so can’t comment – bahaha! 😉 It is also soothing and leaves the skin feeling amazing! Just like when you exfoliate your face, afterwards it is a healthy shade of pink and silky smooth. The same will happen with your entire body. It’s so easy and at first can feel harsh but once give it a couple tries it doesn’t feel as abrasive and you will LOVE the benefits and results! I try to dry brush a couple times a week and it’s crazy how much dry skin continues to be removed. The benefits of dry brushing include be are not limited to:

1. Stimulate Your Lymphatic System

In your body, your lymphatic system is the system responsible for eliminating cellular waste products. Hundreds of miles of lymphatic tubules allow waste to be collected from your tissues and transported to your blood for elimination, a process referred to as lymphatic drainage.

When your lymphatic system is not working properly, waste and toxins can build up and make you sick. Lymphatic congestion is a major factor leading to inflammation and disease. By stimulating your lymphatic system and helping it release toxins, dry skin brushing is a powerful detoxification aid.

2. Exfoliation

Dry skin brushing removes dead dry skin, improving appearance, clearing your clogged pores, and allowing your skin to “breathe.”

3. Increase Circulation

When you dry brush your skin, it increases circulation to your skin, which encourages the elimination of metabolic waste.

4. Reduce Cellulite

Dry skin brushing may help to soften hard fat deposits below the skin while distributing fat deposits more evenly. This may help to diminish the appearance of cellulite.

Dry brushing is also said to help reduce cellulite by removing toxins that may break down connective tissue, although some believe the effect is temporary (and mostly a result of skin become more plump and swollen after brushing).¹ The Huffington Post reported:²

“When we’d heard dry skin brushing was an effective method for reducing cellulite, we knew we had to include it in our anti-cellulite road test. Sure enough, it was indeed one of the more successful ways to smooth away less-than-perfect spots on your legs.”

5. Stress Relief

The act of dry brushing has been described as meditative (especially if you do it in a quiet space) and may reduce muscle tension, calm your mind, and relieve stress. Many compare it to a light whole-body massage.

6. Improve Digestion and Kidney Function

Dry skin brushing may go even deeper, helping to support your digestion and organ function. According to one skin care and spa expert:³

“…many naturopathic doctors use dry brushing to help with bloating because massaging the lymph nodes helps the body shed excess water and toxins. One of the immediate effects of dry brushing is smoother skin, but it can also help improve digestion, kidney function, and more.”

7. It’s Invigorating

Many people become “addicted” to dry skin brushing (in a good way) because it simply feels so good. Along with glowing and tighter skin, regular dry skin brushers report feeling invigorated after a quick session.

How to Dry Brush Your Skin

First you will need a quality natural brush with firm bristles. I chose one that has a handle you can attach to reach spots like your back but can also use without the handle to make brushing the rest of your body easier.

Some experts recommend dry brushing daily for best results but I find daily impossible for me. Probably because I barely wake up early enough to get my 1st grader fed and to the bus stop on time! If you are able to add dry brushing to your morning routine before showering. I wouldn’t recommend standing in the middle of the bathroom either, as you will be amazed how much skin is removed. Instead stand in the tub or shower.

When brushing, always brush toward your heart, which is best for circulation and your lymphatic system. You can brush your entire body (including the soles of your feet). Start at your feet and work your way up your legs to your arms, chest, back, and stomach. Avoid brushing your face (unless you have a special brush designed for this delicate skin), your genitals, or any areas with irritations or abrasions (including varicose veins).

The pressure you apply while brushing your skin should be firm but not painful (avoid “scrubbing”). Your skin should be pink after a session (not red or irritated) and you can brush for as long (or as little) as you’d like. An average dry brushing session may last between two and 20 minutes.

After showering follow up with an oil based moisturizer. I am obsessed with coconut oil so this is my personal favorite. You will be amazed how good dry brushing makes you and your skin feel. Try for yourself and let me know what you think!