Why This Ancient Practice is An Essential in Every Modern Woman’s Beauty Routine
Dry brushing is something that has made an emergence in the beauty world as of late, claiming to be the secret to beautiful smooth skin. The chances are that you’ve heard of dry brushing, but aren’t quite sure what it really is or how it works. Celebrities like Gwyneth Paltrow and Miranda Kerr swear by the practice, but we’re still left with looming questions… what actually is dry brushing? How does it work? What are the benefits? Is it a worthy addition to my self-care regime? Today we’ll answer these questions to help you on your journey to beautiful skin.
DRY BRUSHING 101
What Is Dry Brushing?
Dry brushing is an ancient practice that has its origins back in Ayurveda, an Indian alternative medicine system. Within this system, dry brushing is considered a form of Garshana, which literally translates to “friction achieved by rubbing”. Traditional Garshana can be performed using a brush with a long handle, similar to what we know as dry brushing. Dry brushing ultimately consists of taking a dry bristled body brush and using it on bare skin. Yes, this might sound uncomfortable, but if you do it right, it can be a really relaxing and beneficial part of your routine.
What Are the Benefits of Dry Brushing?
Speaking of beneficial, there are several perks to adopting a daily dry brushing habit. From improving the appearance of your skin, to your overall wellbeing, we’ll get you up to speed on what you can get out of incorporating this practice into your routine…
Stimulating and detoxifying the lymphatic system
Something pretty profound about dry brushing is the positive effect it can have on our lymphatic system, which is responsible for helping our bodies fight off infections. Fluids flow through the lymphatic system and are filtered through lymph nodes. When we are unwell or have come into contact with great amounts of toxins, our system can become clogged, which is why when we are sick our lymph nodes can become swollen. Dry brushing has been said to help with this by releasing toxins from our bodies through our sweat. The bristles against our body can stimulate our pores to open up which makes it easier for the body to sweat, thereby reducing the amount of toxins in our lymphatic system.
Exfoliation
A more obvious, but worthwhile benefit of dry brushing is the exfoliation effects that it has on our skin. The coarse bristles on the brush can help to brush away dry skin, or dead skin cells that might be sitting on top of our skin that may not otherwise be removed.
Relaxation
Another reason to start dry brushing is the relaxing effect it can have. Taking the time to dry brush in a relaxing and dimly lit environment, can help you enjoy the process, similar to a massage.
Increasing circulation
Dry brushing can also stimulate circulation and improve blood flow, which can help your skin look fresh and glowing!
How Do I Dry Brush At Home?
Now despite how simple it sounds, it’s not the best idea to grab any old brush and start scrubbing away. Using a natural fibre brush with a long handle tends to be a safe option, as it isn’t tough on your skin and the long handle allows you to reach all areas of your body. Once you’ve got the right tool, it’s time to start dry brushing. The best time to do this is usually before a shower or bath… this way you can wash off any dead skin cells that the brush finds, and also add hydration back into your skin afterwards by applying a moisturiser. Start brushing at your feet and slowly move up your body using wide, circular, clockwise motions. You can use varying pressures depending on the areas you are focusing on. Brush upwards on your arms and wherever else you see fit… yes it’s that simple!
Being such a quick, easy and inexpensive addition to the beauty regime makes dry brushing all too tempting and given the benefits, this age old practice is definitely worth giving a go.