Discover The Benefits Of Using A Dry Brush In Your Body Care Routine

WHY ADDING A DRY BRUSH TO YOUR WELLNESS ROUTINE IS A GOOD IDEA

Dry brushing is a technique that works by exfoliating the skin. When practiced regularly, dry brushing helps to stimulate the nervous system, increases overall blood circulation throughout your body, clears dead skin cells, promotes regeneration and unclog pores while leaving skin fresh and renewed.

Dry brushing brings physical stimulation to the body by naturally exfoliating the skin and removing dull, surface skin cells. It supports the body’s natural revitalization process leaving skin feeling smooth, supple and replenished. Our 100% natural dry brush, In The Buff, is made from coarse sisal bristles with a cotton rope wrap. Sisal is sourced from the cactus-like agave plant’s large, fleshy leaves and is commonly used in exfoliating body products like our dry brush.

HOW TO USE A DRY BRUSH

Dry brushing can be done 1-3 times a week depending on your preference, preferably in the morning to help kickstart your system. To begin, stand in your bath or shower and start to gently brush your skin in an upward motion toward the heart, starting at the feet and hands and brushing upwards. It’s important to avoid delicate skin on the face, neck and chest areas, as this skin can be sensitive to the coarse bristles of the dry brush.

The increase in circulation may turn your skin pink during brushing – don’t worry, it’s normal! Use light pressure with the brush; the first few uses may be a bit uncomfortable as the body adjusts but we encourage you to persevere - you’ll be glad you did!

To take the best possible care of your dry brush, keep it in a cool, dry place, away from the shower or bath. Once a week, rinse your brush with cool water and hang to dry.

PRODUCTS TO PAIR WITH A DRY BRUSH

After dry brushing, you can go ahead and bathe or shower as usual. Afterwards, it’s our recommendation that you use one of our all-natural body moisturizers to replenish your skin, like a favorite body lotion or body butter. Here are a few we love:

Goddess body lotion: this ritzy and floral lotion is supportive of restoring moisture to your skin after dry brushing and naturally exfoliating. The base of this lotion contains nurturing and restorative ingredients like aloe vera leaf juice, safflower seed oil and vitamin E to help skin stay soft, smooth and supple, alongside essential oils like rose, geranium, ylang ylang and lime for a tantalizing scent experience.

Tantra body butter: we love the warming, spicy and comforting feelings of this rich and nourishing body butter after a dry brushing session. Body butters are your thickest and most luxurious form of body hydrators, making them perfect for restoring moisture to the skin after gentle exfoliation. Made from three butters, mango seed, cocoa seed and shea, body butter helps lock in moisture, providing non-greasy, fast absorbing and long lasting hydration. We’ve blended Tantra with warm and woody sandalwood, floral and citrus champa and earthy and grounding patchouli for a calming treat for the body and mind.

OTHER BODY CARE PRODUCTS TO COMPLEMENT A DRY BRUSH

Other products you can use to complement your dry brushing experience have benefits outside of just adding moisture to the skin. One of the products we love to use as part of our daily care routine is a roll-on oil blend called Cleanse. This is a fortifying and cleansing blend of essential oils that helps support the body when feeling sluggish or rundown, like citrusy and uplifting lemon to help bring mental clarity, sweet and spicy fennel to help tame the tummy and refreshing, naturally tonifying juniper berry to help keep you feeling in tip top shape. Try applying to the forehead, under the chin, behind the ears and on the wrists when you want to feel just that much better.

We also like to pair our dry brush with a body oil like Stress Release when we want to provide an extra moisturizing dose of hydration to the skin. Body oil has many benefits as it can be used in self or partnered massage to soothe sore muscles and ease simple aches and pains in the body and it can also provide nourishment to the skin as a hydrator. Stress Release combines skin softening carrier oils like grapeseed, apricot kernel and vitamin E with soothing, balancing essential oils of lavender, orange, roman chamomile and vetiver to help you feel grounded and peaceful.

LIFESTYLE TIPS FOR INCORPORATING A DRY BRUSH INTO YOUR DAILY ROUTINE

Though dry brushing is an age-old technique to exfoliate the skin and stimulate blood flow below the surface, it’s definitely a skin care practice that can take some getting used to. Here are our best tips for incorporating dry brushing into your wellness routine:

1. Persevere! The first time you try dry brushing, you might feel like you’re unable to continue. It takes some getting used to - the bristles of the brush are intentionally coarse to help not only remove dead skin cells, but to invigorate and revitalize the body. Start slowly, use only gentle pressure and be patient in building up to longer dry brushing sessions.
2. Think of the benefits. One of the lesser known benefits of dry brushing is the positive effect it can have on our nervous system, otherwise known as your body’s command center. Dry brushing can leave you feeling invigorated and help regulate your body’s systems so you feel optimally well.
3. Be mindful of the overall condition of your skin. There are instances where a dry brush definitely shouldn’t be used - moles, warts, any raised skin, and of course any areas of skin condition like sunburn, abrasion, eczema or psoriasis. Prior to dry brushing, do a full body scan to map out where it will be most beneficial, and remember less is more; a few passes over an area of skin is all that is needed to get the maximum benefits.