Skin Brushing

Your hair needs brushing. Your teeth need brushing. But did you know your skin can benefit from regular brushing too? It’s true. Sweeping your skin with a natural fiber brush for just 10 minutes each morning can leave your whole body looking radiant. Brushing is simple, but the benefits you reap from regularly using this technique are huge.

How do I brush my skin?

All you need for skin brushing is a natural-fiber brush with a long handle. You can purchase one at any store with a beauty section, and they should cost less than $10. Look for a brush that’s soft and springy, not firm with spikes. The coarseness of the fibers depends on your own preference, but it’s a good idea to start with a soft brush; you can always move up to a rougher one later on. If you don’t like the way brushes feel or can’t find one that suits your needs, you can use a loofah, natural sponge, or towel. Just make sure you are able to reach your back with these substitutes.

Once you have your brush, use it every morning. The act of skin brushing is very simple: just start with your feet and move all over your body, brushing gently with long, soft strokes. It should take you about five to 10 minutes to cover your entire body.

Most proponents of skin brushing recommend you always brush toward your heart. That means that you’d brush upward when doing your legs and lower torso and downward on your chest and shoulders. Brushing toward your heart stimulates your body’s internal flow in the direction that your lymphatic system moves, so you’ll get the most benefit. If you brush in the wrong direction, you could end up with varicose veins or bruises.

What does brushing do?

In the most basic sense, skin brushing exfoliates your entire body. The light abrasion caused by brushing releases and removes dead skin cells, revealing newer, more radiant skin and an even skin tone. But beyond the benefits of exfoliation, skin brushing can do a lot more. Read over the following list of potential results to get an idea of how much this natural remedy can help you:

1.) Improves circulation

Your skin in your body’s largest organ, and, like any organ, it needs oxygen to function. Dry brushing improves blood flow to all parts of your body, including your skin. And as you know, your blood carries oxygen and warmth. So improved circulation means that you’ll reduce instances of cold hands and feet and you’ll allow your skin to breathe, which releases toxins.

2.) Stimulates glands

Brushing gets your glands active! Regular brushing will keep your glands churning out oils and hormones, which will help your skin become properly moisturized and encourage your body to work in sync. When your glands function properly, they also help to detoxify your body. Sweat glands, for example, release pounds of waste from your body over your lifetime! Just a few minutes of dry brushing will wake your glands up and get them ready for action.

3.) Increase lymphatic flow

Your lymphatic system acts as the cleaning company of your body. Lymph fluids move within internal systems, picking up toxic proteins and pushing them out of the body. Brushing helps escalate this natural process, helping to naturally detoxify your body.

4.) Tightens skin and reduces the appearance of cellulite

The exfoliating effects of skin brushing can make skin feel firmer and softer. Brushing also stimulates your nerve endings under the skin, leading to more defined muscles and, therefore, tighter skin. And increased blood flow to the skin area, brought on by brushing, can reduce cellulite. Brushing won’t make cellulite go away completely, but it can help.

5.) Other possible benefits

Some people claim that skin brushing can strengthen the immune system, improve the function of your nervous system, help you think more clearly, and even assist with digestion! These results haven’t been proven, but people who support brushing as a natural remedy say there is evidence for them.

What to do after brushing

You should brush your skin first thing in the morning and follow it with a warm shower. Wash your entire body with soap to get rid of any dead skin that wasn’t whisked away with the brush. Then, close your pores with a short burst of cold water. This will leave your skin soft and firm. After your shower, be sure to moisturize with a natural emollient, like shea butter.

Take-away tips

Brush once a day, preferably in the morning. You can try brushing more often if you have oily or normal skin. Some fans of brushing say that increasing the frequency when you’re feeling sick will help speed up the curing process. However, people with dry skin shouldn’t brush more than once each day.

Clean your skin brush regularly with soap and warm water. If you clean it after your morning brush and let it hang to dry, your brush should be ready to use again the next day.

Use a gentle stroke on the soft areas of your body, like your limbs and torso. For calloused hands and feet, you can brush more harshly.