DRY BRUSHING: ALL THE BENEFITS OF THE TECHNIQUE TO EXFOLIATE THE BODY

Dry brushing has always been appreciated by Hollywood stars such as Gwyneth Paltrow or Miranda Kerr, who incorporated it into their beauty routine after discovering its benefits. It is a very popular technique among natural skincare enthusiasts and specifically it is a detox treatment that helps not only to get rid of toxins, but also to enhance the body by stimulating the skin. Not just the body: we also have the solution for the beauty of the face, watch the video on the jade roller!

What is dry brushing?

Dry brushing, as the name suggests, is a practice that consists in brushing the skin of the body dry, that is, when it is dry, without adding water or any type of cream, oil and detergent. This technique obviously requires the use of a brush similar to a massage brush which is passed over the epidermis of the face or body to stimulate and exfoliate it. The bristles of this brush must also be dry when using them on the skin, so it is not necessary to moisten them first.

Not just brushes: to dry brushing you can also use a horsehair glove, a cloth made of animal or vegetable hair) or a loofah (a vegetable sponge) to brush the body and face. The technique can be found in different cultures, where in some cases the brush is absent and sand or even fishing nets are used to exfoliate the skin.

All the benefits

Dry brushing may seem like a crazy idea, and in some cases you may even think you feel pain.However, we want to reveal to you a whole series of advantages that will make you change your mind in favor of dry brushing. Here are the tips to follow.

1 - Exfoliate the body

Why dry brushing? Dry brushing is a perfect beauty gesture to offer a good exfoliation to the skin of the whole body. This exfoliation technique is in fact much more effective and radical than a classic grainy scrub used on wet skin because it frees the pores of dead cells better and promotes cell renewal. Very useful even before a hair removal, especially because it helps to bring out the hair that is just starting to grow to facilitate their extraction even if they are very short, and therefore guarantee soft legs for as long as possible.

2 - Stimulate the lymphatic system

But one of the main benefits of dry body brushing is to stimulate the lymphatic system, which not only participates in the good circulation of fluids in the body and in the absorption of fats from the digestive system, but also promotes the proper functioning of the immune system by defending the body from infections. Our skin is the largest organ through which toxins and waste are expelled, so dry brushing, also called lymphatic brushing, is an efficient way to renew cells. This detoxification acts on our overall well-being, but also at different levels on our beauty and in particular that of the skin. The detox through dry brushing avoids the accumulation of organic waste which in some cases could manifest itself with skin rashes.

3 - Improve the appearance of the skin

Lymphatic brushing by promoting blood circulation is also valuable in the case of heavy and swollen legs. It avoids the stagnation of liquids and acts positively by counteracting the hated orange peel skin effect. It takes a few simple movements that we will explain below, to feel the skin firm, soft and more elastic. The whole silhouette is toned in no time.

4 - Maximize the effect of creams and treatments

Dry brushing is also able to amplify the action of the creams and treatments applied to the skin after brushing. By exfoliating the skin and freeing it from dead cells that act as a barrier to the products deposited on the surface of the skin, it allows it to better absorb the active ingredients, with an "effectiveness is therefore significantly improved.

Is dry brushing also suitable for the face?

Dry brushing ensures a flawless exfoliation and a deep cleansing of the pores that is appreciable both for helping the skin to regenerate itself and to rid it of impurities at the origin of the appearance of certain skin rashes. By narrowing the dilated pores and making the skin smoother, the face will be fresher, brighter and more oxygenated. No more dullness and uneven skin!
Dry brushing for the face can help preserve the youthful appearance of the skin by stimulating the production of collagen which makes it firm, compact and soft to the touch.

The steps to follow for dry brushing of the body

It is better to brush the body before taking a shower because the water afterwards will allow you to more easily remove dead skin and impurities eliminated from the epidermis.
Always brush the body starting from the feet to go up to the top with circular movements and going over each area three times.
For the legs: focus first on the calves, then on the thighs, before moving on to the buttocks.
Continue with the arms, starting with the hands and then moving up towards the shoulder.
Dry brush the abdomen as well before proceeding with the hips.
Proceed with the neck and decollete, always taking care to make the massage soft, especially in these delicate areas.
The back massage will complete the whole treatment.

These are general advice, but the fact remains that everyone can customize the treatment and adapt it to their needs. To dry brush the whole body you will need at least ten minutes.
Finally, proceed with a lukewarm shower and massage your favorite moisturizer.

Facial rules

Also for the face the rules of starting the massage from the bottom and moving upwards apply; in this case, however, we will have to add movements from the inside of the face towards the outside to properly stimulate the lymphatic drainage. The delicacy here, again. more than on the body, it is very important as the skin on the face is extremely sensitive.

Start from the chin and move towards the cheeks.
Repeat this brush massage in the nose area and then go towards the ears on each side of the face.
Finish by moving the brush from the bottom to the top of the forehead.

If your skin is sensitive, the maximum time to use will be between 2 and 5 minutes. After the dry massage, apply a soothing treatment or mask to leave on for a few minutes.

How to know if we are brushing correctly?

The sensations are different depending on the type of skin. On sensitive and reactive skin, for example, dry brushing can cause a slightly unpleasant sensation, almost a slight pain, especially on the most sensitive areas (inner thighs, neckline, face), while normal skin will be able to withstand it. better.
It is important to adapt your gestures and in particular the pressure exerted on the skin to your specific case: there is no precise rule other than not to feel pain, so if we have this sensation we must review something.
If the skin is only slightly red then we are doing well, otherwise it will be better to stop and try to be more delicate.
Even the skin care products applied after the treatment can make you understand how to dose your gestures: if the skin tingles or tight when you put the cream, you have exaggerated with the brush!

How often to brush the skin?

To get the best results it is not necessary to dedicate yourself to dry brushing every day: two or three brushes a week will be more than enough. The same is not true for the face, where the ideal frequency will be once every seven days.

Contraindications

This technique just described is suitable for both women and men and for all skin types, as long as you take into account the sensations of your skin when doing it. Best avoided if you have wounds or burns, as well as infections, rashes or insect bites on the area to be treated.

Be careful even if you have many moles, because they should never be massaged too hard, risking tearing them.

Acne-prone skin should not be dry brushed as the brush may further irritate it. The same goes for sensitive and reactive skin or skin that suffers from certain diseases such as psoriasis or eczema.

Brush alternatives for fragile skin

In all the cases described above, after a consultation with the dermatologist, you can opt for more delicate accessories than the classic brushes, such as loofah and konjac vegetable sponges.