In spa, a wooden brush with soft but firm bristles is used that is for your hair including face. The process of scratching of this brush on your skin is called dry brushing and it is useful to get rid of several skin problems.
Annet King, ELEMIS VP of Global Education, said that fine skin and fast circulation can easily be promoted with the use of dry brushing while this process also helps to eliminate toxins, salt and waste from your skin and preparation of your body oils.
How to Dry Brush
In order to energize and wake up your body and mind, the best time for dry brush is before taking shower in the morning. Gina Mari, celebrity esthetician, says start from bottom of your feet and move upward towards legs (take some time here if you have cellulite problem). After reaching stomach, use brush in a circular motion. Then take the brush from arms to your chest and again using a circular motion on chest. Later, brush your neck from behind and then take it forward.
Firmly brush flat on your skin. Also use hands to rub your skin in order to get rid of itchy sensation of dry brush but it should be remembered never to put extra pressure on brush that it can cause redness or pain on the skin. Never brush in humid skin as it can damage the brush. It is also recommended to use dead skin cells after dry brush by using disinfectant spray or a tea tree spray. It should not take two to three minutes to complete the whole process.
Not Just for Your Body
Apart from body, face is also a place for dry brushing. You have to do it in circular motion while starting at the lower side of face and then moving up to forehead and then the reverse motion. Apply anti agers and moisturizers after dry brushing on face as it helps to penetrate these products more. Use a separate brush for your face that should be softer as compared to the one you use on your body.
RealSelf contributor Dr. Sejal Shah told that you should not do dry brushing daily as one to three times a week is enough for most of the people. Start just once a week and then increase slowly if required as too much and too fast brushing may not be tolerate by your skin.
Due to increase in blood flow, you will notice smooth and soft skin immediately but long lasting results will take time and your skin will become tighter, smoother and hydrated.
Dry Brushing Isn’t for Everyone
People with skin conditions like eczema or psoriasis should avoid dry brushing especially on the affected areas. Apart from that, people with wounded, broken, thin skin along with sick, elderly and pregnant women should also avoid this practice. Shah recommends not to use dry brushing over sensitive skin as it may cause irritation while it provides exfoliation in skin which is not required in teenage and early 20s as the skin itself performs this process very well at this stage of life.
Choose the Right Dry Brush
A suitable brush has to be picked for dry brushing. Brushes with long handles are better as they help you reach difficult parts of your body. The brushes of ELEMIS and VOYA are made from natural cactus bristles which are best material for this purpose. Two brushes will be required separately for body and face.
Benefits of Dry Brushing
Exfoliated skin and several other benefits of dry brushing have been proved but several claims made about them are not scientifically proven. Shah told that dry brushing is like a massage that increases blood flow temporarily but the body removes toxins from skin through liver and this process is not affected by dry brushing at all.
Another thing to remember is that dry brushing only has temporary and small effect on cellulite while completely getting rid of this extra fat is not possible without exercise like squats and lunges.
