Beauty

from North Idaho Wellness Magazine | May + June 2022

Nutrition

Say Hello to Spring Skin ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT DRY BRUSHING

Written by Jennifer Miller

Winter is officially over and it’s time to break out the shorts and sundresses but is your skin ready to see the light of day? Dry Brushing or Body Brushing is an easy process to incorporate into your morning routine and can help get your skin summer ready.

Dry brushing is exactly what it sounds like. The body is brushed from feet to neck with a dry, stiff bristled brush. The list of benefits are plenty and the risk is slim to none.

Some of the benefits include:

Exfoliation: for obvious reasons this is the most beneficial reason to start dry brushing. By removing dead skin cells, dry brushing reveals softer, smoother and that glowy skin we all dream of. Your moisturizer and body oil will start to absorb better and you’ll be saying bye-bye to your rough, flakey, scaly winter skin. Detox: through exfoliation, dry brushing unclogs your pores which makes it easier for your body to sweat

and helps eliminate toxins. It also increases your blood circulation which promotes lymph flow and drainage. Unlike scrubbing in a hot shower, which also increases your blood circulation, dry brushing won’t rob your skin of its much needed moisture like that scalding water will. Nervous System: dry brushing first thing in the morning or whenever you like to shower, wakes up your skin leaving you feeling similar to the way you would feel after a massage. You’ll feel invigorated and ready for the day with glowy skin.

We all have busy morning routines so the best thing about dry brushing is it’s simple enough to add into your beauty routine without breaking the bank or adding more steps to your already busy day. First things first, get yourself a quality dry brush with stiff bristles. Your bristle stiffness will depend on how sensitive your skin is. Dry brushing should never cause pain, skin breaking or bleeding. w

HOW TO:

Before showering on dry skin, start at the tops of your feet, brushing using small strokes. Moving up towards the direction of your heart. Once to your arms, you’ll start the brush strokes down, again in the direction of your heart. On your stomach and chest, take your small strokes in a clockwise direction. You’ll want to alot about three to five minutes for this. ----------------------------------------------------------------------As with any new practice, start slowly with two days a week moving up to daily. And just like your toothbrush, don’t share your dry brush with anyone else. To keep it in good condition and clean, wash it with baby shampoo at least twice a month. Never use a dry brush on infected, red or sunburnt skin. And steer clear of dry brushing if you have any psoriasis or eczema.