We tend to overlook the crucial role that our skin plays in our overall wellness. But it’s time we pay more attention to our skin health! After all, it’s the largest organ in our body and responsible for a big portion of our detoxification needs. Taking the time to keep your skin healthy can translate into an increase in overall physical and mental wellness. So how is this accomplished?

The answer: Dry Brushing

What is dry brushing?

Dry brushing has been increasing in popularity for the past several years. If you haven’t heard of it, it’s exactly as it sounds: brushing your skin in a circular pattern with a dry brush, typically before showering. It’s a cheap, fast, and effective self-care activity that you can practice daily. If you have a few bucks to buy a brush and an extra 5 minutes each day, you too can be a dry brusher.

What are the benefits?

Dry brushing is popular for its physical benefits for the body. It provides lymphatic support, it’s a great way to exfoliate your skin, and it cleans your pores. But dry brushing can also be an effective strategy for reducing stress and anxiety. Here’s how:

– It’s a grounding self-care activity that can be done daily as a way to check in with your body and identify areas you may be holding stress 

– It’s a soothing, stress-relieving ritual that can ease tension in the body. 

– It can feel like a total body massage, helping trigger relaxation and relieve stress after a long day

– It’s a quick activity that can easily be incorporated into your nighttime routine to help promote deeper sleep.

As an added bonus, dry brushing can even help to reduce cellulite! By eliminating underlying toxins and stimulate skin cells, it can make a significant difference in the appearance of cellulite. 

Here’s how to do it:

Purchase a dry brush set like this one.

Choose the time of day you’ll be able to consistently engage in dry brushing. I recommend completing this activity at night as relaxing way to wind down after your day.

Start at your feet and brush in a circular motion toward your heart. Aim to brush each section of skin approximately 10 times. Repeat this process all the way up to your torso and arms. Then move to your back and shoulders, before finishing with your face (be sure to use a softer brush here). The whole process doesn’t need to take longer then 3-5 minutes. 

Jump in the shower to wash off the dead skin cells. 

Put on some natural lotion or oil 

And you’re all done!

Seems like it’s definitely worth a try, right? While everybody’s experience is different, I’ve been dry brushing for the past 6 months and I love the effects it’s had on my overall health. If you’re looking for a quick, effective and cheap self-care activity, give it a shot!