Dry Brushing
When you think of taking care of your skin, the first thing that most likely comes to mind is your face. What you probably don’t realize is your skin is the largest organ in your body. One third of your body’s toxins are excreted through your skin alone. It requires much needed attention to not only look and feel good, but to also maintain its health. That is why dry brushing is a habit that is beneficial in adding to your daily routine.
What is Dry Brushing?
Dry brushing is a practice done by using a soft but firm wooden, skin brush on your skin once or twice daily. The benefits of incorporating this habit are essential to stimulating the lymphatic system to aid in collecting toxins, moving them to your bloodstream and eliminating the waste that our cells have produced. Unlike your heart, the lymphatic system does not have a pump to move these toxins on its own. That is why it is crucial to assist our body in this process to help prevent infection and avoid blockages (also known as a swollen lymph node).
There are many other benefits to this practice as well. These include; exfoliation to allow your skin to breathe, an increase in circulation to encourage the take away of metabolic waste, reduces cellulite by distributing fat deposits more evenly, stress relief through reducing muscle tension and calming your mind, as well as improves digestion and kidney function. The only question now is, how exactly does dry brushing work…
How to Dry Brush
1. Make sure to begin with dry skin and stand in bath or shower to ensure easy clean up from any skin that may fall.
2. Begin brushing in long sweeping motions from your feet, up your body and towards your heart (this is the most important aspect of dry brushing).
3. Brush 4 to 5 times in each area while overlapping as you move on (be gentle in sensitive areas – you will become less sensitive the more you dry brush).
4. If you will be taking a shower after dry brushing (this will allow for the most benefit), be sure to alternate between the hottest temperature you can tolerate, as well as the coldest to stimulate your circulation. Ending on cold will do the most good.
5. After exiting the shower, apply Birch Botanical Spa Bath & Body Oil to moisturize your newly exfoliated skin.
6. Repeat dry brushing daily and wash your brush at least once a week with soap and water.
Now what are you waiting for? Go out and get your brush so you can get started on maximizing the full potential of your beautiful skin!
Inspried by: goop.com, Mercola, and mbg lifestyle