written by Ipek Karakaya
Quarantining turned all of us, even the lousiest one of us, into self-care junkies. We cleansed, exfoliated, moisturized, and pampered every single skin cell. Yet, the self-care trend is here to stay. (Amen to that.)
Apart from all the modern-day technological A-level self-care devices, there is one treatment, nearly as old as time and only one last supermodel shout-out away from being infamous: Dry brushing.
Dry brushing is a type of Ayurvedic treatment that is known to be around for centuries. It is believed to have many benefits to the body, skin, and lymphatic system.
Despite that alternative medicine is not backed by scientifically proven data, the early adopters of this self-care routine swear by feeling – and looking – healthier.
Dry brushing is where you rub a brush over your body by applying firm pressure in an upward motion; with a pattern. The feeling imitates a low-cost massage, and the benefits are also alike. This motion on your skin encourages circulation by stimulating the lymphatic system, helps the body to rid itself of toxins, and reduce the appearance of cellulitis. Its ace effect, however, is the exfoliation. Now you can say goodbye to the dead skin cells and strawberry legs forever.
With great legs comes great responsibility. For the best results, dedicate at least 5 minutes every day. Some experts recommend doing it in the morning since the motion is an energizer for your body. Better yet, you can do it before or after exercise, or just before a shower. If your dry-brushing ceremony is followed by a shower, consider applying a cute-looking moisturizer afterward. Glowing legs are nice to have.
Start from the feet, and brush upwards to your heart. Going against gravity is the key. You are trying to stimulate the blood flow, so you want strokes at a pressure that will not irritate the skin. On your belly, follow a circular clockwise direction.
The best brush for this routine is the one you see fit. Horse or boar bristles feel seductive, yet there are some vegan options, like coconut fiber. Some brushes come with sticks to reach out all parts of the body, but I must recommend those without one, especially if you are a first-timer. It lets you have more control over the motion since you grab the brush with your palm.
If you have acne, rosacea, or eczema, don’t dry-brush. It could worsen the situation. You may consider speaking to your dermatologist to see if your skin is fit for dry-brushing.
Of all the self-care treatments, this is one of my favorites. It improved the appearance of my skin. It’s one of those unique things that feel just as superb to do it yourself as when someone else does it to you. And that glowy, tingly feeling it leaves on your body is why you should try it out.
