The benefits of dry skin brushing (and how to do it)

There are many reasons why you should take up dry skin brushing!

I absolutely love the way it makes me feel. Make it part of your morning ritual and see how YOU feel!

But first, how do you do dry skin brushing?

Get naked. Grab a dry, long-handled, natural bristle brush – you can find these at health food stores, chemists or online.

Start gently brushing your body. Use long, sweeping strokes, all over your body, always brushing towards the heart, not away from it.

Take your time and make sure each area is brushed thoroughly. Be careful of any sensitive parts of your skin and any acne, rashes etc. Be very gentle on the boobs!

Don’t forget the soles of your feet. I don’t do my face as I already exfoliate it or you could use a smaller brush designed for the face.

Now have a warm shower. If you want to really get the blood pumping, finish with a spritz of cold water. Make sure you moisturize well afterwards.

Because of the detoxing effect of dry skin brushing, clean your brush at least once a week in a tea-tree oil and water solution and dry well.

So, what are the benefits?

It feels AMAZING! It’s a bit like a mini-massage!

It stimulates your nerve endings and helps your nervous system.

It gets rid of all the dead skin cells sitting on your skin.

It gets your circulation pumping.

It can help with your muscle tone and cellulite.

It helps detoxify your body.

It can help tighten up your skin, because of the increased blood flow to the area.

It gets the lymphatic system stimulated.

It will make your skin feel really smooth and look glowing.

It’s a cheap way to get beautiful skin without salon visits.

Because it feels AMAZING!

What should you use?

Use a natural body brush, rather than a synthetic one to avoid scratching the skin. This body brush by Bodecare is specifically designed for dry skin brushing. I love the detachable head with canvas strap so you can really get in close to the areas that need it.

I also like the Bass brush, which is all natural and a little cheaper, but not contoured.

Want more info?

This fabulous book, Dry Brushing goes right into detail about how to dry brush, with step by step instructions and information. Get it here.

Did you know? Our skin is our largest organ. One quarter of the body’s detoxing goes on via our skin! Try dry skin brushing every morning for a month. Report back and tell me how you feel!

Do you have dry winter skin? Read this.

Top Tips for Avoiding Dry Winter Skin

Winter time can exacerbate skin conditions and the wind and heaters can make your skin dry, itchy and lifeless.

Here are some tips for keeping your skin lovely and soft over the cooler months. I also have some of the best natural skincare products that are all especially for repairing dry skin!

♥ Stay hydrated!

The cold weather can mess with our thirst mechanism a little. Lots of water will keep your skin smooth and moist. Try drinking herbal tea or hot water with lemon if water is a struggle.

♥ Good fats

Making sure you have enough essential fatty acids in your diet. Keep up the avocado, nuts, seeds, good oils and healthy fats.

♥ Upgrade your face moisturiser

You may need to swap your moisturiser in winter for something richer and more hydrating, especially at night time.

Try: Antipodes Avocado Pear Night Cream or Mukti Marigold Hydrating Creme

♥ Swap to a cream cleanser

I love a foaming face wash – they are so quick and easy in the shower but I find in winter they are just too drying. Swap over to a lovely cream cleanser and see the difference.

Try: Cloud 9 Deep Cleansing Balm or Vanessa Megan’s Petitgrain Creme Cleanser.

♥ Add in a serum

If you love your moisturizer, don’t ditch it, just add in a serum underneath. They are so beautiful and you only need a few drops.

Try: Pomegranate and Rose Hydrating Serum or Good Vibes Omega Facial Oil.

♥ Use a hydrating mask

A lovely rich mask once a week is a nice thing to do for your skin in winter. You could just use avocado mashed up with some honey (yum) or find a nourishing face mask. Avoid clay face masks as they will dry out your skin even more.

Try: Antipodes Manuka Mask or Madara’s SOS Intense Moisture Mask

♥ Don’t wash so often

Now I am not suggesting you get all whiffy! If you are in the habit of having a hot shower or bath twice a day, cut that back to once a day and lower the temperature. Hot water will quickly dry out your skin.

♥ Ditch the soap

Don’t use soap!! It’s so incredibly drying. Switch to a rich cleansing bar, body wash or even skip all together and use a body cloth.

Try: Mokosh Olive Oil Soap or Divine Moisturising Body Wash.

♥ Use a body moisturiser daily

I know I can get a bit slack with this in summer, but if you are using something to hydrate your whole body daily, you will notice the difference in the colder weather.

Try: Blissed Out Body Oil or Lhami’s Lavender Body Lotion.

♥ Oil Bath

Seriously divine – add a good splash of body or massage oil to your next warm bath. It’s a bugger to clean the bath, but it’s worth it for the soft, soft skin you get afterwards!

♥ Don’t get too crazy with that towel

Don’t dry yourself too thoroughly in winter. Just pat skin dry and quickly put your body moisturizer on, sealing in some of the moisture.

♥ Exfoliate

Gently exfoliating weekly in winter will get rid of the dry skin cells. Use a body brush or a scrub on your body and a gentle exfoliant on your face.

Try: Lhami Wattleseed Exfoliating Cream for the face and Eco Tan’s new Organic Pink Himalayan Salt Scrub for the body.

♥ Keep it handy

Hands can really get dry, red and irritated in winter, but we have to wash our hands to keep germs at bay. Use a moisturising hand wash and keep a hand cream next to your bed or next to the kitchen sink to remind you to pop it on. Always use gloves to wash up and for cleaning. You can even coat your hands thickly and pop some cotton gloves on overnight to really replenish.

Try: Vanessa Megan’s Peruvian Flower Hand Cream or MV Skincare Hand Rescue.

♥ Pucker up

Keep your lips nice and hydrated with a lovely nourishing lip balm. I keep one next to my bed and in my handbag and apply often. If your lips are really dry and scaly, you can rub them gently with a clean toothbrush to get the flakes off and then apply your balm.

Try: Suvana’s Paw Paw and Honey Organic Lip Balm or Physic Garden’s Winter Lips Balm.

♥ Cover Up

If the weather is really wild and windy, protect your skin with gloves and a scarf.

♥ Spritzer

A hydrating spritzer can bring relief. Use it regularly throughout the day or pop on before your moisturizer.

Try: Raindrops on Roses Hydrating Tonic or Black Chicken’s Hydrate My Face.

♥ Extreme care

If your skin is really red and irritated, it calls for serious heavy duty products on the sore spots. Coconut oil is always my go-to, but you may need something a bit more intense. I advise against the popular pawpaw ointment on the market.

Try: TLC Intensive Repair Oil, Physic Garden’s Soothing Skin Salve or the always popular Weleda Skin Food.

♥ Eczema

Got eczema? Try these tips from our community.

I hope these tips were helpful and you find some relief from that dry, itchy winter skin! I would love to know your tips as well, leave me a comment and let me know what you do!