One of the fastest ways to get the skin on your body looking and feeling smooth is buffing it. Editor Trudi Brewer investigates the lost art of body brushing.
Why should you dry body brush?
Body brushing your skin when it's dry is one of the best ways to exfoliate during winter. It's fast and effective and helps to increase the blood flow to the surface of the skin, which improves lymphatic drainage, and boosts the immune system, which keeps the skin all over the body looking and feeling great.
How to dry body brush?
First, invest in a natural bristle brush. The ideal time to body brush is in the morning before stepping into a warm shower. Begin at your feet, and then move the brush over the skin in long, circular movements working upward toward your heart. When you get to the thighs and butt, use firm pressure, this should only take around five minutes each day.
Will dry body-brushing get rid of cellulite?
There is no magic pill or potion that will erase the look of cellulite. However, dry body brushing helps to improve how skin functions, and in turn how it looks. For a quick science lesson: Cellulite is not excess fat. That dimpled look on the skin (mostly on the butt and thighs) is where fat cells push up against the connective tissue, just under the surface of the skin. Worth noting: Cellulite affects about 91 percent of women and has nothing to do with weight. On a brighter note, dermatologists believe lymphatic drainage through deep tissue massage, using a nourishing oil, and dry body brushing will stimulate the vessels under the skin, which will increase blood flow, helping to improve the look of that dimpled skin.
How often should you dry brush your body?
Be guided by your skin type, if your skin is sensitive only dry-brush every few weeks. For those with normal to dry skin or anyone who is breakout prone, dry-brush once or twice a week. And don't forget to wash your brush, (shampoo is an ideal cleanser) it helps remove the dead skin buildup from the bristles.
Dry-brush for a few weeks and see the difference.
If you’re not convinced you need to dry-brush your body, consider this. As we age, our skin cell turnover slows, and our body sheds fewer layers of dead skin. The action of dry-brushing exfoliates those dead skin cells away, which means our skin feels softer and body oils and lotions, penetrate deeper and faster. It also helps keep those annoying ingrown hairs at bay.
Pure Fiji Exotic Oil, $46.
This oil sinks in within seconds, and the natural blend of cold-pressed virgin coconut oil, macadamia, dilo, and sikeci oils, are rich in vitamins A, B, C, E, Omega 3,6,7 and 9. One tip: During winter this oil becomes solid ( due to the coconut oil base), but quickly warms up in your palms, and returns to a liquid state, apply all over the body after a warm shower. There are nine fragrances, pictured here our winter warming favourite Coconut Milk and Honey.
Manicare Dry Body Brush, $17
The deal palm-sized dry body brush, it gives skin a slightly rosy glow immediately after use. Make sure you rinse well after each use, and don’t store it in the shower.
