I realize this may be a rather odd thing to feel genuinely passionate about, but here goes. I am absolutely fanatical about dry brushing. Skin, not hair. Face and body. It has been in my morning routine for a little over a year now and my enthusiasm hasn’t waned at all during this trial run turned obsession. Not one bit.
I can’t recall precisely what first put me on the path. I think I read an article that outlined dry brushing for skin exfoliation and as a circulatory detoxifier, and I found myself starting to think about the concept of dry brushing more and more. Coincidentally, a while back, I had gotten a long-handled brush for my husband to help an itchy back; not sure he gave it a go, but it hung in our bathroom for many moons. One day I was looking at it, thinking, “hmmm, maybe I should try that for exfoliation.” Then I remembered my son’s baby hair brush I had kept for some reason (maybe just this purpose), and it occurred to me that if it was gentle enough for a baby’s head, I bet I could use it on my face. So I decided to give it a whirl and my devotion began.
A little history
It is believed this practice of dry brushing has been around thousands of years: from the Ancient Egyptians as part of their beauty rituals, to traditional Chinese medicine to stimulate circulation, to an integral part of India’s time-honored Ayuveda health system, the application continues today around the world in many cultures. It has been touted for both beauty and health benefits—some I can validate, some I’m not so convinced of.
Today, perhaps the most popular application for dry brushing is to smooth the skin, as dry brushing basically whisks away the dead skin cells sitting on the surface. It is also thought to deter breakouts by unclogging the pores. Beneath the surface of the skin, dry brushing stimulates the circulatory and the lymphatic systems, both vital for the optimal functioning of our general and specific immune responses. I’ve also read articles that promise it gets rid of or minimizes cellulite, that it may sculpt and tone muscles, and even claim that it may have an impact on the function of our organs. We’ll discuss those a bit later.
First things first
Initially, my interest in dry brushing was as a natural exfoliator. A quick primer on exfoliation: skin is constantly regenerating, so the natural cycle is for the cells on the surface of the skin to die and slough off, allowing for healthy cells to replace them. If these deceased cells aren’t dispensed with, they sit on the surface, slowing down the new cells trying to push to the surface, as well as clogging pores and creating a top layer that is dull, unattractive, and difficult for products to penetrate. (In my mind, I liken it to the papery wrapper of a tomatillo which is obscuring beautiful, unblemished skin.) It’s in our skin’s best interest to assist this natural cell turnover process as it not only promotes fresh, healthy skin cells but encourages collagen production…which is a casualty of age.
There are two main methods of exfoliation: manually with scrubs, brushes, sponges, and cloths; and chemically with various acids, peels and masks. I’m not going to dive too deeply into all of these options because I don’t want to veer too off-topic, but I will touch on a couple. I’m not a fan of scrubs for a variety of reasons. Not least is that high-quality, natural scrubs can be expensive to keep replenishing and I find many of them hard to rinse cleanly. All in all, I think they are a bit of a mess. In my mind, it’s one less product to purchase and container to throw away when there is a much better option. Moving on, anything that gets wet (such as sponges and cloths) have a chance to mildew, so those are off my list as well.
This brings me to a tiny deviation (please bear with me). I have a theory that I apply to many aspects of life: a little of a lot, not a lot of a little. What do I mean? Let’s take our sub-topic, exfoliation. “A lot of a little” would be to take one thing — for instance, a scrub — and rely on that for all your exfoliation needs. Essentially, taking a single item and using it a lot. I believe in quite the opposite approach. Using a little bit of a lot of things, which together create a comprehensive system: “a little of a lot.” Why do that? Because everything works in a slightly different manner, and I believe many things have worthwhile benefits that can work in harmony with one another, thus enabling us to reap even greater rewards.
So putting this theory into practice… do I limit myself simply to manual exfoliation? Not in the least. In fact, although dry brushing is my primary, I utilize several different methods of exfoliation. In keeping with my motto of “little of a lot,” I also use a few mild natural acids, peels, and occasionally masks. (I’ll devote a post to this, stay tuned!)
Compelling results
I can say, unequivocally, that consistent dry brushing has given me the softest, smoothest—youngest-looking—body skin I can remember; as well as less congested, less flaky facial skin. I highlight the word consistent because that is the key with anything in life, but especially here. If you don’t do it consistently, you won’t see results.
Every morning I dry brush both my face and body. I don’t wash my face, per se; I simply slough off the top dead cells that have accumulated overnight and rinse with cold water (great for circulation). (Yes, I brush my face every morning. No soap. Just dry.) Then, before I bathe, starting from my toes and working my way up, I brush my entire body.
This ritual has become important to me for several reasons. First, I used to have troubling and embarrassing KP (keratosis pilaris aka chicken skin), especially in the summer, which products could barely mitigate. This was the first summer that I could go sleeveless and wear shorts without feeling embarrassed. Honestly, this was marvelous in and of itself. My skin no longer feels dry and itchy, “lizard skin” around my ankles has vanished, and I use a fraction of the moisturizer that I used to. Additionally, on my face, I’ve noticed the congested pores that I had around my chin have virtually vanished, which makes total sense because congestion is a result of a sluggish system (and possibly too much dairy…so I’ve eliminated…another post).
Dual benefits
While initially interested in exfoliation, I began to notice how energized I felt after brushing, which shouldn’t have been a surprise given our physiology and what I had read about increasing circulation. The lymphatic system is everywhere in our body and it is basically our body’s “sewage system.” Picture this intricate, expansive network sitting underneath the skin and unlike the circulatory system that has the heart to move blood, the lymphatic system has no pump...it needs movement or assistance. Brushing helps stimulate the motion of this miraculous system, aiding in various body functions from immunity to the absorption of fats from the intestine.
This is purely anecdotal and observational, BUT, this past year was the first year I can remember that I did not get every cold my son brought home from school or Scout trips…and I am very susceptible to colds. Can I attribute it only to dry brushing? Heavens no. (Remember my “a little of a lot, not a lot of a little” theory?) I also focus on nutrition, fitness, sleep, and spirit; but I wholeheartedly believe the sweeping action of the brush helps to activate the lymphatic system played a key role in boosting my immunity, which is also so important as we age.
Other assertions
Having espoused the amazing benefits I’ve experienced, what can I say of these other claims floating around the internet? Did it rid me of my cellulite? I honestly wish I could say yes, but alas I don’t see it. Maybe it’s just me and my body—you may get amazing results. Let me know. Toned muscles? While the lymphatic system does support the optimum functioning of many organs, I just can’t fathom how that translates to toning your muscles. You need to put in the work for that; instead, focus on strength training. Lift some heavy objects. Better organ function? This may have some merit. I understand how improving the lymphatic system's overall function can bolster the performance of many bodily systems, so that’s a possibility worth considering and pursuing.
Win, win
Even without those hypothetical benefits, dry brushing is a win, win for me to live well, age great. Invest in a good set of brushes (I prefer natural bristles and simply oiled wood), maintain them with regular cleaning, be consistent and say goodbye to the cost and waste of a variety of scrubs and sponges, and conquer several problematic skin issues in the process. Plus, you’re improving your immunity and feasibly many other functions of the body—a boon for longevity. It’s a comparatively small investment of time at merely a couple of minutes a morning, and a wonderful way to start the day invigorated. What could be easier and better?
Need help selecting a brush? I’m looking for a new body brush, myself, so I will be test driving a couple in the new year, which—naturally—will be a post in the eponymous section. I will outline how to choose a brush, the options I looked at, what I ultimately bought and if it made its way into being a keeper. To receive that information and much more, please hit the subscribe button below.
Questions? Each month I will be answering questions on any topic in the Ask Ageosophy post launching early next year. Please post a question in the comments and subscribe to be among the first to know when it launches.
References
“Lymphatic System”. Better Health Channel. https://www.verywellfit.com/the-link-between-grip-strength-and-longer-life-5216318