The Benefits of Dry Brushing

Ever heard of dry brushing? Yeah me neither until I started digging into treatments for cellulite. Not only does it buff away dead skin, but it's fantastic at boosting circulation and lymphatic drainage, and ultimately ridding the body of toxins. After all, your skin is your biggest organ.The method itself is super easy and only takes minutes, but there are a few guidelines to keep in mind, including the type of brush and the direction you move it. Here are four things you need to know about dry skin brushing.

How often: Dry skin brushing effectively opens up the pores on your skin. This is something you can -- and should -- be doing daily, even twice a day. Your skin should be dry, so the ideal time is in the shower before you turn on the water. Just a reminder, don't get the brush wet.

Direction: You should only brush towards the heart. Making long sweeps, avoid back and forth, scrubbing and circular motions. Start at your feet, moving up the legs on both sides, then work from the arms toward your chest. On your stomach, direct the brush counterclockwise. And, don't brush too hard: Skin should be stimulated and invigorated but not irritated or red. 

Type of brush: The bristles should be natural, not synthetic, and preferably vegetable-derived. The bristles themselves should be somewhat stiff, though not too hard. Look for one that has an attachable handle for hard-to-reach spots, if necessary.

Benefits: In addition to sloughing away dry skin on areas like knees, elbows and ankles, body brushing promotes tighter skin, cell renewal and blood flow. This also helps the lymphatic system release toxins and aids in digestion and kidney function. You'll also notice a glowy, smooth complexion. Its awesome because it's one of the easiest, cheapest and most effective things you can do for promoting healthy skin.

Here are some great natural options:

So you brush, shower and then lather on lotion. Since your pores are now open and cleared, I would suggest a lotion with natural, simple ingredients. Your body absorbs 60-80% of what ever you put on it, so you don't want your body sucking up all those hormone disrupting chemicals. I use good ol' coconut oil with a few drops of essential oils mixed in, usually lavender and geranium since they are both so good for your skin. I let it absorb for a few minutes while doing my hair, etc. I am trying to do it everyday and already notice a difference in my skin. It feels softer and smoother. Hopefully the cellulite will improve as well if I keep doing it! What do you think, think you would try it?
               
                 Essential oils from Spark Naturals and use coupon code: wonderlust to save 10%!

                       
sources:huffingtonpost.com