Dry brushing benefits for the skin

Dry brushing is a brushing technique used to deeply cleanse the skin. In this article, we will look at the origin, use, and benefits of this curious brushing method.

What is dry brushing for the skin?

This brushing technique is actually quite old: it comes straight from Asia, and its use is based on body brushing with a specialized brush, without using water or soap, or any other product on the skin during brushing. The dry brushing for the skin can therefore completely replace a shower: however, a shower with a cleansing product is still recommended at least once a week. This technique may also be called "lymphatic brushing," since it actually helps reactivate blood and lymph circulation, which has the effect of draining the skin of your body. The dry brushing for the skin is a truly ethical and responsible gesture, and it will also save you money by reducing the use of cosmetic products.

To carry out your dry brushing for the skin, you can follow these steps:

• Starting with the feet, work your way up the legs with circular motions
• Then rub your hands and move up to the arms and armpits, and continue with the back and buttocks
• Then move down to the stomach with gentler motions, then back up to the chest and the neck
• Rinse off at the end of your brushing session: if you want even better drainage, cool water will be ideal

Why do lymphatic brushing?

Doing lymphatic brushing with a brush helps stimulate blood and lymph circulation: but what is lymph? It is an organic fluid similar to plasma that surrounds most of the body's cells. Lymph is carried by the blood vessels and by the lymphatic system. The role of lymph is therefore to cleanse the body while triggering the immune system's response if needed.

Lymphatic brushing is therefore ideal for encouraging the body to cleanse itself from the inside and the outside.

All the benefits of dry brushing for the skin

Dry brushing is an excellent natural exfoliator: it helps the skin remove dead cells. Thanks to its exfoliating action, the skin can finally breathe freely, free from all products that are harmful and suffocating for it. In addition, thanks to the brush's movements on the skin, the tissues will be better oxygenated and nourished than with rubbing without a brush. Toxins are drained, which results in pores opening and allowing the skin to breathe properly.

You will notice as soon as you have finished brushing that your skin is soft, radiant, and even: cosmetics applied afterward will be much more effective. Be careful, some brushes are very stiff: we recommend using a fairly soft brush, and especially not brushing your skin too hard, as it could become weakened.

What type of brush should you choose?

For this type of brushing, it is strongly recommended to use natural brushes, preferably handmade for the best results. So be careful with body brushes that are too rough and stiff, as they will only damage your skin. For your dry brushing, we recommend the Andrée Jardin brush, made in France and by hand, in beech wood and natural materials.

For which skin types?

Dry brushing can be done on all skin types, except those affected by issues such as eczema, acne, psoriasis, or shingles. Likewise, inflamed or infected areas should not be brushed. Do not brush the skin of your face or your stomach if you are pregnant and the same applies if you have scars or stretch marks.