What is Dry Brushing? Learn Why Dry Brushes Are Worth a Try

Another day, another beauty treatment to try out on your skin! With the list of ways to pamper your skin continuing to grow, you may have stumbled upon a trend called dry brushing. Using a dry body brush is a great way to show your skin some extra love with a bit of exfoliation during the winter season and beyond. After all, if you take the time to curate a solid face care routine that includes exfoliating your skin, it’s only fair the rest of your skin gets the same tender loving care as well. Ready to slough away dull and dry skin? Keep reading to learn all about body brushing, the benefits it can provide for your skin, and how you can incorporate using a dry brush into your routine.

WHAT IS DRY BRUSHING?

As we mentioned above, dry brushing is an exfoliating technique. A form of mechanical exfoliation (sometimes known as physical exfoliation), dry brushing involves rubbing a dry body brush (or a loofah if you have sensitive skin) over your skin to gently slough away dead skin cells on the skin’s surface. Often part of spa treatments, you may have already experienced the wonders of dry brushing without giving it much thought!

HOW CAN USING A DRY BODY BRUSH BENEFIT YOUR SKIN?

According to the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD), exfoliation can leave your skin looking brighter and improve the effectiveness of topical skin care products by enhancing absorption. In turn, dry brushing exfoliates your skin to help maintain a smooth, soft, and healthy appearance. Think of it as a way to prep your skin for hydration. The AAD also shares that dry brushing allows you to increase blood circulation without robbing it of moisture, something that hot water in the shower can do. If your skin is sensitive and you’ve had trouble finding a body scrub that works for you, dry brushing can be a good option as you don’t need to pair the brush with any potentially irritating products.

WHAT’S THE BEST WAY TO TRY DRY BODY BRUSHING?

While it’s true that dry body brushing is a good option to consider if you’re sensitive to body scrubs and exfoliating body washes, your skin can still react to exfoliation of any kind. We recommend taking it slow and testing a patch of skin first to see how it responds before dry brushing all over. You’ll always want to use the dry brush on dry, clean skin just before a shower.

Once you’ve determined it’s safe to proceed with dry brushing your entire body, start at your feet and work your way up to your chest. Move the body brush around in a circular motion, making sure to be gentle. No extra force is needed! You may want to pay special attention to areas that can be especially dry—like your elbows, feet, and knees—for a smooth finish all around.

WHAT SHOULD YOU DO AFTER DRY BRUSHING?

The work doesn’t stop when you finish with your dry brush. Once you’re done, you need to get rid of the flaky skin. Yep, you do have to shower after dry brushing! Hop under the water and cleanse your body as normal. After all, you don’t want those dead skin cells to stay put on your skin. Yuck! Follow up by applying a nourishing body lotion to damp skin to help lock in hydration.

Since dry brushing your face is the ultimate no-no, use a face scrub in the shower to exfoliate your face (and lips, too). We love the L’Oréal Paris Pure-Sugar Resurface & Energize Kona Coffee Scrub! After sloughing the skin above your neck, apply a moisturizer to your damp skin to reap all the benefits.

Editor’s note: Just like your other beauty tools, you’ll also want to clean off your body brush after every use! Give it a quick cleansing with a gentle soap and make sure it’s stored somewhere it can dry completely, i.e., not in the shower.

HOW MANY TIMES A WEEK SHOULD YOU DRY BRUSH?

When it comes to exfoliating, there’s no right or wrong answer as to how often it should be done. Some people can tolerate daily exfoliation, while others may only need to do so once or twice a week. Pay attention to how your skin responds after dry brushing to determine what works best for you. It’s best to take your time to determine the best exfoliation schedule for your skin. Start with dry brushing just once a week and go from there.

THE BOTTOM LINE ON DRY BODY BRUSHING

Now you can officially call yourself a dry body brushing expert! As a recap, dry brushing is a spa-inspired exfoliating technique that can help loosen dead skin cells from your skin’s surface. With your newfound knowledge about the benefits of using a dry brush, consider adding dry body brushing to your skin care regimen. Exfoliation, FTW!

Next up: Dry brushing isn’t the only way to bring the spa to you. How about giving yourself a DIY facial? Follow along with the tips in our article, How to Do a DIY Facial and Have an At-Home Spa Day, to totally pamper yourself!