If you’ve been following my January Jumpstart series, you will notice I am hitting on the topic of DETOXING. We have Detoxing Water, Detoxing Soup, and even a Detoxing Bath. Is everyone detoxed out yet? But what if I told you there was a wellness trick that took only five minutes a day, improved your health, and cost nothing? Would you do it? Well, guess what? There is …. Dry Brushing! Some of you may be asking, “what is that?” I am here to answer that question and give you ‘A Step-By-Step Guide To Dry Brushing’. It is so simple to do and has a number of health benefits.

So how does it work?

Your skin, the largest organ in your body, is an organ of elimination. One-third of your body’s toxins are excreted through the skin. Through dry brushing, you unclog pores and excrete the toxins that have become trapped in the skin.

To get started, follow these simple steps:

1.  Purchase a natural (not synthetic) bristle brush with a long handle so you can reach all areas of the body. I use the Yerba Prima Skin Brush. I prefer using my brush with the handle removed, but this can make it more difficult to reach around to the back. Find what works best for you.

2.  Get naked and stand in a bathtub or shower to catch the falling skin. It’s a bit gross, but once you start doing this everyday, you won’t even see the dead skin droppings.

3.  Begin brushing by starting at your feet, moving in long sweeping motions towards your heart. Remember, always brush towards your heart.

4.  Brush several times in each area, overlapping as you go.

5.  Take care as you brush over more sensitive areas. Note that your skin will become less sensitive the more you dry brush.

6.  Once you’ve brushed your entire body, jump in the shower. I like to alternate between the hottest water temperature I can tolerate and the coldest. This stimulates blood circualation, bringing more blood to the top layers of the skin.

7.  After getting out of the shower, pat your skin dry and apply a body oil (preferably natural). I like L’Occitane Supple Skin Oil and Jason Vitamin E Skin Oil . Both these products smell WONDERFUL! You could also use rose hip, almond, or coconut oil.

8.  Continue to dry brush your body every day. Like everything, once you get the routine down, it’s easy-breezy.

Remember to periodically clean your brush with soap and water. Leave it out to dry in a clean, sunny spot to avoid any mildew accumulation on your brush. If you self-tan, your brush will get slightly discolored.

Benefits of dry skin brushing:

1.  You’ll exfoliate dead skin.  As much as I still love my loofahs and my Tree Hut Detoxifying Mediterranean Salt Scrub, you will not get all the benefits from those products that dry brushing can do.

2.  It stimulates your Lymphatic System.  Dry brushing your skin will kick start your Lymphatic System, which helps you remove toxins from your body. The stiffer the bristles on the brush, the better the Lymphatic stimulation you’ll create.

3.  Dry brushing helps to reduce cellulite. This benefit generally catches people’s eye. Don’t expect miracles, but improvement! Simply put, cellulite is a toxic material that has accumulated, and are trapped in your body’s fat cells. Unfortunately, they are unable to be eliminated from the body. Forget lipo, Ladies! Dry brushing helps to break down any trapped toxins from within the body and also help your body eliminate them through its elimination channels. If you want to see remarkable differences in your skin texture this year, incorporate dry brushing, drinking this Lemon-Ginger Water, add in 3-4 days of resistance training,  4-5 days of cardio, and a CLEAN diet …. TRUST me, you will see results in no time.

4.  It unclogs pores and de-congests skin.  Dry brushing unclogs your skin’s pores and helps your skin absorb more nutrients. Daily skin brushing promotes healthy, breathing skin. It’s a real TREAT for the largest organ in our bodies.

There you have it, ‘A Step-By-Step Guide to Dry Brushing’. I hope you enjoyed this post and give this wellness trick a try. Let me know what benefits you notice. Since we’re on the topic of exfoliating and showering, you may enjoy taking a peek at What’s in My Shower {Body edition}.

Yerba Prima Skin Brush // L’Occitane Supple Skin Oil  // Jason Vitamin E Oil //  Tree Hut Detoxifying Mediterranean Salt Scrub