September means it’s officially spring here in the Southern hemisphere, so most of us will be spring cleaning our homes, detoxing and exercising a little more. Even though they say summer bodies are made in winter, it’s not summer yet so we still have a chance to get ready. I decided that this would be the perfect opportunity to chat to you guys about what has been the best part of my evening beauty routine for the past few years – dry brushing. I try to dry brush for about five to ten minutes every evening and although there are many great benefits to dry brushing, I would like to focus on just four benefits that really got me into it.

Reduce Cellulite

This has to be the number one reason that attracted me to dry brushing because it’s an inexpensive method that actually works! Cellulite is fat that’s been trapped underneath the skin. Dry brushing along with cutting down on sugar can help minimize the appearance of cellulite because it gets the blood flowing, and this will help break down fat cells.

Reduces the appearance of stretch marks

Dry brushing gets deep into your pores to cleanse dirt and other toxins. Clogged pores can lead to painful bumps and ingrown hairs, so keeping your pores open helps to expel waste and increases the absorption rate of natural oils. This remedy can be used to reduce the appearance of both new and old stretch marks as it stimulates cell regeneration.

Exfoliate

A lot people suffer from excessive dry itchy skin, especially during the cooler months. Dry brushing is another alternative to exfoliate because it removes the skin’s dead cells. This improves skins texture and leads to smoother, much brighter and glowing skin.

Detoxifies

Dry brushing improves blood circulation which helps to eliminate toxins that are found in your body, better blood circulation means better and faster release of toxins. This is one of the most important reasons why dry brushing is good for you – getting rid of toxins that lay in your skin will stimulate blood flow which will result in healthy skin.

How to dry brush:

Purchase a natural bristle brush; they usually come with a long handle to help reach all areas of your body. I bought mine from The Body Shop, but I have seen some great ones at Dischem from about R49.95, labeled “massaging brush”.

Do not wet your skin, dry brush while your skin is dry. Starting at your feet and ankles, move in long gentle sweeping motions towards your heart, Lymphatic fluid flows through the body towards the heart, so it’s important that you brush in that direction.

Be careful of sensitive areas of the body such as neck and chest and never dry brush on any sores, cuts or burns. Don’t forget to brush from your hands to the heart as well.

Wash off in the shower and follow up with your favorite natural oils such as coconut oil or good quality moisturizer. I have a recipe for a simple homemade body butter that I will share with you soon.

Lastly don’t forget to wash your brush every 1-2 weeks, using warm water and gentle soap or shampoo. Make sure to rinse it out well and hang it somewhere it can dry completely!