DRY SKIN BRUSHING
Most of us are used to paying attention to our facial skin: we clean and moisturise it regularly and sometimes, we even exfoliate our skin. That’s good!
But when was the last time we took care of our body skin?
As you may know, the skin is the largest organ of the human body in terms of weight (3-4 kg) and size (1.5 to 2 m²). More than just a protective covering, our skin is a complex system composed of nerves, glands and tissue layers. When it is healthy, it acts as a real shock absorber between the dermis and bones and helps us to regulate our body temperature, remove harmful substances and protect our body from chemicals and infections. It also allows the synthesis of vitamin D, which is essential for bone development.
In constant contact with other organs, the skin can reveal certain dysfunctions and diseases affecting any other body parts. That is why we must take good care of it!
To improve our health, there is an extraordinary and very simple method that we can include in our daily routine: dry skin brushing. This is an old Ayurvedic cleansing practice, which not only improves the appearance of the skin, but also provides wonderful benefits to our health, which go far beyond aesthetics:
- Stimulates the lythe lymphatic system,responsible for cell waste disposal through lymphatic drainage. When our lymphatic system is not working properly, waste and toxins build up, sometimes causing inflammation and disease. Dry brushing the skin helps to release toxins from the tissues which are then eliminated through the bloodstream.
- Acting as a true exfoliant,it eliminates the dead surface cells while cleansing the clogged pores. It thus promotes cell renewal and allows the skin to breathe while improving its texture, giving a soft, smooth and firm appearance.
- Increases blood circulation,which promotes metabolic waste elimination.
- Contributes to reducing celluliteby evenly redistributing the stored fat deposits under the skin, helping to decrease its “orange peel” appearance.
- Improves digestion and kidney function:stimulating the lymph nodes promotes the elimination of excess water and toxins and ” brushing ” the abdomen results in better digestion by stimulating the colon.
- The ritual of dry skin brushing relieves stress,reducing muscle tension and soothing the mind.
- It acts like a real energy booster and it is so invigorating that we often become “addicted”.
HOW TO DRY BRUSH OUR SKIN?
We will need a brush or a loofah made of natural vegetable fibre, above all not synthetic. Ideally choose a long-handled brush to easily reach difficult-to-access areas like the back.
To get the best results, we need to dry brush our skin for 3 to 5 minutes, preferably when you wake up just before showering, on dry skin, without water and clothing.
Always brush towards the heart, to activate the venous return and stimulate the lymphatic system (which runs to the heart), practicing light circular movements in a clockwise direction. The applied pressure should be firm, but not at all painful: after brushing, the skin turns pink, but not red! Avoid brushing the face (unless you own a brush specifically designed for it), genitalia, varicose veins and wounds, cuts, abrasions, any skin irritation or infection.
Dry skin brushing is performed practicing small circular motions applied several times on each area, always moving towards the heart:
- Start by going from the bottom of your body to the top, by the sole and the back of your feet, ankles and progressing upwards on both legs (sides, front, back)
- Continue from the palm and back of the hands to the shoulders moving on to the arms (sides, front, back), without forgetting the armpits.
- Continue on the back area, starting with the gluteus, lower back, then backbones and moving forward to the abdomen and ribs.
- Finally, this time from the top of your body to the bottom, with very light circular movements, gently brush the neck and cervical area ending with the chest.
After brushing, rinse in the shower and apply organic body moisturiser (Coconut oil or Argan oil).
And now get brushing… just to feel good, quite simply!