What is Dry Brushing and Does it Really Work?

Another day, another beauty treatment to try out on your skin! With the list of ways to pamper your skin continuously growing, you may have stumbled upon a classic 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. After all, if you take the time to curate a solid skin care routine that includes exfoliating your face, it’s only fair the rest of your skin gets the same TLC as well. Ready to polish away dull and dry skin? Keep reading to learn about the benefits of body brushing, for your skin, and how you can incorporate using a dry brush into your routine. 

WHAT IS DRY BRUSHING? 

Dry brushing is a form of mechanical exfoliation (sometimes known as physical exfoliation) and involves rubbing a dry body brush (or a loofah if you have sensitive skin) over your skin to gently remove dead skin cells on the skin’s surface. Often a part of spa treatments, you may have already experienced the wonders of dry brushing without even realizing it!

HOW CAN USING A DRY BODY BRUSH BENEFIT YOUR SKIN?

According to the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD), exfoliation, through scrubs like the L’Oréal Paris Pure-Sugar Nourish and Soften Cocoa Scrub, can leave your skin looking brighter and improve the effectiveness of topical skin care products by enhancing absorption — think of it as a way to prep your skin for hydration! If you have sensitive skin and have a hard time finding a body scrub that works for you, dry brushing can be a good alternative to help maintain a smooth, soft, and healthy appearance while increasing blood circulation without stripping the skin of its essential moisture. 

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.

HOW OFTEN 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 work doesn’t stop when you finish with your dry brush. Once you’re done, you need to get rid of the flaky skin. Hop into the shower and cleanse your body as normal. After all, you don’t want those dead skin cells to stay put on your skin. 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). After polishing the skin above your neck, apply a moisturizer to your damp skin to reap all the benefits. We recommend using the L’Oréal Paris AgePerfect Rosy Tone Fragrance Free Face Moisturizer to revive the skin and accentuate your glow. 

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, in other words, not in the shower.

Photo Credit: Chaunte Vaughn

Next: How to Exfoliate When You Have Sensitive Skin