Dry skin brushing: What's so good about it and should we be doing it?

Dry brushing is said to have a wealth of benefits for the skin and beyond. [Photo: Getty]
Dry brushing is said to have a wealth of benefits for the skin and beyond. [Photo: Getty]

Just when we thought we’d reached prime adulthood and found ourselves actually sticking to a skincare routine, there comes another exfoliation step to add into our regime.

Enter: Dry brushing. But what the hell is it?

Dry brushing is much like using a loofah in the shower, except you remove the element of water by brushing away at your dry sky, usually before showering.

The recommended method is to brush upwards, starting at the feet and hands towards the chest.

Using a soft-bristled brush to slowly scrape away at your dry skin doesn’t sound like anyone’s cup of tea; if fact, it’s an act that would have the best of us reaching for the water (and moisturiser).

But it turns out that dry brushing could actually have some real benefits for your skin, from increasing circulation to improving metabolism, eliminating dead skin cells and helping detoxify the body – so listen up…

What are the benefits?

Dry brushing is said to be super exfoliating – why? Well where normal exfoliating in the shower is also great, dead skills are harder to remove when they’re wet.

The process is also great for removing oil and dirt from pores (just make sure you use a smaller, gentler brush for the face as Wellness Mama recommends).

Dry brushing is also said to be beneficial for lymphatic system, which is the body’s circulatory system and a really important part of the immune system.

Gwyneth Paltrow’s wellness website Goop, stipulates stimulation of the lymphatic system as one of dry brushing’s core benefits.

London-based apothecary’s founder, Margo Marrone, told the site: “The lymphatic system is responsible for collecting and transporting waste to the blood.

“Dry brushing can stimulate the lymphatic system as it stimulates and invigorates the skin.”

The method is also to been said to reduce the appearance of cellulite – though most of these are dependant on the user and anecdotal.

Why not try Elemis’s Body Detox Skin Brush available at Debenhams [Photo: Elemis]
Why not try Elemis’s Body Detox Skin Brush available at Debenhams [Photo: Elemis]

If you fancy giving it a go – I mean, hey why not? – then we recommend the Body Detox Skin Brush by Elemis which is made from natural cactus bristle brush.

Happy brushing!

Follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter for nonstop inspiration delivered fresh to your feed, every day.

Read more from Yahoo Style UK:

Woman leaves fantastic review of stubborn eyeliner after crash

The six, best-selling beauty buys on Net-A-Porter

The Duchess of Cambridge’s flawless post-birth hair divides fans