Thursday, February 19, 2009

The Benefits of Skin Brushing

I've been skin brushing on and off again for the past 9 years. If you've never heard of it...it's a wonderful means of skin health and detox.
It obviously removes dead skin cells
It promotes movement of the lymphatic system
It improves circulation
It softens your skin
It promotes even sweating, eliminating toxins
It encourages cells to regenerate
It stimulates production of sebum
It helps combat cellulite
It results in smooth and glowing skin

Use a natural bristle skin brush, brush your skin in an upward sweeping motion towards your heart. Starting at the sole of the foot moving up the legs, up the buttocks and back. I return to my groin area (lymphatic system) brushing up my abdomen, starting again on my palms and work my way up my arms and down my chest. I avoid my breasts and face...but I've read other articles that recommend brushing there.

I'm sold on skin brushing and it's benefits...my problem is that I forget to do it. It is recommended to skin brush first thing in the morning before showering...I'm already in the shower when the thought occurs to me. Does anyone else skin brush, and if so...do you have a system of reminders? Do share!

6 comments:

Melita said...

i use a skin brush. like you, i am sometimes already in the shower before i think of it. i am on the look out for a beautiful hook to hang my brush right beside the shower so it will remind me to do it. i use a dry sisal wash cloth for my sensitive areas that the skin brush is just too harsh. i also use a sisal wash cloth in the shower. i have been doing this for years and love it. great post!

Naturally Jules said...

Melita - great idea! I have mine in a basket over my toilet, but it's just not doing it for me (obviously). If I have it on a hook by the shower - it'll be right there as a reminder. Thanks for the idea! I haven't tried the sisal wash cloth yet, I'll have to give it a try.

Globetrotting Cacti said...

I have used skin brushing before. Got my brush from the Body Shop (think you have them in the States) - certainly seemed to wake my circulation up. We have a ledge in our shower so it is easy to access.....

Domestic Goddess..Diva sometimes said...

Never heard of that but you got me curious. I suffer from ecxema so I wonder if that's would irritate it? Off to google it!

Pink Heels said...

I had never heard of skin brushing and would love to learn more about it. Out of curiosity, why would you brush towards your heart? What is the rationale behind that recommendation?

Naturally Jules said...

Wow, great question Jennifer! Tho the sources I read didn't specifically explain why you would brushh towards the heart, the closest I found was that it directs the lymph to drain into the heart, aiding in detoxification. Also, you don't want to potentially damage the circulatory valves (causing the blood to flow the incorrect direction). I found a great site that explains the procedure: http://www.naturalhealthtechniques.com/HealingTechniques/Dry_Brushing_Technique.htm