invigorate your body care routine

One of the best regimens that I have ever decided to add to my body care routine has certainly paid off. You know how much I love multitasking and when a certain product or treatment gets more than one job done, I am a happy girl. Not only is my skin ridiculously soft, I am able to rev up my lymphatic system at the same time. Dry brushing is a fascinating natural beauty technique that has been utilized for its positive effects of detoxification and exfoliation of the skin for more than 30 years. Dry brushing is an effective way to stimulate and detoxify the internal bodily systems as it provides a gentle internal massage. This treatment It works well in preventing dry skin because it exfoliates just enough to stimulate skin’s renewal process, leaving your skin incredibly soft to the touch. Dry brushing has the power to help remove cellulite, cleanse the lymphatic system, remove dead skin layers, strengthen the immune system, stimulate hormone and oil-producing glands, tighten the skin preventing premature aging, tone the muscles, stimulates circulation, improves the function of the nervous system, helps digestion, and it’s easy, inexpensive and invigorating! What a list!!!!

How To Get Started:

When dry brushing, use a soft natural fiber brush with a long handle, so that you are able to reach all areas of your body. One with a removable head with a strap for your hand is a good choice. I like The Organic Pharmacy’s Skin Brush because of its natural bristles and that it has a nice and long handle for reaching all parts of the body. Most nylon and synthetic fiber brushes are too sharp and may damage skin. The important thing is to find what is right for you. Once your skin becomes “seasoned,” you can switch to a coarser brush if necessary.

Tips and Tricks for Dry Brushing:

Always brush your dry and naked body before you shower or bathe because you will want to wash off the impurities from the skin as a result from the brushing action. Always brush from toe-to-head and/or from the outside of a limb toward the body (keep in mind that you want to always brush toward the heart). Utilizing long sweeping strokes, begin with your feet and brush vigorously in circular motions. Continue brushing up your legs, and proceed to your hands, arms and shoulders. Brush your entire back and abdomen area, shoulders and neck. Use circular counter-clockwise strokes on the abdomen and the breasts. Brush upwards on the back and down from the neck.

Note:

Stroking away from your heart puts extra pressure on the valves within the veins and lymph vessels and can cause ruptured vessels and varicose veins. Use light pressure in areas where the skin is thin and harder pressure on places like the soles of the feet.

Be Sure To:

· Avoid sensitive areas and anywhere the skin is broken such as areas of skin rash, wounds, cuts, and infections. Also, never brush an area affected by poison oak or poison ivy.

· Finish up with your regular shower and ending with three hot and cold cycles. That means turning on the water as hot as you can take it for several seconds, then as cold as you can handle it, then hot, then cold for three cycles. End with either hot or cold. This will further invigorate the skin and stimulate blood circulation, bringing more blood to the outer layers of the skin.

· After getting out of the shower, dry off vigorously and massage your skin with pure plant oils such as olive, avocado, apricot, almond, sesame, coconut or cocoa butter.

· Clean your skin brush using soap and water once a week. After rinsing, dry your skin brush in an open, sunny spot to prevent mildew.

Skin brushing should be performed once a day, preferably first thing in the morning. A thorough skin brushing takes about 10 minutes, but any time spent brushing prior to bathing will benefit the body. If you are feeling ill, increasing the treatments to twice a day is good. You can also dry brush areas of cellulite 5 to 10 minutes twice a day to achieve cellulite reduction by performing this treatment consistently for a minimum of three to five months. The results are quite impressive and I can’t even tell you how much much of a difference I have seen in my own skin. It can take up to about 30 days to see and experience the changes, but be sure to be patient and keep up the program. Your body and skin will thank you later.