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DRY SKIN BODY BRUSHING

Dry skin brushing has whole body benefits. It’s both a great way to exfoliate and to stimulate the lymphatic system, one of the wonders of the body. Anything you can do to help the lymphatic system function properly will have benefits beyond just your skin. With some daily dedication, always brushing towards the heart, your skin will glow from all the attention. Opting for a brush with natural bristles not synthetic and look for FSC-certified wood (it’s more sustainable).

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  • Body brush for 5–10 minutes before showering. Start with three times a week working up to everyday.
  • Brush with gentle, upward sweeping strokes – if you notice reddening of the skin, you are brushing too hard.
  • Avoid areas of broken skin or rashes and follow with a natural or organic body wash.
  • Put aside the time to fully brush your entire body, concentrating on key areas of your legs, thighs and bottom. Always start on the right side of the body, following with the left side – this is the direction of lymphatic fluid flow around the body. Use light, gentle, long strokes and always brush towards the heart.
  • Start from your feet, then up your legs, behind your knees, thighs, bottom, gently on your stomach – using sweeping movements towards the heart, your hands and arms and using a long brush for your back.

Follow with a shower in order to open up the pores further and stimulate sweat glands. After showering and whilst your body is slightly damp, massage on an organic body oil or lotion of choice.

ABHYANGA

This ritual is based on the Ayurvedic practice of Abhyanga, a warming massage that is followed by a shower. It is often performed as part of panchakarma or it can be used as a stand-alone daily practice. What I love about this ritual, if you can find the time to work it into your day, is that you are effectively having a massage every day. Couple that with the link to the Sanskrit word sneha, which means both ‘oil’ and ‘love’, and the Abhyanga practice is a wonderful act of self-care.

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  • Start by drinking a large glass of water. Stand your bottle of body or shower oil in a basin of hot water to warm, while you do 5 minutes of dry skin body brushing. Add a few fresh herbs to the oil, a sprig of rosemary and thyme, if you like, or add a couple of drops of your favourite essential oil.
  • When the oil is a comfortable temperature, stand on a towel (one you don’t mind getting oil-stained) and apply a layer of oil to the entire body. Wait for 4–5 minutes to let some of the oil absorb before massaging for about 15 minutes.
  • Begin at the feet and work towards the middle of the body. Use long strokes on the limbs and circular strokes on the joints. When you get to the abdomen and chest, use larger circular motions in a clockwise direction.
  • Use more oil and spend more time where nerve endings are concentrated, such as the soles of the feet, palms of the hands and along the base of the fingernails.
  • Relax for 10–15 minutes, if you have time, letting the oil do its magic.

The longer the oil is on the skin, the deeper it penetrates. Follow with a warm bath or shower, making sure your feet are free from oil to avoid slipping.
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