I first heard about dry brushing from my good friend Heather who is an amazing wellness expert. She always shares her wellness tips with me and I knew dry brushing was something I needed to try for myself. I received the Saje In the Buff Natural Bristle Dry Brush ($15.95) from one of my new favorite shops in San Francisco, Saje Natural Wellness. Saje is a Canadian brand that has recently made its way into the U.S. with boutiques in the Bay Area (San Francisco, Walnut Creek and Berkeley opening in November). You can see my blog post on my visit to the Saje boutique on Fillmore street from this summer. If you don't have one near you, don't worry the Saje web site sells everything you can buy in one of their boutiques.
Dry brushing is an ancient practice that's found a new surge in popularity from the wellness community. I've been doing this for the last two weeks before I shower in the morning and it's been a really relaxing and rejuvenating routine that I now can't live without. It's really important you dry brush the right way so make sure you read this dry brushing article by Saje.
Benefits of Dry Brushing:
- helps circulation and release toxins in body, (increasing circulation can help reduce the appearance of cellulite)
- stimulates lymph nodes
- rejuvenates nervous system by stimulating nerve endings in the skin
- helps your skin absorb nutrients better by unclogging pores
- helps muscle tone and evens distribution of fat deposits
- removes dead surface skin cells
(See more benefits from mindbodygreen)
How to Dry Brush
Dry brushing can be done daily, preferably in the morning to kickstart your nervous system.
- Stand in your bath or shower, then gently brush skin in an upward motion towards the heart.
- Start at the feet and hands, then brush upwards to stimulate the stomach, arms and shoulders.
- After brushing, bathe as usual, then use an all-natural moisturizer to replenish your skin.
You can't just dry brush with any brush. I love using the Saje In the Buff Natural Bristle Dry Brush because it's made from natural sisal fibers that are from a species of agave. The bristles aren't rough and won't puncture your skin. By lightly brushing my skin, I can feel my blood circulating as I move the brush through my body. It's important to start at the feet and hands and the brush upwards to stimulate the stomach, arms and shoulders. Don't brush your more delicate skin on the face, neck or chest area. Also, make sure you aren't scrubbing. It's all about a light pressure that you can gently feel on your skin! Once you have brushed, taking a shower helps to futher remove the dead skin and the impurities.
Don't overwhelm yourself either. If you are nervous to begin, just start with your feet and legs. Do whatever you feel comfortable first and then work your way up and do more when you feel ready. Saje recommends that you start with dry brushing a few times a week for a few minutes and then rogress to once a day once you have allowed your skin to adapt to the sensation. It's important to always move the brush in an upwards motion towards the heart because this is why the lymphatic fluid flows through the body. I don't have a lot of "me" time but I do like taking the few minutes a day to do to my dry brush routine. It's so good for your body and your skin!
(Photo: Saje)
Shop for the In the Buff Natural Bristle Dry Brush at Saje.
If you are in San Francisco, take a visit the beautiful and tranquil Saje Natural Wellness boutique at 1913 Fillmore St.
Review product provided by Saje
