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Brighten up your skin.

What’s a fast, inexpensive and effective way to get softer skin on your body? Dry brushing! Read my starter guide and understand the benefits of this invigorating skincare technique and how you can dry brush at home.

Dry brushing to exfoliate skin is popular for good reason. It’s an efficient (and enjoyable) way to exfoliate and rejuvenate your skin from neck to toe. You can dry brush from the comfort of your own home—it’s really simple and quick. It takes mere minutes to feel the results from dry brushing.

What is dry skin brushing?

Based on the idea that hair brushing promotes a healthy scalp and stimulates circulation, dry skin brushing is thought to have an equal effect on bare skin. For centuries people have felt the benefits of dry skin brushing, and many of us have used loofahs and washcloths on our skin as we shower. Brushing skin while it’s dry, however, is a whole new ball game. It feels completely different and greatly accelerates the removal of dead skin cells.

How to dry skin brush your body

Dry brushing is very simple. Here’s what you do:

1. Select a brush made for the task. You can probably pick up a dry skin brush at your local general store or pharmacy. I like a long-handled brush with natural medium bristles so I can reach my back. But there are so many choices: take your pick from natural or synthetic bristles, loofahs, specially designed cloths or high-tech dry brushing gadgets.

2. Dry brush when your skin is at its driest, ideally right before you shower so you can rinse off the dead skin. I make dry brushing part of my morning routine—just a minute or two before I hop in the shower.

3. Using a circular motion or sweeping upwards, dry brush your entire body—including tops of feet, legs, arms, back and shoulders. I like to start at my feet and work my way up. You should only do each part once. Avoid brushing back and forth or using too much pressure—dry skin brushing should feel good, not painful. Brush with a medium pressure that invigorates but does not irritate. I also recommend stopping at your neck and using a more delicate stroke for your décolletage. Do not brush your face—your skin is too delicate there.

4. When you’re done, step in the shower to rinse off all that dead skin. Then moisturize liberally with a body lotion.

Benefits of dry brushing

Dry brushing is a form of exfoliation, which takes away dead skin cells sitting on the surface of your skin. The removal of these dead skin cells can reveal brighter, smoother skin. Dry brushing promotes circulation to skin cells, and some even claim that dry brushing can help diminish the appearance of pesky cellulite dimples. Most of all, it feels pretty great. By spending a little time dry brushing each morning, you could feel rejuvenated and ready to tackle your day. I think it’s like having a mini-spa session at home.

When I dry brush first thing in the morning, it sets the tone for the rest of my day. By starting my day with a good skincare habit, I continue to make healthy choices throughout the day. You’ll be amazed how good this simple skincare technique feels on your skin. It could really help your skin feel its softest and smoothest.