Can You Dry Brush Your Face?
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free skin care · Sun Apr 13, 2008 11:37 am

I have a question...I dry brush my body and really like the results. When you are dry brusing your body you always brush toward the heart. Up the legs, down the chest, up the arms, ie. I don't think one would want to brush down on the face. So do you brush up? Up and out? How are some of you brushing?

free skin care · Sun Apr 13, 2008 12:05 pm

kj68 wrote:

I have a question...I dry brush my body and really like the results. When you are dry brusing your body you always brush toward the heart. Up the legs, down the chest, up the arms, ie. I don't think one would want to brush down on the face. So do you brush up? Up and out? How are some of you brushing?

I am starting with upwards strokes from the bottom of my neck towards the chin.
From what I have read, you are supposed to brush the face from the middle towards each side. I start with small, circular movements from the middle of my forehead towards each side of the forehead. Then I do the same procedure from the nose towards each of the ears, and likewards on the chin. I brush the nose in some light, sweeping strokes.

It could be and idea to start with a one minute session and double or triple the time when your face get used to dry brushing.

Please share your experience if you try facial dry brushing.

free skin care · Sun Apr 13, 2008 12:50 pm

I've been dry brushing for a long time. I use natural very soft baby hair brushes (given to me years ago when dd was born). I've never had a real scratchy feel, I think if you do you're using the wrong brush.

free skin care · Sun Apr 13, 2008 1:11 pm

Septembergirl wrote:

I would also like to get recs for good brushes with natural bristles. Currently I use an old face brush from Body Shop, and sometimes a nail brush with natural bristles (using light strokes). Some of the 'raw food' women actually used a special shoe brush!

CMAYC - Just out of curiosity, why does your naturopath recommend facial dry brushing?

Septembergirl....she recommended dry brushing to stimulate my lymph flow. I developed a small sebaceous cyst on my chin a couple years ago (a sign that my lymphatic system is not operating properly), so thus the facial dry brushing recommendation. Dry brushing daily, along with a special diet, cold water rinses at the end of each shower, castor oil packs and homeopathic drops. I'm pleased to say, 2 months later, my cyst is barely visible. Even my husband, who was less than impressed when I started this whole thing, commented yesterday that it looks like it's almost gone! Very Happy

free skin care · Sun Apr 13, 2008 1:58 pm

sharky wrote:

I've been dry brushing for a long time. I use natural very soft baby hair brushes (given to me years ago when dd was born). I've never had a real scratchy feel, I think if you do you're using the wrong brush.

I guess a baby brush is quite similar to the Dermalogica face brush in softness (and supposedly other brushes that are designed for cleansing with water).

I thought the bristles would have to be a bit stiffer to help with blood circulation and lymphatic drainage. Of course they should not be as hard on the skin that they cause scratches and broken capillaries.

What kind of benefits do you get from the brushing, and for how long do you brush every day, Sharky?

CMAYC - happy to hear that the treatments were working for you.

Smile

free skin care · Sun Apr 13, 2008 4:21 pm

Septembergirl wrote:

CMAYC - happy to hear that the treatments were working for you. Smile

Thank you!! Very Happy

free skin care · Sun Apr 13, 2008 4:42 pm

Before I began rolling (Dermaroller) I brushed my face every morning (gave me a nice glow). I now only brush on mornings when I didn't roll the day before). I also brushed hands and arms every evening before my bath. It feels really good, helps circulation and brushes off dead skin. My hands and arms look very good for my age (but I also have been using DDF glycolic lotion for two years I believe that has done great things for my hands). I'm rolling my hands and arms now and that has really faded the few pigmentation spots I had.

free skin care · Tue Apr 15, 2008 10:49 pm

I bought a face brush years ago that had natural bristles on it like dry brushes I have seen for the body. It is made by Earth Therapeutics. But when I visited their website today, I see Earth Therapeutics now only sell ones made with synthetic bristles:
http://www.earththerapeutics.net/products.asp?dept=44

If you want one with natural bristles, you may still be able to find one. Or maybe a "mushroom brush" with natural bristles would work...

I did find a couple facial brushes with natural bristles online with quick search:

New England/Earthline - Face Brush Natural Bristle Wood Hand (Nicole Reeds Skincare & Spa Products)
Price: $3.70
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000VV0JNQ?smid=A7135810W5EN2&tag=nextag-hpc-20&linkCode=asn

Walnut Wood Facial Brush by Hydrea
Price £5.50
http://www.beautifulpure.com/hydrea/walnut-wood-facial-brush
This classically designed facial brush is ideal for smoothing and rejuvenating delicate facial skin. It works by exfoliating and removing dead skin cells to leave skin glowing, refreshed and smooth.

Wooden Face Brush by Hydrea
Price £3.50
http://www.beautifulpure.com/hydrea/wooden-facial-brushExfoliate and refresh tired facial complexions with this wooden facial brush with natural fibres.

free skin care · Wed Apr 16, 2008 1:19 am

You'll probably all think I've lost it, but here goes anyway..

I use a baby's hairbrush on my face. It's the perfect size, just the right texture and firmness for the bristles, it gets into all the nooks and crannies, has a handle that makes it so easy to use and at $1.98 can be replaced frequently.. I keep a larger one in the shower for the rest of me.

I'm telling you, it rocks!

free skin care · Wed Apr 16, 2008 3:56 am

Kassy_A - I think you are talking about wet brushing your face. Smile

Lunarmm - thank you for the recs on face brushes. I will look into it.

free skin care · Wed Apr 16, 2008 8:01 am

Many years ago dry brushing was recommended to me by an alternative medicine practitioner (Dr. Soltanoff) - he was adamant on dry brushing the face as well. From what I recall it was a plain brush for bathtub cleaning, not soft and fluffy at all, and it did a great job at the time ( he said to be more gentle on the face and quite vigorous on the body, plus there were certain order and directions of how to do it).

Just my 2 cents,
Lucy.

free skin care · Wed Apr 16, 2008 8:32 am

lunarmm - the brushes from beautifulpure.com look good. They look quite similar to the Body Shop brush I use now, which I believe they don' carry anymore. Unfortunately, beautifulpure doesn't ship internationally.

sigma - it's my impression, too, that facial dry brushing is common in alternative movements. You are right, a fluffy brush won't do the job.

free skin care · Wed Apr 16, 2008 8:54 am

Is it really useful? It seems quite good

free skin care · Wed Apr 16, 2008 10:46 am

Septembergirl wrote:

Kassy_A - I think you are talking about wet brushing your face. Smile

I mostly use it wet, but it works dry as well.

free skin care · Wed Apr 16, 2008 10:48 am

I am a face brusher and love the way my skin looks and responds when I do it regularly. I brush my neck and chest as well and feel that the skin on my neck has thickened some, which is great!
I definitely agree that a baby brush is way too soft and flexible for this kind of lymphatic massage. Not to say that it wouldn't feel lovely and exfoliate, but you really need the stiffer bristles of a natural fiber brush in order to encourage lymphatic movement and drainage (that actually sounds kinda gross, doesn't it?!! Laughing

Here is a link to the inexpensive but quality brush that I use. It's currently on sale!
http://www.internatural.com/ingr/ingr375128.cfm

Here are some instructions on how to properly brush your face:

First of all, you should use a plant fiber face brush.

You brush up on the neck and then on the face, you brush up and out:

Jawline - brush out in circular motions towards ear.
Cheekbones - brush out in circular motions towards ear.
Forehead - start in middle of forehead and brush out on each side towards temple.
Nose - small circular movements over the nose.
Under eyes - tiny, light circular motions from outer eye in towards the nose (NOT out towards ear).

Hope this is helpful!

free skin care · Wed Apr 16, 2008 11:49 am

brenpatsa wrote:

I am a face brusher and love the way my skin looks and responds when I do it regularly. I brush my neck and chest as well and feel that the skin on my neck has thickened some, which is great!
I definitely agree that a baby brush is way too soft and flexible for this kind of lymphatic massage. Not to say that it wouldn't feel lovely and exfoliate, but you really need the stiffer bristles of a natural fiber brush in order to encourage lymphatic movement and drainage (that actually sounds kinda gross, doesn't it?!! Laughing

Here is a link to the inexpensive but quality brush that I use. It's currently on sale!
http://www.internatural.com/ingr/ingr375128.cfm

Here are some instructions on how to properly brush your face:

First of all, you should use a plant fiber face brush.

You brush up on the neck and then on the face, you brush up and out:

Jawline - brush out in circular motions towards ear.
Cheekbones - brush out in circular motions towards ear.
Forehead - start in middle of forehead and brush out on each side towards temple.
Nose - small circular movements over the nose.
Under eyes - tiny, light circular motions from outer eye in towards the nose (NOT out towards ear).

Hope this is helpful!

I love that brush! Could you tell us what the bristles are made of. I'm going to order a few of those to try out.

Thanks for the great tips for how to use brushes properly for lymphatic drainage. What would you recommend for the neck area? I usually do out toward ear, and then finish with downward strokes. It's wierd, but I can actually 'feel' liquid moving downward.

Does anybody else feel that, or have I totally lost it?.. Rolling Eyes

free skin care · Wed Apr 16, 2008 11:50 am

Hi Ladies
So I found this thread very interesting and it made me think Confused

(I know, my friends would tell me not too), but I know I can not dry brush my face, regardless of how soft the brush is, I think that it would hurt my acne, but I was thinking if I get a brush that is used for dry brushing, I could use it in the shower with my cleanser??? I use an exfoliation mitt right now, and even know I can really really well, I worry about bacteria build up. I suppose if I used a brush in the shower, it would be like using a clarisonic? (spelling sorry). Would you gals see benefit to that? Such as create circulation and slough off dead skin cells??

free skin care · Wed Apr 16, 2008 11:54 am

Brenpatsa - nice to hear the experiences from another diligent face brusher. Interesting that you feel your skin is getting stronger. I have only been brushing for three weeks, but I have a feeling that it may strengthen the skin over time. Smile

free skin care · Wed Apr 16, 2008 12:09 pm

bergquis wrote:

I suppose if I used a brush in the shower, it would be like using a clarisonic? (spelling sorry). Would you gals see benefit to that? Such as create circulation and slough off dead skin cells??

Absolutely. Using a facial brush with your cleanser will help with exfoliation and deep cleansing and probably with blood flow to some extent. Dry brushing will give additional benefits of lymph drainage and increase blood flow to a larger extent as it goes more "in depth".

Dermalogica makes a nice brush for use with cleansers, but there are cheaper options, f. ex. from Body Shop. HTH. Very Happy

free skin care · Wed Apr 16, 2008 6:39 pm

Kassy_A wrote:

brenpatsa wrote:

I am a face brusher and love the way my skin looks and responds when I do it regularly. I brush my neck and chest as well and feel that the skin on my neck has thickened some, which is great!
I definitely agree that a baby brush is way too soft and flexible for this kind of lymphatic massage. Not to say that it wouldn't feel lovely and exfoliate, but you really need the stiffer bristles of a natural fiber brush in order to encourage lymphatic movement and drainage (that actually sounds kinda gross, doesn't it?!! Laughing

Here is a link to the inexpensive but quality brush that I use. It's currently on sale!
http://www.internatural.com/ingr/ingr375128.cfm

Here are some instructions on how to properly brush your face:

First of all, you should use a plant fiber face brush.

You brush up on the neck and then on the face, you brush up and out:

Jawline - brush out in circular motions towards ear.
Cheekbones - brush out in circular motions towards ear.
Forehead - start in middle of forehead and brush out on each side towards temple.
Nose - small circular movements over the nose.
Under eyes - tiny, light circular motions from outer eye in towards the nose (NOT out towards ear).

Hope this is helpful!

I love that brush! Could you tell us what the bristles are made of. I'm going to order a few of those to try out.

Thanks for the great tips for how to use brushes properly for lymphatic drainage. What would you recommend for the neck area? I usually do out toward ear, and then finish with downward strokes. It's wierd, but I can actually 'feel' liquid moving downward.

Does anybody else feel that, or have I totally lost it?.. Rolling Eyes

Other than being "natural" bristles (rather than synthetic), I really don't know exactly what the bristles are made of!!

I always follow the directions that say to brush up on the neck but that is so interesting about your actually feeling liquid moving!! I have read posts (elsewhere) about people feeling that sensation in the armpit area while/after skin brushing that area. That area is a major lymphatic zone!!

So fascinating!!

free skin care · Wed Apr 16, 2008 6:43 pm

If you like dry skin brushing for your face... What do you do for your surrounding eye area?
I have been using a baby brush too. And did work very well for neck and face, but found very dificult to reach some areaso of my face, specially inner hollows of my eyes or eyelids.
What I did is to get 2 tooth brushes, (plastic handle) put them in boiling water for a little bit. Enough to make the plastic bend easily, and then use pliers to bend then at the tip. I got an slight curvature, enough to reach hollow areas. Since I did it i hold the skin of one eye on the temple area towards the scalp while i use my other hand to, VERY gently brush my upper and lower eyelids.
Well, it works incredibly well. Little lines and wrinkles are pretty much gone, (this could be because of some other products that I use) BUT! the best part of everything is that my skin feels thicker than before more toned not as fragile as it was.
My friend always had terrible under eye bags and since I told her about this she laughed so hard... Bad Grin

later on she said she was tired of trying everything to get rid of her bags and almost at the door of considering plastic surgery she decided to give it a try. She told me "if this ruins my skin I will still have plastic surgery to reconstruct me". She has been for 3 weeks doing this now and she is really excited. I cannot see her personally 'cause we live in different cities, but she swears by it to the point that she got very enthusiastic and got some skin irritation after abusing a bit.

I just wanted to share with you all my little invention for eyes in case you want to try it. But please be very gentle and don't forget to hold your skin with one hand while you use the other to brush.

BTW do you brush your ears? I do! and feels great. We often forget about many areas that can easily tell what we are trying to hide in the ones we take care off. Wink

free skin care · Wed Apr 16, 2008 9:29 pm

Thanks Zenity for the tip...I fight eye bags daily...I think much is do to my thyroid...but I've tried everything else. Derma wand is the only thing that has come close to touching those nasty buggards.
Crying or Very sad

Kitty

free skin care · Thu Apr 17, 2008 4:01 am

Thank you, Zenity, for your tips. I will try it. I guess you start at the outer corner of the eye and brush your under eye area carefully towards the inner corner of the eye?

I will invest in a baby toothbrush.

Kassy_A - if you can feel your lymph flow, it seems like your body and soul are in perfect harmony! Very Happy

free skin care · Thu Apr 17, 2008 5:13 am

KJ,
I have read somewhere that if your bags are because of a liquid retention there is a good massage to drain it off. I recall something like holding your skin towards the temple as described in my post and then use the knuckles of your free hand to press in and out in a slow motion all that fluid starting at the inner corner of your eye.
Sorry, I can't remember where i read this, and I cannot tell if it works or not. I don't have that problem, but I have been massaging my face and other areas of my body very aggressively with very good results. I think there is a myth about how fragile our face's skin is. I can only affirm that by doing a consistent routine of massage, pressure and motion with your hands your skin and muscles get a lot more oxygen, your lymphatic system cleans a lot all the dirt has been holding and therefore the benefits are multiple.

Sept,
I actually start in the inner part of my eyes and work towards the temples, or brush from the part that is closer to your eyelashes out (towards the eyebrows in the upper lid and towards the cheekbone in the lower lid) I do a diagonal motion too. Starting inner part of the eye and brushing out and up (upper lid) and out and down (lower lid).

If you hold your skin very tight you can do strokes in your whole eye to stimulate all the area.

free skin care · Thu Apr 17, 2008 12:31 pm

I just realised Brenpatsa wrote in a previous post: "Under eyes - tiny, light circular motions from outer eye in towards the nose (NOT towards ears)."

I will stick to that technique. I have always been told to pat eye cream in this direction.

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