Hello Love,
It has been a minute! But I truly missed putting finger to keyboard in sharing a little bit of life with you. I hope most if not all is well, and encourage you to check out this space a little more to see all the updates of my officially registered business of 2024, "It's Oh Kay Wellness"! Whoohoo!!!
One of our newest ventures is product development and an online store by the end of the year all being well. I want to use this opportunity to introduce dry brushing as one of my favorite self massage and self-care techniques, and to tell you that we will have this product available for purchase as of October 26, 2024!
It is personally one of my favorites, because it is a great way to exfoliate your skin with many additional benefits. But before you grab a brush and start lovin' on your skin, let's talk about the correct usage and some important facts you need to know about the process.
So first, what is dry brushing?
Simply put, dry brushing is a gentle massage of the body with a natural bristle brush (dry and usually stiff-bristled) that helps to exfoliate the skin, getting rid of flakiness and unclogging pores, detoxify the body by stimulating the lymphatic system, and increase circulation. It is said to even help with digestion and improve the appearance of cellulite over time for some.
Just imagine a product that leaves you feeling invigorated like a massage often does, while removing dead skin cells, making your skin feel smoother and softer with a radiant glow?
What if I have sensitive skin or other skin conditions?
One surprisingly beautiful thing about dry brushing is that it is actually much gentler on your skin than you scrubbing away in the shower. You see, hot water inflames your skin and strips away healthy oils, fats and proteins in your skin, similar to what some shampoos do to your hair. But brushing your skin while it is dry allows you to exfoliate and increase blood circulation without robbing it of moisture the way the hot water in your shower can.
We do acknowledge that some bristles are stiffer than others, and safety and comfort will depend on your skin’s sensitivity and preference. The truth is for dry brushing to be fully effective, the bristles must generally be pretty firm. But for sensitive skin, a well known substitute is a plain, dry washcloth. If you notice any redness, swelling or inflammation while brushing, please stop right away.
Also, never dry brush over warts, moles or raised bumps on the skin, nor on broken skin or open wounds. This includes lesions, sores, cuts, scrapes, or burned skin, including sunburns. Areas of concern also include infections, skin cancer, redness or cellulitis.
In essence, stop dry brushing if your skin presents any form of irritation or inflammation.
It is best to speak to your dermatologist if you have questions or concerns, as well as if you are about to make any major changes to your skincare routine.
One important thing to note:
DO NOT, under any circumstance use a dry brush on your face, since the skin there is more sensitive than on the rest of your body. If you want to exfoliate your face, use more gentle products and methods that are designed specifically for it. There may be other areas of your skin that are just as sensitive. Therefore, knowing your skin and paying keen attention to areas to avoid is highly recommended.
Dry Brushing Instructions
Using a natural bristled brush, start from the feet or ankles and work your way upward in long, fluid strokes on limbs.
Next, move the brush in a circular motion on your torso and back. Long handle brushes are helpful for tough-to-reach areas like your back.
Since this process can be a little too much for sensitive areas like the abdomen, breasts and neck, lighten up the pressure as needed, or switch to a washcloth for these areas.
A few overlapping swipes per area is all you need. If you go over the same area for too long, you can cause irritation or bleeding.
The best time to dry brush is just before a shower so you can wash off any resulting dead skin cells and of course, moisturizing after is a must! This self-care routine can be done one to two times a week if you have sensitive skin, as frequent brushing might cause irritation. But if your skin can tolerate it, dry brushing can be a daily practice.
Ready to Brush? Great!
Stay tuned for more!
All my love,
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