Dry Brushing: Product-light Exfoliating

Exfoliating at least a couple times a week removes dead skin and stimulates the growth of new skin resulting in a more youthful glow and a more even complexion.  Microbeads and products that feel like sandpaper are the old school methods that have the potential to do more harm than good.  Do they remove dead skin?  Sure.  But they also can stretch and damage your pores making them more visible and susceptible to blemishes.  Dry brushing is a gentle yet effective alternative. 

The how to: to start, your face should be clean – whether simply washed with water, a clay scrub, or the OCM – start fresh, and fully dried.  Brushing wet skin is like brushing wet hair – your skin’s at a more fragile state and needs to be treated more delicately.  So, with a clean and dry face and a clean, dry, and product free brush, start at the base of your neck and work up.  Keep your brush strokes short and light.  For the neck, angle your brush strokes upwards.  As you get to your face, the brush strokes should be angled up and out.  The area around your eyes should be treated very lightly, but your forehead can take some extra love going from side to side.  For your nose, brush from the center of your eyebrows down to the tip and down on each side.  When you’re done, rinse your face with warm water, and moisturize. 

Of course, this is just my personal roadmap.  You really can’t go wrong as long as you choose a brush that’s gentle enough and don’t apply too much pressure.  Listen to your body – if it’s uncomfortable at all, ease off.  This self-care ritual takes 1 minute, and will leave your skin feeling and looking smooth and fresh.