Easy Ways to Rejuvenate Your Skin
Easy Ways to Rejuvenate Your Skin
It’s officially Spring! Although, in Colorado, we are covered in snow––again! That makes it the perfect time to rejuvenate that dry flakey winter skin you’ve been living in for the past several months. Colorado’s climate is quite dry this time of year, so our skin begs for additional moisturizing, lubricating and exfoliating.
I’ve been a fan of skin brushing for a number of years and believe it is one simple way––with many health benefits––that we can give loving care to our outer layer. If you are not familiar with this technique, here are some fun facts to introduce you:
• Dry Skin Brushing is an ancient practice used by the early Japanese with their loofa sponge pre-bath ritual; by the Greeks with their strigiles (a spoon-like tool) to scrape their skin following rigorous competitions to remove the “sweat and grime” and to promote circulation; the Native Americans used dried corn cobs (Cherokee tribe) and river-bottom sand (Comanche tribe) to scrub their skin; Ayurvedic and Traditional Chinese Medicine used skin brushing techniques in their wellness practices.
• Often referred as Dry Brush Skin Massage, this brushing technique uses a natural bristle brush of plant fibers or boar bristle––a dry brush on dry skin. How simple is that? A softer bristle brush is recommended for beginners and those with sensitive or older skin, advancing to a courser bristle brush as your skin becomes “seasoned.”
Most of us don’t give a second thought to brushing our hair or teeth. Skin brushing is just as important for our overall health and that outer glow. Here’s why:
• The skin is the largest organ in the body, belonging to the Integumentary System (along with hair, nails and exocrine glands) and performs many functions, including protecting internal tissues and organs; protecting against infectious invasion; protects body from dehydration and temperature changes; excretes wastes; signals to the brain when we feel touch, pressure, temperature variation, pain.
• Dry skin brushing improves blood circulation by stimulating the dilation of the skin’s capillary network. This improves oxygenation of the skin tissue.
• Lymphatic flow is improved with dry skin brushing, helping move waste-filled fluids away from the intercellular spaces.
• Promotes ageless beauty! The outer layer of skin consists of non-living cells. These dead cells are continuously being replaced with fresh, living skin cells. Dry skin brushing removes this “top-coat” of dry, dead cells to reveal the vibrant new skin. Regular brushing improves the elastin and collagen fibers, giving skin a more taut and youthful appearance. Think of brushing as exercising your skin.
Spring is a great time to include this ritual into your health and beauty program. Nature reveals this seasonal shedding with the snake, tortoise, grasshopper, birds and some flower buds. It’s only natural that we give our winter skin the “brush off.”
Many spas offer this service, but it is a simple and inexpensive way to rejuvenate that you may enjoy creating your own home-spa. Here’s how to get started:
• Plan your dry brushing session in the morning, before your (warm-not-hot) shower. Use brushing pressure that comfortably stimulates but does not irritate the skin. The pinkish-skin color and warmth indicate increased blood flow. Brushing should feel good to your skin. You may want to stand in your dry tub or shower while brushing so that the exfoliated skin may be washed away.
• To achieve maximum benefit, begin at your feet and work upward to your groin area. Brush each leg, using circular motions on your feet, then in long, smooth strokes up the legs. You’ll achieve benefits with a few strokes, so no need to overdo.
• Brush your buttocks from center outward with smooth strokes. Brush from your lower back (sacral area) upward to mid-back area. This may be a challenging area to reach, so brush what you can reach.
• At the upper-back level, brush from the spine outward to the shoulder on each side. These areas drain (lymphatics) into the armpit. Raising your arm, making circular brushes in the armpit, toward your center body. Then brush your hand (s) with circular motions followed with long strokes up the arm to the armpit, where you may want to repeat a couple of circular motions.
• Brush the abdomen in a large circular motion, following the position of the large intestine, from lower right, upward and across, under breast-line, downward to lower left groin area. This is a sensitive area, so brush gently.
• Brush the chest area––excluding breasts––from center line outward to shoulders. Brush from base of ears, downward toward shoulders. This is another sensitive area, so brush gently. The nipples should not be brushed.
• Face and neck brushing require a softer brush. Brush upward on the throat area, and circular strokes on chin and cheeks, short strokes up the nose to circular strokes on the forehead.
• This entire process should not be time consuming––five to seven minutes, then into the shower.
• Make this an enjoyable part of your health and beauty routine as often as you choose. Your skin will tell you the appropriate frequency.
• Follow your shower (hydrotherapy) with natural skin care products that support this brushing process. You’ll find an array of amazing skin care products and supplies at: www.ShopAloGoods.com This is a Colorado company that knows natural products!
As wonderful as skin brushing may be for some, it is not for everyone. If you experience skin conditions (rashes, wounds, sunburn, extremely dry or sensitive skin, eczema or psoriasis) skin brushing is not recommended. If you have concerns, ask your dermatologist what may be right for you.