Dry Skin Brushing

[Jax]

Do you do it??

I never used to, although the suggestion has popped up in my life a number of times for various reasons, but I just couldnt understand how it could work http://www.rawinuk.com/images/icons/icon11.gif

There's a few reasons why somebody would want to dry brush their skin with a vigorous stroke; to help move lymph out of your body, to help circulation, to hopefully improve the look of any cellulite or to remove dead skin cells and soften your skin. The first 3 are fairly linked together really and apparently quite effective.

The latter one has really interested me, since I started brushing in earnest about 2 weeks ago, I have really noticed how my skin has got lovely and smooth and the dead skin cells have come off my knees where I had the surgery, really easily. Not only that but I've noticed it's been really great at exfoliating my hairy legs ready for the epilator ;)

Here's a little bit more info on it! (http://www.pureinsideout.com/detox-skin-brushing.html)

Here's quite a good video to help you understand how to do it;

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Ethical One Stop Shop* (http://www.ethicalonestopshop.com/eoss/160/index/) have a long handled (£12.99) and short handled brushes (£5.99)

Fresh Network* (http://www.rawaffiliate.com/cgi-bin/clickme.cgi?exec=Jax&site=site1) have a long handled one (£9.95)

We had a discussion about dry brushing the face, I have to say my facial skin wouldn't thank me for it so I use a microfibre cloth once a fortnight, it's a bit like this one (http://www.green-bear.co.uk/cloths/pure-microfibre-face-glove.html)

[karen @rawchocolateheaven]

I gave up showering last October thats a over a year ago, in favour of Body brushing, It coincided with a couple of things one was meeting David Woolfe and hearing his hygeine stuff (less water more brushing) and the other was a story covered by the New Internationalist magazine on the worlds toilets or lack of them and it got me thinking then checking out what do cultures do who have no access to showers or even rain water for much of the year!!
Well I began brushing, started out with a soft ish brush from boots, have since moved onto 2 brushes a stiff one for real exfoliation of whole body including face and a soft one foe daily cleansing, added together with the Pit Roc and staple for any natural hygeinist I feel cleaner than I have ever felt. A full brushing takes about the same time as a nice shower, the only time I "wash" is to do my hair every second week or so!! using very little water.
I do River swim each summer and will swim in the sea if it takes my fancy, but I can count on one hand the number of actual "showers" I have had since 13 months ago!!! it's much easier on yourself, the environment, it's quicker if you are on holiday...say camping for example. The toiletry bag is tiny..somewhat unique!! a pair of brushes and a pitrok!!
For all those in doubt it only truely works once you eliminate all food from your diet that sweats out like meat, dairy, processed etc living on a pure Raw diet means your sweat is different and not as toxic or prone to bacterial overgrowth!!

Get brushing save money on soap, moisturiser (never needed as the bodies ability to produce cleansing oils is enhanced) and most of all save water!!!
love Karen....proudly announcing she does not wash!!!

[Jax]

Ah I absolutely LOVE my Pit Rok!!!

If you haven't got one you can find them on Goodness Direct (http://www.goodnessdirect.co.uk) - but I'm sure how they compare on prices.

[Carrot Top]

I'd never even heard of dry skin brushing until last June.... but have been doing it most days for the last 6 months and am now starting to notice my skin is not so dry. Feel kind of stupid that I'd never thought of 'brushing away the dead skin cells' before!
I have had extreeeeeemly dry skin since early childhood (including eczema/dematitis et al) and no end of quality moisturisers have ever made any lasting difference.... Always lived in hard water areas which isn't ideal either. I'd been doing all the 'right stuff' like drinking plenty of water, never smoking or drinking alcohol, not spending too much time in the sun (I'm a very fair skinned red head!), not wearing make-up, using non-bio perfume free washing stuff etc etc BUT this skin brushing IS starting to make a difference. Yipee!

[sharonjones]

How is dry skin brushing different from using a bath lily??
I love my bath lily. :)

[karen @rawchocolateheaven]

I gave up "washing" a couple of years ago...I dry brush with a selection of different stiffness brushes...
I got asked at the market (by the blokes on the meat stalls, who are always trying to catch my vegan lifestyle out!!) do I use soap?
well I refused to answer, I said to them I didn't use soap as it's animal based (usually) but I didn't feel I could explain to them what I actually did! I just told them they already think I am weird why should i make things worse for my self!!!
so the rest of the day they had wild guesses and none even came close!
I do bathe but usually in rivers of the sea when the weather warms up....how do you explain to a butcher (thats what they are) that vegans especially raw vegans not only don't sweat much but also smell nicer? they need the daily showers & sprays to wash off the putrid toxins then cover up any daily leaks......yum!!!!

[Jax]

How is dry skin brushing different from using a bath lily??
I love my bath lily. :)
LOL I had to Google that, now I know what it is.........a bath scrunchie http://www.rawinuk.com/images/icons/icon10.gif ;) I don't know exactly, I'm assuming perhaps the brush on dry skin is more vigorous and includes more of a flicking motion to get the lymph moving?? I'm guessing here, can you tell? ;)

I actually use both, so guess I'm greedy :p

[Carrot Top]

Thanks Jax, as I didn't know what a bath lily was either! Yes, I've read that dry skin brushing really helps activate the lymph system, to aid elimination, so think you are spot on there with your guess.

[Ruth]

Dry skin brushing is the most stimulating way to wake yourself up in the morning or at any other time of the day when you need a boost! Sometimes I use it when really hungry and it takes the edge off the hunger... a bit like exercise, it obviously stimulates feel-good hormones and the lymphatics, so good for every system of the body, even digestion.

I rub miracle soap into my skin with a bath-lily type thing and then quickly shower off. Although I don't feel the need to wash with soap, especially when drinking a lot of juice, it makes the skin glow and shine.

[ladygrey33]

I have never tried skin brushing, but will do now and see how it goes! Thanks for the thread!