Dry brushing and body oils

I also drink at least a gallon of water a day, haven't had soda in a little over two months, quit smoking about four years ago and quit alcohol at little over a year ago. So that helps greatly.

I LOVE dry brushing - it really does make a noticable difference, at least for me. Not only does it exfoliate nicely, but helps with circulation, which makes your skin glow I just use a brush that I bought from the body shop for >$10 (I think it's bamboo). As for oils, I love to use a combination of 2/3 castor oil to 1/3 jojoba oil. I love to add tea tree and lavender oils to it, or if I'm seriously splurging on myself, frankinscence

Tea tree oil is so good for your skin! I like that Shea Moisture has tea tree products. They're super gentle and effective. So does it say, for dry brushing on the tag and you just use it before you shower or after?

Yes, dry brushing is great!! You need a specific kind of brush for it, and should really be done in a specific order/direction. It REALLY helps with tons of skin issues, as well as the kind of issues that women have with sagginess as we age.

@cantwait4thedate and @Elphaba, Do you know of a video or website that tells you how to do this and what exactly to buy? I just wanna make sure I do it right instead of randomly picking a way by googling it lol.

@Lucille1, thanks for that tip! I've never used plain essential oils except to place out for spiders. I will keep that in mind.

Usually if I use lavender, it's the Dr. Teal's Soothe & Sleep oil. It's great and their epsom salts are too! With coconut oil, I've just used a jar of organic oil in the past. I found it was good for hair too with taming fly always and just lightly putting it on the ends and over it. Too much will make it greasy.

Thanks for the tips! I didn't know if this was just a fad or something that really works.

If you google it, there are some great articles explaining what you should look for in a brush - from what I remember, its mostly that you need natural fibres of a medium stiffness. And yes! Always dilute your oils and do a small patch test first

Thanks Sara! I'll do that then! OliviaP, the bio-oil has vitamin e oil in it, but I suppose I could use just vit. e oil too by itself.

All great tips! Thanks!

@HeatherS, here is a picture I found, but I am not sure how much it will help. Basically you do it in this order (doesnt matter which body part you start with).

Brush from the body part toward the heart. If you have issues like cellulite, you can brush in circles then toward the heart. Your Palm and Bottoms of feet, you can do circles then toward heart. Under your armpits would be sideways toward your chest.

Neck would be downward toward heart, stomach would be upward toward heart, etc.

Also, almond oil is a very good carrier oil, as is fractionated Coconut oil.

I love jojoba oil. I might try the bio oil. My face has been super dry lately, maybe it will help. Does dry brushing exfoliate any differently than exfoliating in the shower?

Thanks for the directional tips! That's neat how it works like that! I'm gonna have to look into the jojoba oil y'all have mentioned. Bio oil helped mine with dryness (around my nose &just general dryness at times) and with oily skin in my t-zone. Normally, halfway through the day, it'll get a little oily, but with bio oil, it's improved so much! You just don't want to put it on before going into the sun. It can make your skin more sensitive to it. I haven't gotten burned from it, I just wouldn't put it on when I know I'm gonna be in the sun for awhile. But I'm wondering that too.