Why Facial Brushing Is A Rejuvenating Beauty Ritual
Dry brushing my body has been a beauty ritual that I have embraced ever since I began to learn about Ayurvedic wellness practices.
My simple 5 minutes morning sessions (about 1-2x a week) are always something I look forward to and now crave, as I immediately feel its invigorating effect. Over time, I have also noticed a different type of “silky feel” and luminosity to my skin that I can no doubt attribute to this continual sloughing off of dead cells or gentle exfoliating effect.
For my facial skin however, I have always opted for manual and Kansa wand massage or other more smooth-surfaced beauty tools, having been most familiar and experienced with them, personally and in my practice. Over the course of the Covid pandemic which forced the closure of my studio on two separate time frames so far, I decided to use my time by exploring, diving deeper and experimenting with facial care rituals that had not yet been on my radar or simply have not come around to integrate yet. This allows me to not only to see what best suits my skin and constitution, but to be able to recommend new rituals to clients while speaking from personal experience. Enter facial dry brushing - (or my love story with).
To understand the full benefits facial dry brushing, we cannot bypass an overview of our body’s lymphatic system and lymphatic drainage, as the latter is the main thing this ritual supports for our overall health and subsequently, our skin radiance.
THE LYMPHATIC SYSTEM
The lymphatic, along with the vascular system, is a branch of the human circulatory system. It consists of lymphatic vessels, lymph nodes and lymph fluid that when functioning properly, plays a major role in maintaining optimal immunity. It does so by helping to rid the body of cellular waste products, bacteria and damaged cells, as well as producing and releasing lymphocytes (white blood cells) and other immune cells that monitor and destroy foreign invaders like bacteria, viruses, parasites and fungi. It is also responsible for maintaining body fluid balance and absorbing digestive tract fats. The lymphatic system, unlike the vascular system, does not have a pump. To circulate properly, it relies on physical movement and manipulation (lymphatic drainage).
the lymphatic Link to skin
Much of what has been researched on the lymphatic system’s function up to date has been cancer related, however more has come to light about the role it can play - when functioning is impaired - in many inflammatory skin conditions. Also, as lymph fluid doesn't always effectively drain on its own, the lymph nodes can sometimes become congested and/or swollen, affecting the flow of fluid nearby. When we are looking at the face and neck, this congestion can translate to clogged pores, acne, slowed healing, dull complexion, dehydration, and puffy skin.
Below is diagram of the location of the face and neck lymph nodes for reference:
LYMPHATIC DRAINAGE BENEFITS
Manual lymphatic drainage, such as performed with the facial dry brush, is in part designed to gently assist in the movement of fluid within our lymphatic system. Since most of our lymphatic system sits within our skin, movement and friction across the skin are some of the ways to address the congestion mentioned above, as it works to move extra fluid from swollen areas towards the lymph nodes where they can be brought back into circulation.
More specifically to the skin, the benefits include:
Improving cell turnover and elasticity
Improving overall radiance
Speeding of healing time for acne, eczema*, and other skin traumas
Speeding time of dark spots fading
Reducing appearance of fine lines
Helping to relieve allergy symptoms manifesting in the face and neck (congestion, puffy/watery/itchy eyes, etc.)
*Not when acute, hyper sensitive and with open wounds
dry facial brushing ritual
While supporting body and skin health through lymphatic drainage, facial dry brushing has the added benefit of gently exfoliating the skin on a mechanical level, contributing to bright and livened complexion. I personally like the very slight “pink flush” on my face immediately after, which to reassure, dissipates rather quickly and I did say slight. If you find your face to be quite flushed afterwards and it feels irritated or sensitive, this can be a red flag for you, especially in regards to the pressure you are using. This is why it is important that the pressure remain very light throughout the ritual (think feather-like) and that the bristles of your brush need to be very soft, for both synthetic and natural bristles. In this case, less is more!
Facial dry brushing is best done in the morning as a stimulating ritual, prior to bathing so skin is completely dry. The whole sequence should take you about 3-5 minutes, depending on your speed. Remember to always wash your hands before and to follow the ritual by toning and moisturizing, ideally with more calming and soothing ingredients such as chamomile and calendula to name a couple, or using Seed & Rind custom formulations.
Below is a video tutorial of my sequence to guide you. Take note of the the brush flickering movements as this is the type that promotes drainage best. Finally, always begin and end any lymphatic drainage ritual with your chest and neck channels for it to be effective, as shown.
CONTRAINDICATIONS
Avoid or discontinue dry facial brushing if:
The ritual seems to be causing any king of pain or discomfort
You have swelling, redness, soreness, heat
You are battling a virus or have fever and chills
You are generally feeling unwell
Your skin is generally very sensitive*
*Can try ritual by adding facial oil prior
How to clean your dry brush
It’s important that your brush remains dry so washing it with water is not prescribed. To clean your brush, you can dip it into arrowroot, cornstarch powder or bentonite clay, gently rubbing the cleaning agent into the bristles and then shake or tap out the excess powder. You may also add a drop of Tea Tree essential oil into the mix. Store in a closed space or in a sealed container.
THE AYURVEDIC PERSPECTIVE
Dry brushing has been an integral part of Ayurvedic health practices for many centuries, and is known in this traditional holistic system as Garshana, (pronounced gar-shun-uh), an ancient Sanskrit word which translates to “friction by rubbing”.
The garshana ritual was meant to:
Revitalize and warm the body
Purify the body of ama (a form of toxins)
Increase overall circulation
Rejuvenating the skin, for both tone and texture
Promotes mental alertness
Uplift the senses
Dissolve cellulite
When considering these benefits in Ayurveda, we can deduct that this ritual best benefit those with predominant Kapha dosha or imbalance - in other words, when a person shows any mind-body symptoms related to congestion, fogginess, stagnancy, heaviness and cold. These symptoms can also be a sign of excess ama which closely relates to the qualities of this dosha.
We also consider the qualities of the current season which may exacerbate those same attributes in our bodies. As late winter and early spring are governed by Kapha, this would be a great time of the year to detoxify our bodies and rid ourselves of any excesses that may have accumulated during the winter and created stagnancy. Dry brushing can therefore be an integral part of a purification protocol.
In terms of frequency for each predominant dosha:
Kapha benefit from dry brushing daily
Pitta: 3-5 times per week
Vata: 1-2 times per week
In Ayurveda, garshana is always followed by an traditional warm oil massage ritual knows as abhyanga, during which the dosha tailored oils have an added effect on overall balance and grounding the nervous system. As garshana gently exfoliates the skin prior, the oils also have the chance to better penetrate. Note that garshana and abhyanga (whole body) can both be performed by a therapist or at home, however it is best to consult with a practitioner before to determine your specific dosha imbalances for the correct oils and frequency recommendations, or any additional details that pertain to your unique situation. Although garshana and abhyanga both have an effect on the lymphatic systems, garshana is meant to stimulate energy whereas abhyanga is meant to nourish, calm and ground. For facial skin, the same applies here: follow facial dry brushing with light massage with serum, following a sequence that goes along the same paths for lymphatic drainage.
The garshana ritual, as with all rituals in Ayurveda, are about tuning into the rythms of nature and our innate intelligence/intuition while allowing constant flow and communication between the two. Always keep in mind that the key to reap the full rejuvenating benefits from any ritual is LOVING, MINDFUL PRESENCE.
Now that you have a better understanding of dry brushing, is this a ritual you would consider integrating in your health or skincare routine? Please leave your answer or questions in the comment section below!