#selfcarenight

[aria-gold]

After a fantastic day, I can't wait to wind down and relax with you all. Who's ready for some cozy, intimate vibes tonight? 🌙💋 #RelaxationMode #EveningChill #FeelingGood #IntimateMoments #CozyVibes #SelfCareNight #UnwindTogether #LoveAndRelaxation

[aenaturalsofficial]

#SkincareMagic #NighttimeGlow #NaturallyBeautiful #AEBeautySecrets #HealthySkinJourney #GlowingFromWithin #SelfCareNights #AEInYourRoutine #RadiantMornings #NatureNurtures #LoveYourSkin #BeautySleep #SkincareEssentials #NighttimeRitual #GlowUp #SkincareGoals #NaturalRadiance #DreamySkin #SelfCareRoutine #SkinSoothing #BedtimeBeauty #AENaturals #AE

[fayegracexo]

Dry Brushing Self Care: The ‘Why’ & ‘How’

A few weeks ago when I mentioned I had added dry brushing into my self care routine (On Instagram! @selfcarewitchxo) , I got so many messages about it I thought it best to do a blog post and explain why and how! Just by adding 5 minutes to your routine you can be healthier physically, mentally, and emotionally...it’s also my secret for Goddess soft skin! What’s not to love?! 

So let’s get started!

“What is it?”

  Dry brushing is an ancient technique that involves using a dry, natural bristle brush in a rotating massaging motion, to help get the lymphatic system moving. This eliminates toxins from the body, and removes dry skin. Dry brushing can improve the appearance of cellulite, give your skin a healthy glow and help it better absorb moisture from beauty products; It even helps with muscle tone! Many cultures have practiced dry brushing. In Ayurvedic medicine “Garshana” was completed each morning prior to bathing, the Native Americans and Greeks were also known to use this technique!

“Why?”

  Over time and thanks to gravity, the lymphatic system can become sluggish. Dry brushing aids the body in the natural process of removing waste and delivering nutrients where they need to go. It’s a great way to get those stagnant toxins and excess water to move on out! 

  Lymph congestion can be a major factor to disease and inflammation, so improving our blood flow helps deliver oxygen and nutrients our cells need! Poor circulation can cause swelling, pain, and varicose veins. By massaging this system in such a motion we can smooth out cellulite and soften fat deposits under the skin, giving our skin a better appearance, and since we’re stimulating muscle fibers, we can help build muscle tone, which aids with sagging skin concerns. 

  Dry brushing also exfoliates our skin and removes dead skin cells, this not only makes us softer (especially when paired with a shower and body lotion/oil afterwards!) but allows the skins pores to be unclogged and more open to accepting and absorbing any moisturizers or other products we may use. With our pores unclogged, we’re also able to sweat out toxins more easily! 

  Lastly dry brushing is a great technique for those with anxiety, or who need a little extra help in the self care/self love department! Brushing can be very stress relieving as it eases tension in the body. Some people like to turn their dry brushing sessions into some serious self care time, or even a mediation practice!

“How?”

  First we want to start with our brush, and don’t worry, they’re not expensive! We always want to choose a brush that has all natural fibers, not synthetic ones! The point is to be gentle, not inflame our skin and hurt it, so scratchy kitchen brushes and other heavy duty bristles just won’t do. I use a round 100% natural boar bristle brush with massage nodules and a strap handle. You don’t have to pick the same shape or have the nodules, that’s just personal preference! Some like long handled brushes, but I like mine large and round with the strap to easily maneuver it around without dropping it. Click here for a link to my exact brush on Amazon, but again the choice is yours! I like the round shape as I find it helps with the circular motions.

  Next, “When?” - While dry brushing can be done any time of day, most suggest making it a part of your routine right before your morning shower. Brushing wakes up the nervous system by stimulating nerve endings in the skin, and gets the blood moving, which can provide an invigorating energy to boost your morning! Some people report feeling more awake or motivated after their session; but before a bath and bedtime is just fine too! It’s whatever works best into your schedule.

  Dry brushing takes about 2-5 minutes, or longer if you’d like to take your time, so no worries about finding the time to cram in another part to your routine! This is fast and simple. If you can fit it into your schedule everyday that’s fantastic! But if not no worries even once or twice a week would make a great goal.

  Now let’s start brushing! If you can’t tell from the title, we want to do this with a dry brush. A dry brush will exfoliate off all those dead skin cells we want to rinse off in the shower later, without removing the natural oils of our skin. 

  The lymphatic system flows toward the heart, so we want to do this in a circular motion, working toward the heart. Always start at your feet. Pick a side to start with, and brush up in circular motions toward the heart, up the front of your leg to your thigh. Then reach towards the back of your leg and brush back up the leg until you reach your lower back. Do this about 3x then repeat the process on the other leg.

  After our lower body we move to our arms. Put one arm over your head, brush down from the wrist, down your inner arm, lightly brush over the underarm and outer breast tissue (avoiding the nipple, ow!), down the back of your arm, to your shoulders, and neck. Repeat this about 3 times before moving to the other arm and repeating the same. Once we reach the stomach we want to go in circular motions over the belly/abdomen. 

  As we are brushing we want to do this gently, and remember we are lightly stroking our skin with the brush, not scrubbing. Skin may be slightly pink after dry brushing but should never be red, inflamed, burny or itchy! If so, you’re brushing too hard and need to lighten your hand a bit! Always remember never to dry brush over inflamed or open skin either. We want to make ourselves feel good and healthy,not hurt! We also do not use this brush to exfoliate our face! Face skin is much too delicate and there’s other techniques available for that. Pay special attention to the underarms and inner thighs/buttocks as those areas tend to benefit the most from this technique.

  After you’re finished your dry brushing session it’s important to remember to shower or bathe (I say shower is best so you’re not bathing will all the icky stuff that came off you!) immediately after. I find that waiting can make me feel dry and itchy. I like to brush before a shower as I’m waiting for the water to heat up, then hop in, rinse off and wash with a moisturizing soap as soon as I’m done. Bonus points if you have a light body scrub in the shower too! I like to use ones from Lush. Remember you don’t just want to jump straight into bed or clean clothes afterwards or all those dead skin flakes will be coming with you! After your shower, while you’re still a bit damp, use your favorite moisturizing lotion or body oil and allow your skin to absorb all that extra moisture its now able to receive! You’ll be baby soft and start to really feel your skin ‘breathing’ again. I personally like to use my Puracy Organic Unscented Body Lotion (I love it for Sensitive Skin!) paired with Little Seed Farms Rosemary Patchouli Body Oil. I put on the body oil first and let it absorb, then do a layer of lotion after that to really lock in the moisture! Of course though you can use any lotion or body oil brand or scent you’d like! (I prefer to avoid chemicals since I have skin issues/allergies. I don’t want to open up my pores only to throw chemicals back in them!)

  Wash out your brush with soap and water about every 2 weeks or so to keep it clean. Let it air dry where air can circulate so you don’t have to worry about molds or anything else gross growing on your wet brush! Even after just one brushing session, if you flick the bristles you can see how much dead skin flies into the air! Yuck!

Make it a Self Care Routine!

  Whether you choose the AM or PM to dry brush, it can instantly be a great self care routine if you’d like it to be! I like to light incense or a candle,turn the lights out, and have music playing as I’m doing my session. I take the time to tune into my body, listen to what it needs, and play close attention to spots that may need some extra TLC. This can be really great for people with anxiety as it’s a wonderful way to ease tension, and in the self love department it can be good to get more in touch with your body, observe it, and listen into those thoughts, feelings, and sensations that we may experience. I find it’s a great way to help with self image. We feel better about ourselves when we put the time in to love and take care of our bodies. 

  Remember though! Dry brushing is only part of the process. We won’t see true results unless we’re also eating right, getting enough water, exercise, sleep, and keeping our stress level as low as we can. If we take care of ourselves, our body in turn takes care of us. Happy Brushing!

~ Faye ~

Check out the Instagram page for more self-care talk, tips, tricks, motivational quotes and healing advice, and feel free to message with any questions/comments or if you need product suggestions. I respond faster on Instagram!

@selfcarewitchxo

[kikibeautyxx]

♡

You Are Loved.

You Are Beautiful.

You Have A Purpose.

♡

Happy #selfcaresaturday

What are you doing to enjoy your self? ❤❤

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Can you spot my sister?? 😂

[dorisfatur]

@bellabeat ⁠ ⁠ MODEL: @dizdar_el⁠ MUA: @ivaberisic⁠ HAIR: @karla_benic_hair_stylist⁠ .⁠ .⁠ .⁠ .⁠ .⁠ .⁠ .⁠ .⁠ Seeing beauty is not enough. You need to FEEL beauty. 💕 And no, we’re not talking about the amazing feeling you get after finishing your 8 step skincare routine.⁠ .⁠ .⁠ .⁠ #beauty #beautytips #bellabeat #changeyourthoughts #feelings #healthandwellbeing #healthwellbeing #healthwellnessjourney #selfcarelifestyle #selfcarenight #selfcarevibes #skincare #tuesdaymotivation #tuesdaythoughts #tuesdayvibes #wellness #wellnessjourney #wellnessthatworks #makeuplook #RAinspiration #retouching #photoshop #retouchingacademy #wacom #adobe #retoucher #postproduction #justgoshoot #teamcanon #elinchrom⁠ (at Villa Ariston) https://www.instagram.com/p/CbSAEsWMtAD/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[yepthatsmygurl85]

Last night's happiness: Hot Chocolate (thanks soooooo much Family) and Carmilla. #selfcarenight #selfcarematters #selfcarenights #nightin #carmillatheseries #carmilla #carmillawebseries #carmillaseason3 #natashanegovanlis #elisebauman #hollstein #hollsteinforever #negovanman #carmillaandlaura #lauraandcarmilla #hotchocolate #gourmetvillage # (at Sturgeon Falls, Ontario) https://www.instagram.com/p/BqhYhZkgZ34/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=w5hven8vl455

[chaotic-bookshelf]

The only "problem" with having this much Jamberry is choosing what manicure to do. *sigh* it becomes a multiple choice process I have gotten friends involved in, and even Troy has had to pick between finally 2 or 3 choices sometimes. 😂😂#jamberry #jammicure #manicure #selfcarenight

[chrryemoji]

new decade means me finally getting a mascot heh .. i’m gonna be replying to ims, attempting shorter drafts, n working on gif icons 2night #selfcarenight so if u want my discord to plot or just chat h m u baybeeeeee

[ohhellohair]

Hands up who’s already being victimised by this long and stressful week? 🙋🏼‍♀️😂 Why not give yourself a break this evening? Any night of the week can be a #selfcarenight! 🧖🏽‍♀️ Our masks are perfect to apply before you go to bed - let the hydration seep deep into your strands overnight and wash your hair in the morning. Stock up on your mane taming essentials for November, here: www.hellohair.com.au. #tameyourmane #mondaystruggles #ohhellohair https://www.instagram.com/p/BqEsO_EnL6_/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1t7gvjge6ioty

[amy197612]

#selfcarenight #giveawaygoodies #pcaskincare @pcaskin #toocoolforschooleggcreammask #drbrandtporedermabrasion #drkiehlsmidnightrecoveryeye I want to thank @elixir_edit for hosting the giveaway that I was lucky enough to win. My prize was a 5 piece #pcaskincare winter essentials travel kit (missing from the picture is 1 skin care product and mini travel bag.) Now, I'm fortunate enough to be able to experience this fantastic skin care line. Tonight, I needed some major moisturizing and every one of these products you see in the picture was new for my skin. Amazing results!!

[kathyyi]

나의 피부 케어! 건조한 사막 라스베가스 날씨에도 끄덕 없는 수분 마스크는 내 피부에 최고👍 피부에는 수분부터 채워 주세요~~ . . #주말에는 #수분팩을 #집에서혼자 #뷰티#최고에요👍 #라스베가스라이프 #라스베거스 #selfcareday#selfcarenight #hydratingmask#lasvegasnuskin #forever21 #follow4ever (at Las Vegas, Nevada)

[pinapop94]

#wednesdaynightvibez #selfcarenight

[livingproofstartshere]

New vlog is live on my channel, check the link in my bio 🤗🌙 Come hang out for a cozy night in 💕 ⋆ ⋆ ⋆ ⋆ ⋆ #vlog #vlogger #vloggers #dayinthelife #cozynight #cozynights #cozynightin #fiveminutejournal #dailygratitude #productivity #productivitytips #writingvlog #shaneshow #podcast #himalayansaltlamp #christmasvibes #holidayvibes #readingvlog #nighttimeroutine #selfcare #selfcareroutine #selfcarenight #essentialoils #nyvlog #newyorkvlogger #journal #journaling #journalcommunity (at New York) https://www.instagram.com/kristilizzz/p/BqsOYuYFZCM/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1us2zejd72lhz

[kikibeautyxx]

#texturethursday w/ my Unicorn Bath Bomb from @fizzyfairygifts 🦄

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I like to cut my bath bombs in half so that I can use one for another selfcare night. 💕

[yepthatsmygurl85]

Quiet night of writing. Working on Chapter list right now. Slowly putting pieces together for this one. Some chapters are done (this is the second part to my last book). I like the direction it has taken (though this was not the original direction I wanted to go with this book). #selfcarenight #candles #light #fire #night #evening #quiet #quietevening #writing #writingismyfreedom #writingismyfreedom #pen #peaceful #peaceandquiet #nightslikethis #nightslikethese #selfcarematters #timetoyourself (at Sturgeon Falls, Ontario) https://www.instagram.com/p/BwVjZ25B6yf/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=dk7vuu830qmk

[xowondererxo]

So excited to try my latest tea purchases from T2! Iced peach tea and lamington tea ahhh I can’t wait for my night of tea tasting!