Face brushing is a natural method for beautiful, fresh skin and a great glow. This simple practice also offers numerous benefits that go beyond a radiant complexion and sustainably promote your skin's health. We will explain these benefits in detail in this blog post.
Where does face brushing come from?
Even though face brushing is currently on everyone's lips, it is by no means a new invention. This is because facial brushing is based on the same mechanisms of action as dry brushing the body.
So-called body dry brushing has a long tradition and was already used in Ayurveda, Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), and by the well-known German naturopath Sebastian Kneipp.
Dry brushing naturally exfoliates the skin and provides a stimulating massage. The skin is refreshed and freed from toxins, and the mind is invigorated. Sebastian Kneipp also popularized dry brushing in Germany in the mid-19th century.
In Traditional Chinese Medicine, dry brushing is recommended to promote relaxation and revitalization of body and mind.
What are the benefits of dry brushing for the face?
Dry brushing the face offers a range of benefits, some of which are immediately visible: Face brushing stimulates blood circulation in the skin, making it look fresher immediately after use. Old skin cells are gently removed, leaving behind rosy, soft skin.
Signs of the night are simply brushed away in the morning, and the skin looks refreshed and revitalized. Brushing also has a natural lifting effect: Immediately after brushing, the skin appears plumper and firmer.
Dry brushing the face is also a mindful self-care ritual that can help you relax your muscles and reduce stress.
If you brush your face regularly, you will notice even more pleasant side effects: Regular facial exfoliation with a dry brush stimulates the production of new skin cells and can thus reduce minor wrinkles and fine lines.
After brushing, the skin absorbs skincare products better, allowing your regimen to work particularly effectively. In addition, toxins are eliminated, and skin impurities are reduced.
What makes the Garshana ritual so special for the face:
- it stimulates blood circulation,
- removes toxins and thus promotes clear skin,
- detoxes the lymphatic system through gentle lymphatic drainage,
- frees the skin from old skin cells,
- opens pores and stimulates cell renewal,
- reduces wrinkles caused by dryness and fine lines,
- invigorates and refreshes the skin,
- defines facial contours,
- reduces swelling,
- increases the skin's absorption capacity for care products,
- provides a unique glow.
Face Brushing – It's that easy
Preparation
Before the massage, you should thoroughly cleanse and dry your face. Simply clean your face as you normally would.
Now you're ready to go: The facial brush is guided over each half of the face with light strokes and three to five repetitions. Just experiment to find out how much pressure is comfortable for you.
Eyes
With gentle pressure, brush in circular motions around the eyes and eyebrows.
Cheeks and Chin
Then, place the brush on your chin and brush upwards towards your hairline. Also, brush from your mouth and nose upwards towards your hairline or ears.
Forehead
On the forehead, place the brush in the center. From there, brush horizontally towards the temples. Between the brows, make short brush strokes upwards.
Neck
For a lifting massage according to Traditional Chinese Medicine, start at the base of the neck and brush upwards towards the chin. If you prefer classic lymphatic drainage, gently brush down the neck behind the ears. More information on lymphatic facial massage can be found below.
After face brushing, your skin may appear slightly red. This is no cause for concern, but merely a sign that blood circulation has been stimulated. Now the skin can breathe better, and the pores are open. Skincare products are absorbed much better by the skin. Therefore, now is the perfect time to apply a serum or a facial oil: The active ingredients can now penetrate particularly deeply and unfold their full effect.
How long and when should you brush your face?
How long you take for the massage depends on your personal preferences. However, we recommend taking three to five minutes for this special self-care ritual.
It's best to start your day with dry brushing: Just as you dry brush your entire body in the morning before showering, you can also integrate face brushing into your morning routine.
This way, you can reduce facial swelling in the morning and start the day with a rosy, fresh complexion.
Of course, you can also brush your face in the evening for relaxation and end your day with a mindful facial brushing ritual.
How often should you brush your face?
This depends entirely on your skin type. Sensitive skin types should not brush more than once or twice a week. If you have insensitive skin, there is no objection to a daily brush massage. However, this should not be too long and only with light brush strokes to avoid unnecessary irritation of the skin.
Dry brushing as lymphatic drainage for the face
The lymphatic system is a network of organs and tissues that helps to detoxify the body. With the help of dry brushing facial massage, you can effectively stimulate the lymphatic system of your face and thus help it detoxify. In the long term, you can thus reduce inflammation and promote clear skin.
For lymphatic drainage, you also brush your neck to stimulate your lymph nodes. You brush your face as described above. After the facial massage, gently stroke your neck behind your ears from top to bottom.
Good to know: Various studies confirm the positive effects of lymph massage on the detoxification of the lymphatic system and the skin, see here or also here.
Which facial brush is right for my skin?
Good brush quality is important to achieve the best results and not to harm your skin more than help it. Skin experts recommend using natural bristles, as they are well tolerated and do not irritate the skin. Caution is advised with artificial nylon bristles, as the invisible sharp edges can unnecessarily injure your sensitive facial skin.
Our ruhi Facial Dry Brush uses medium-soft natural bristles and has exactly the right strength to create a light yet effective exfoliating effect.
Good to know: Dry brushes for the face are not to be confused with facial cleansing brushes. The latter are usually electrically operated and are used in combination with a facial cleanser to deeply cleanse the skin.
How do I care for my facial brush correctly?
A good, sustainable dry brush for the face ideally consists of wood and natural bristles. To enjoy it for a long time, you should consider some simple aspects of care:
After use, it is sufficient to tap the facial brush on a hard, flat surface. This removes dead skin cells that it picks up during brushing. The brush should not be cleaned with water, as the delicate wood can crack.
Furthermore, the brush should not be stored in a damp environment, such as on the edge of a bathtub, as the wood can grow mold if it gets too wet. It is best to store your facial brush in a dry place.
Who is the facial massage suitable for?
In principle, anyone can brush their face and enjoy the positive effects on the skin.
You should refrain from brushing if you are currently suffering from eczema, skin diseases, or skin injuries. Also, in case of sunburn or after cosmetic treatments, facial brushing should be avoided for the time being.
You can resume brushing once your skin has healed and is intact again. The good news: Dry brushing is also suitable for very sensitive skin. The bristles of facial brushes are finer than the bristles of body brushes and are well tolerated by almost all users.
