You already know how exfoliating your face can brighten and even your skin tone while making your face silky smooth. It’s probably a non-negotiable step in your skincare routine. (And if it’s not, check out “What Does Exfoliation Remove and Deplete?”)
That said… shouldn’t the skin everywhere else on your body look and feel just as amazing? We think so!
A dry brush is your ticket to a full-body exfoliation session. It is the beauty practice to sculpt your figure, boost energy, and achieve unbelievably buttery soft skin.
If you’re ready to add an exfoliating brush to your skincare routine, don’t just grab one off the shelf and start scrubbing away. To maximize your results, you need strategic dry brushing techniques.
Obviously, we don’t gatekeep here at The Skinny Confidential, so we’re sharing all of our top tips and tricks for getting the most out of your dry brush:
How to Use Exfoliating Brush for Buttery Soft Skin
In this post, we’ll explain what an exfoliating brush is, why it’s beneficial, and how to dry brush like a pro. You’ll learn exactly how to use this simple tool to achieve a glowing complexion and baby-soft skin.
What Is an Exfoliating Brush?
An exfoliating brush, also known as a dry brush, consists of a sturdy handle and firm bristles. When you use gentle circular motions and sweep it across your skin, the brush buffs away dead skin cells, stimulates circulation, and supports lymphatic drainage.
One of the best-quality options on the market is The Skinny Confidential Butter Brush. Made with natural boar hair and an ergonomic silicone handle, it’s built to be both super effective and long-lasting. It’s strong enough to get the job done, but gentle enough to work even on sensitive skin types.
Here’s how the TSC Dry Brush works:
How Do Exfoliating Brushes Work?
Energizes Your Tissue
The sweeping motion over your body stimulates nerve endings in the skin. This sends a gentle wake-up call to your nervous system, helping you feel more alert and energized.
Exfoliates Dead Skin Cells
Dry brushing acts as a physical exfoliant, gently buffing away excess oil and dead skin cells. This leaves your skin so soft and radiant.
Encourages Blood Flow
The friction from the bristles encourages blood circulation. That means more oxygen and nutrients are delivered to your tissues, which supports skin health and muscle recovery.
Promotes Lymphatic Drainage:
Brushing helps move lymph through the body, flushing out toxins and excess fluid. Since the lymphatic system requires manual stimulation to function properly, the dry brush is an absolute game-changer. To understand this better, here’s our post breaking down how lymphatic drainage massage works.
Are Exfoliating Brushes Good for Your Skin?
Yes! When used correctly, a dry brush is incredible for your skin. The gentle friction helps your skin stay smooth, sculpted, and radiant. To learn more about creating the perfect routine, visit “How Often Should You Dry Brush for Glowing, Smooth Skin?”
What Are the Benefits of Exfoliating Brush?
Softens Your Skin
Dry brushing gently exfoliates dead skin cells to reveal smoother, silkier skin underneath. With consistent use, your body feels softer to the touch and looks effortlessly polished.
Brightens Complexion
By stimulating circulation, dry brushing delivers oxygen and nutrients to the surface of your skin. This increased blood flow gives you healthy, glowing skin.
Makes Skincare More Effective
When your skin is freshly exfoliated, it can absorb moisturizers, oils, and serums more effectively. That means your products work harder, leaving your skin deeply hydrated and nourished.
Minimizes the Appearance of Cellulite
Dry brushing smooths the skin’s surface while gently softening hard fat deposits and evening out fluid distribution. Over time, this can actually minimize the appearance of cellulite, giving you a sculpted look.
Reduces Swelling and Puffiness
The brushing motion stimulates circulation and lymphatic drainage, helping your body release trapped fluid. This can help reduce puffiness and make your skin look and feel firmer and more toned.
Enhances Digestion and Kidney Function
Here’s another benefit of lymphatic drainage from dry brushing! As fluid works through your body, it helps your kidneys and digestive system eliminate waste more efficiently. This process can leave you feeling lighter, less bloated, and more energized overall.
So, not only does it deliver skin-boosting benefits, but it supports your body from the inside out, too!
Promotes Muscle Recovery
Remember that a boost in blood flood brings lots of extra oxygen and nutrients to your tissues. With better-nourished muscles, you’ll likely feel less sore after exercise and actually recover faster after your workout.
Boosts Energy and Focus
The light pressure and motion of dry brushing activate your nervous system, giving you a natural energy boost—no coffee required. Many people feel more awake, focused, and ready to take on their day.
Supports the Immune System
Encouraging lymphatic drainage helps your body filter out toxins, waste, and bacteria more efficiently. This natural detox process strengthens your immune system and supports overall health.
Relieves Stress
Dry brushing works like a gentle, invigorating massage. Since it feels so good, it can actually calm your nervous system and relax tense muscles. It’s a simple, soothing ritual that makes your daily routine feel like self-care.
For more reasons we love this skincare practice, read our post on why dry brushing is good for you!
How to Use an Exfoliating Brush
Step 1: Prepare your shower and set the mood.
Run your shower with lukewarm water, but don’t get in yet. To fully set the mood for your dry brushing session, hang eucalyptus on the showerhead. The aroma makes you feel totally relaxed and refreshed. (There’s a reason our founder, Lauryn Bosstick, incorporates this into her evening routine!)
Step 2: Grab your dry brush.
Before stepping into the water, grab your TSC Butter Brush. Don’t put anything on your skin like lotions or serums—dry brushing works best on a totally bare surface. Then, find a comfortable place to sit and enjoy the spa vibes from the shower sound, steam, and scent.
Step 3: Begin dry brushing from your feet up.
Begin at your feet and sweep the brush upward toward your heart. Buffing your skin this way supports natural blood flow and lymph movement, helping your body flush out excess fluid.
Pro Tip: According to celebrity lymphatic drainage specialist Josie Rushing, the lymphatic system isn’t even. So, she recommends starting on the left side of your body for best results. Here are more of her top lymphatic drainage hacks.
Step 4: Brush the rest of your body.
Move up your body, brushing your legs and arms with medium pressure. Use lighter pressure on your torso, neck, and chest. For your back, sweep from the neck down toward your hips. This way, your entire body gets attention!
Step 5: Do your full shower routine.
Once you’ve finished dry brushing, step into the shower and wash your hair and body as usual. This removes dead skin cells or impurities loosened up by dry brushing.
Step 6: Shave your skin for extra smoothness.
You don’t have to, but we definitely recommend shaving your legs after dry brushing. It will give you the smoothest, most polished results possible. Just make sure to use a high-quality shaving cream like our TSC Hot Shave Cream!
Step 7: Rinse, dry, and moisturize.
Once you’ve finished rinsing and turned the shower off, gently pat your skin dry. Then, apply a nourishing moisturizer or oil, such as Agent Nateur Body Serum or OSEA Undaria Body Butter. This will lock in all the hydration, keeping your skin silky and radiant all day.
Bonus: Use code SKINNY for 15% off Agent Nateur! And for more on OSEA, listen to the episode of the Him & Her Show called The Truth About Clean Beauty & Skincare Ingredients Ft. OSEA Founders - Jenefer & Melissa Palmer.
Step 8: Enjoy your soft, radiant skin
Take a moment to appreciate the results. Your skin is silky, smooth, and glowing, while your body feels light, refreshed, and energized. This little self-care ritual leaves you feeling completely rejuvenated from head to toe.
Master dry brushing to unlock its full benefits.
With just a few minutes a day, dry brushing transforms the way you look and feel. When done correctly, this simple, soothing ritual delivers smoother skin, a more sculpted appearance, and a body that’s more energized and refreshed.
For more of the best skincare and wellness resources and products, visit The Skinny Confidential Shop. There you’ll find our Limited Edition Dry Brush, the world-famous TSC Ice Roller, and more!
