At this point, you probably know about dry brushing, or implement it in your routine already. The benefits of dry brushing your body are endless — boosting circulation, supporting a healthy lymphatic system, exfoliating dead skin cells…But did you know that you should also dry brush your face and neck too? 

Keep reading to find out why you should add this practice to your skincare ritual, as well as the benefits, techniques and more. 

The ancient art of dry brushing (our dry brushing 101 blog post) dates back thousands of years and now similar technique can be applied to our face and necks. But hold up, don’t use your coarse body brush on your delicate face.. the facial dry brush is an entirely different tool. 

Although it looks similar to a body brush, but in a smaller form, the bristles are a lot thinner and softer — which feels like a lovely facial massage (a self-soothing, mood boosting benefit). Since the bristles are much more delicate and soft, this is a great practice for sensitive skin too. 

What are the benefits of facial dry brushing?

Dry brushing your face and neck is a really great way to naturally increase lymphatic drainage, boost circulation, depuff, reduce dark circles and gently exfoliate. This awakens the face and supports overall skin health, resulting in a smooth, bright and revived complexion. It’s essential to start with the neck first, to activate the lymph and create a pathway to flush toxins. Similar to when you gua sha. Depuffing the face helps to naturally define and tighten skin. 

When dry brushing, you’re sloughing off old, dead skin cells, allowing new cells to generate, maximizing oxygen and allowing for better absorption of the skincare products you use after. 

How to dry brush your face and neck like a pro: 

Step 1: Start by washing your face. You want to make sure you’re starting with clean skin. Use a gentle cleansing balm or oil and pat dry your skin completely, you’ll want it to be dry when you start brushing. Skin flushness is normal, and means that your blood is coming to the surface of the skin. 

If you’re new to facial brushing, here are two tools that we love: facial dry brush one, facial dry brush two. Both are woman-owned, Canadian brands! 

Step 2: Start from your collarbone, moving in small circular motions, working upwards and outwards onto your neck (away from the heart). This encourages circulation and flushes toxins out. Always use light, delicate strokes and don’t pull or use too much force. The skin on your face and neck is much more delicate than the body, so it’s important to be gentle and mindful. 

Step 3: When you get to your neck, continue to brush upwards towards the chin and ears. Make sure to get under your chin and close to your ears, as this is where lots of toxins can be stagnant in the body. 

Step 4: Once you get to your face, brush from the lips out to the middle of the cheeks, upwards and then down the neck for lymphatic drainage. Then, on the cheeks, move in circular motions up and out. 

Step 5: When you get to your nose, use gentle strokes from the bridge of the nose, moving out towards the cheeks. Making sure to do one side at a time. 

Step 6: For your eyes, gently move in circular motions around the eyes and brows. Then, finish with the forehead. Starting in the middle, between your brows and brush outwards on each side. 

Finish with a nutrient-rich serum + facial oil. It's important to hydrate your skin after exfoliating — keeping your skin glowing and plump. Hydrate Facial Oil is ideal for this (as well as gua sha). 

You also want to make sure that you're washing your facial brush after using to avoid the spread of any bacteria. Gently wash your brush with warm water and non-toxic soap in between uses. You can also add a few drops of tea tree oil to the warm wash water, or mist your brush with it. The anti-microbial properties will get rid of any bacteria. Rinse, fan out and let air dry. 

How often should you facial brush?

We recommend facial dry brushing once or twice a week. Most skin types can benefit from gently brushing to stimulate the lymphatic system. Try implementing it into your morning or evening routine once a week to start, and see how it makes your skin look and feel. Don't dry brush over any open sores or blemishes.