Tool of the month
We still have a little time, but before you know it that first day of spring will be here, and out comes your favourite dress or skirt. To tackle the slack skin on the legs and bottom after winter, one tool was designed for the job: the dry brush. Brushing over dry skin each day not only removes dead skin cells and a dull tone, it firms the skin at the same time. It is also a useful way to help toxins and waste leave the body more quickly.
Dry brushing
It might seem odd to brush over dry skin, but the ritual is centuries old and originally comes from Indian Ayurvedic medicine. The brush is meant to exfoliate the skin and discourage ingrown hairs, and also to improve circulation, encourage cell renewal and stimulate the removal of toxins through the lymphatic system. The sweeping strokes of brushing bring colour and a lovely glow back to the skin, and help toxins leave the body more quickly.
Before or after showering
The bristles can be a little firm, but not too hard. The Revive Body Brush by Aromatherapy Associates has cactus bristles that get the circulation going in no time. The Body Skin Brush by The Organic Pharmacy is a handy hand brush that also fits onto a long handle, so you can easily use it on your back too. It is up to you whether you brush before or after showering.
Combined with a body oil
After a shower the pores are open and the skin is beautifully soft, so it takes in extra body products well. Before brushing, you might apply a firming body oil or an anti-cellulite or anti-stretch-mark oil, then massage it into the skin with the brush. The Revive Body Oil by Aromatherapy Associates has an invigorating blend of grapefruit, rosemary and juniper. The Detox Body Oil by The Organic Pharmacy is a body oil with rosemary, fennel and juniper too. Both oils help reduce cellulite. The oil stimulates the circulation and firms the skin, and the added grapefruit makes it an instant energy boost in the morning.
How to dry brush:
Brush the skin about two or three times a week before or after showering. Work in upward strokes, always moving up and towards your groin or armpits, where the lymph nodes sit. The dry brush is especially good for firming the backs of the legs and the bottom. At first the skin will turn red and probably tingle, but after a while it will look better, more even and firmer.
Rather leave it to a professional?
If you would rather leave the firming to a professional, you can come to us for a body treatment with the CACI device (pronounced ‘kay-see’). The Ultra Tone & Tighten is a three-step treatment with a cupping and connective-tissue massage and low-frequency electromagnetic pulses delivered through the CACI’s rollers. The rollers glide gently over your legs and you feel light pulses of current. They stimulate the muscle tissue and the skin’s natural firming. The treatment is designed to target cellulite by breaking down fatty deposits and stimulating the circulation and the lymphatic drainage system. The result is smoother, firmer legs to show off.
