There are plenty of exfoliating tools on the market, but few of them can match the exfoliative prowess of the ViaBuff Exfoliating Buffs. For the past several years, dry brushing has been a major trend among skincare aficionados, but is dry brushing really doing anything for your skin? ViaBuff investigates!
What is Dry Brushing?
Dry brushing is a process in which one rubs a dry bristle brush over one’s skin. It is often suggested that one begins by brushing the feet and ankles, and then using long, fluid strokes to brush the upper parts of the body. Dry brushing is believed to exfoliate the skin, fight cellulite, promote blood flow, flush toxins from the skin, and make your skin appear glowing and youthful, among other perks. Unfortunately, there is little evidence to support these claims. For example, Dr. Tina S. Alster of the Georgetown University Medical Center noted that your typical environmental toxins are not eliminated by your skin, but rather through the liver (Dr. Tina S. Alster for the New York Times, Dr. Andrew Weil, M.D., Cleveland Clinics Health Essentials). Additionally, there is no credible scientific evidence that dry brushing can improve the appearance of cellulite (Cleveland Clinics Health Essentials). Dry brushing (or rubbing or pinching) will improve blood circulation and make your skin appear slightly flushed and swollen, thus giving you a more radiant appearance. However, this effect typically dissipates within a few minutes and there is no evidence that this in anyway removes toxins from the body. However, dry brushing can exfoliate the skin by removing dead skin cells and other debris from your skin’s surface. Dr. Tina Alster cautions that one must dry brush infrequently and gently, or you may suffer from “micro-cuts” that irritate the skin and are prone to infection. Additionally, as any ViaBuff reader knows, too-frequent exfoliation can compromise the skin barrier and make skin more dry and irritated (Dr. Tina Alster for Time). Those who have sensitive skin, infection, inflammation, irritation, sunburn or normal burns, cellulitis, skin cancer, and skin with open wounds should not use dry brushes to exfoliate, nor should dry brushes be used on one’s face (Cleveland Clinics Health Essentials).
Why You Should Use ViaBuff Instead
The ViaBuff buffs were designed to be used on virtually every skin type. The ViaBuff buffs come in four levels: the purple Level 1 for acne, oily skin, and psoriatic skin; the green Level 2 is for normal skin or eczematous skin; the pink Level 3 is for keratosis pilaris, freshly-waxed skin, dry skin, and skin with ingrown hairs; and the white Level 4 is for very dry skin. Although they are designed to suit different skin types, each buff is abrasive enough to remove debris buildup while leaving healthy skin intact. Each buff is designed from open-cell polyurethane that limits water and skincare product retention so that the maximum amount of product can be massaged into your skin, not the crevices of the buff. Dermatologist-tested and cruelty-free, our buffs last an average of 90 days, which is three times longer than your standard exfoliating buff or loofah.
Bottom Line
Dry brushing is one of the biggest trends in skincare, but it appears that most of the hype is just that – hype. There is no credible evidence that dry brushing can fight cellulite, flush toxins from the skin, or make your skin more glowing and youthful (for more than a few minutes). Dry brushing can increase blood circulation and exfoliate the skin. Given the coarseness of the brush bristles, dry brushing can sometimes result in “micro-cuts” than can irritate and damage the skin, in addition to making it more susceptible to infection. As such, dry brushing should only be done very gently and infrequently, and never on skin suffering from skin cancer, sunburn, cellulitis, infection, or various other ailments. The ViaBuff Exfoliating Buffs, conversely, were designed to deliver gentle yet thorough exfoliation to a variety of skin types. The buffs limit water and skincare product retention, last three times longer than your standard exfoliating puff or loofah, and are cruelty-free and dermatologist-tested. In fact, they make the perfect stocking stuffer for your loved ones. Don’t believe us? Check out our article about 7 Great Stocking Stuffers.