If your skin has been looking a little dull or your face seems puffier than usual, then you may want to give facial dry brushing a try. This is not another thing to add to your daily routine; it’s a twice a week ritual that can effectively get rid of dead skin cells, support lymphatic drainage, and leave your face looking brighter and more refreshed. Before you add this technique to your skincare routine, learn how facial dry brushing works, its skincare benefits, and tips for adding it to your routine.

**This post contains affiliate links, and if you make a purchase through them, I may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you—I only recommend products and brands I genuinely trust and use myself.

What is facial dry brushing?

The combination of soft bristles and clean, dry skin provide physical exfoliation while stimulating microcirculation and lymphatic drainage for a refreshed, radiant complexion.

Facial Dry Brushing Benefits

• Provides gentle exfoliation – A soft-bristled dry brush lifts away dead, flaky skin cells with minimal friction unlike a facial scrub or peel.

• Supports lymphatic drainage – Our face doesn’t have a pump like the circulatory system does to keep things moving; that’s why our face relies on the lymphatic system to drain cellular waste. The light, sweeping motion of a dry brush manually pushes stagnant fluid toward the lymph nodes in your neck and collarbone area, which reduces morning puffiness, especially around the eyes and jawline.

• Boosts microcirculation (temporarily)– Dry brushing stimulates blood flow beneath the surface of the skin, helping deliver oxygen and nutrients that support a healthy glow.

• Promotes a healthy glow – Exfoliation and the increase in blood flow and therefore oxygen and nutrients along with the reduction of excess fluid give your face a fresh glow.

Who should try facial dry brushing?

• If you have normal to oily skin.

• If you have flaky, dull skin.

• If you have extra fluid or puffiness.

Who should avoid or use extra caution with dry brushing?

• Avoid it if you have eczema, psoriasis, rosacea, or active cystic acne.

• Avoid if you have an open wound, scrape, sunburn, or viral skin issues like warts or cold sores.

• Exercise caution if you use a strong chemical exfoliant or retinoid.

How To Dry Brush Your Face

1. Wash your face with a gentle cleanser. Check out my favorite clean beauty cleansers here.
2. Start dry brushing, working from the top of your face, your forehead, down your temples and cheeks, and toward your heart.
3. Rinse your face with warm water.
4. Apply your favorite clean facial moisturizer. Check out my favorite clean beauty moisturizers here.

Facial Dry Brushing Mistakes To Avoid

• Applying too much pressure. Facial brushing shouldn’t feel like scrubbing!
• Using a body brush instead of a facial brush.
• Brushing in random directions. To support lymphatic drainage, you will need to work from the center of your face outward and then sweep downward along the sides of your neck toward your collarbone.
• Wet brushing instead of dry brushing. The bristles won’t be able to brush away dead skin cells if your skin is wet.
• Using a dirty brush. Wash the brush with a gentle cleanser at least once a week and tap the brush on a hard surface after every use to loose any dead skin or other junk on the brush.
• Brushing over inflamed skin. Avoid dry facial brushing if you have an active acne breakout, irritated skin, or other skin condition.

Primally Pure’s Facial Dry Brush

This ultra-soft facial dry brush exfoliates, boosts circulation, and supports lymphatic drainage to help improve skin texture, reduce puffiness, and minimize buildup.

Bristle Type – Made of Goat hair

Price – $18

What I Like – I like this facial dry brush because it’s made of goat hairs as opposed to plastic.  Most facial brushes you find on the market are made of plastic bristles which can cause micro tears in the skin and also harbor bacteria.  Plus, they can shed microplastics on your face as you use the brush.  I love how gentle the goat hair brush feels on my skin and that it’s not shedding microplastics.

What I Don’t Like – I don’t like that it did shed some goat hair at first, but it was pretty minimal overall.  It was just the first week or so that it shed more and now I don’t notice it.

Use code GURLGONEGREEN10 to save 10%!

Facial Dry Brushing vs Physical Exfoliation

The key differences between facial dry brushing and physical exfoliation are their benefits and the tools used to achieve them. The main benefit of dry brushing is lymphatic drainage, whereas exfoliation is used to improve skin texture. Dry brushing uses a soft-bristled brush to stimulate lymphatic drainage, and exfoliation uses a scrub to slough off dead skin cells to stimulate skin renewal. Check out my favorite Exfoliants for Dry Skin here!

Can facial dry brushing help with wrinkles?

Dry brushing does provide a light level of exfoliation, but there’s not enough evidence to show that it can erase existing wrinkles or prevent new ones.

Can facial dry brushing help with lymphatic drainage?

Facial dry brushing stimulates lymphatic drainage, helping to move excess fluid toward the lymph nodes and temporarily reduce puffiness. Moving fluid toward the lymph nodes helps to clear metabolic waste and boost circulation.

How often should you dry brush your face?

It is generally recommended to dry brush your face twice a week.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Is facial dry brushing good for your skin?

Yes, facial dry brushing is an important component to improving skin health and glow! It helps take out the trash so to speak along with increasing blood flow, which can aid in nutrient circulation. It also provides light exfoliation in the process which can improve skin texture.

2. Can facial dry brushing help with acne?

Dry brushing can help with acne in a preventive capacity, such as exfoliating dead skin cells that can lead to clogged pores, but it doesn’t help and can even aggravate an active breakout.

3. Should you use facial oil after dry brushing?

Yes, using facial oil is the perfect way to cap off a dry brushing session. Applying a facial oil after dry brushing can help replenish moisture and support your skin barrier. Gentle exfoliation removes surface dead skin cells, allowing skincare products to spread more evenly across the skin.  Here are my favorite clean beauty facial oils!

4. Can facial dry brushing damage skin?

As with anything, facial dry brushing can damage skin if used too aggressively. It can strip skin of its natural moisture triggering excess oil production or cause micro tears or inflammation. This can be easily prevented by using gentle strokes when dry brushing your face.

Have you tried facial dry brushing? Share your thoughts below!

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