Dry Brushing Is Your One-Way Ticket To Smooth Skin

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Of all the beauty trends circulating on the internet, dry brushing is definitely up there in popularity, and it may just be time to add some of the best dry brushes to your beauty closet. If you're new to this practice, odds are you've heard a lot about facial exfoliation, but far less about exfoliating the rest of your body.

Unsurprisingly, the skin that's not on your face deserves just as much love, too. "Dry brushing involves the use of a body brush on dry skin for full-body exfoliation," says dermatologist Brendan Camp, MD. "It's thought to improve lymphatic drainage and blood circulation."

The Best Dry Brushes

Harsh weather, sun exposure, and strong soaps can leave skin dry, flaky, and itchy, but dry brushing can help ease some of those uncomfortable effects, adds dermatologist Lauren Penzi, MD. While you can definitely find helpful chemical exfoliants, dry brushes are a more simple and equally effective way to get rid of dead skin cell buildup. A dry brush, often made from sturdy natural boar bristles, can brush away flakes and exfoliate the top layers of your skin. When there isn't a layer of dead cells in the way, your skin can better absorb products, like moisturizers, explains Penzi.

What to consider

If you're new to the world of dry brushing, here are a few things to keep in mind when shopping for the best dry brush for you.

Bristle Type

Most dry brushes are made with natural boar bristle fibers. These range in strength from soft and feathery to stiff. There are also some brushes that have synthetic bristles, such as those made from silicone. These brushes are always cruelty-free (since they're not made from animal hair), very flexible, and totally waterproof. They're a good choice if you're storing and using your brush in the shower.

Whatever you choose, "the bristles should be long and firm, but relatively soft," says Dr. Penzi. Bristles that are too stiff can be uncomfortable to use and can even cause abrasions on delicate skin.

Style of Brush

There are two main brush designs—with or without a handle. Handheld brushes are great for applying pressure to the skin on your legs, arms, and torso. Handled brushes also give you a little extra length to access harder-to-reach areas, like the center of your back and shoulders. For the best of both options, look for a brush with a detachable handle. In general, Dr. Penzi also recommends a brush with a large flat round or oval head, as these cover more surface area.

Durability

If you plan to store your brush in the shower, natural materials like wood will break down and potentially become mildewy faster than synthetic materials. Your best bet is to either dry your natural brush well after each use or to choose a plastic or silicone brush for shower storage, since these can handle moisture much better.

How we chose

For the past few months, Women’s Health editors, including editorial assistant Sabrina Talbert and contributor Lizzy Briskin, have been researching the most popular and top-rated dry brushes. Our team consulted two board-certified dermatologists including Lauren Penzi and Brendan Camp for the story. Additionally, the team tapped our team of anonymous testers to narrow down the best dry brushes for a wide range of needs and preferences.

Boar Bristle Body Brush

This simple brush has all the features you're looking for. The natural boar bristles are firm and strong but not scratchy and the brush has a short handle that extends into harder-to-reach areas like the back, but it's not so long that you can't comfortably travel with it. It also features a loop around the end that makes it easy to hang for out-of-the-way storage.

Our tester, who is new to dry brushing, says she loves the overall experience of using this brush. She says that it has significantly improved the appearance of her bumpy, dry skin (especially in the winter!), and helps prevent ingrown hairs.

Boar Bristle Brush

With over 3,500 five-star reviews on Amazon, this highly-rated body brush is ideal for travel. You might not think so from the super long wooden handle, but it actually detaches from the brush head, making it easy to throw in your suitcase and use on every part of your body.

I don't even bring the handle with me on vacation because I can use the brush head alone with its attached hand strap. I use it on my legs, arms, torso, and feet and, without the handle, I can apply more pressure and I have more leverage.

Our tester went as far as to say that this dry brush is the best one she's ever tried, and, as someone whose been dry brushing for over four decades, that's saying a lot. However, our tester did note that this dry brush has slightly harder bristles than some of the other brushes she's tried.

Dry Body Brush

It's hard to beat the price of this compact dry brush from EcoTools. The small round tool has a secure strap along the back that makes gripping it easy. It's also made from recycled bamboo, making it more sustainable than most other options.

"This nylon-bristle brush is handheld, giving the user more control over the exfoliation process," Dr. Camp says. At the same time, he adds that using this kind of brush may make it difficult to reach certain areas like the center of your back, for example.

This brush is so gentle, our tester says she even uses it on her face. She tells us that it takes care of all her dead skin cell build-up but it's not super scruffy, so she feels comfortable using it anywhere.

Detachable Dry Brush

This two-piece dry brush offers the best of both worlds. A long wooden handle attaches to the brush head to reach the center of your back. For legs, arms, and other easier-to-reach areas, you can detach the handle and use just the brush with as much or as little pressure as you like.

One of the interchangeable heads also has massage nodes that offer the added benefit of muscle relief as you brush. And, according to our tester, this small addition makes a big difference. This brush offers a spa-like massage that does not irritate or hurt your skin, they say, adding that it offers visible results you can feel.

The Body Brush

This premium dry brush comes in two versions: One has softer, more pliable bristles for sensitive skin, and the other has medium-firm bristles for deeper exfoliating. Both have a secure hand strap for easy, comfortable brushing.

Both brushes can be used wet or dry in the shower to prevent cellulite and address loss of firmness and elasticity in the skin.

Our tester loves that this brush makes her skin feel thoroughly clean and soft while keeping her circulation going. However, another tester did note that the bristles on the medium-firm brush were super stuff at first, but they began to loosen up over time, making this brush more pleasurable to use.

Dry Brushing Body Brush

If you're looking for a denser brush with sturdier bristles, this cactus bristle option is a great choice. It has half-inch bristles that offer great exfoliation, and its handheld size allows you to apply just as much pressure as is comfortable for you.

Our tester, who has tried many dry brushes, says this one has taken the number-one slot. According to her, it fits perfectly in your hand, it has very sturdy bristles (which are made out of cactus, BTW), and it's super easy to use with the hand strap.

Dry Brushing Body Brush Set

This complete set includes two dry brushes for the price of one (!!). The first is a large body brush with a lengthy detachable handle that's great for reaching your back. The other brush is a miniature model designed to be used on your face or smaller areas of your body like your neck and shoulders..

Dr. Camp appreciates the optional handle of the large brush and calls out the included pair of exfoliating gloves, which offer a lighter touch for brushing and exfoliating more sensitive skin.

The brushes aren't to hard or too soft, according to our tester, so they're great for sensitive skin that craves a deep exfoliation but doesn't react well to harsh rubbing.

Dry Brush For Face

This miniature dry brush is designed specifically for use on small areas and sensitive skin, making it perfect for facial exfoliation. It has medium-soft bristles that won't cause abrasion. As an added bonus, it has a comfortable wooden handle for a firm grip.

Our tester, who struggles with face puffiness in the morning, notes that this brush helps make her look and feel more awake in the morning. Plus, it immediately calms her skin and puffiness. She told us she would order this again in a heartbeat.

Dry Body Brush

If you're looking for a small brush to throw in your bag while you're on the go, this is your one. This easy-to-use brush fits in the palm of your hand, and it's made from hardy, waterproof materials, with a plastic handle and plant-based sisal fiber bristles.

Our tester, who says their shins get really dry, says this brush helps their flaking because it helps their moisturizer absorbs deeper into the skin.

Bamboo Facial Cleansing Brush

If your skin turns red even with the most gentle scrubbing, this dry brush is for you. It has an exceptionally soft bristle pad that's perfect for sensitive skin, and it's tiny and compact so you can easily take it on-the-go. You can even use it with your favorite cleanser for an extra deep wash that rids your skin of oil, sweat, and, according to our tester, makeup.

She told us that, when combined with a cleanser, this brush is great at removing all your makeup. She adds that she wishes she had this brush throughout her entire adult life.

Back Scrubber

This smart brush offers the best of both worlds: The brush head is two-sided, with soft, gentle bristles on one side and stiff deeply-exfoliating bristles on the other. It's made from plastic and nylon, which makes it a great brush to use even when wet. And because it's waterproof, it won't mildew as easily as wood.

Our reviewer appreciates that this brush is super inexpensive, sturdy, and "just the right weight" in her hands. Plus, she notes that the bristles are the perfect strength—not too hard but not too soft.

Dry Brushing Body Brush

Why not get a little extra bang for your buck when dry brushing? This handheld brush has small plastic nodes dispersed throughout the natural boar bristles that offer gentle massaging and can possibly further assist with lymphatic drainage.

"I will be purchasing multiples of these brushes," says our tester, who notes that they are easy to hold and the bristles are soft, but firm.

Natural Boar Bristle Body Brush Set

This set of four wooden dry brushes makes a great gift for someone in your life who could use an extra dose of self-care. The set includes one long-handled brush that's great for reaching your back, a hand-held brush with massage nodes, a softer miniature facial brush, and one just for your nails—talk about a complete set.

Our tester has been having trouble with her shoulders, but when she started dry brushing, she had immediate results. According to her, she could feel the muscles relax and the stagnant fluids move out of her shoulder. "I was very pleasantly surprised," she tells us.

Sisal Dry Skin Brush

This brush's unique design makes it a great option for dry brushing: The round handle gives you a firm, comfortable grip, and the 360-degree bristles make it easier to access all body parts. The brush is made from flexible sisal fibers that are less stiff than boar bristles, so they're safe to use on sensitive skin.

Because the bristles are thinner and more straw-like than many of the other, stiffer options on this list, our tester was a huge fan. She likes how it's on a handle and that the bristles go all the way around, allowing for ultimate dry brushing capabilities on all body parts.

Meet the experts

• Lauren Penzi, MD, is a New York-based dermatologist

• Brendan Camp, MD, is double board-certified New York-based dermatologist

What are the benefits of dry brushing?

"Dry brushing essentially helps to exfoliate the skin by removing the dry and dead skin cells from the surface," says Dr. Penzi. Skin that's well-exfoliated can better absorb products, like serums and moisturizers.

"Dry brushing also helps increase lymphatic fluid flow or drainage, which can decrease puffiness and swelling," adds Dr. Penzi. Regular dry brushing enhances blood circulation throughout the body, which can improve your overall complexion and make skin appear brighter.

How should I dry brush my skin?

The best time to dry brush your skin is right before you shower, so you can rinse off the dead skin cells after. You should start from your feet and work your way up using long, straight strokes on your extremities, and smaller circular strokes on your trunk, says Dr. Penzi. "Use firmer pressure for areas like elbows and knees, and ease up on the pressure on more sensitive areas like the chest," she adds.

How often should I dry brush my skin?

The right amount of brushing depends on your skin type. Most people can dry brush between one and three times per week. "Those with super sensitive skin or eczema may need to brush less often," says Dr. Penzi.

Too frequent (or aggressive) brushing can disrupt your natural skin barrier, which can cause irritation and redness. However, "areas with thicker skin like the hands, feet, elbows, and knees can handle more frequent dry brushing compared to more sensitive areas like our chest, abdomen, and back," Dr. Penzi explains.

If you do have any concerns about how dry brushing may affect your skin, it's best to consult your doctor or derm.

Are there any cons to dry brushing?

The saying 'everything in moderation' applies to dry brushing, too. In fact, if you're not careful, you could cause irritation. "Using too much force or using a brush with coarse bristles can cause redness, raw skin, increase the risk of a skin infection, or potentially exacerbate skin conditions like eczema and psoriasis," says Dr. Camp. He adds that dry brushing too frequently can also have similar effects.

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