#need way firmer bristles and less handle

[goron-king-darunia]

IRL Achievement GET: Last Resort: "So it's come to this?" Use vinegar and an old broom to clean the fruit fly corpses off the shower walls.

[soundviewfamilydental]

How to Brush Your Teeth Properly?

To keep your teeth healthy, you have to brush your teeth everyday. It’s what we’ve learned since we were young and it’s what we teach our kids as well.

But how do you do it exactly? How do you brush your teeth properly?

There are studies that show the best ways to brush your teeth. If you’ve been visiting your dentist regularly, most likely you’ve been taught the proper way to do this.

But it’s not just about the techniques. There are several other factors you need to consider including the type of toothbrush and toothpaste.  And in this article, we are going to go through each of them to ensure your healthiest smile possible.

  Type of Toothbrush

Let’s start with what type of toothbrush you are using. This is an area many people are confused about. If you go to the store to pick out a new toothbrush, you may notice that there are different ‘strengths.’ These include very soft, soft, medium, and firm. The degree of firmness refers to the bristles of the brush.

A common misconception is that you need a firmer bristle to really get a deep-down clean. In reality, firmer bristles can harm your gums while bushing. Instead, using a medium or soft bristle can be the best purchase. If you visit your dentist regularly, he or she can instruct you as to what bristle firmness is ideal for your needs. Not everyone is the same, but generally, using a brush with softer bristles is highly recommended.

  Toothbrush Brand

The brand of toothbrush, while we’ve been programmed to think one is better than the other, is irrelevant. What you should look for instead is the features included with the toothbrush. This may mean you will spend longer shopping for a toothbrush, but it will be well worth the time.

A basic toothbrush with same bristle size is something to avoid. There isn’t enough diversity with these bristles to reach below the gumline, rendering them less effective than other types of brushes on the market.

Choose a brush with a combination of different bristle sizes. Some may even come with soft plastic ‘bristles’ which are great for scraping below the gumline at the teeth.

  Type of Toothpaste

Now that you have the perfect toothbrush picked out, you can move onto the right toothpaste. Here is another example of the company’s making it more difficult than it needs to be. If you were to go to the store and stare at all the options available for toothpaste, you would feel very overwhelmed. There are products for whitening, those for sensitive teeth, and those that claim to be a complete care toothpaste.

While toothpaste designed for sensitive teeth is a must for those with that problem, all the other ones usually confuse consumers. Whitening toothpaste will somewhat work, but it isn’t going to give you the best results as compared when you visit your dentist for a professional whitening treatment.

Instead, choose a toothpaste that has fluoride in it. Fluoride, as you know, is necessary to protect teeth from decay. If you’re on a budget and can’t afford the fancy brands, just choose one that has fluoride in the ingredient list.

  Flossing

There are a few methods that work really well for getting the best all over clean, just as there are excellent methods of when to do things. For example, should you brush before flossing?

This can go either way, but to get the most of brushing and flossing, you should begin with flossing, brush, and then floss again. As long as you are doing the proper movements and techniques while handling your teeth, you aren’t going to hurt them.

If you find that your gums bleed when flossing, don’t panic. This is normal for those that don’t often floss. The more you floss, the problem should resolve on its own without any additional treatment. But if it persists, consult your dentist.

  Rinse Mouth Before Brushing

Rinse your mouth first before you brush, instead of after. The rationale for this is that when you rinse after brushing, you are washing away all the good properties of your toothpaste. It would be almost as if you hadn’t applied any toothpaste to your teeth.

Also, rinsing is an excellent way to remove debris from the teeth, making brushing and flossing slightly easier. Gargle and rinse around the mouth for approximately a minute. Spit and then start brushing.

  Brushing Techniques

When applying the toothpaste, many like to go overboard with the amount used. Contrary to popular belief, you don’t have to coat the entire toothbrush with the paste. A pea-size amount of toothpaste is all you need.

When you were young, you were probably instructed that the best way to brush your teeth is by doing a side to side, sawing motion. This was thought to clean under the gums and between teeth better than any other action possible. However, this is incredibly wrong. Brushing side to side is not the best way to clean between teeth or under the gumline.

Here’s where your mind is going to be blown. Instead of holding your toothbrush the way you are accustomed to -- horizontally -- do it vertically. Keeping your toothbrush up and down, move from side to side, using the up and down technique. This not only will help push plaque off your teeth systematically but is also gentler on your gums. When you go from side to side, like the traditional method, you will more than likely to injure your gums. This action is almost unavoidable. It is crucial to get below the gum line, but you shouldn’t be rubbing the surface of the gums as you clean.

Don’t rush through your brushing routine. Take the time to hit each individual tooth, not forgetting to go to the backside of the teeth as well. Many cavities start to form on the backside of teeth because these are often missed with brushing. The backside of teeth is also more prone to tartar buildup.

The molars are another area that is often missed because they are more challenging to get to. Make sure your brush goes behind the last molar and touches the back portion of the gumline. The same goes for how you floss the molars.

Brushing your teeth properly can prevent tooth decay and other serious dental problems. If you are in doubt whether you are doing it correctly or not, talk to your dentist. They should be able to direct you as to how best to clean and instruct you how to floss appropriately between each tooth. Some areas can be more complicated than others. For instance, those that have teeth that have almost no gap can be tricky to floss. But your dentist can direct you as to what products would work best given your situation

  The blog post How to Brush Your Teeth Properly? is republished from: www.soundviewfamilydental.com

Soundview Family Dental 201 5th Ave S Suite 103, Edmonds, WA 98020 (425) 563-6360 Our Edmonds Location

[radmitsubishitalk]

Mitsubishi Pajero Sport Driven To Test It’s Limits

Mitsubishi has gone full '

Beast mode

' on the Pajero Sport for 2020, giving it a new, more Triton-esque face and jamming in a whole load of new equipment, as is the Mitsubishi tried-and-tested way. And, you know what? It works very well indeed.

Well, it hasn't quite gone full-on Triton - rather, think of it as a more refined, urbane version of the Triton's aggressive Transformer face. A larger grille, smaller headlights and new LED combination indicator/cornering light/fog lights bring the beast, while tweaks to bumpers and other exterior trim (plus the addition of a rear spoiler as standard) make the Sport look lower, wider and more squared-off than before.

The polarising tail lights have come in for a refresh too, with a bolder, squarer look that sees them looking far less like clocks in a Salvador Dali painting now.

The new bumpers make the Mitsubishi Pajero 40mm longer than before, but it has lost around 20kg, with a decent chunk of that coming from the new aluminium bonnet that shaves 7.8kg off its weight.

Shaving millimetres off here and there inside the Pajero Sport has seen an increase in interior width of 25.6mm, while storage space has also increased, but the big news inside is the all-new 8-inch multi-information display that replaces the traditional dials behind the steering wheel, which is its first appearance in a Mitsubishi.

This, along with the addition of an electric tailgate, a revised and enlarged touchscreen infotainment display and remote control access via a phone app make the Pajero one of the most high-tech vehicles in the company's line up.

Okay, so its got a bunch more tech and equipment and it looks tougher, does it drive any better?

Little has actually changed on that front, but to be honest, it really didn't need to - the Pajero Sport has always ridden and handled at least as well, if not better than anything else in the large ladder-chassis ute-based SUV segment anyway, and it continues to do so.

Okay, so if you're coming from a monocoque car-based crossover-style SUV, then it is going to seem a bit agricultural in comparison, but in essence, the Pajero Sport rides and handles like a particularly impressive ute with better rear suspension - which is essentially what it is anyway.

On the open road it has a comfortable, loping ride quality that absorbs the worst of things, only occasionally getting a little brittle around the rear over broken surfaces at lower speeds.

Around town it feels firmer - like a ute - and occasionally jarring over the likes of speed bumps, but is generally a very comfortable and effortless-feeling big thing.

And make no mistake - it is big. At close to 5 metres long the Pajero Sport faces the same parking challenges that the slightly longer Triton does, plus it is also now 30mm higher than the old model too.

Still, that doesn't prevent it from being an eminently practical thing to live with, particularly thanks to its massive interior space that includes three rows of seats.

So it's still a useful thing off-road then?

Oh, yes. The increased length from the new bumpers hasn't affected the approach angle (still 30 degrees), while the departure angle has only been fractionally affected (up 0.2 degrees to 24.2) and ground clearance remains 218mm.

Mitsubishi's excellent Super Select II selectable 4WD system remains a thoroughly effortless thing to use, with easy selection via the chunky big dial in the centre console.

This is also an area where the Pajero Sport has an advantage over the Triton ute - where the Triton has an admittedly very good 6-speed automatic transmission, the Pajero Sport sticks with its utterly excellent 8-speed unit.

While the transmission is a very good thing at low speeds off the road (although it does occasionally become indecisive at on the road lower in its torque band), it truly shines at open road speeds by being remarkably fast and smooth in its shifts, and while the 2.4-litre turbo-diesel four-cylinder engine isn't exactly bristling with power, it does have a nice fat spread of torque that matches it nicely with the transmission.

No-one ever really takes these things off-road though, so what's it actually like around town?

That is true, but it is nice to know that you can. Particularly if that off-road ability is paired up with a comfortable and civilised on-road demeanour, as it is in the Pajero Sport. To find out what any of the Pajero models drive like - I’d say test drive one at Group 1 Mitsubishi. It’ll be insightful and fun as hell!

The newly refreshed interior is a comfortable place, with wide, welcoming seats and pretty much every modern convenience you expect in a new vehicle.

While it is a big lad, the Pajero Sport is bristling with cameras and sensors to make life easier, including a 360-degree camera, rear cross-traffic alert and blind-spot monitoring.

This all helps to make the Pajero Sport fairly effortless to live with on a daily basis, with its commanding seating position being a particular bonus in traffic, while its excellent adaptive cruise control also helps here.

.

.

.

Article from Give Me More Mitsubishi.

[gethealthy18-blog]

Dry Brushing for Skin: 5 Benefits & How to Do It the Right Way

New Post has been published on http://healingawerness.com/news/dry-brushing-for-skin-5-benefits-how-to-do-it-the-right-way/

Dry Brushing for Skin: 5 Benefits & How to Do It the Right Way

You probably brush your hair, and your teeth (hopefully with natural toothpaste), but do you brush your skin? And why would you?

Dry Brushing for Skin

This practice has been gaining popularity lately and with good reason. I’ve even noticed “dry brushing” as an offering on the menu at spas in hotels. Dry brushing has many potential benefits, from smoother skin to helping with lymphatic drainage.

So what is it and why should you consider doing it?

Dry brushing is exactly what it sounds like… brushing the skin in a particular pattern with a dry brush, usually before showering.

In dry brushing, the skin is typically brushed toward the heart, starting at the feet and hands and brushing toward the chest.

Benefits of Dry Brushing

I’ve been dry brushing my skin for years, mostly because it feels great and makes my skin softer, but there are other benefits as well:

1. Lymphatic Support

The lymphatic system is a major part of the body’s immune system. It is made up of organs and lymph nodes, ducts, and vessels that transport lymph throughout the body. Many of these lymph vessels run just below the skin. Proponents of dry brushing claim that brushing the skin regularly helps stimulate the normal lymph flow within the body and helps the body detoxify itself naturally.

2. Exfoliation

This benefit is often noticed the first time a person dry brushes. The process of running a firm, natural bristled brush over the skin helps loosen and remove dead skin cells, naturally exfoliating skin. I noticed less dry skin and much softer skin in the first few days and weeks after dry skin brushing. My skin has stayed soft thanks to this built-in way to exfoliate.

3. Clean Pores (& Smaller Pores!)

The added benefit of exfoliating the skin is clearing oil, dirt, and residue from the pores. Use a smaller, gentler dry brush for the face (don’t use the stiffer body brush here… ouch!). I notice that my face is softer and my pores are much less noticeable.

4. Reduces Cellulite

Though the evidence is anecdotal, I’ve found many accounts of people who claimed that regular dry brushing greatly helps to reduce cellulite. I talked about this and my other cellulite remedies here. There isn’t much research to back the cellulite claims, but dry brushing feels great and makes skin softer, so there isn’t really any downside to trying it!

5. Natural Energy Boost

I can’t explain why but dry brushing always gives me a natural energy boost. For this reason, I wouldn’t recommend dry brushing at night but it is great in the morning. One theory is that because it increases circulation, it also increases energy. Either way, I only do it early in the day as part of my morning routine.

Selecting a Dry Brush

I use a firm, natural bristle brush with a long handle, which allows me to reach my entire back and easily brush the bottoms of my feet and the backs of my legs. This set of brushes is my favorite because it includes a face brush and two body brushes with different firmness.

When I started dry brushing, my skin was much more sensitive and I preferred the softer one, and now I much prefer the firmer brush. With the set, I have options.

How to Dry Brush: The Method

Dry brushing can be done daily over the whole body, preferably in the morning before showering. Start with a gentle brush and soft pressure. Work up to a firmer brush and more firm pressure over time.

Here’s How to Dry Brush the Skin:

Starting at the feet, I brush the bottoms of my feet and up my legs in long, smooth strokes. I typically brush each section of skin 10 times. For lymph flow, I always brush toward the heart/chest area where the lymph system drains.

As a good rule of thumb, always brush toward the center of the body.

Repeat the same process with the arms, starting with the palms of the hands and brushing up the arm toward the heart. Again, I brush each section of skin 10 times.

On the stomach and armpits, brush in a circular clockwise motion.

I then repeat the process on my abdomen and back, and then switch to my face with the more delicate brush.

Note: Don’t brush too hard! A soft and smooth stroke often works best. My skin is slightly pink after brushing, but it should never be red or sting. If it hurts at all, use less pressure!

I brush before showering and use a natural lotion after showering.

Replace the brush every 6-12 months as the bristles will eventually wear out. I also recommend washing the brush every few weeks to remove dead skin cells.

But, Does Skin Brushing Actually Work?

I have personally dry brushed for years and noticed that my skin is softer (and possibly firmer, though this is hard to measure) from dry brushing. Skin brushing is very invigorating, easy, and a low investment of time and money, so I keep up the habit.

Especially during pregnancy, I *personally* found that dry brushing seemed to help keep me from getting stretch marks and also seemed to help tighten skin after pregnancy.

Here’s the thing:

It isn’t meant to be a medical treatment and shouldn’t be considered one. Dermatologists also claim that cellulite is genetic and that there is no cure, while podcast guest Dr. Cate Shanahan would disagree and points the finger at polyunsaturated omega-6 fats in our diet.

What the Scientific Evidence Says

The evidence is divided and several sources point out the obvious fact — there have not been any specific scientific studies about dry brushing. Much of the evidence, especially relating to the cellulite benefit, is anecdotal and much more research would be needed before dermatologists would consider it a legitimate medical treatment.

Supporters of dry brushing claim that it can stimulate the lymph system, help the body rid itself of toxins and increase circulation or energy. Even dermatologists agree that gently brushing the skin does have exfoliating benefits and may go beyond skin care by stimulating the body in a way similar to massage, which certainly does have well-documented benefits.

I’m not completely sold on all of those benefits, but this definitely falls in the “can’t hurt” category, with one exception…

A Warning for Sensitive Skin

Always, my advice is to pay attention to what works for you and your body. If you have sensitive skin or a history of eczema or other skin conditions, this is one health habit you may want to skip. As Sarah from the Healthy Home Economist found, aggressive skin brushing could irritate sensitive skin over time.

Still, as long as you don’t ignore warning signs like discomfort, itchiness, redness, or even pain, done the right way a dry brushing session should benefit most people. Avoid sensitive areas, don’t use overly firm bristles, and stop if bothersome symptoms occur.

As a gentler detox option for sensitive skin, try a detox bath instead of skin brushing.

The Bottom Line on Skin Brushing: Find What Works for You

At the end of the day, researchers will likely never do studies on dry brushing so we don’t have solid scientific evidence of its benefits. There is no incentive to do such a study when a good quality brush set costs around $20 and is available online. At the same time, it is generally agreed that the practice is harmless and at worst ineffective. Like any aspect of health (or life), it is important to do your own research, try things, and gauge the effects for yourself.

I personally like dry brushing for the smoother skin and burst of energy, but give it a try and see what you think.

Have you ever dry brushed? Will you try it?

Source: https://wellnessmama.com/26717/dry-brushing-skin/

[liliviolapilates-blog]

Dry Brushing

What is it, how to do it, and what the benefits are 

We know by now that Joseph Pilates was a pioneer of his times; he invented the Pilates’ method and championed health and wellness to the public. Dry brushing was among the many self-care methods that Joe encouraged. Dry brushing is an age-old cleaning technique that was popular amongst some ancient cultures because of its plethora of health benefits (1). Dry brushing took a long hiatus from the pop culture scene and was reintroduced to the public by Joseph Pilates in his book “Return to Life Through Contrology”. Although we would like to credit Joe with dry brushing’s return in popularity, there is a significant gap from his book’s publication in 1945 to the present day when dry brushing has become trendy. Over the past few years, dry brushing’s popularity has risen and is now championed by many in the health, fitness, and beauty industries. Just in time for summer, we have put together a comprehensive analysis of what dry brushing is, what Joe had to say about it, and how you can do it properly. 

Dry brushing is a method of cleaning where you take a stiff brush and rub it over your body. When you dry brush you will start at your extremities (hands and feet) and brush towards your centre (2). You will make sure to start out with a fairly soft brush and apply light pressure as you brush in a slow circular motion all over your body (3). As you dry brush more often, you can progress to a brush with firmer bristles. Dry Brushing is so popular now because it is a phenomenal way to detox (yes, that word again!), and leaves your skin soft, exfoliated, and glow-y. Did you know that your skin is your largest organ and is sometimes referred to as our third kidney (1)? The pores in your skin help eliminate waste from your body. Because dry brushing removes dead skin cells, cleans out your pores, and stimulates your circulation it encourages new skin cells to grow which gives your skin the space that it needs to release those toxins (1). Among many other things that this does, it improves the appearance of your skin and supports digestion (5).  By getting your blood circulating through vigorous scrubbing, dry brushing stimulates the lymphatic system in a similar way that exercise, *ahem* pilates, gets your blood pumping and body detoxing (5). This might sound strange, but many lymph vessels run just below the skin, so brushing the skin does help stimulate those vessels and allows the body to detoxify naturally (2). It is complimentary to your regular exercise/pilates practice, so it makes sense that Joe was a fan of it!

Joseph Pilates recommended dry brushing because although pretty much everyone bathes daily, only a small minority of people really achieve the thorough cleanliness that dry brushing will give you (4). A stiff brush that does not have a handle is what Joe recommended as it both cleans the body and forces the body to twist and move so that you can reach and clean all areas of your body (4). This way even your cleaning regime encourages movement! Breathing is an important aspect of a proper Pilates practice, so it makes sense that it is equally important for your skin to breathe. The only way that your skin can breathe properly is if the pores are kept open and free of anything that will clog them (5). Dry brushing is the ideal way to do this. 

In the words of Joe, if you regularly dry bush, “your skin will ... respond most gratifyingly … and acquire in the process a new, fresh, glowing appearance, and develop a texture smooth and soft to the touch” (Pilates, 32).  

In support of Joe’s claims, anecdotal evidence of dry brushing has been overwhelmingly positive. Reviews state that it “scratches an itch you didn’t know you had” (Godfrey-June), clears your mind, gives you energy, happiness, keeps your skin lightly exfoliated and glow-y, and makes you enjoy your shower so much more (6). Many people will notice that their skin is less dry and much softer within the first few days of dry brushing. 

When to Dry Brush

Because dry brushing is invigorating, and is an excellent way to wake the body up, it is ideal to do in the morning before your shower to get your day started right (6). It is not recommended to dry brush before bed when you want your nervous system to calm down (5). Keep in mind that although you are “vigorously” brushing your skin to stimulate your lymphs, you want to be careful not to apply too much pressure. When done brushing, your skin might be slightly pink in colour, but should not be red or stinging (2). 

As always, please take this information with a grain of salt. There have been no scientific studies about dry brushing, but the anecdotal evidence (and Joe’s support) is promising. Since all you need is a brush and about 5-10 minutes before your shower 2-3 times per week, it isn’t much of a financial or time commitment. Why not give it a try?! You’ll get noticeably smoother skin just in time for summer. 

Works Cited 

(1) “Dry Brushing for Skin: Benefits & How to Do It the Right Way.” Saje Wellness, 19 Sept. 2017, www.saje.com/ca/blog/how-to-dry-brush.html .

(2) Katie. “Dry Brushing for Skin: Benefits & How to Do It the Right Way.” Wellness Mama®, 27 Apr. 2018, wellnessmama.com/26717/dry-brushing-skin/.

(3) Hubbard, Lauren. “I Dry Brushed for a Month to Get Rid of Cellulite.” Allure, 9 Apr. 2016, www.allure.com/story/dry-brushing-benefits+.

(4) Pilates, Joseph H. Pilates' Return to Life: through Contrology. Pilates Method Alliance, INC, 2010.  

(5) Godfrey-June, Jean. “How to Dry Brush-and Why It's So Potent.” Goop, 25 Apr. 2018, goop.com/beauty/skin/how-to-dry-brush-and-why-its-so-potent/.

(6) Godfrey-June, Jean. “Godfrey's Guide: Dry Brushing.” Goop, 21 Nov. 2017, goop.com/ beauty/personal-care/godfreys-guide-dry-brushing/.

[sherristockman]

Can Dry Brushing Help Your Lymphatic System? Dr. Mercola By Dr. Mercola Your skin is the largest organ of your body, so treating it with TLC and maintaining its health will go a long way toward making you look and feel your best. Besides consisting of blood vessels, sweat glands and nerve endings, your skin helps remove waste, aids in digestion and has a lot to do with good circulation Nicole Eckert, a certified holistic nutritionist based in Newmarket, Ontario, believes that delving into a balanced, nutritionally optimal lifestyle should include a practice some have never heard of — skin brushing, something ancient Greeks, Native Americans and Ayurvedic medicine have known about for centuries. Gentle, daily detoxing involves several practices that can be done several ways and for several reasons. It’s extremely inexpensive and it takes just a few minutes every day. Discovering (and taking advantage by actually practicing) healthy removal of toxic waste is one of the most crucial habits you can get into. It’s also a way to increase your energy while decreasing stress, lifting brain fog and supporting your digestive health, which are practical considerations that help you not only feel good but look good! Eckert states: "Your lovely liver, kidneys, lungs, skin and colon, are your superstar detoxification organs and their overall function is just critical for your optimal health and well-being. With your skin being your largest organ – and your largest detoxification organ for that matter. The simple detox habit of dry brushing is a super enjoyable practice that's going to make your skin glow, and get you detoxing fo-sho (rhyming intentional)."1 Many people who started with a softer, gentler brush have graduated to one that's a little firmer, using a firmer pressure gradually, as well. How Does Dry Brushing Your Skin Impact Your Lymphatic System? One of the most basic reasons to begin dry brushing your skin is to stimulate your lymphatic system, which is essentially a network of blood vessels that transports metabolic waste out of your body. Parts of your overall lymphatic system include your thymus gland, lymph nodes, spleen, liver and tonsils. Something you may not realize is that for most people, especially as they get older, when your system begins getting sluggish, moving slower and slower, it compromises your immune system. When your immune system isn't working as it should, your body becomes more susceptible to problems like sinus infections. Further, one of the reasons you keep hearing how crucial exercise is involves your lymphatic system, because movement is essential for it to function as it was designed to do. It doesn't have a pump, so it relies on muscle contractions — aka exercise — to "shake things loose," so to speak, which helps your body in its detoxification process. Further, many of your lymph vessels run just below your skin's surface, which is how brushing your skin can impact how well your lymph glands perform. Brushing your skin is an innovative way to gently cleanse and protect your skin and improve circulation. There are brushes for your hands, feet and nails, face (which have softer bristles), hair and body. Besides the type for dry brushing, there are brushes you can use as you bathe. Why Do People Brush Their Skin? Exfoliation rids your body of dead skin cells. When you consider that you lose more than a million skin cells every day, it's no wonder we all experience a slightly irritating dry, itchy sensation from time to time. You're still wearing last week's dead skin cells! The problem often causes such skin conditions as acne, eczema, psoriasis and various rashes. In fact, dry brushing your skin is said to be for your skin something similar to what milk thistle does for your liver. You release up to a pound of toxins through your skin, your largest eliminative organ, every single day, which is about a quarter of the total waste you excrete on a daily basis. You may not know exactly what's going on inside your body, but your skin is often the first to tell the tale. According to Bare Natural Health:2 "(These) are signs that you're in dire need of some toxic dumping, but when our skin is clogged full of dead cells, our toxins get stuck in a traffic jam and have nowhere to go. Instead, they get reabsorbed into the body, taxing our kidneys and liver, or stored in fat cells, which can contribute to cellulite."3 Body brushing may also help prevent and reduce cellulite. Although it's not a tested science conducted in a clinical setting, there's plenty of anecdotal evidence that dry brushing helps ease the clumpy signs of cellulite. It may help distribute fatty deposits to tone muscles and tissues below your skin's surface, Mother Earth Living maintains, and circular motions may also reduce the appearance of cellulite.4 Energizing, invigorating and stress relieving, it also reveals soft, glowing skin. Dry brushing not only clears clogged pores of dirt, oil and other residue, it stimulates your hormone and oil-producing glands and your circulation, which helps leave your skin feeling fresh and more prone to healing, and allows your skin to "breathe" properly. What Type of Brush Is Best? There's actually a brush designed to dry brush your skin. Quality brush bristles are made from natural fibers rather than synthetic materials, and they're available online and in some health food stores. You want the bristles to be dense, stiff and strong so that the experience is, as Eckert quips, "comfortably uncomfortable" — not too soft, but not so stiff that they scratch your skin, either. Eckert notes: "I started out with [a] classic Bath Brush. I love this one because of the long handle (it's the ultimate back scratcher). I recently upgraded to [an] Energy Brush, which is handle-free but has these super-cool bronze bristles made from a copper-tin alloy, which creates this super soothing effect and a pleasant tingling sensation – this is like the big-cheese of dry brushing. I've also got this cute little Facial Brush, which is a savior on dry-face days."5 Eckert recommends a body brush designed expressly for this purpose. A long brush for hard-to-reach places like your back, the bottoms of your feet and the back of your legs made from bristles of the konjac plant is another recommendation. Depending on where you live, environmental toxins are wreaking more havoc on your body today than ever before. Sometimes the air you breathe isn't necessarily negotiable, but what you eat, drink and put on your skin certainly is — dry brushing may help to rid your body of those variables you can't control. How to Use Your Body Brush No matter what time of day you shower, it's right beforehand that you want to take advantage of everything body brushing can do for you. Pick up your brush and get to work, starting with the lower part of your body first with swift, gentle upward strokes. "It's important to work in this direction as it supports the natural 'highway' of your lymphatic system," Eckert says.6 Start working on your feet, using gentle, circular, upward motions toward your heart from the tips of your toes, including the tops of your feet, your soles and moving upward, first one side and then the other Brush slowly and gently; even if you're ticklish, making it difficult to cover your stomach, sides and chest, it will become less so as your body gets used to the sensation. Do your arms, neck and as much of your back as you can get to. Remember to avoid areas where you might have scratches or anything that would make contact with the brush painful. Don't use the regular brush on your face, as your skin is far too delicate. Use a specially designed facial brush, which has softer bristles. Once you're finished, you can shower, which washes away all the dead skin cells you've loosened. Water set at warm or hot further increases your circulation. This routine can be done before every shower or just three or four times a week, but perhaps hard-to-reach areas can be done once a week — whatever your schedule allows and your needs call for. You may also want to try an alkalizing bath, which adds a new dimension. One more thing: Since skin brushing is stimulating, doing it in the morning seems to be preferable to "waking up" your skin at night. Caring for Your Body Brushes Body brushes may be constructed of solid waxed beech for dry brushing or beech plywood for wet brushing, with wild boar, horsehair or even a combination of horsehair and bronze bristles, among other options.7 The plywood brush is best for wet brushing, as it can take sitting in water for long periods, as well as with alkaline baths. It's best not to expose your wooden brushes to long periods in water, so when you're not brushing, place the brush with bristles downward on the edge of the tub. If you do alkaline wet brushing, the bristles of the brush should be rinsed well using clear water. Excess water can be "tapped" off using a towel and the brush should be placed bristles downward on a dry towel. Wooden brushes should be air-dried, not with a hairdryer or placed on warm heating appliances as it can crack and damage the wood. The bristles of your body brush can be washed with lukewarm soapy water, but without excessively wetting the wooden parts. In time, the color of the wood will probably darken somewhat. Experts also recommend replacing your brush every six to 12 months because the bristles do begin to break down. More Strategies for Optimizing Your Skin Health (and Other Areas) Drinking water with lemon added to it and/or placing few teaspoons of apple cider vinegar into water to drink on a daily basis, as well as drinking the right amount of water for your body, are easy strategies for optimizing your health. Eating plenty of vegetables will also go a long way toward optimizing your skin, because the antioxidants in them fight free radicals and support your immune and mitochondrial systems. Bulletproof adds that supporting your health on the inside helps keep you looking vibrant on the outside, and in addition: “Fat from healthy sources like grass fed butter, olive oil, and Brain Octane Oil [concentrated MCT oil] help shuttle nutrients into your cells and keep cell membranes working at top speed. Protein and collagen from grass-fed and pastured animals provide the amino acid building blocks that keep your skin plump and your hair and nails strong.”8 Key supplements also kick in nutrients you can't always get through your diet, including: Collagen peptides, which help repair your skin as well as your hair and nails, plus it treats leaky gut.9 Vitamin C helps your body synthesize new collagen and protects your skin from excess sun rays, inflammation and oxidative stress.10 Glutathione makes its own antioxidants, but also helps your body rid itself of toxins, which discourages acne.11 Resveratrol contains polyphenols that are worth their weight in gold for protecting you from signs of aging. That also goes for your skin, as they also help protect against excessive sun damage.12 Caffeine reduces inflammation and calms redness, increases your circulation and repairs sun damage, as well as your DNA.13 While I don't recommend taking a caffeine supplement, organic black, shade-grown coffee is one potential source. It may sound too easy, but simple steps like these can balance your pH and help move food through your colon to maintain regular bowel movements, which also positively affects how you feel and how you look, including your skin.