11 best dry brushes for refined and radiant skin, tried and tested
If you're big on body care, chances are you've heard of dry brushes: a technique that's been consistently praised by celebs including Miranda Kerr and Rosie Huntington-Whiteley. But if you're absolutely baffled by the prospect of rubbing a prickly dry brush over your limbs, we hear you.
“Dry brushing is an ancient Ayurvedic self-care practice involving a massage with a dry, stiff brush,” says Dr Ireny Salama, aesthetic doctor and surgeon at The HVN. “The method exfoliates the skin, boosts circulation, stimulates lymphatic flow, and helps detoxify the body.”
And if you're consistent, you'll see results pretty fast. “With daily use, you'll notice smoother and brighter skin fairly quickly,” says Dr Ireny. “Although benefits such as improved circulation might take longer and are subjective.”
Plus, results are impacted by your lifestyle, too. Marie Reynolds, renowned holistic health and skin expert, comments that you have to look at your diet and lifestyle to see results on the skin. “If you're drinking, smoking and eating lots of fast food, there's not much point in body brushing,” she says. “After all, the skin is one of the largest detoxification organs.” Point duly noted.
And if you're bothered by cellulite, (which is perfectly natural and certainly not worth wanting to banish, BTW), body brushing will help to break these fatty deposits up over time. It won't completely banish cellulite, but you will notice a difference with regular use. We love when women embrace their bodies as the are, but of course, that being said, your body – your choice.
So go ahead, it's time to treat yourself to that well-deserved self-care sesh – just don't forget your body moisturiser or body oil afterwards.
SKIP TO: What factors should be considered when shopping for a dry body brush? | What are the benefits of dry brushing? | How do you use a dry brush? | Do you use a dry brush before or after showering? | Can you use a dry brush when pregnant? | How often can you use a dry brush? | How can you clean a dry brush?
Meet the experts
- Dr Ireny Salama, aesthetic doctor and surgeon at The HVN
- Marie Reynolds, renowned holistic health and skin expert
How we test dry body brushes
Our utmost priority is providing our readers with the most honest, trusted and independent reviews. We only recommend the dry body brushes that we believe are the absolute best on the market – thanks to five star customer reviews and the use of high quality materials. When testing dry brushes, we consider price and efficacy – across a wide range of retailers and price points to deliver a varied shopping experience; so you can truly find the best dry body brush for you.
Keep scrolling for our full edit of the best dry body brushes…
Aromatherapy Associates Polishing Body Brush
- Best for: Shoulders, arms and legs.
- Bristle material: Natural cactus sisal bristles (a type of flowering cactus).
- Handle size: Handheld.
- Recommended use: Before showering, dry brush gently in upward strokes towards the heart.
Why we love it: This is a firm favourite for Team GLAMOUR. Designed to reinvigorate the epidermis, this multitasking brush boasts coarse, cactus bristles for an energising scrub. We love that it has a hand strap, which makes it easier to grip when you're brushing. Plus, all of the reviews at the time of writing have five stars, mentioning benefits including increased skin elasticity, and that it's ideal to use before shaving or tanning.
- Best for: The back and lower legs.
- Bristle material: Natural cactus bristles.
- Handle size: Long and detachable.
- Recommended use: Use every time before showering. Starting at the soles of the feet, dry brush the skin with long sweeping movements towards the heart.
Why we love it: If you struggle with flexibility (same), this is the best body brush for reaching your bag and lower legs with ease - it has a long wooden handle that comes detached, and you simply click it on. Perfect for sweeping away dead skin cells, refining texture and softening the skin, this is ideal for bringing a little slice of an ELEMIS spa to you.
Legology Premium Natural Exfoliating Body Brush
- Best for: Legs.
- Bristle material: Natural cactus bristles.
- Handle size: Handheld.
- Recommended use: Brush in quick, flicking motions in an upwards direction to buff, soften and contour legs. Always brush up towards your heart.
Why we love it: Being dedicated to all things legs, the world just wouldn’t make sense if we didn’t include Legology’s offering… and their vegan body brush more than makes the cut. It’s crafted from sustainable wood, with a cotton canvas strap and cactus bristles, which are sturdy but not too harsh to effectively stimulate circulation. It can also be used before, during or after a shower, with the non-slip hand strap allowing you greater control of your brushing.
DR. BARBARA STURM Body Brush Soft
- Best for: Shoulders, arms and legs.
- Bristle material: Natural bristles.
- Handle size: Handheld.
- Recommended use: Starting from your feet, brush lightly with slow strokes towards the centre of the body.
Why we love it: Coming with soft bristles or medium bristles, this body brush is ideal to use if you have sensitive skin, are pregnant, or just want something a little gentler. Sized to fit perfectly into the palm of your hand, it's perfect for soft exfoliation, skin tightening and reducing bloating - and using it wet or in the shower will make the bristles even gentler.
Mio Skincare Toned Skin Routine Duo
- Best for: Your derrière.
- Bristle material: Natural boar bristles.
- Handle size: Handheld.
- Recommended use: Use the brush 2-3 times a week, moving in circular motions onto wet or dry skin. Follow by massaging the cream from the centre of your bum towards the hip until fully absorbed.
Why we love it: What goes better than peaches and cream? The Mio Body Brush and the brand's accompanying Peachy Cheeks Butt Cream, of course! After you've used the body brush to gently remove any dry skin or dead skin cells, hop in the shower, then use this smoothing cream to moisturise afterwards. With an 100% natural fragrance and infused with Indian fig extract and caffeine to hydrate, soften and firm, your bum will look peachy smooth in no time.
Hydrea London Combination Detox Massage Brush
- Best for: Areas of muscle tension.
- Bristle material: Natural bristles.
- Handle size: Handheld.
- Recommended use: Use in wide circular motions to massage and exfoliate.
Why we love it: A massage and an exfoliator in one? Yes please. With flexible rubber nodules that help to smooth away aches and pains, this easy-grip body brush is ideal to use after a stressful day. Helping to buff away impurities, prevent ingrown hairs and provide an invigorating cleanse in the shower, it’s also been heat treated and double waxed to prevent cracking and mould development.
Kitsch Exfoliating Body Dry Brush
- Best for: Shoulders, arms and legs.
- Bristle material: Soft vegan bristles.
- Handle size: Handheld.
- Recommended use: Starting at your feet, gently brush upwards in small strokes or circular motions, moving towards your heart. Do not wet brush.
Why we love it: Vegan and cruelty-free, these soft but dense bristles provide a thorough exfoliation while still being gentle enough for sensitive skin. Delivering more refined skin texture and helping to promote lymphatic drainage, this bamboo, cotton and nylon brush will provide luminous-looking limbs that feel oh-so-soft and smooth.
Belula Premium Dry Brushing Body Brush Set
- Best for: The face, scalp and body.
- Bristle material: Natural boar bristles.
- Handle size: Long, short and detachable.
- Recommended use: Brush your feet and up your legs in long, smooth strokes. Continue with the palms of your hands and brush up the arm toward your heart. Repeat the process with your abdomen and back, then delicately brush your face with the facial dry brush.
Why we love it: Including a long and detachable body brush, a face brush, a pair of exfoliating shower gloves, and a cotton pouch, this is ideal for those who want to up the ante on their dry body brushing routine. With quality bristles that become softer when wet, this is the perfect set for body brushing from head to toe - literally. Use the long and detachable body brush on your body and scalp, before gently massaging the short brush over your face to remove areas of dryness, unclog pores and remove daily impurities.
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Ithyes Dry Brushing Body Brush
- Best for: Shoulders, arms and legs.
- Bristle material: Natural boar bristles.
- Handle size: Handheld.
- Recommended use: Brush skin in circular motions before showering to exfoliate and stimulate blood circulation.
Why we love it: If you're heading for a week in the sun, we suggest you take this. Ideal for sloughing off body SPF and sand as well as dead skin cells, this exfoliating body brush comes with a lightweight canvas bag for you to pop in your suitcase with ease. And with the most ratings we've seen on Amazon for a body brush (almost 15,000 and counting, 75% of which are five star) this body buffer almost sells itself.
HigherDOSE Supercharge Copper Body Brush
- Best for: The whole body.
- Bristle material: Ion-charged copper bristles and natural horse hair bristles.
- Handle size: Handheld.
- Recommended use: Start by brushing your feet, then moving up to legs, arms and the chest, taking care to brush in the direction of the heart. Focus particularly on areas of dry skin.
Why we love it: A luxe addition to your wellness routine, this energising body brush stars ion-charged copper bristles, which release neutralising ions to reduce acidity levels in the body and balance your energy levels. In addition to exfoliating the skin, it also helps to stimulate lymphatic drainage, reduce inflammation, counteract modern stressors and promote a healthier lymphatic system. And the reviews are pretty much five star all round.
What factors should be considered when shopping for a dry body brush?
According to Dr Ireny, you should use the below as your official dry body brush checklist:
- Bristle Type: Choose a natural, stiff-bristled brush for effective exfoliation.
- Handle Length: A brush with a long handle helps reach hard-to-reach areas, such as the back.
- Purpose: Decide if you want a dedicated dry brush or one that doubles as a shower brush.
- Skin Sensitivity: If your skin is sensitive, opt for softer bristles.
What are the benefits of dry body brushing?
There are literally so many.
Dr Ireny explains that as well as removing dead skin cells and making the skin appear smoother and brighter, dry body brushing also helps to improve your circulation.
“The mechanical action increases blood flow, aiding the removal of toxins from the body," she explains. “Dry body brushing also stimulates the lymphatic system (made up of organs, lymph nodes, ducts and vessels, and is a major part of the body’s immune system) which potentially helps to support immunity and digestion.”
You can also put down your coffee - dry body brushing helps to boost energy levels by increasing blood flow and stimulating circulation as previously mentioned, leaving us feeling more awake in return. Ditch your bedtime brush for a morning dry body brushing session before a day at the home office and you'll begin to notice a difference.
Ingrown hairs are pesky AF. The good news? Dry body brushing can help to prevent them, as brushing regularly encourages cell turnover, reducing the clogging of pores which result in ingrown hairs in the first place.
How do you use a dry brush?
Before you shop for a dry body brush and scrub away like your life depends on it, it's advisable you get the technique right.
“Start at the hands or feet and use long strokes towards the armpits or groin,” says Dr Ireny. “Brush one side of your back and torso, moving towards the centre of the abdomen, then use circular motions over the rest of the body, avoiding sensitive areas such as the nipples.”
Dr Ireny advises to perform dry brushing before showering, so you can rinse off any dead skin cells - yum. “Then, moisturise with a body oil or lotion after showering," she finishes.
Marie emphasises that you must always brush towards the heart, and to carry out body brushing for 3-5 minutes. “However, be sure to avoid using it on the face,” she says. (Unless you have a brush specifically made for the face, like in the Belula Premium Dry Brushing Body Brush Set in our edit).
Do you use a dry brush before or after showering?
Before is the way to go, with Marie revealing that dry body brushing before a shower encourages lymph flow and for your body to begin shedding dead skin cells. “The flow of water on the body is also great for encouraging lymph flow, so body brushing first will activate the lymph nodes,” she says.
How often can you use a dry brush?
"You can use a dry brush twice a day, morning and evening," advises Marie. “But if you have sensitive skin, reduce the pressure or frequency to once a day,” says Dr Ireny.
Can you use a dry brush when pregnant?
Dr Ireny recommends to keep dry body brushing to the limbs, avoiding brushing the abdominal area. Marie concurs. “You can, but make sure you are gentle and use a softer brush,” she says. “The body is very responsive, especially the lymph, so less is best when expecting.”
How can you clean a dry brush?
It's a simple soap and water job, and leave the brush in an open space to air dry, advises Dr Ireny.
