11 Dry Brushing Tools That Are the Secret to Smoother, Softer Skin
Plus, a pro explains the right way to do it.
If you buy something from the links on this page, we may earn a commission. Why Trust Us?
If you want to avoid issues like dull skin, cellulite, and ingrown hairs, you should be exfoliating your body occasionally. Sure, you could use a body scrub and loofah in the shower to get your exfoliation on, but if you truly want baby-soft skin at all times, then you should also be adding a dry brushing tool to your skincare routine.
Best Dry Brushing Tools
- Best Overall: Wholesome Beauty Dry Skin Body Brush
- Medium-to-Firm Bristles: Aromatherapy Associates Polishing Body Brush
- Nonslip Rubber Grip: Rengora Dry Brushing Body Brush
- Unique Bristles: HigherDOSE Supercharge Body Brush
- Has Massage Nodules: Rosena Dry Brushing Body Brush
- Ergonomic Handle: Goop G.Tox Ultimate Dry Brush
- Includes Two Brushes: Yerba Prima Tampico Skin Dry Brushes
- Softest Bristles: Dr. Barbara Sturm The Body Brush in Soft
- Most Eco-Friendly: Joanna Vargas Skincare Ritual Brush
- Luxury Dry Brushing: Gilded Marble Body Brush
- Best for the Face: Province Apothecary Daily Glow Facial Dry Brush
What is Dry Brushing?
Dry brushing is a method of exfoliating and massaging your body and face. It's incredibly simple to do and you only need your hands and a firm dry bristle brush to reap the various skincare benefits, including improving the appearance of cellulite and increasing elasticity, according to Joanna Vargas, celebrity facialist and founder of Joanna Vargas Salons and Skin Care.
“Dry brushing increases blood flow, which is healthy, but its main purpose is to stimulate collagen production, which will help to thicken the skin and lessen the appearance of fat cells,” she says. “It also dramatically increases elasticity, so it’s great for lifting and toning a problem area.”
Tammy Fender, a holistic skin specialist, has incorporated dry brushing into her skincare routine for 10 years. “I love the way dry brushing polishes and softens the skin, whisking away dullness at the surface and allowing body treatments to absorb more deeply. But it’s also a great boost for the lymphatic system, which is the body’s detoxification mechanism,” she says.
Dry brushing can also help rid your body of toxins that cause stress, according to Fender. She says this technique encourages the movement of lymphatic fluid, which flushes away impurities that make us feel sluggish and leave our face dull or puffy.
Dry brushing requires a relatively low commitment, to boot! Fender says you only need 2 minutes a day to exfoliate and massage your entire body.
Tips for Using a Dry Brush
Vargas recommends using a dry brushing tool before you get into the shower in the morning. “Start at the tops of the feet and brush upward toward the heart,” she says. “Spend extra time on areas that tend to be more stagnant, like the inner thigh, and don’t forget to include the backs of the arms and back. Dry brushing immediately increases circulation, so you will feel warmer when you're done.”
Although this process is 100% natural, it might feel odd stroking the skin from bottom to top in an upward motion. This method is recommended to stimulate the lymphatic system, which increases blood flow, improves digestion, and sparks energy through the body.
Other benefits of dry brushing include the reduction of ingrown hairs and removal of dead skin in order to reveal a glowing, youthful complexion. “It’s also a beautiful, simple ritual that will be a daily reminder that taking good care of yourself will make your confidence soar,” says Vargas.
How We Chose
The Best Products beauty team has the luxurious task of trying out just about every beauty product under the sun, including dry brushes. So, to compile this guide, we scrubbed and buffed our skin from head to toe with each and every one of these dry brushes. Through testing, we can personally vouch for these products.
Learn more about how we test products, from the questions we ask our testing team, to the types of products we feel are actually worth testing, to the overall time we put into our testing process.
Wholesome Beauty Dry Skin Body Brush
Amazon reviewers rate this all-natural dry brushing tool just shy of 5 stars for its quick performance: Results have been seen in as little as 3 days.
Its bristles are firm enough to help stimulate blood flow without irritating your skin or causing any micro-cuts or nicks. Its versatility is appreciated as well: It comes with a detachable handle to get to those hard-to-reach spots.
Aromatherapy Associates Polishing Body Brush
If you have sensitive skin, you should be able to safely use this product. Aromatherapy Associates' dry brushing tool is made from natural agave cactus bristles for a firm-yet-gentle scrub that's easier on your skin. And unlike other brushes available on the market, the Polishing Body Brush features a hand strap for better control.
Detoxify your body and stimulate your lymphatic system by gently brushing your skin to optimal health with the Rengöra Dry Brushing Body Brush. This popular dry brushing tool has a long, sturdy handle with a no-slip grip, allowing you easier access to those hard-to-reach body parts, like your back.
HigherDOSE's infrared saunas are adored by celebs like Lady Gaga and Lea Michele. So, when we found out the brand had expanded their product range to include an at-home dry brushing tool, we knew we just had to try it.
This is the sole option on our list featuring soft exfoliating bristles made from responsibly- and humanely-sourced horsehair. What's most fascinating about these bristles is that they boast an ionic copper charge to help neutralize ions and reduce acidity levels in your body, according to the brand.
While we can't fully vouch for these scientific claims, we do enjoy how the brush feels in our palms and on our skin. Its smooth-to-the-touch bristles are perfect for when you want to elevate your at-home exfoliation routine and don't mind splurging.
Rosena Dry Brushing Body Brush
If you're more budget-conscious, then no worries! This dry brushing tool is perfect for your next at-home spa day, and costs just under $10 a pop.
This distinctive dry brush by Rosena features boar bristles and rubber massage nodes for a comfortable feel during your dry brushing session.
A curved, ergonomic handle makes this Goop-approved dry brushing tool even more comfortable to wield while brushing in upward strokes. Biodegradable sisal fibers exfoliate and energize the skin, while the wood is FSC-certified (meaning that it was harvested in an environmentally conscious way).
Yerba Prima Tampico Skin Dry Brush (2-Pack)
The effects of Yerba's lightweight dry brushing tool are sweet — literally! Featuring Tampico fibers derived from the unbleached stem of an agave plant, stroking the synthetic bristles in an upward motion sloughs away dead skin cells and helps increase blood circulation.
We can quickly dry brush our backs thanks to its long wooden handle, and find that the brush is lightweight and comfortable in our hands.
If you've ever dry brushed before, then you know that it can get a little too rough if you're not careful. If your sensitive skin can't handle the intensity of the average dry brush, try using this softer dry brushing tool from Dr. Barbara Sturm.
The bristles were made for use both in and out of the shower, and they're ultra soft, so your delicate skin won't feel beaten up after use.
Joanna Vargas Skincare Ritual Brush
Not only will this dry brushing tool give you the most luxurious scrub down ever, but it's also made with 100% eco-friendly materials!
Give your skin an invigorating treatment with this dry brush, which has a removable handle so that you can get to all of those hard-to-reach areas with ease. The results include a softer look and feel to your body.
If you want something a little more #shelfie-worthy, try out this luxurious dry brushing tool. It gives you all of the same exfoliating benefits as any other dry brush, but adds a luxe touch, thanks to its Carrera marble handle. It's fit for any bathroom, and will create a full spa-like moment!
If you want to give your face a bit of a scrubbing boost, this is the dry brush for you. It's made to give your face, chest, and neck a gentle brightening and exfoliating boost. As a plus, the goat-hair bristles are soft enough to use regularly, without causing any irritation or micro-cuts.
Jennifer is the former beauty editor for BestProducts.com, where she’s testing out everything from the latest lip gloss to the craziest skincare trend sweeping the online beauty-verse. Her work has been featured in Allure, Byrdie, HelloGiggles, and more. When she’s not swatching eyeshadow all over her arms, you can find the NYC-based editor scouring for hours on end for vintage finds, eating pad thai, and hanging out with her cat, Chunks.
Nicole Saunders is the beauty editor at Best Products with over seven years of experience researching, writing, and editing lifestyle content. She specializes in breaking down complicated topics, like high-frequency wands and microcurrent devices, into easy-to-understand guides. She takes great pride in heavily researching and testing featured beauty products, — such as hairdryers and foundations — on our site, and spotlights her all-time seasonal favorites in her quarterly column Best New Beauty. And she tests quite literally thousands of launches for our Beauty Awards package.
Ashley is the beauty and style editor at BestProducts.com, and her work has been featured on Cosmopolitan and Town and Country. She has an obsession with designer handbags, Liberty prints, 1960s fashion, and owns more shoes than she’s willing to admit. She's been using her learnings from owning a boutique and her shopping addiction for good since 2015. She’ll never accept that black isn’t a color. Away from the computer, you’ll likely find the Texas native binging on a British period drama or theorizing over Game of Thrones. She has yet to find a real cup of queso in NYC.
Watch Next
Best Red Light Therapy Devices, Per Beauty Experts
9 LED Face Masks for Better Skin
7 Best High-Frequency Wands to Zap Away Acne
The Best Sunscreens for Under Makeup
