15 Best Dry Brushes For Your Face And Body In 2023, Per Reviews

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Dry brushing offers many benefits, including skin exfoliation and increased circulation.

You've probably heard a lot about all of the great benefits of facial exfoliation—but probably less about exfoliating the rest of your body, amirite? The skin that's not on your face deserves love, too. While you can definitely find chemical exfoliants to use all over your body, dry brushes are a more simple and equally effective way to get rid of dead skin cell buildup.

Harsh weather, sun exposure, and strong soaps can all leave skin dry, flaky, and itchy, but dry brushing can help ease some of those uncomfortable effects, says Lauren Penzi, MD, a New York-based dermatologist. 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.

That's the TL;DR summary, but if you're more curious about the skincare practice, whether it's effective, and how to do it properly, you can read more about dry brushing here. Then, when you're ready to give it a try yourself, here are the 15 best dry brushes for every skin type you can shop right now, per reviews.

This simple brush has all the features you're looking for. The bristles are firm, but not scratchy. The brush has a short handle that extends into harder-to-reach areas, 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.

Rave Review: "I’m new to dry brushing and am loving this brush and the experience in general. It helps with bumpy dry skin, especially in the winter, and helps prevent ingrown hairs. Highly recommend."

With over 3,500 five-star reviews on Amazon, this highly-rated body brush is ideal for travel. The long wooden handle detaches from the brush head, making it easy to use on every part of your body. Detaching the handle and using just the brush head gives you a little more leverage for pressure on legs, arms, and your torso.

Rave Review: "I have been dry brushing for over four decades. This is the best dry brush I’ve ever tried. Highly recommend."

It's hard to beat the price of this compact handheld 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 of the other options.

Rave Review: "I use one for dry brushing to get off all the dead skin cell build-up, and I use one in the shower for washing. I even have one that I use on my face only. It's great for exfoliating, but gentle enough to still use on my face! Also, it's easy to disinfect after use!"

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.

Rave Review: "As far as the results go, these brushes are the perfect stiffness to offer great dry brushing that does not irritate or hurt your skin while still offering visible results you can feel!"

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.

Rave Review: "I find this brush to be amazing. I have used it for years. It makes my skin feel thoroughly clean and soft, but most importantly it helps to get my circulation going."

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.

Rave Review: "I have tried many dry brushes, and this one has taken the number one slot. I have a harder time with handled dry brushes, so another reason this one is great is that it fits perfectly in your hand. The bristles are very strong, so sensitive areas may need a lighter hand."

This complete set includes two dry brushes. 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. The kit also includes a pair of exfoliating shower gloves that offer a lighter touch for brushing more sensitive skin.

Rave Review: "The brushes are just right—not too hard and not too soft. I have sensitive skin and the brush offers the perfect amount of tension on my skin."

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, and a comfortable wooden handle for a firm grip.

Rave Review: "I thought my face was pretty well exfoliated until I used this for dry brushing. I was amazed at how much dry skin was still on my face, clogging up all those pores and preventing my products from being absorbed. I use it every other day now, then wash my face, and apply my moisturizer. It really makes a difference."

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. The brush easily packs into a purse or carry-on for travel, too.

Rave Review: "My shins usually get so dry they sort of flake. After using this brush, my shins no longer flake, and my regular moisturizer seems to work even better."

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.

Rave Review: "So soft!!!! This is a must-have for getting off all your makeup. I wish I would have had one my whole adult life!"

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.

Rave Review: "[This brush is] inexpensive, sturdy, just the right weight in your hands, and the bristles are the perfect strength—not too hard, but just hard enough. I’ve been buying brushes like this for years and they’re always too soft, too hard, hard to hold, not long enough, etc. This one is GREAT!"

If you're looking to upgrade the loofah you've been using for years, this all-silicone brush is a good choice. It's handheld and has soft, flexible one-inch bristles that are gentle enough to use for dry brushing delicate skin, as well as for lathering shampoo into fine hair (a two-in-one option ftw!). The flip side of the brush also has nodes that when pressed against skin feel like a massage.

Rave Review: "I had been seeing these on TikTok and wanted to try one, but didn't want to spend a lot of money. I really like the feel of this. I love that it's silicone because it's easy to rinse when done. If you’re a self-care girlie, you need to order this boo."

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.

Rave Review: "I will be purchasing multiples of these brushes! They are easy to hold and the bristles are soft, but firm. Great brush!"

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.

Rave Review: "I was skeptical of the whole body brushing thing for quite some time, but I tend to have inflammation issues. I have been having trouble with my shoulders, so I started brushing in that area with the large brush from this set. I had immediate results. I could feel the muscles relax and the fluids moved. I was pleasantly surprised."

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 bristle, so they're safe to use on sensitive skin.

Rave Review: "This is unlike any dry brush I’ve used. The bristles are thinner and more straw-like rather than the bristles of the classic handheld brush. It smoothens skin nicely and does the job. I like how it's on a handle and that the bristles go all the way around, allowing for ultimate dry brushing capabilities."

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 silicone, which are very flexible and totally waterproof. This makes these brushes 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. Too stiff bristles 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.

"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.

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," he adds.

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.

Lizzy is a trained chef, food writer, and recipe developer for print and digital outlets including Insider, Real Simple, and the Chicago Tribune. She has a culinary degree from Cambridge School of Culinary Arts and a BA from Amherst College. She lives in New York City, where she runs, eats, and explores as much as possible.

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