We’re all just living our lives at the mercy of the almighty algorithm—and if you’re as beauty obsessed as we are, you’ve likely stumbled upon those lymphatic face brushes on TikTok or Instagram. It’s happened to me, Vogue’s beauty editor Kiana Murden, and even comedian and recent Golden Globes host Nikki Glaser who whipped out the tool in her Beauty Secrets video.
Though she was initially skeptical about their efficacy, Glaser methodically sweeps one of the brushes from the center of her face outward, until she suddenly pauses and exclaims, “Oh my God—it’s working.” The side of the face she was working on appears noticeably more chiseled and defined than the other, so she gets back to brushing, this time switching to the second side.
To wit, lymphatic brushes join the ranks of depuffing tools like gua shas, face rollers, and dry brushes; most working to stimulate lymphatic drainage, your body’s natural detoxification process. “Unlike the vascular system, which relies on the heart to pump blood throughout the body, the lymph system doesn’t have its own pressure pump,” explains Tammy Fender, holistic practitioner and founder of eponymous skin-care line and spa. “Instead, lymph collects the body’s metabolic waste and toxins, then drains based on our movement, like walking or exercise, but also through manual movements.”
However, not all methodologies are actually meant to promote lymphatic drainage, says Cecily Braden is an esthetician, spa educator, and eponymous brand founder. For example, gua sha and dry brushing are best used to support blood flow and microcirculation, which helps feed the cells nutrient-rich plasma. “Beauty rollers can promote lymphatic flow, but to effectively increase lymphatic circulation, the tissue must be engaged in a precise way that supports the natural function of the lymphatic vessels,” she adds.
According to Braden, the best methods to increase lymph flow to drain fluid and waste from tissue are manual lymphatic drainage (using one’s hands) or using her proprietary lymphatic brushes. “To manually manipulate the lymphatic vessels, it takes a deeper understanding of the pathways and plenty of patience to consistently gauge and apply the correct pressure throughout your routine—and performing the movements on yourself is very different and often much harder than working on a client,” she explained. To create an accessible self-care option, she spent years developing The Lymphatic Brush, which launched in 2023.
Her offering features both large and small brush sizes, which look similar but feature differing bristles to provide the right pressure for their corresponding treatment areas. The smaller brush is best for the face due to its longer, softer bristles, while the larger brush has shorter, firmer bristles meant to be used on the face, neck, crown, and the body. Braden recommends using both in tandem. “It’s a common misconception that the small brush is for the face and the large brush is only for the body,” she says. “In truth, the large brush plays the leading role in facial care, making up about 75 percent of the protocol. By focusing on the neck and jawline, the key zones that influence skin vitality, it helps reduce puffiness, dark circles, acne, and inflammation.”
Do lymphatic brushes actually work?
Fender notes that lymphatic brushing can be very effective, but it’s best done consistently and over time to achieve cumulative effects, rather than a one-and-done treatment. “That said, for some who experience very intensive puffiness or whose skin has taken on a dull pallor, the results might be powerful—and quick,” she says. Braden emphasizes that not all lymphatic brushes are created equally, and her patented tool was engineered to work with facial tissue and the lymphatic vessel system to target inflammation.