The Wake-Up Call
I used to think brain fog was just part of getting older. After all, I’d spent a decade helping people improve their sleep. I knew the theories, the data, the body clock inside out. But one morning, I caught my reflection and thought, why do I still feel flat, puffy, and foggy when I’m doing everything right?
That moment changed everything.
When I came across research about the glymphatic system, it was like a missing piece falling into place. Scientists described it as the brain’s “overnight rinse cycle,” the way your brain clears out toxins, waste, and mental clutter while you sleep. I realised that what we do during the day directly affects how well that cleansing system works at night.
What the Glymphatic System Actually Does
Think of it like your brain’s cleaning crew. All day long, your brain is busy thinking, processing, worrying, planning. It builds up a kind of “mental clutter.” When you get deep, quality sleep, the glymphatic system turns on and flushes it all away, leaving you clear and sharp the next day.
But when sleep is disrupted by stress, hormones, wine, or too much time on your phone, that system slows down. The “trash” piles up. Over time, it can affect how you think, how you feel, and even how your skin looks.
The Connection Between Skin and Sleep
Over the years, I watched so many women improve their sleep yet still wake up looking tired. Puffy eyes. Dull skin. That heavy feeling that sits behind the eyes. I started to wonder if what was happening inside the body was showing up on the outside too.
When I began experimenting with gentle facial brushing, like dry brushing but for the face, something shifted. My energy lifted, my clarity returned, and my skin looked alive again.
It wasn’t just skincare anymore. It was a way to reconnect to myself and support my brain at the same time.
From Discovery to Creation: The Glow Flow Brush
That’s how the Glow Flow Brush began. I wanted a simple way to wake up the body’s natural flow systems each morning. Just two minutes to support the same drainage networks, the lymphatic and glymphatic systems, that help your body and brain feel balanced and bright.
Because when your body flows better, everything feels lighter.
How to Support Your Flow
- Sleep on your side (it improves glymphatic flow)
- Go easy on alcohol before bed
- Add a gentle morning or evening face-brushing ritual to keep things moving
- Stay hydrated and support your body with magnesium
I recommend doing the Glow Flow sequence morning and night. If you can only fit one in, choose the time that feels right for you.
Further Reading
NIH: “The Brain’s Drain”
Harvard Health: “Why Sleep Matters for Brain Health”
Sleep Foundation: “How Sleep Affects Skin Health”
Cleveland Clinic: “What Is the Lymphatic System?”
Ready to start your flow? Explore the Glow Flow Brush — your 2-minute daily ritual for clearer skin and a clearer mind.