Whether you have your anti-aging skincare routine curated down to an art form, or you’re still shopping for retinol, there’s one change you can make immediately — how long you wash your face. If you’re racing through your routine, you may not be allowing these powerful ingredients to actually work on your skin! Keep reading to learn more about the 60-Second Rule and how to wash your face in order to receive optimal benefits.
What is the ’60-Second Rule’?
There is no verified study about how long you should wash your face. Many websites will say 20-30 seconds is enough to remove impurities and makeup. However, if you have specific concerns (like anti-aging!) and a minimal routine, you’ll want to wash your face for at least 60 seconds.
But where did 60 seconds historically come from? It’s probably aesthetician advice, trial and error, and even word of mouth. Think about how long your facialist may spend massaging your skin with cleansers, creams, and serums. They don’t quickly apply the products and wipe them off—it all takes time.
This could also possibly be the reason that we attribute good skin to our toners and serums — they remain on our faces longer than cleansers! Massaging your cleanser on your face for at least a minute should soften the dirt and dissolve sebum blockage, which is a huge win for that pesky menopausal acne. It also will help make your toners, serums, and other products much more effective because your skin will be even cleaner!
How To Properly Wash Your Face
We’ve all been washing our faces since our teens, but what if we’ve been missing out on some key steps? Read the tips below on how to get the most from your skincare routine. Remember the 60-second rule!
Clean your face every night.
Even if you’re not wearing as much makeup as you get older, you still need to care for your skin every night. Throughout the day, our natural oils, sweat, and even pollution accumulate on our skin. Not removing this at the end of the day can cause irritation and inflammation.
And every morning!
You may have gone to bed with squeaky-clean skin, but while you’re tossing and turning at night, oils from your hair and even saliva may be on your face. Additionally, if you’re applying night creams and retinol, they will need to be rinsed off before you apply any A.M. products.
Use the right temperature.
A hot bath or rinse may sound very relaxing, but it actually hurts your skin by dilating blood vessels and breaking delicate skin tissue. Hot water also strips the skin of the necessary oil barrier, which leads to irritation. Cold water can perk you up, but if you need a little warmth, opt for lukewarm water.
Reach for the right cleanser.
Sure, this may seem obvious… but if you’re using the same cleanser as you were pre-menopause, you may want to switch things up. Consider your skin type (oily, dry, normal, or combination) and any specific issues (rosacea, eczema, psoriasis, etc.) when shopping for cleansers. As a general rule, oily skin can tolerate gel/foam cleansers; normal skin usually reacts well to basic water-based options, and dry/sensitive skin may do best with a gentle, creamy cleanser. If you have no idea where to start, consult with a dermatologist to find your best option.
Use your moisturizer immediately after cleansing.
Do not wait until your skin is entirely dry before applying your serums and/or moisturizers! Most moisturizers contain both humectant ingredients (which draw water into the skin) and occlusive ingredients (which help seal hydration into your skin). So, applying your moisturizer while your skin is still a bit damp from cleansing helps keep even more of that moisture in. It’s basically the same thought process as applying lotion or body oil immediately after you get out of the shower or bath!
Don’t wash too aggressively.
You should be careful not to overwash or over-scrub your skin. This will especially aggravate skin issues such as rosacea, dermatitis, and acne. A gentle makeup remover and a wash should be all you need.
Consider a makeup remover in addition to your cleanser.
If you have sensitive skin, that gentle cleanser may not effectively remove your makeup. So, you risk falling asleep with makeup still on (hello, dull skin) or over-scrubbing. This is especially true for products that contain SPF or oil. This is basically the concept behind double-cleansing, which is using an oil-based cleanser to remove makeup and then washing with a water-based cleanser to remove dirt.
Related Article: Now that we’ve covered the 60-second Rule, have you ever wondered how long it takes to keep that mascara you used a few times? How about that one lipstick or night cream that you’re saving for a different season? We usually mind the expiration dates on our food down to the day, but what about our beauty products? Do beauty product expiration dates REALLY matter? Get the scoop on the actual shelf life of your favorite beauty and skincare products so you can avoid a crucial skincare mistake.
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