60 seconds for better skin, and it's FREE

Skincare has become increasingly important giving way to embracing ones natural skin and lighter makeup trends, especially in the summer months. It is an international phenomenon with the 10 step routine trends emerging from Korea making their way to the states and all over the world. New products are being produced at rapid paces all claiming to be necessary for better skin, but progress can be made just from a good wash.

Everyone has their own routine based on their skin type, and not everyone partakes in every trending skin care step. Nonetheless, generally everyone cleanses their face, especially as part of their first step in their routines. How long do you spend on this step? 10 seconds? 15 at most? It is likely the most rushed part, and yet one of the most essential.

What many people don’t realize is that cleansing your face for 60 seconds, yes a full minuet, makes a world of an impact in improving your skin. By cleansing in circular motions, it stimulates the lymphatic system, encourages blood and oxygen circulation, exfoliates clogged pores, and cleans away excess oil and debris.

A rough guideline would be spending 15 seconds per quadrant of the face. Following this method also gives you the chance to remember frequently neglected areas such as the hairline and neck.

Furthermore, all the products you use afterwords will be able to penetrate the skin much better on top of fresh and thoroughly cleansed skin, ultimately maximizing their effectiveness. Skincare is expensive and our product assortments only seem to be growing. By following the 60 second rule, you are ensuring to get your moneys worth for the rest of the products in your system.

My Own Cleansing Routine

I will be the first to admit that my skin is far from perfect. I have acne prone and sensitive skin, so I often avoid experimentation and stick with the basics. Implementing the 60 second rule does not cost or put me at risk for further breakouts and is easy enough to do.

The first step in my cleansing routine is to take off my makeup. I use the Clinique Take The Day Off Bomb, which really does a great job with hard to remove makeup. I use this on my eyes and face. Then I follow up with an acne cleanser to prevent breakouts. My favorite is the Murad Clarifying Cleanser.

For the mornings, before masking, or just when I want a gentle wash I have been using the First Aid Beauty Pure Skin Face Cleanser. The ingredients are basic, non irritating, and don’t interfere with any other products. It’s great just to get the job of cleaning your face done.

If I am traveling for a short period of time, like a weekend trip or something, I have been bringing along the Beste No 9 Jelly Cleanser by Drunk Elephant for some double duty work. I use it once to take off my makeup both eyes and face, rinse, and then repeat to cleanse the skin. Maybe that’s not the best way to do it but I am just being honest of what I have been doing lately while on the go.

For extra makeup removal, or days where I don’t have my Clinique bomb on hand, I love Bioderma Micellar Water. This also does a great job taking makeup off and cleansing the face before a more deep cleanse. Sometimes I also use this as a toner in the morning when I don’t feel my face really needs to be thoroughly cleansed.

I also go through phases in which I use the Foreo Luna Mini for Sensitive Skin. I think that this could be super helpful for the 60 second rule because it vibrates so you know how long to wash your face, and how long to spend on each section. I stopped while I was breaking out because I was scared that it might be too abrasive on the pimples but now that my skin is doing better I am interested to start it again. I can definitely provide an update on that in the future.

Another tool for a deep clean would be the Clarisonic. I hear that it is more aggressive than the Foreo so personally I think that it is too harsh for my skin, but otherwise I’d say go for it. If your skin can handle it, many people rave about it for how well it cleans the skin. It also has tons of other uses and attachments for different skin types.

Shop The Products I use

First Aid Beauty Pure Skin Face Cleanser

Some More Tips For Cleansing

Always make sure to wash your hands before touching your face. It is counterintuitive to add more bacteria and dirt to your face while lathering in the cleanser.
Lukewarm water is best to wash your face as hot water can strip and dehydrate your skin.
Double cleansing is also highly recommended. I first use an oil based one to take off my makeup and follow up with a cleanser meant more to help my acne.
Bar soap should be avoided. It has a high pH level which is too strong for sensitive skin.
Cleansers with sulfates should also be avoided as they too can strip and dehydrate the skin.
Cleanse your skin morning and night.
Pat (do not rub) with a CLEAN dry towel.
Apply all skincare within a minuet of cleansing. The longer your skin is exposed to the dry air, the more moisture you could potentially lose in your skin.

NOTE:

You should always be doing what is best for YOUR skin type. Some may find that 60 seconds is too harsh of a time period. If you find your skin feeling tight afterwards, you may want to adjust to a full 20 or 30 seconds.