Cleansing is the most important part of any skincare routine, whether it’s a simple three-step process or a full twelve-step process. We take off all the dirt, sweat, oil, sunscreen, makeup, and other things that build up during the day. Not too hard, right? That’s what I thought.
As a beauty editor for a long time, I’ve talked to many dermatologists about new treatments and ingredients that are getting a lot of buzz. But I was really surprised to find out that I had been doing the most basic thing wrong. The fix isn’t hard or expensive. Not even a new product is needed. It only takes 30 seconds.
Mona Gohara is a clinical professor of dermatology at the Yale School of Medicine.
Dermatologists often say that patients come to see them because of viral TikTok trends that go wrong. (This is your reminder to stay away from DIY lemon juice peels and sunscreen contouring.) But what they see even more often is? People are rushing through the most basic step washing their face.
The biggest mistake people make when cleaning their face isn’t using the wrong product; it’s not giving the face wash enough time to work. You aren’t just wasting money when you rinse too quickly. You’re starting your whole day off on the wrong foot.
How long you should keep your cleanser on
Dr Mona Gohara, a clinical professor of dermatology at Yale School of Medicine, says, “About 30 seconds is best.” “That gives the surfactants in your cleanser enough time to stick to oil, dirt, sunscreen, and makeup so they can really lift them off the skin,” she says. “Those ingredients won’t have a chance to work if you rinse too quickly.” You don’t have to scrub hard or wash for a long time, though, because that can damage your skin barrier. Think of it as a sweet spot: it’s long enough to clean well but short enough to stay gentle. She says, “If you’re washing faster than that, you’re basically doing a skin care speed run and missing half the clean.”
“If you’re washing faster than that, you’re basically doing a skin care speed run and missing half of the clean.”
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What Happened When I Tried the 30-Second Rule
I’m 41 years old and always looking for ways to improve my skin care routine. Still, this change seemed too easy to make a difference. But Mona has given me enough good advice over the years that I know I should listen to her.
So I made a promise. I made myself wait 30 seconds before rinsing, whether I was washing my face at the sink or in the shower. I have to be honest: 30 seconds has never felt so long before, mostly because I realized how quickly I had been cleaning before. I took advantage of the extra time to really work the product in. I lathered up my current favorite, Summer Fridays Pink Dew Gel Cleanser, and gave myself a quick face massage.
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The change happened right away. The light makeup residue that used to show up on my toner pad after I cleaned it was gone. Those extra seconds helped get rid of all the makeup and sunscreen that was still on my skin. My skin looked clearer and if I may say so, glowier after a week. I don’t get acne very often, but I can only imagine how much worse this would be for someone who does.
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At the very least, those 30 seconds feel like a small act of self-care and a reminder that it’s okay to take a deep breath and slow down. And as it turns out, this little change made a big difference in my skin.
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