Introduced by skin care experts, the 60 second face wash or 60 second rule caught up pretty fast and attracted a lot of interest worldwide. It promises brighter, smoother and glowing skin against zero investment but extra 50 seconds of time coupled with the right cleanser. It also promises to heal breakouts faster and fade away hyperpigmentation and texture overtime.

What Is It?

Touted as the simplest skincare tip ever, simply put, wash the face with a gentle cleanser using the fingers for 60 seconds.

Why You Should Do it?

The average person spends 15-20 seconds washing their face, which is not enough time for the cleanser to get all the sebum, product buildup and bacteria hiding in the pores. But, when the time spent cleansing is lengthened to 60 seconds, here is what happens.

The 60 second rule for face wash have 5 benefits:

1. A full 60 seconds of cleaning time allows the cleanser to get to all the pores and extract dust, bacteria and sebum
2. Helps with texture and reduces clogged pores hence preventing future breakouts
3. The cleanser gets time to deliver its active ingredients and achieve the promised results
4. Increases circulation of the face as a result of the massage with the fingers, thereby adding a natural glow to the skin
5. Forces one to pay attention and clean properly around areas that might have been overlooked earlier, like the sides of the nose, hairline and underneath the chin

How To Do It?

Start with a little cleanser and directly apply onto pre-moistened skin of the face and neck. Using the fingertips massage in the cleanser with gentle circular strokes reaching all the nooks and crannies of the face and neck for a full 60 seconds, dividing time equally amongst the forehead, two cheeks, nose, chin and neck. Do not apply any pressure from the wrist. That is not gentle cleansing. Keep time with the help of a small clock or timer on the phone. Rinse and pat dry. It is important to use only fingers while using the 60 seconds rule, no brushes, no sponges and no washcloths, fingers only.

People with dry skin might feel it is over-cleansing, but if the skin feels dry, it is recommended to change the cleanser and not the cleansing time.

A gentle cleanser with moisturizing properties, free of any harmful chemicals like SLES /SLS (ensure the cleanser is free of both and not only one), parabens and phthalates is highly recommended.

Some people may experience purging i.e. getting a few acne, with this method initially but its temporary. Purging is the skin getting rid of acne lying dormant under the skin. Since now the skin is being cleansed properly, the dirt, sebum and bacteria have nowhere to go but out. The method should be continued and the purging should settle in a week or ten days.

It may also help, to slowly increase the cleansing time to say 30, 35 and finally the full 60 seconds over a few days, so as to not shock the skin.

It takes 3-4 weeks for any new skincare regime to start showing its effects.

Pilgrim’s Volcanic Lava Ash Face Wash is free of sulphates and follows the Pilgrim Code (no toxic 20 chemicals). It works quite well with the #60second rule.

Pro Tip

Always wash hands before cleansing the face. It avoids the germs on the hands from transferring onto the face.

Experts Advice

Combined with a gentle yet effective cleanser, the 60 second rule can lead to a clearer and glowing complexion. It can also reduce the frequency of breakouts and improve overall texture of the skin by tightening the pores and changing their shape. The logic behind it is rational and should work for most skin types and concerns.