However, if you’re somebody who doesn’t quite spend long enough cleansing, you might be wondering what the benefits are of taking a little bit of extra time on this step. Well, aside from ensuring your make-up and the remnants of the day are fully removed, those precious 60 seconds can actually help your chosen cleanser work both better and harder.

“In some cases, it’s important to have the cleanser in contact with the skin long enough for any active ingredient in there to have an effect – such as salicylic acid to treat breakouts,” says Garsick.

There are also some skin types that would likely benefit more from opting for a longer cleanse, too. “In general, those who are oily might find that they can tolerate cleansing for a longer time, which is because the skin may not dry out quite as easily,” she explains. “However, beyond the amount of time it takes to adequately remove build-up from the skin, it’s not always necessary to wash for longer as that will just dry the skin out more.”

Here’s why cleansing for 60 seconds is more important than you might realise