Double Cleansing: What is it & How do you do it?
One of the first and most important steps in your skincare routine involves cleansing your face! Cleansing is important because it opens your pores, and removes all the excess dirt, makeup, product, and impurities you've encountered throughout the day. Maintaining a healthy habit of cleansing daily prevents the buildup of dirt and unclogs your pores, reducing bacteria overgrowth that may lead to skin irritation, breakouts, sensitivity, and more!
What is Double Cleansing?
So what is double cleansing? Double cleansing is exactly what it sounds like, cleansing your face twice! To be more specific, double cleansing involves throughly cleansing your face with two different types of cleansers, the first usually an oil based cleanser, followed up by a water based cleanser.
How do you Double Cleanse?
To start off you can choose a oil-based cleanser of your choice whether it is a cleansing oil or cleansing balm! Apply the oil-based cleanser onto your dry skin and gently massage it into your skin for a couple of minutes. During this step, your oil-based cleanser is melting away your makeup or any build-up you may have accumulated without stripping your skin's moisture barrier!
Don't wash off yet, this next step is crucial! Wet your hands with a bit of lukewarm water and gently massage your face for another one or two minutes! At this point, you may notice the originally clear oil creating a milky substance. This is the water emulsifying your face, making it easier to remove the oil when rinsing! Now, using lukewarm water, gently rinse off the residue.
Now it's time for the second water-based cleanser! You can choose any water-based cleanser whether it is a cleansing lotion, gel, foam, cream or more! While your skin is still damp, take a pea-sized amount of cleanser and mix water into your hand while cupping your hands, creating a thick latter of bubbles! Apply a nice dollop on your face and massage the foam into your skin for two minutes! Rinse off with lukewarm water and pat your face dry with a towel and congratulations! You have successfully double cleansed!
How often should you Double Cleanse?
Double cleansing is not just beneficial for people who wear makeup regularly, it is also beneficial for those with more oily-prone skin, people who layer sunscreen throughout the day or people who just want to experience a deeper cleanse! Usually, it is recommended to double cleanse only at night when you remove all the layers of product, dirt and impurities that have accumulated throughout the day. You don't have to double cleanse everyday however, as certain skin types such as skin prone to sensitivity or excessive drying may over-wash leading to irritation or dryness. For those skin types, you can double cleanse once every two days or once every other day, allowing your skin to adjust.
Choosing the right cleanser is also very important to maintain your skin's barrier health. Excessively washing your face incorrectly can lead to skin concerns such as increased dryness in those with dry skin and increased oiliness in people with oilier skin types as your skin's natural oil and moisture balance may be disrupted. To avoid this issue, the key is to choose non-stripping, gentle cleansers when double cleansing! Here we have compiled a list of gentle, oil-based and water-based cleansers for you to choose from!
Oil Based Cleanser Recommendations
Numbuzin No. 1 Easy Peasy Cleansing Oil
Image via Numbuzin Official Instagram
Donginbi Red Ginseng Moisture Cleansing Oil
Image via Donginbi Official Instagram
Klairs Gentle Black Deep Cleansing Oil
Image via Klairs Official Instagram
Water Based Cleanser Recommendations:
Round Lab Birch Juice Moisturizing Cleanser
Image via Round Lab Official Instagram
Make P:rem Safe Me Relief Moisture Cleansing Foam
Image via Make P:rem Official Instagram
Axis-Y Quinoa One-Step Balanced Gel Cleanser
Image via Axis-Y Official Website
Cosrx Low pH Good Morning Gel Cleanser
Image via Cosrx Official Instagram
To conclude, double cleansing is an optional and effective step that you can incorporate into your skincare routines to help you achieve clearer, brighter skin! The main takeaway is to approach double cleansing in a gentle way whether it is through gently massaging your skin while cleansing or using products that are formulated with a mild formula, aiming to protect, maintain, and balance your skin barrier. However it is not a mandatory step, and skincare steps should be done in moderation according to your own preferences!
