Have you ever washed your face and then used a makeup wipe after to see that there was still leftover makeup and residue all over? That, my friends, is the importance of the double cleansing method. A lot of beauty methods can be gimmicky, but this one is the real deal.
We're going back to the basics of skincare: cleansing, applying serums, and moisturizing — except we're going to add an additional cleanse to the beginning of this routine. See, throughout the day your skin builds up oil and dirt that can't be removed by one simple cleanse or makeup wipe. For this, you need a deeper cleanse with oil and water to really make sure you're getting every last stitch of makeup and residue off your face.
We asked the experts Elizabeth Donat(20-year beauty industry expert),Kylee Kintis (esthetician and skincare expert), Jennifer Wassner (founder of Belovedtan), and Dr. Hannah Kopelman (certified dermatologist) about this Korean-influenced skincare method, so keep reading to hear all their thoughts and recommendations below!
What is the double-cleansing method?
Nordstrom
Double-cleansing is exactly what you'd expect it to be: simply washing your face twice! Except for this method, you specifically want to wash with an oil-based product, followed by a water-based product. This is so you can ensure your face is getting fully cleansed of all dirt and excess grime. It was developed from K-beauty (Korean beauty) trends that Korean women have been doing for years. It's a method to fully cleanse your face, in order to let your skincare products better work and soak into your skin.
20 year beauty industry expert, Elizabeth Donat says, "Think of properly double cleansing your skin the same way you tackle a pile of dirty dishes in your sink: the initial cleanse removes the surface-level food and grime, followed by a thorough, sudsy second cleanse to ensure they're truly clean.The second cleanse, much like running the dishes through a dishwasher, penetrates deeper and completes the cleansing process. It breaks up dead skin cells, unclogs pores, and kickstarts cell turnover, essential for maintaining youthful, radiant skin. "
That's such a great way to think about it! You want to rinse off your face with the first, and the really wash it to penetrate through the grime and get it to look pristine!
Does double cleansing actually help?
Photo by Miriam Alonso/Pexels
When we don't fully cleanse, our other skincare products (think serums and moisturizers) aren't penetrating our skin barrier as deep, so becoming somewhat ineffective. With the double cleansing method, they're able to fully absorb and do their job because they have a clean base to work with!
Esthetician and skincare expert, Kylee Kintis, gave us the scoop on what double cleansing actually does. She says, "Double cleansing is essential to any good skincare routine. This is important to prevent breakouts, improve the absorption of your products, and so much more! My favorite way to double cleanse is to first use an oil based or balm cleanser to break up makeup, sunscreen, dirt, and pollution accumulated throughout the day."
Sounds like something you need to add to your regimen immediately!
Should you double cleanse everyday?
Sephora
Double cleansing is perfectly fine to do everyday as long as you're sticking to your typical oil-based cleanser first, followed by a water-based cleanser. This will ensure that you're not being too harsh on the skin. Also, make sure to stay away from exfoliants or scrubs; save those for a different day! Too many exfoliants can leave your skin raw and sensitive. So, as long as you're following our steps, it's great to do everyday to make sure you're fully cleansing your skin of makeup and dirt!
What are some misconceptions around double-cleansing?
Farmhouse Fresh Goods
Some common misconceptions about double cleansing are that you can skip out on the oil cleanser, or to use face washes with over-exfoliating properties that are too harsh on the skin. We want to make sure we're using an oil cleanser first, because this will really penetrate through all of our makeup and dirt on our face. And we want to also make sure that we're not using too harsh of ingredients or exfoliants on the day-to-day. This will leave your skin very sensitive and raw, which we want to avoid with this method. So stick to oil and water-based products, and gentle ingredient so as to not over-exfoliate!
Another common mistake is to not moisturize enough after you double cleanse. If you're fully cleansing your skin and stripping it of natural oils, then you want to properly moisturize and hydrate it to bring it back to life. This will lock in moisture, and help promote healthier and glowy looking skin.
What are some expert-approved cleanser recommendations?
The Ordinary
- Kylee Kintis, esthetician and skincare expert loves the Farmhouse Make It Melt Cleanserto use as an oil-based cleanser and makeup remover. Followed by the Farmhouse C the Future Water-based cleanser.
- Jennifer Wassner, founder of Belovedtan, recommends The Ordinary Squalane Cleanserand the Caudalie Gentle Foam Cleanser.
- Dr. Hannah Kopelman is a certified dermatologist and she recommends starting with the Clinique Take The Day Off Cleanser.
Have you tried double cleansing? Tag us on Instagram with your thoughts and explore our Beauty page for the latest makeup and skincare trends.
Brit + Co may at times use affiliate links to promote products sold by others, but always offers genuine editorial recommendations.
Header image by Ron Lach/Pexels
