How and Why to Double Cleanse + Products
Believe it or not––
The most important step of your skincare routine isn’t actives, essences, serums, or moisturizers.
It’s cleansing.
Why? Above all else, clean skin is essential to maintaining healthy-looking and feeling skin. And a clean canvas is the foundation for everything you do after, prepping your skin for all of the wonderful, powerful, and often, expensive actives to follow.
Ultimately, how you cleanse your skin sets you up for a successful, or self-sabotaged, skincare routine.
For me, perfecting that clean canvas means incorporating oil-based and water-based cleansers, and, double cleansing.
Read on to learn what a double cleanse is, when, and how, to do it, and the exact products I recommend for a sparkling clean success.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
So read on if you're ready to win at gorgeous skin.
What is the Double Cleanse Method
The double cleanse is a cleansing method that provides a deeper cleanse by using two different types of cleansers.
First, an oil-based cleanser.
Oil-based cleanser dissolves makeup, sunscreen, and any daily grime.
This works because, as Dr. David Kin explains to Allure, "makeup and sebum are lipophilic [meaning they dissolve in oil].” So, starting with an oil-based cleanser can be more effective.
But when choosing your oil-based cleanser, make sure it emulsifies. This means that when you add water, it transforms into milk and washes away.
Next, a water-based gel or foam cleanser.
Water-based cleansers remove any residual impurities that you may not see with the naked eye, like pollutants and debris. They also wash away any leftover residue from our oil cleanse.
Do You Double Cleanse Every Wash?
No, I do not.
I have found that the best use of the double cleanse for me is when I have been wearing make-up or sunscreen, or if I’ve had a particularly sweaty workout.
Even then, it’s usually happening in the evenings as part of my nighttime skincare ritual.
In the morning, I single cleanse with my gel cleanser, though, if I run out, I’ll substitute with my oil-based.
This is what my cleanse routine normally looks like:
A.M. water-based gel cleanser
P.M. Double Cleanse (oil-based first, then water-based second)
My Oil Cleanser Picks
A quick note on Oil Cleansers: Remember, you want an Oil Cleanser that emulsifies into a milk with water, not one that needs to be wiped off. All of these recommendations emulsify.
Oil Cleansers:
Karuna Oil Cleanser ($17-$18): An easy-to-work, lightweight oil, at a great price point.
Whamisa Organic Flowers Cleansing Oil ($30): A favorite for its effective, easy-to-rinse formula. And it’s from my current favorite Korean Beauty brand.
Mad Hippie Jelly Cleanser ($17): A thicker, jelly-like texture that transforms with a bit of water.
note: The Mad Hippie was a bit thick for me, but I prefer lighter-weight oils to balms. If you like thicker balms, this is great!Marie Veronique Pure + E.O. Free Oil-Based Cleanser ($65): A luxurious microbiome-friendly essential oil-free cleanser.
My Water-Based Cleanser Picks
Gel/ Foam Cleansers:
Karuna Balancing Cleanser ($17.99): This lovely gel cleanser thoroughly cleanses your face. Fantastic second step to a double cleanse. Note, it does have a strong scent.
Three Ships Purify Aloe & Amino Acids Cleanser ($21): Don’t let the tiny package fool you! This mighty cleanser requires only a tiny amount.
Whamisa Organic Flowers Foaming Gel ($23): Combines efficiency with the trusted quality of Whamisa—my favorite Korean brand—making it a reliable choice.
Ursa Major Fantastic Face Wash ($28): Great if you’re also looking for a gentle exfoliation.
Conclusion
The most important step of your skincare routine isn’t actives, essences, serums, or moisturizers. It’s cleansing.
Above all else, clean skin is essential to maintaining healthy-looking and feeling skin. And a clean canvas is the foundation for all the actives, serums, and moisturizers that come after.
The double cleanse is a wonderful way to ensure this clean canvas foundation, and knowing when, why, and how to double cleanse, sets you up for skincare routine success.
Happy glowing!
And if you want more help in getting that dewy, gorgeous glow, check out my resource library where I house everything I use to shine brilliant and bright.
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