Is double cleansing important? My aim is to help you achieve the best skin health possible so that you not only look great on the outside, but you feel it on the inside too. This is why I love to share my years of experience and insight with you, to guide you to great skin and to bust some of those myths floating around, after all, with so much conflicting information, it can be hard to know what to do.
I often get asked ‘should I double cleanse and what is the purpose?” It is a great question, but before I give you my professional opinion, we must first look at what cleansing is, why you should do it, and the benefits.
What is cleansing?
The process of cleansing your skin effectively removes dirt, excess oil, make-up, sweat and other impurities from the surface of your skin. By cleansing, you are helping to keep your skin clean and clear from any build-up that may lead to clogged pores, skin irritations, dull skin, accelerated ageing or breakouts. Cleansing your skin twice a day is one of the most important steps in your skincare regime if you want to maintain healthy skin and good skin hygiene.
Types of cleansers
There are several different types of cleansers, below are a few examples of the most popular:
- Foaming cleansers – generally speaking, foaming cleansers create a high or low-foam bubbly lather that is often used to remove excess oils, some of which will include acids or exfoliating properties. However, these can often be quite stripping to the skin if used regularly, so if your skin is dehydrated or dry, then it’s best to forgo foaming or acid-based cleansers. (Unless, of course, the foaming cleansers are pH balanced, so they will not strip the skin).
- Cream cleansers/milk cleansers–these cleansers are most suited for people who tend to have dry/dehydrated, normal or combination and even problematic skin such as acne, rosacea, eczema etc, as they help to moisturise, calm and hydrate while cleansing impurities away. Most people believe that acid cleansers, exfoliating cleansers, and high-foaming cleansers are the answer to reversing acne skin, but it’s not true. Cleansers for acne skin really need to be moisturising and hydrating, not stripping.
- Oil cleansers/pre-cleansers/balms– most effective for removing make-up, oils and heavy build-up of pollutants on the skin. Ideally, a water-soluble cleanser would follow to remove any oily film left on the skin to ensure any active skincare products used after the cleansing step penetrate the skin effectively.
- Face wipes – Forgive me here, but to me, these scream laziness; think about a wipe that stays wet in a packet for months and months at a time (even if you put them near a window). Ewww…just NO…! In my opinion, all they do is smear oils and make-up around your face; they don’t cleanse.
- Micellar waters– I’m not a fan of micellar water/cleansers either; they are akin to a liquid face wipe. Often full of alcohol, preservatives and fragrance, and don’t provide a thorough cleanse. You can’t beat warm water and a good cleanser!
I have some favourite cleansers for consideration, which I’ve linked below.
Environ Dual Action Pre-Cleanser – An all-around pre-cleanser that removes all waterproof makeup.
Environ Youth Essentia Hydra Intense Cleanser – One of the best cleansers for acne and eczema skin, normal and combination skin, and dry/dehydrated skin.
Sente Daily Soothing Cleanser – For reactive and ultra-sensitive skin conditions.
Environ Sebuwash – One of the best for oil control.
SkinBetter Cleansing Gel – A great all-around cleanser for all skin conditions.
Check out the full range of cleansers.
How, and how often should you cleanse your face?
For basic skin hygiene, you should cleanse your skin twice a day with a cleanser suitable for your skin condition and then remove it with warm, but not hot, water (as hot water will strip the skin of natural oils). If you are using a foaming cleanser, then it is best to apply a pea size of cleanser into wet hands, add a few more drops of water and massage your hands together until you see a gentle foam appear, then you can use your hands to massage the cleanser into your skin for around 30 to 60 seconds and then splash off with warm water or use a flannel or sponge to aid in the process. However, if you have acne skin, and regardless whether you are using a milk cleanser or a foaming one, then I recommend using a clean flannel every time you wash your face, as this will stop bacteria from accumulating on the flannel in between use. Milk cleansers can be applied to dry fingers (although I do like to wet mine first) and then massaged into the skin. It’s always best to read the instructions where possible, as cleansers will differ in their application. Cleanse once in the morning to remove excess oils, skin, and dirt that accumulate overnight, and once again before bed to remove the pollution, dirt and excess oils from the day. This will keep your skin looking healthy, bright, and clean.
What is double cleansing?
Double cleansing is a two-step process in which you thoroughly cleanse your skin, often using two different types of cleansers. For example, you may use an oil-based pre-cleanser to remove your make-up and sunscreen at the end of the day; however, there might still be an oily residue and impurities left on your skin and therefore, the second step would be to use a water-soluble cleanser which will remove any excess impurities and oils left on the skin to give a more thorough clean.
How does double cleansing work?
As I shared above, different cleansers have different purposes, which is why double cleansing, particularly at the end of your day, would be the best way to keep up your skin hygiene.
The way it works is that the first step of using an oil-based pre-cleanser is that it is designed to break down and dissolve the likes of make-up, pollution, dirt, sunscreen and any excess oils on your skin. It may seem a little odd to use oil to break down oil, but oil and oil work together harmoniously. Pre-cleansing oils allow pollutants to lift away from your skin without damaging or stripping away your skin’s natural oils, which you need for good skin health. The second step of using a water-soluble cleanser washes away any remaining impurities that may have been left behind on your skin. This will give your skin and pores a deeper cleanse and ensure all pollutants and oil film from the pre-cleanser have been removed, leaving your skin balanced, clean and comfortable.
The benefits of double cleansing;
I’ve talked about the purpose of cleansing, what types of cleansers are out there and what double cleansing is, now let’s discuss the benefits you will see if you build double cleansing into your regular skincare regime;
- It gives your skin a thorough and deeper clean – by removing dirt, makeup, excess oil and pollution.
- Helps prevent breakouts – removing excess dirt helps to prevent a build-up of bacteria on your skin and, therefore, prevents acne and congestion.
- Helps chronic skin conditions – keeping your skin clean can help conditions such as eczema and psoriasis.
- Boosts dull skin – because your skin receives a thorough clean, it can appear smoother and brighter.
- Supports other skincare products – having clean skin allows other products, such as active serums and moisturisers, to be absorbed into the skin more effectively.
Should I double cleanse?
Double cleansing, especially at the end of the day, is paramount in ensuring good skin health and hygiene. If you regularly wear make-up or apply sunscreen every day (I hope you do apply SPF daily because it is my number one skin tip 😉), then double cleansing is a must! It will help reduce bacteria, brighten your skin, prevent your pores from becoming clogged, prevent breakouts and will ensure your skin receives a thorough cleanse than if you were to simply use one cleanser alone.
Top TIP: NEVER sleep in your make-up!
If you would like to learn more about what to include in your skincare regime, what products are best suited to your skin and how to have the best skin health and glowing skin possible, book a consultation with me today.
Do you want to learn more about skin health? Take a few minutes to read my other blogs.