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Washing your face is one of the pillars of any good skincare routine, cleansing your skin of dirt, oil, and makeup and creating a smooth base for the remainder of your products. While many people wash their face once and call it a day, double cleansing has become a buzzy term swirling around the skincare world in recent months. Not as straightforward as it may sound, we spoke with Dr. Paula Morgan, MD, and board certified dermatologist Dr. Tiffany Libby to get the complete rundown on double cleansing from start to finish–and whether or not it’s really worth your time.
First and foremost, it’s important to understand that double cleansing is not simply washing your face twice with the same cleanser. Instead, this tactic requires two different cleansers which play distinct roles in smoothing the surface of your complexion. “The first cleanser is a low-pH, oil-based cleanser that breaks down the sebum and oils on your skin, while the second cleanser is a water-based or foam-based cleanser that removes the first cleanser and any other impurities,” explains Morgan.
The oil based cleanser will not make your skin appear greasy or increase oil production, but rather rinse easily over the skin combined with water. “Oil-based cleansers are typically made of gentle ingredients such as mineral oil, apricot kernel oil and olive oil. They also contain surfactants that allow the oils to mix with water and rinse off easily,” Morgan adds.
As for the foaming cleanser, this option serves the purpose of building into a thick lather which will remove any harsh residue from your skin, feeling luxurious and clean. “Foam-based cleansers typically contain ingredients such as sodium laureth sulfate, lauryl glucoside and decyl glucoside. Foam-based cleansers are available in both liquid and bar form.”
Why might you want to double cleanse rather than simply washing your face once? The answer is simple, explains Libby. “The benefits of double cleansing are that the first step using an oil base cleanser is specifically targeting removing sebum, excess oils, and make up and dirt buildup, while the second water-based cleanser step helps remove the remaining sweat and dirt.”
While one wash may do a good job cleansing the first layer of buildup on your skin from the day, using two specific face washes to target varying issues can help to significantly improve your complexion and allow your skin to appear brighter and more hydrated.
Both derms note that there are minimal downsides to double cleansing, with irritation from tugging on the skin being the only notable issue that may arise if you rub too much. It’s also vital to moisture the skin immediately after washing in order to lock in moisture, but this goes for any skincare routine. “I would reserve double cleansing for just once a day at night time when you are rinsing off the day's build up and prepping your skin for its nighttime routine,” adds Libby.
If you struggle with oily, acne prone skin or are simply looking to get the smoothest base possible for the rest of your evening routine, double cleansing is a great way to nourish your complexion and remove impurities with ease.
