Double cleansing is quite simply cleansing your skin twice.
Cleansing is underrated when it comes to skin. There’s so much focus on moisturisers, serums, facial oils and masks. But these products won’t be nearly as effective if you don’t start off with clean skin.
A proper cleanse removes make-up, everyday dirt and impurities, sweat, excess oil and dead skin cells, all of which can clog up your pores, exacerbate acne and make it difficult for your other products to do their job.
The first cleanse is the one that will remove your make-up and surface dirt allowing the second cleanse to give your skin a really deep clean. Choosing the right products is essential.
Clean skin is the basis of beautiful skin
Your skin should feel fresh and clean after you cleanse. If it feels tight or irritated then you’re probably using the wrong cleanser for your skin type or the ingredients in your cleanser are too harsh.
If your cleanser contains Sodium Lauryl Sulphate (SLS) or Sodium Laureth Sulfate (SLES) then it’s likely to be too harsh. These ingredients are known as surfactants. They help the product to foam and remove oil. In my experience, though, they also remove the skin’s essential natural oils leading to dry and irritated skin.
There are lots of alternatives that don’t use these ingredients so shop around.
Twice a day?
Cleansing your skin morning and evening is often a hotly debated topic. My approach to skincare is like my approach to diet. There are some general principles we should all follow but otherwise, you need to experiment and find what works for you.
I’m in the don’t cleanse in the morning camp. My dry skin just ends up drier when I cleanse in the morning then gets too oily later on as my skin produces excess sebum to deal with the dryness. Just washing my face with water in the morning is what works best for me.
To find out whether cleansing twice a day works for you, try cleansing in the morning for a couple of weeks and then not cleansing and see what your skin likes best.
The general principle to follow though is that cleansing in the evening is essential.
Types of cleanser
You can simply use the same cleanser for both cleanses or use different cleansers. Many people like an oil-based cleanser for the first cleanse to help dissolve make-up followed by a cream cleanser or facial wash for the second cleanse.
If you’re going for an oil-based cleanser, choose one that’s specifically formulated for your face. Although I often use coconut oil for removing stubborn eye make-up, I never use it on the rest of my face. I find it clogs my pores.
Suitable for all skin types
Double cleansing is great for all skin types and skin conditions even dry, oily or acne-prone skin.
If your skin is dry, like mine, double cleansing helps to naturally balance your skin and provides a clean surface for your moisturiser to do a better job.
Some people worry that double cleansing will overwork their skin making it produce more sebum leading to oilier skin. It’s actually the opposite. Double cleansing will remove excess sebum and, because double cleansing naturally balances skin, it makes it less likely to continue to produce excess oil.
Tips for double cleansing:
- Work in small circular movements from the centre of your face outwards to increase blood flow and encourage proper drainage
- Use a light touch over your eyes
- Spend at least 30 seconds working the cleanser into your skin to thoroughly remove make-up and impurities
- Use gentle cleansers formulated for your skin type so you’re not over-stripping your skin
- Avoid anything that foams or lathers too much. Those formulations are too harsh for any skin type
- Remove your cleanser with warm water, a muslin cloth or cleansing mitt. Hot water can dry and irritate your skin especially if you have acne or rosacea
If you’re still not sold on double cleansing, double cleanse every evening for the next month and see how much clearer and brighter your complexion looks.
For more skincare tips, download your copy of Skincare for Acne-Prone Skin here.
