Double Cleansing: What It Is & Should You Try It

I remember when washing my face at night seemed like such a chore and back in my younger days I definitely went to bed with a full face of makeup. Now though, I wouldn’t dare do that nor can I stand the feeling of makeup on my face at the end of a long day. Luckily, I was always taught to take care of my skin. When I was in high school my first foray into actual skincare was Clinique’s 3 Step System. I felt like I was so grown up the first day I came home with that set. I think that might’ve been every girls introduction to skincare; Clinique taught us to wash, tone, and moisturize. After graduating from that set and finally being able to afford other skincare brands, I got more serious. Over the years, I’ve used a wide array of products and as I’ve gotten older I’ve added more green and natural beauty products to my regimen.

I don’t recall ever reading about double cleansing, it was something that I just started doing one day because I felt like that once I got the makeup off my face, it still didn’t feel clean. It wasn’t until about a year or so ago I started reading about it and seeing double cleansing pop-up in beauty magazines and articles. It was actually a thing.

So What Is Double-Cleansing?

You might think that all double cleansing means is washing your face twice. Well you’re right and depending on you who talk to it’s more complicated than that. The purpose is to cleanse the skin by first removing any makeup or surface level grime to expose the layer of skin that needs to be cleansed. I know some beauty gurus will say that you have to use two different products such as first an oil-based cleanser and then a soap based cleanser to really reap the benefits. However, I think double cleansing in a way that works for you is fine.

My Double Cleansing Routine

I wear makeup probably five days a week so on the days I wear makeup, double cleansing is the only way to go. For the days I don’t wear any make-up, I stick to using my Konjac sponge (read my post about why I use a Konjac Sponge here) or my Tata Harper Regenerating Cleanser. Both are also great alone for your morning routine by the way.

First Cleanse: I first use either Jojoba Oil (read my post about Jojoba Oil here) or Philosophy Purity Made Simple Cleanser to get rid of all my makeup. I usually go for the jojoba oil if I’m wearing heavier foundation and lots of eye-makeup. The oil really helps to breakdown the makeup. For either product, I apply them both to a dry face, meaning I don’t mix them with water first. I gently massage the product all over my face for about thirty seconds and then rinse with luke warm water.

Second Cleanse: While my face is damp from the first cleanse, I’ll apply a small amount of my Tata Harper cleanser to my fingers and massage this gently over my skin. The Tata Harper Regenerating Cleanser has really small exfoliating beads in it which I love because it makes me feel like I’m really getting my skin clean. I don’t really think of this cleanser as a true exfoliater because the beads are so small. Alternatively, I also use my Konjac Sponge with a little drop of One Love Organics Easy Does It Cleanser. Both methods work well to give me that final clean face feel without my skin feeling dry or stripped.

For the days I don’t wear makeup and don’t leave the house I’ll stick with my second cleanse regime. However, if I don’t wear makeup and I’m leaving the house, I’ll always throw on some sunscreen so I do a double-cleanse. Once I’m done cleansing, I pat my skin dry and proceed with applying my nighttime oils and creams.

Why Should You Double Cleanse?

The point of cleansing our skin is to get rid of the impurities. Often times with a single cleanse you still have an unseen layer of dirt and pollution that will stay trapped in your pores which will cause breakouts and dull skin. None of us want that. Additionally, you’ll be wasting your money on those expensive night creams because they won’t be able to penetrate your skin properly. The double cleanse, allows your post-cleanse skincare products like treatment creams, oils, and serums to penetrate into the skin and really become more effective.