The Pros & Cons Of Double Cleansing

Of course you’ve heard about double cleansing – the two-step process that thoroughly removes stubborn grime and pore-clogging oils from the surface of your skin. But is it all it’s cracked up to be? And do you really need to cleanse your skin twice (morning and night) or could double cleansing be doing your skin more harm than good? 

Here, we investigate the pros and cons of double cleansing, so you can make up your own mind on how best to keep your skin clean, clear and healthy...

Just when you thought you were doing everything you could for your skin – avoiding face wipes, wearing daily SPF etc. –  double cleansing comes along and bam, your whole skincare routine gets thrown into chaos. For those new to double cleansing, it’s a K-beauty technique that’s exactly what it says on the tin – a method of cleansing your skin twice.

First, you apply an oil cleanser or micellar water to tackle oil-based impurities like sebum and sunscreen. Then you use some kind of water-based cleanser to remove, yes, you’ve guessed it, water-based impurities like sweat, bacteria and dirt.

So, what’s the deal with this whole double cleansing malarkey? And should you or shouldn’t you? It’s a tricky one, but here’s our two pennies’ worth…

What Are The PROS Of Double Cleansing?

1. Water and oil don’t mix very well, so oftentimes, a single wash can’t remove oil-based build-up, potentially blocking your pores and triggering breakouts. Cleansing twice, however, works doubly hard to get rid of all kinds of impurities from your skin including make-up, oil, sunscreen, dirt, sweat and pollution. 

2. Double cleansing can help treat as well as clean your skin. How so? Because by removing that barrier of make-up and oil impurities first, the ingredients in your second cleanser has a freer rein to truly clean, nourish and balance your skin.

3. Cleaner skin delivers way better benefits from your entire skincare routine because starting with a thoroughly cleansed canvas allows the rest of your products to penetrate deeper and more effectively. 

What Are The CONS Of Double Cleansing?

1. While some people call it double cleansing, many call it over-cleansing. And it’s true, double cleansing can be way too intense for some skin types, disrupting your skin’s protective barrier and reducing its ability to retain moisture and keep itself healthy and younger-looking. This is especially true if you have sensitive skin, dry skin, or use unnecessarily harsh products as you cleanse. 

2. A compromised barrier function is terrible news for anyone with skin sensitivities like rosacea and eczema. And overly cleansing your skin is one of the worst things for your skin’s delicate barrier. You do the maths.

3. Double cleansing might indeed get rid of all impurities from the surface of your skin… but it can also strip away essential oils needed to keep your skin balanced. This is bad news for both dry and oily skin types, causing oily skin to produce even more oil, and dry skin to potentially become drier, flaky and dull.

So, What’s The Answer? 

Our takeaway is that if you have oily skin which rarely feels clean after you cleanse, or if you regularly wear a lot of heavy make-up, then a double cleanse can be great. But a) it’s only ever necessary at night and b) you must still be careful not to strip your skin of nutrients and oils by using gentle products that are free from synthetic fragrances and harsh chemicals. 

Of course, today’s most effective cleansers have been formulated to break through oils AND wash away water-based impurities, so as long as you choose great skincare, you shouldn’t really need to double cleanse at all. Our Crystal Cleanser, for example, takes care of business nicely and provides the ideal balance of skin kindness and effective cleaning. 

And if you do fancy a deeper cleanse? Then follow your cleanser with Natural Luminosity Scrub to exfoliate and invigorate your skin without drying it out.  

That’s what we call the best of both worlds!