Double cleansing: What does it mean?

By Leslie Chapman

By now, you have probably heard the term double cleansing. But what the heck does it mean? And why is it important to skincare?

What is Double cleansing?

It’s simple and can best be described as is a two-step process to first remove makeup, and then to clean skin. “When skin is covered with makeup, the last thing you want to do is to push that deeper into the skin,” says Julie Kim, founder of Saison Beauty. “Instead, you want to use a cleansing oil, which is very gentle and effective in breaking down the waxes, silicone, and polymers in makeup, and lightly sweep all of that away.”

Steps

Once the makeup is removed, cleansing skin as normal is next. A foaming cleanser can be used for this step, but it does not have to be. The second cleansing step should vary, based on skin type and condition says, Kim.

Double cleansing is a method that works to remove all makeup before cleansing skin. But if you fail to use the proper cleanser in the second step, it could cause more harm that good.

Kim warns that double cleansing does come with a precaution. “Be careful not to “over cleanse” and strip the natural oils off of the skin’s surface,” says Kim. “Your skin should not feel tight or “squeaky clean,” which may trigger other skin issues over time. Basically, you will want to avoid products that rely on sulfates that can irritate skin over time.”

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Photo credit: Mike_tn via Foter.com / CC BY-NC-ND