Double cleansing for dry skin

When is the extra cleanse useful?

Use double cleansing for removal, not as a treatment for dryness. As a practical routine, reserve it for evenings when you need to remove waterproof products rather than repeating both steps morning and night. Micellar water to remove makeup, followed by a gentle water based cleanser, is another option.1

Which cleansers suit dry skin?

Choose gentle, fragrance free products. For the second wash, a water based cream cleanser is less drying than a foaming cleanser. If you also get acne, be cautious with oil cleansers: they can cause breakouts, particularly when used alone.123

A wash emollient, a moisturizing product made to replace soap, is another cleansing option for dry skin. Emollient washes can clean dirt without forming bubbles, so the foam department can take the evening off. Ordinary soap can dry skin, and harsh soaps can dissolve the protective oil that helps limit water loss. A soap substitute is an alternative cleanser, not a reason to add a third wash.45

How to double cleanse dry skin

1. 1Gently massage the oil cleanser into your skin to loosen makeup and sunscreen.
2. 2Rinse with lukewarm water using your hands. Avoid hot water and scrubbing.
3. 3Leave your face damp, then gently massage in the water based cream cleanser.
4. 4Rinse and pat dry with a soft towel.
5. 5Apply moisturizer immediately, while your skin is still damp.

What should go on after cleansing?

For dry skin, use a cream or ointment rather than a lotion. Creams and ointments hold moisture more effectively and are less irritating. Applying moisturizer immediately after washing traps existing moisture; waiting until your face is completely dry misses that advantage. Reapply moisturizer two to three times a day, or as often as needed, without adding another cleanse each time.267

Ointments are greasy, while creams are less greasy because they combine oil and water. A lighter moisturizer during the day and an ointment at night can be a useful arrangement. In cold weather, switching to a heavier cream can help as humidity drops. A pharmacist can help you choose a moisturizer, and a more expensive cream is not automatically better, despite the invoice's confidence.245

If you use prescribed creams or ointments for a skin condition, leave a gap of 20 to 30 minutes between those treatments and your emollient. Follow your clinician's instructions about which goes first. Persistent stinging or a rash from an emollient is a reason to ask for a different product.4

When should you stop or get help?

Drop the extra cleanse if dryness or irritation increases. Tightness after washing, flaking, roughness, itching and cracks are signs of dry skin, not targets to scrub away. Dry skin loses too much water and oil; the useful response is restoring moisture rather than washing harder.16

Effective dry skin care often brings improvement within two weeks. If dryness persists or worsens, see a doctor rather than adding more cleansing steps. Medicines and underlying skin conditions can also cause dryness. Seek help sooner if itching interrupts sleep or scratching leaves open cuts or sores. Widespread dry, cracked, itchy skin lasting beyond two weeks should be assessed by your GP; you do not need to wait for skin to become painful or bleed.2567