Is double cleansing necessary?

When is the extra cleanse useful?

Double cleansing means using an oil based cleanser first, then a water based cleanser in the same session. The first helps break down makeup, sunscreen and excess skin oil. Removing makeup is the reason to add the extra step, not the satisfaction of giving the bathroom shelf another employee.1

Waterproof camouflage makeup is a specific case where an oily cleansing cream or lotion can be needed before your normal facial wash. Remove camouflage makeup from your face and neck every night before bed. Its staying power is useful during the day, but removal still belongs in the evening routine.2

If you do not wear makeup, there is usually no reason to add double cleansing automatically. Wearing waterproof sunscreen is a separate reason to consider it. Oily skin can benefit from removing excess oil first, but oily skin alone does not make two cleansers compulsory.13

How to double cleanse

1. 1Gently massage an oil based cleanser into your skin to loosen makeup and sunscreen.
2. 2Rinse with lukewarm water, using your hands rather than scrubbing with a cloth.
3. 3Leave your face damp and gently massage in a water based cleanser with your fingertips.
4. 4Rinse thoroughly and pat dry with a soft towel. Apply moisturizer if your skin is dry or itchy.

Micellar water followed by a gentle cleanser is another option for makeup removal, so the routine does not need an oil cleanser to qualify for its own elaborate name. Face wipes are useful when you cannot get to a sink, but they are not a good regular replacement: their preservatives and the rubbing needed to remove makeup can irritate skin.3

Do you need two cleanses morning and night?

Double cleansing is two cleansing steps in one session, not the usual advice to wash morning and night. Use the makeup removal step in the evening when you are taking makeup off. Most people can wash with a cleanser morning and night, and after heavy sweating. Dry or sensitive skin can do better with water alone in the morning and a cleanser at night. If you wash only once a day, make it the evening.34

There is no universal rule that a face wash must last 60 seconds. Your cleanser and skin type affect how long to wash; extending the wash is not automatically better. Before bed, the practical job is removing makeup and the dirt that collected during the day, not completing a timed ritual.35

Who should be careful?

For dry or sensitive skin, choose a gentle, unscented cleanser; cream cleansers are less drying than foaming ones. Avoid harsh or excessively drying products. An oil based cleanser can cause breakouts in acne prone skin, particularly when used alone. For a single cleanse, a gentle cleanser labeled for sensitive skin is a reasonable starting point. Avoid regular bar soap and facial scrubs, which can worsen dryness and irritation.16

Cleansers contain surfactants, ingredients that loosen oil and dirt so water can rinse them away. They also remove some protective skin oils. Too much washing can increase water loss and leave skin dry, red or chafed. Cut back on the extra cleanse if those problems develop. Be especially careful with acne treatment cleansers if you already use acne products that stay on your skin, because combining them can cause excessive dryness and irritation.7

Scrubbing can worsen irritation and existing skin conditions, including acne. If cleansing leaves you with ongoing skin concerns, see a dermatologist rather than trying to solve them by washing more.45