What Is Double Cleansing? (And Why Do I Need To Do It?)

Washing your face at the end of the day is so important, which is why double cleansing has become so popular with skin care specialists and devotees. The cleansing method is part of a  Korean beauty ritual that has become adopted worldwide. 

"It is extremely important to remove makeup, dirt, and pollutants that have accumulated on your skin during the day, before heading to bed," Shari Marchbein, a dermatologist in New York City, tells Allure. "Sleeping with makeup on or forgetting to rinse your face before bed is a big no-no as it can cause major acne breakouts including painful cysts."

See why we love double cleansing for healthy, hydrated skin and what you’ll need to get started. 

What is double cleansing?

Double cleansing helps remove makeup and impurities even better than a single wash. Double cleansing is quite simply washing your face twice, most often using an oil-based cleanser or balm as the first step, then following with a foaming cleanser as the final step. Often done at nighttime, it’s a skincare ritual that helps all other products to work better. 

"I recommend a double-cleansing ritual to my patients to first lift dirt and grime and then to wash them away," Dendy Engelman, a New York City-based dermatologist, tells Allure.

What exactly is an oil-based cleanser?

An oil-based cleanser actually helps to hydrate the skin, meaning that you’re cleansing but in the gentlest way possible. So oil-based cleansers are good for all skin types, but particularly for sensitive and dry skin. 

In the last couple of years, brands have introduced some really great oil-based cleansers—Tatcha, Farmacy, Drunk Elephant and others—but our cleansing oil is one of the best and at a price point that makes it a must. 

Our Cleansing Oil + Makeup Remover is a blend of organic green tea oil, organic jojoba oil and squalene derived from olives, so it has a super-moisturizing base. 

Steps to double cleanse

First, start with a pump of our Cleansing Oil & Makeup Remover and massage over dry skin. Yep, water isn’t necessary to start, unlike traditional cleansing. The oil melts off makeup and other impurities; after massaging into skin begin to add water to emulsify the oil and rinse it away. 

Follow with our foaming face wash, Pore Refining Foaming Cleanser with Red African Tea & Orange, to continue to lift away impurities and cleanse skin. After completing the double cleansing process and rinsing away the foaming wash, your skin will feel hydrated, clean and refreshed. 

Why double cleansing is worth the effort

When you double cleanse, you’re creating a clean canvas on which to apply your heavy-hitting serums and lotions. 

Double cleansing “...removes sweat, bacteria and old skin cells,' says Dr. Anjali Mahto, a London-based dermatologist, tells Elle. 

We recommend following up the the appropriate toner for your skin type—try our Youth Glow Hydrating Serum for dull or uneven skin, or our Youth Glow Balancing Serum which is great for oily or acne-prone skin—then topping with a moisturizer to seal in the ingredients and hydration.