What Is A Double Cleanser? And Why You Should Be Doing It.
—Double Cleansing—
Hi friends and happy Friday! I had a really nice week in Florida visiting with my best friend, mom and sister for 4 days. I am home today and am settling back into my normal everyday routine. There is just nothing like sleeping in your own bed and using your own shower, right? Anyways, while I was in Florida I forgot to pack my oil cleanser, which I use as my first cleanse in my nightly skincare routine. So for 4 days, I only washed my face once and I honestly noticed a difference! I know, I sound very extra and dramatic. Cleansing your skin once seems pretty normal. Yes, but a double cleanse is the process of giving your skin a deep clean. I noticed by simply washing my face (once) my skin had a few more breakouts, felt more congested and a bit more texture. I have combination skin that is easily congested so double cleansing is essential for me. I really realized how much I love double cleansing my skin and decided to share a post on the what this method is, the benefits and some of my favorites.
I have been double cleansing for 10 plus years. Some people consider using makeup wipes their “first cleanse” but, a true double cleanse involves an oil based product for the first cleanse and a water base for the second. Makeup wipes are wasteful and really have no benefit to the skin. I understand their purpose but there are other, more beneficial products out there that do the job better. I personally don’t care for micellar water either but, that would be considered an oil cleanse. Small oil molecules surround makeup and grime and gently dissolve the residue off the skin. What I love about cleansing oils is you just pour the oil in your hands and begin. No wipes or cotton needed.
I like to use a cleansing oil with dry hands and a dry face. I massage it all over my face, really allowing the oil to do its job. The oil will help breakdown all the “stuff” you’ve accumulated on your face throughout the day. Including SPF, makeup, daily grime, pollutants, dirt, oil, etc. After about a minute of massaging this all over, yes, even my eyes lids. I add a bit of warm water, and this is where the magic really happens. The oil begins to emulsify and breakdown all that crap off your face. This makes getting mascara off so smooth and effortless too. The whole process is a gentle step in removing makeup off your face.
Double cleansing allows you to achieve a nice clean base so that your other skincare products can do their job properly. If I am wearing face makeup and I simply just do one cleanse I will absolutely still have residual makeup on my skin. I notice it when I use a toner afterwards and see the makeup on the cotton pad. GROSS! If you are not double cleansing how much are you really leaving on your skin? And how much of that is contributing to other skin issues. When I do double cleanse, my skin is clean and, I mean CLEAN, and not at all dry. I know that the products I will be following up with after cleansing will really be working and penetrating the skin.
—Benefits—
I know that serums, moistures and other skincare products always seems to be the most important part of your skincare routine but properly cleansing your face can make a HUGE difference in how all of those other products actually work on your skin. You are doing a disservice to your face if you just go in and cleanse once. That first cleanse is also my first step into my unwinding self-care routine for the night. It feels so good to massage your face after a long day and it is SO satisfying to feel all the gunk come off your skin. I look forward to my double cleanse each night. Oil attracts oil. You may be thinking I already have oily or breakout prone skin, why would I put oil on my skin? As long as you use a a non-comedogenic oil your skin will not be breaking out from applying oil. If anything the oil will help attract and collect other oils off your face that you have accumulated throughout the day.
I think most if not all skin types can benefit from a double cleanse. If you have very dry or sensitive skin use a nice gentle cream cleanser as your second cleanse. I have combination/breakout prone skin so I follow up with a gel based cleanser. This *one is my holy grail. You can use a warm face cloth to remove your first cleanse or do like I do and massage it off by rinsing it with warm water. I have done both and prefer not to use a cloth, but its very effective and nice too.
—Some of my favorite oil cleansers—
*Biossance Squalane + Antioxidant Cleansing Oil
*Tatcha Pure One Step Camellia Cleansing Oil
*Beautycounter Lipid Defense Cleansing Oil
All of these cleansing oils come out as an actual liquid oil. There are cleansing balms that work really well too and do the same thing. It’s just personal preference with the consistency you choose.
Okay, so I hope you are adding a cleansing oil to your cart this weekend and giving it a try, because you are going to love it. You will really see the benefits double cleansing gives your skin.
See you next Friday!
XO,
Charlene
