21 Double Cleansing FAQs: According To Skin Type and Benefits

What Is Double Cleansing

You must have heard of the technique 'rinse and repeat' when it comes to washing our hair. This method involves cleansing your hair with shampoo twice, for better results. Well, double cleansing for your face is a similar method that you must know about. The double cleansing method involves cleansing your skin twice, with two different types of cleansers one after the other. The ancient art of double cleansing originated in Asia in the 14th century, in parts of Japan and Korea where it is still very much practised.(1) You must use a cleansing oil first followed by a water-based cleanser to perfectly double cleanse your skin.

Benefits of Double Cleansing

There are proven to be several benefits of double cleansing your skin as known since ancient times as well as those proven recently:

• It effectively removes your makeup and is the only method that can remove your makeup completely without any additional effort. Wiping your face with a face wipe will not remove your entire makeup, nor will cleansing it once.
• Double cleansing every evening will help brighten your face, especially if you are facing dullness and also elevate your skin complexion.
• It will allow nighttime products such as leave-in retinols, serums and moisturisers to be absorbed into the skin better to provide more benefits 
• Double cleansing for oily skin is an especially good idea because it helps remove your oily sebum layer, makeup, and sunscreen and goes deeper to remove the bacteria which can worsen acne.(2)

Process of Double Cleansing

The process of how to double cleanse is super easy and just involves two steps:

• First Cleanse: The first cleanse should be a cleaning oil or an oil-based cleanser as it will help remove your makeup, sunscreen, oils and other dirt. This is because like attracts like and the oil from these products sticks with the oil from the cleanser.
• Second Cleanse: The second cleanser needs to be a water-based one and should match your skin type. You can choose different double cleansing products depending on your skin type and concern.

21 Frequently Asked Questions About Double Cleansing

1. What is double cleansing?

Double cleansing is a technique which involves using two different types of cleansers to cleanse your skin. In this method, one cleanser is applied first and washed off after which the second one is used.

2. Is double cleansing good for acne-prone skin?

Double cleansing is known to cleanse your skin to its deepest layers, helping in removing your makeup and sunscreen thoroughly along with other sebum and acne-producing layers deep within your skin.

3. How to do double cleansing?

Double cleansing involves two steps, the first is to use an oil cleanser to cleanse your skin and to help remove your makeup and sunscreen. The second step involves using a normal water-based cleanser as per your skin type.

4. What should you use while double cleaning? 

You can use different types of double cleansing products depending on your skin type:
Oily skin: You will need a cleanser which contains a strong surfactant that removes oil from the skin. However, it should not strip the skin of its natural oils. It can be any gel or clay-based face wash. The Deep Cleansing Face Wash is a good product to use in this category.
Dry skin: When you already have skin that is less prone to getting greasy, you need a milder face wash, that is preferably milky or creamy. You can check out the Green Tea Face Wash that leaves your face cleansed and nourished.
Combination Skin: This type of skin needs something in the middle of the spectrum and the Bio Retinol Radiance Face Wash is a good vegan product for such a type of skin.

5. How do you know if double cleansing is making a difference?

You will surely feel a noticeable difference in your skin just a few times after starting double cleansing. It makes your skin more radiant and helps in the absorption of other skincare products. You can understand its effectiveness by how well it helps remove your makeup and makes your face less greasy.

6. Do you need to double cleanse if you don’t wear makeup?

You probably do not need to double cleanse every day if you don't wear makeup, but you can do it once or twice a week.

7. Won’t an oil cleanser cause breakouts?

Usually, a normal amount of cleansing oil does not cause breakouts. Additionally, the oil is immediately rinsed off by a water-based cleanser, which does not leave any remnant behind.

8. What are the benefits of double cleansing?

Double cleansing makes your skin softer, more radiant and more receptive to other skin products.

9. Is double cleansing necessary for dry skin?

You can surely double cleanse if you have dry skin, but you must use double cleansing products for your specific skin type.

10. Is double cleansing good for your skin?

Double cleansing can be beneficial for your skin if done the right way as mentioned above.

11. When should double cleansing be done?

The best time to double cleanse your skin is at night before sleeping.

12. Does double cleansing help the skin barrier?

Double cleansing helps remove skin impurities without disrupting its moisture barrier. 

13. Can I double-cleanse every day?

It's not harmful to double cleanse every day, especially if you have oily skin or wear makeup every day. 

14. How do you double-clean sensitive skin?

You can use a good quality natural cleansing oil along with a gentle face wash meant specially for sensitive skin.

15. Do I need to double cleanse if I wear sunscreen?

Yes, double cleansing helps in the easy removal of oily products like sunscreen from your face.

16. Do you need to double cleanse in the morning?

You need not double cleanse in the morning. It is best suited at night when it can help absorb products like serum and moisturiser.

17. Why is cleansing important?

Cleansing is an essential part of any skincare routine which helps remove dirt particles, grease, and other buildups from our skin. Doing this helps prevent skin infections, acne and other problems.

18. What cleanser should I use while double cleansing?

You must use a face cleanser depending on your skin type while doing double cleansing.

19. Why is my face still dirty after double cleansing?

You must use an appropriate cleanser based on your skin type and concern for double cleansing to work properly. Check your skin type and use a cleanser that deeply removes impurities.

20. How do I double cleanse naturally?

Use a natural oil and natural face wash such as the ones available at Lotus Botanicals. These will not elicit any skin reaction and will help in natural cleansing.

21. Can you use a night cream after double cleansing?

You can use a night cream after finishing your double cleansing with a suitable cleanser. It is ideal to use a night cream as a moisturiser after cleansing your skin.

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