Double Cleansing Is A Must If You Want Younger-Looking Skin

Perhaps your skin has been throwing curveballs at you with random breakouts and redness. Perhaps you’ve been struggling with skin that is lackluster or oily. Maybe you’ve simply felt that your skincare routine can use a bit of a pick-me-up. Whatever your concern, this is the perfect time to add a very valuable step to your routine. Enter double cleansing, the superhero of truly pure, healthy and glowing skin. It originates from the popular K-beauty multistep skincare routine, which is famous for being luxuriously indulgent to your skin. And if there’s ever a time to treat your skin to a little bit more self-indulgence and pampering, it has to be now, in the midst of a global pandemic.

What is double cleansing?

Speaking to Insider Picks, Dr. Lamees Hamdan – founder of the skincare brand Shiffa – explains that double cleansing is a method of applying two different facial washes to the face for a deeper clean. “It ensures a radiant complexion so that while you sleep, your skin is able to effectively regenerate.”

First, you need to understand what you’re trying to clean out. For many people, a quick swipe with a cotton pad and some micellar water means their face is clean. However, they’ve probably not even broken through the first layer of grime sitting on their cheeks. It’s important to know that throughout the day, your skin attracts dirt, pollution, and airborne bacteria.
All of that sits on top of a layer of dead skin cells. Left undisturbed, this grime remains on your skin and gets transferred to your pillow at night. Your beauty sleep might have a hard time shining through all of that.

This is why it is important to break down the buildup of SPF, makeup, sweat, bacteria, and old skin cells before you try to clean out your pores. And that’s what double cleansing is about. Not only can proper cleansing help you to combat breakouts and irritated skin, but in the long run, you can save your skin from premature aging and pigmentation.

How does it work?

Step 1 usually involves a gentle cleansing balm or oil. This dissolves the upper layer of grime. This layer contains oil-based impurities, and therefore needs to be dissolved with an oil-based cleanser. When you massage this into your skin, it collects everything that has built up into the surface layer. This is followed by a splashing of tepid water on your face, and another massage to remove the first layer from your skin. If you wear long-wear makeup, you might need to repeat the step once or twice. When you’re sure your skin is clean, you can either rinse it off or gently wipe it away with a soft, clean face cloth, cotton pad, or wipe. Dr. Hamdan says a muslin cloth works best because it is both gentle and effective.

Now that the first layer is removed and the skin is clean of dirt and grime, it is now ready for the facial wash.

Step 2 involves a water-based wash like a gel. It draws out sweat and dirt, which are water-based impurities. This usually takes a bit of time –  Rabbia Aslam, Clinical Director at HC MedSpa, suggests taking two minutes to ensure your skin is completely free of grime. After your pores are completely clean, rinse thoroughly with water. Again, make sure the water is not too hot or cold, a this can aggravate or irritate your skin.

Especially if you wear makeup regularly, it can help to double cleanse every day.

However, Dr. Hamdan cautions against using harsh cleansers. Especially if you have sensitive skin, it’s important to stick to gentle products that are not abrasive and won’t disrupt the barrier function of the skin. Stick to double cleansing once a day, at night, so your skin has its best chance of regenerating and showing off fresh skin the next morning.

What are the benefits of double cleansing?

Once you have double cleansing down pat, your pores will be able to enjoy a deeper cleanse daily. By removing the dead skin cells regularly, double cleansing also helps to brighten any dullness and improve skin tone. It also takes care of oils and impurities that can lead to clogged pores, thereby reducing nasty breakouts.

Not only that but afterwards your serums and moisturizers can penetrate deeper into the skin and work their magic. Your skin should soon be looking younger, healthier, and purer. All in all, your skincare regime is more effective, and you’re one step closer to the skin you’ve always wanted.

How to pick the right double cleansing product for your skin

Choosing a balm or oil is quite simple, and wholly depends on your preference. Cleansing oils are generally thick and liquid while cleansing balms come in a solid form that melts into a milky liquid when you massage it into the skin. Looking for ingredients that are natural, free from toxins, emulsified, will remove makeup, and not dry out the skin or burn the eyes.

Here are our favorite cleansing oils and balms:

Aromatica Natural Coconut Cleansing Oil 

We absolutely adore this award-winning oil with its K-beauty origins. It’s a big favorite because it’s gentle, formulated with 100% organic virgin cold-pressed coconut oil, which emulsifies and massages the dirt off your skin.

It also contains omega 3’s, lavender oil, almonds, and nutritive oils. It leaves your skin refreshed, clean and soft, and is suitable for sensitive skin.

Elizabeth Arden Ceramide Replenishing Cleansing Oil

This one is a fantastic choice because not only does it remove makeup and dissolve impurities from the skin, it also nourishes the skin and puts essential lipids back into the skin after cleaning it.

It combines the emollient, antioxidant, and conditioning properties of apricot, safflower, and olive oils to dissolve debris and sebum. The skin’s barrier layer also gets repaired.

Elizabeth Arden  Superstart Probiotic Cleanser

If you want your pores to be thoroughly cleaned and minimized, this whipped mousse cleanser is the one you want.

It preps, purifies, and infuses the skin with protective probiotics to support the skin’s natural defenses. With water, it gently foams into a soft lather to rinse away makeup and impurities.

Sensai Silky Purifying Cleansing Gel

The right facial wash generally depends on your skin type. If you have oily skin, it’s best to stick to cleansers that balance oil and sebum without stripping the skin of its moisture. Combination skin will benefit from hydrating cleaners that will leave your skin soft and not greasy. For those with sensitive skin, simple, non-irritating cleansers are best.

Thankfully, most oil cleansers are formulated to be very gentle. Also, because double cleansing is becoming more and more popular as a skincare step, you should be able to find the right products for your skin easily.

Click on this link to find out which double cleansing K-beauty duos pair well for your skin type.

References:

Elle Beauty Team.  2020.  Elle Magazine. How To Double Cleanse Your Skin – Everything You Need To Know  https://www.elle.com/uk/beauty/skin/a36728/double-cleansing-skin-what-is-it/

Mayer, E.  2020.  Business Insider. Double cleansing is a popular K-beauty method that removes every last bit of dirt and makeup from your face — here’s how to do it correctly. https://www.businessinsider.com/how-to-double-cleanse?IR=T

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