Is Double Cleansing Necessary?

In this article:
What is double cleansing?
Is double cleansing healthy?
Do dermatologists recommend double cleansing?
Can I double cleanse with the same cleanser?
Do you have to double cleanse if you wear sunscreen?
Do I need a special cleanser to remove sunscreen?
What happens if you don't wash off sunscreen?
Do I need to double cleanse if I have dry skin?
How to double cleanse
Should I double cleanse every day?
Does double cleansing cause purging?

Washing your face with a gentle cleanser is a great first step to any skin care routine, but what about the technique known as “double cleansing”? Is it necessary or a waste of time and money? While it can be helpful in some situations, double cleansing is not absolutely necessary for everyone. It depends primarily on your skin type and the type of makeup or sunscreen you wear. We’ll help you decide if double cleansing is right for you.

What is double cleansing?

The concept behind double cleansing is to use a cleansing oil, cleansing balm, or similar products to first remove your makeup and sunscreen and follow that up with a regular water-based cleanser. The initial emollient cleanser clears the way for your regular face wash to cleanse your skin instead of having to work its way through layers of other products, resulting in a more thorough cleanse.

Not everyone needs double cleansing—today’s best cleansers are already formulated to easily break through and wash away makeup, sunscreen, dirt, pollutants, and other surface debris. However, those who wear tenacious sunscreen and/or transfer-resistant makeup may find double cleansing helps break down those formulas more easily for thorough removal.

Double cleansing can also help if you have very oily skin and find that your regular cleanser doesn’t remove enough excess oil, but a stronger single cleanser leaves your skin feeling tight and dry. It’s far better to use two gentle cleansers than one harsh, drying cleanser.

The bottom line, double cleansing is a personal choice based on your individual needs.

Is double cleansing healthy?

Double cleansing is completely safe and healthy for skin, assuming the products you’re using are gentle, fragrance-free and well-formulated (1). While there’s no universal “best” cleanser for double cleansing, good options include cleansing oils, cleansing balms, and non-abrasive face scrubs with dissolvable beads, followed by a regular water-soluble cleanser that’s suitable for your skin type.

Do dermatologists recommend double cleansing?

Some dermatologists recommend double cleansing, while others tread more cautiously due to concerns that people may end up over-cleansing, leaving skin sensitised, stripped and uncomfortably dry. This is why the gentleness of the products you use really matters. If you're using non-drying, non-irritating cleansers, most dermatologists give double cleansing the green light.

Can I double cleanse with the same cleanser?

Double cleansing with the same cleanser (as in washing with it twice in a row) is OK if the formula is completely gentle and not drying. But generally speaking, it’s best if the first cleanser in the double cleansing process is more emollient (think oils, balms, cream style formulas), so as to not over-strip skin, followed by a water-soluble gel or foaming cleanser as step two to whisk all debris away.

Do you have to double cleanse if you wear sunscreen?

It isn’t an absolute must for everyone who wears sunscreen, but double cleansing can be helpful in certain circumstances (2). For example, mineral-based sunscreen (those with active ingredients titanium dioxide and/or zinc oxide) and water-resistant formulas tend to adhere more tenaciously to skin. Double cleansing helps ensure complete removal.

Do I need a special cleanser to remove sunscreen?

No, you don’t need a “special” cleanser to remove sunscreen. To reiterate, normal use of your regular cleanser may do just fine in this regard. However, some people find double cleansing helps ensure complete removal of sunscreen.

What happens if you don’t wash off sunscreen?

If you don’t wash off sunscreen it can lead to clogged pores, breakouts, and generally duller looking skin. It can also end up irritating skin and eyes, which is why cleansing before bed is always recommended.

Do I need to double cleanse if I have dry skin?

Those with dry skin can double cleanse. Just like with any other skin type, it’s not a necessity but merely a matter of choice based on your needs. For dry skin, pay extra special attention to make sure both of the cleansing formulas you use are gentle and err on the moisturising/hydrating end of the spectrum (3).

How to double cleanse

Most people will find double cleansing is most beneficial at night when you have makeup or sunscreen to remove. In the morning, you can skip the extra step and just wash your face with your regular cleanser.

Here are the double-cleansing steps to follow:

1. Apply your fragrance-free cleansing oil or cleansing balm to wet or dry skin, massaging in gentle circular motions, including around the eyes, for 30–45 seconds. You will likely find you do not need to use a separate eye-makeup remover (make sure your cleansing products are fragrance free because fragrance is especially problematic when applied around the sensitive eyelid skin).
2. Rinse or gently remove the cleanser with a soft, wet washcloth.
3. Dispense a nickel- to quarter-size amount of your regular facial cleanser and apply it to damp skin, massaging in gentle circular motions.
4. Rinse away the second cleanser with lukewarm water, and pat your skin dry with a clean, soft towel.

Should I double cleanse every day?

Double cleansing isn’t necessarily something you have to do every day—you can choose to do it just the times you need it. For instance, there might be some days that you wear heavier makeup, in which case the double cleanse proves to be helpful. Other days, you may not need to. Simply put, it’s ok to double cleanse every day if you want to but it isn’t a necessity.

Does double cleansing cause purging?

Double cleansing is not known to cause purging, yet some people report experiencing a breakout-like reaction when double cleansing with pure oils. This isn’t truly skin purging, but it’s possible that pure oils could be to blame.

Modern cleansing oils and cleansing balms have an edge over pure oils because they contain emulsifiers, which allows the oil to mix with water and form a milky emulsion, making it easy to rinse from skin instead of leaving a greasy residue as pure oils can (4,5).

Learn more about facial cleansers.

References for this information:

1. Indian Journal of Dermatology, January-February 2011, pages 2–6
2. Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, January 2020, pages 180–184
3. Dermatologic Therapy, 2004, pages 16–25
4. International Journal of Cosmetic Science, December 2014, pages 606–612
5. Journal of Oleo Science, 2013, pages 803–808