By Kate Downes, LAc TCM Practitioner
A Guide to Double Cleansing and Cleansing Oils
If you live in a highly polluted city, wear sunscreen every day (we know you do!) or love playing with different makeup looks, incorporating a cleansing oil and a double cleanse to your self-care plan can help to keep your skin feeling its healthiest.
Worried that cleansing with an oil will make your skin oily or oilier? That’s where double cleansing comes in. Originating from Japanese (geishas used to remove their white makeup with this method!) and Korean beauty rituals, double cleansing is something that everyone can get into. Yes, even if you have oily skin!
Get cozy, we’re diving into how to double cleanse and the benefits of oil cleansers in today’s journal!
How do oil cleansers work?
A cleansing oil gives your skin a gentle deep cleanse, without stripping away your skin’s lipid barrier. These kinds of cleansers effectively remove pore-clogging impurities, while simultaneously replenishing this barrier. The result? Soft, supple skin that doesn’t feel tight and dry - with a glow to boot!
But, what makes oils so effective when it comes to cleansing? Oils aren’t only nourishing moisturizers, they’re also solvents, ingredients that dissolve substances similar to them.
This means that oils are naturally attracted to each other, making it a breeze to sweep away excess sebum and the oil-like ingredients found in many makeup products. Because oil cleansers are so gentle, they can be used to care for most skin types, even acne-prone and extra sensitive skin.
What is double cleansing?
Double cleansing embraces using two cleansers. This elevated cleansing ritual begins with a cleansing oil or an oil-based balm and continues with a second one, usually water-based.
In the first round, your cleanser breaks down debris from sunscreen, sebum, make-up and airborne particles. After removing this first layer, the second cleanser is then able to go deeper into your pores and whisk away anything that might be leftover.
We recommend double cleansing in the evening to make sure you go to bed with every last drop of foundation or sun protection removed. What’s more, with that extra layer lifted away, your precious serums and thicker overnight products are able to be better absorbed.
How do you double cleanse?
- Begin with both dry hands and a dry face.
Why do your hands and face need to be dry? Water creates a barrier between your skin and your oil cleanser. This barrier interferes with the oil’s ability to penetrate and “grasp on” to impurities. Remember, oil dissolves oil.
- Use your fingers to massage upwards and outwards, really work the oil into your skin to get the deepest cleanse!
Massaging your face doesn’t only feel good, it also encourages your lymphatic system to get moving. When the flow of lymphatic fluid is stimulated, stagnant waste is able to move out of your tissues and to your lymph nodes where it is naturally removed. A system free from blockages is able to receive fresh blood and oxygen, which supports cell regeneration. You can say that an oil cleanse helps to boost your glow from within!
- How you wash off your oil cleanser is key. A cotton washcloth can help you to make sure you completely wipe off that first layer of surface grime.
Before you press it gently over your face, wet your washcloth with lukewarm water. In sections, massage delicately using circular motions.
- Now it’s time for cleanser number two!
On damp skin, massage on your cleanser just as you did in the first round. Rinse off with lukewarm water and dry your skin with a soft towel.
That’s it!
Learning how to double cleanse takes some trial and error and there are a few things to take into consideration - such as your lifestyle and skin type. You might find that you only need to do it on certain days, such as when you’ve worn a glam makeup look or after an extra sweaty workout. When it comes to a first cleanse, your skin might prefer an oil-based balm instead of a cleansing oil. Take the time to explore different cleansers and frequencies to find out what works best for you.
See our chart below to discover which cleanser from our curation best suits your skin goals. From simple straightforward formulas to zero-waste packaging, there’s something for all self-care plans and budgets.
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