How To Double Cleanse Your Skin — Everything You Need to Know

Behind the Trend of Double Cleansing

Who knew washing your face could be an indulgent way to pamper skin? A recent trend called double cleansing is a two-step process that turns your nightly cleansing routine into a luxe way to unwind and relax the face, while making sure you get the most efficacious cleanse possible. The result—glowing, radiant, supple skin, that’s ultra-cleansed, allowing your complexion to reap healing and rejuvenating properties while you sleep. We get behind the trend of double cleansing and explain how to get your deepest clean yet.

What Is Double Cleansing?

Makeup, airborne bacteria, even pollution can settle into the surface layer of skin cells. If not properly cleansed, delicate facial skin can become clogged with debris and more prone to breakouts and infection. Improperly cleaned skin can also become pigmented and show signs of aging. The best way to make sure that you’re fully removing impurities from your skin is a process called double cleansing.

Double cleansing is a routine made up of two steps. The first step is to break down makeup, SPF, and surface sebum with a cleansing oil, balm or micellar water. A second round of cleansing is designed to penetrate much deeper into the pores to remove impurities that might have become lodged. During the second step of a double cleanse, you also want to massage your face to prep it for any nighttime treatments. This allows them to be more restorative while you get your “beauty sleep.”

How to Double Cleanse

For the first round of cleansing, it's best to wash your face until all traces of makeup have been removed. Depending on how much SPF, foundation, and setting spray you use, this can take a couple of swipes with a cotton round or washcloth.

Once the surface grime has been removed from the skin, begin a water-based cleanse with a cleansing agent like soap or face wash. Most people don’t know how important it is to spend some extra time cleansing. Ideally, spend up to two minutes massing the cleanser into your skin to fully dislodge any remaining debris and ready the complexion for its nighttime treatment. A sonic cleansing brush can be highly effective in a double cleansing routine, as it can penetrate the surface of the skin with a gentle and effective massage.

Benefits of Double Cleansing

Once you slough away dead skin and other impurities that can dull your complexion, you’re clearing the way for the regenerative effects of plump, new skin cells to give you a natural glow. With the surface barrier of your skin effectively cleansed and invigorated, your skin will naturally restore itself, plus absorb any targeted treatments.

PULL QUOTE:

Ideally, spend up to two minutes massing the cleanser into your skin to fully dislodge any remaining debris and ready the complexion for its nighttime treatment.

ReFa Tip: A sonic cleansing brush can be highly effective in a double cleansing routine, as it can penetrate the surface of the skin with a gentle and effective massage.