Double cleansing is a trend that went viral a while ago. However, unlike many other trends that quickly lose momentum, this one has earned respect from dermatologists and beauty pros all over the globe.
In fact, K-beauty aficionados would say that double cleansing isn’t a trend at all – it’s something that South Koreans have been doing for generations, with those flawless complexions showcasing the results! Japanese geishas were also reputed to have double cleansed to remove their white makeup. They used to begin with a cleansing oil and then follow that up with a foaming cleanser.
If you’ve been wondering whether double cleansing is something that you should be doing too, you’ve come to the right place. Read on as Introstem talks you through the various benefits that double cleansing has to offer so that you can make an informed decision as to whether or not this technique belongs in your skincare routine.
What is Double Cleansing?
Double cleansing is exactly as it sounds; cleansing your skin twice instead of once. However, while you could go ahead and use the same cleanser twice, the beauty behind double cleansing lies in how two different cleansers are usually used.
The first cleanser is an oil-based cleanser. Since oil attracts oil, the purpose of this first oil-based cleanse is to remove oil-based impurities from the skin. This is then followed up by a water-based cleanser, such as the Introstem Stem Cell Mousse Cleanser. This, as you might have guessed, will remove water-based impurities.
Why would you want to go through the hassle of cleansing your skin twice? Let’s find out…
The Benefits of Double Cleansing
The main reason to double cleanse is that it gives you a much more thorough cleanse. As you probably know, oil and water repel each other. This means that an oil-based cleanser doesn’t do much for water-based impurities, like dirt and sweat, while a water-based cleanser isn’t fully effective on oil-based impurities, such as pollutants and SPF. Using both cleansers means that you’ll be able to cleanse your skin more efficiently than if you had just used one.
This then has the knock-on effect of allowing the rest of the skincare products you apply to better penetrate your skin. They won’t be blocked by any lingering impurities that your single cleanse missed. Instead, your skin will be fully cleansed, enabling your skincare products to get to work quickly without having to fight past any obstacles.
The Risks of Double Cleansing
Of course, double cleansing isn’t without its risks. The main concern that people have, and rightly so, is over-cleansing. This can severely disrupt your skin’s natural protective barrier, causing inflammation and a number of other issues.
With that said, this can be avoided by choosing the right cleansers. Avoid formulas containing sulfates, as these surfactants are notorious for their barrier-stripping effects. Instead, pick cleansers that make use of alternative cleansing agents, like the water-based Introstem VitisCell Fresh Cleansing Mousse.
Making sure that you double cleanse correctly, which we’ll soon talk about in more detail, will also help you soak up the benefits of this technique without having to worry about over-cleansing.
Would Double Cleansing Be Right for You?
Just like when making any decision in relation to your skin, you need to keep your skin type in mind when pondering whether or not you should be double cleansing.
If you have oily skin, then this would definitely be a great technique to try. The extra cleanse will help to remove any lingering sebum on your skin, leaving your pores feeling even clearer. By doing so, double cleansing can really help to reduce the appearance of acne breakouts.
If you have dry skin, then, by all means, give double cleansing a try. However, pay attention to how your skin reacts to it. It’s a great technique because of how it will make the rest of your moisturizing products more effective, which will really benefit your dry skin. At the same time, however, you don’t want to over-cleanse and leave your skin even drier.
What about sensitive skin types? This is where it can get tricky. Since sensitive skin already has a compromised skin barrier, double cleansing can be risky because it won’t take much to further damage that barrier. With that said, failing to properly remove dirt and pollutants from sensitive skin will only make your sensitivities even worse. This leaves you in a catch-22! The solution would be to give double cleansing a try with very gentle cleansers, and don’t do it often! See how your skin responds and then take it from there!
How to Double Cleanse
Ready to give double cleansing a try?
It all begins with selecting the right cleansers. As we’ve mentioned, keeping your skin type in mind is so important for this. If you have oily skin, you’ll want to incorporate a foaming cleanser into your double cleansing routine. The Introstem VitisCell Foaming Bliss Purifier would work well as your water-based cleanser. Meanwhile, if you have dry or sensitive skin, keep things gentle with a formula like the Skin Balancing Facial Cleanser from the Bird Nest Collection. Its infusion of peptides will leave your skin feeling stronger and more resilient.
Once you’ve chosen your cleansers, start with the oil-based formula. Follow its directions when it comes to usage – some need to be applied to damp skin while others work best on dry skin. Once you’re done, rinse it off and then check the usage instructions on your water-based cleanser to see whether it requires you to pat your skin dry or not. Then, give your skin its second cleanse.
Once your water-based cleanser has been rinsed off, it’s important to continue on with the next product in your skincare routine straight away. This is key even when you’re doing a single cleanse. Any sort of cleanse will leave your skin barrier feeling temporarily more vulnerable but it will quickly gain some relief once you apply your next product. Our top choice would be the Introstem VitisCell Hydra Fresh Toner. It boasts an exceptionally hydrating formula while also providing an array of skin-loving antioxidants.
The Rest of Your Skincare Routine
With double cleansing giving your skin such a deep and thorough cleanse, post-double cleanse would be a good time to apply products containing active ingredients. This is when they’ll have the easiest access to your skin cells, meaning that you should see better results from them.
If you have dry or sensitive skin, the Introstem Stem Cell Vitamin C Serum would be a great product to use after double cleansing. It’s packed with two forms of vitamin C, as well as a blend of hydrating plant oils.
Meanwhile, oily skin types will love the Introstem ThermoStem Serum. It’s a lightweight formula that hydrates with humectants while also offering a selection of antioxidant-rich plant extracts.
How Often to Double Cleanse
Cleansing is a skincare step that you should be carrying out twice a day; once in the morning and then again at night. However, double cleansing twice a day will likely prove to be too much for your skin. After all, your skin shouldn’t be that dirty!
If you have oily skin, double cleansing in the evenings should be sufficient. This will allow you to thoroughly remove all of the sebum and impurities that have built up on your skin’s surface over the course of the day. You can then follow up with a single cleanse in the morning.
For dry and sensitive skin types, double cleansing daily isn’t necessary. This will only lead to over-cleansing. Instead, save double cleansing for when your skin actually needs it. If you’ve spent the day in a particularly dirty or polluted environment, or you’ve been wearing heavy makeup, then double cleansing would be beneficial.
Can’t See a Difference?
If you’ve been double cleansing for a while and haven’t seen any changes in your skin, then you may need to make a few adjustments. It should only take a week or so of regular double cleansing before you start to see an improvement in your skin.
Start by reassessing the cleansers that you’re using. Your skin may need something a little more powerful.
You could also consider adding a cleansing tool to your skincare routine. These work alongside topical cleansers to help enhance results.
You need to also make sure that you’re regularly exfoliating your skin. Double cleansing doesn’t replace the need for exfoliation. If you aren’t exfoliating your skin properly, your cleansers won’t be able to do their job quite so well. Try switching to an exfoliator that provides both chemical and mechanical exfoliation, like the Introstem Stem Cell Facial Peeling. It exfoliates with a blend of mandelic acid, bamboo powder, and walnut shell powder, giving the skin a beautifully fresh and polished finish.
The Bottom Line
When it comes down to it, double cleansing can be extremely beneficial, so long as you understand how, and how often, to do it. Incorporating the right cleansers is important too – use formulas that are too harsh and you’ll only end up over-cleansing your skin.
If you’d like to give double cleansing a try, keep the guidelines and tips above in mind. They’ll enable you to introduce this technique into your routine in the most beneficial way, saving you from having to deal with any of the potential risks that it could bring.
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