Cleansing is one of the most important steps in your skin care routine. Most of the time, simply washing with your go-to face wash will suffice. However, there are times when a quick wash won’t suffice — like when you have to remove heavy makeup. That’s where double cleansing comes into play.
A sign you need to deploy double cleansing is if you see leftover dirt or makeup on your towel after you’ve cleansed, says Dr. DiAnne Davis, a board-certified dermatologist in Dallas. So, how does it work? I asked experts to explain.
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What is double cleansing?
Double cleansing is pretty much what it sounds like — washing your face twice. However, it isn’t quite as simple as just using the same cleanser twice. It involves using an oil-based cleanser followed by a water-based cleanser. The oil-based cleanser breaks down surface-level products like makeup and sunscreen, while the water-based cleanser tackles pollutants, dirt, and debris, says Dr. Michele Green, a board-certified cosmetic dermatologist in New York City.
As for the perks of double cleansing, Green says that the biggest benefit is that it removes dirt and bacteria from skin that could otherwise cause breakouts or inflammation if left on. Beyond that, having clean skin can help make your other products more effective.
Top-rated products for a double cleansing routine
With expert guidance in mind, I rounded up the best oil- and water-based cleansers (plus moisturizers to help avoid dryness) to ensure that your double cleansing routine is both effective and safe for your skin. The list also caters to several skin types, including normal, oily and acne prone.
Oil-based cleansers
With antioxidant-rich grapeseed oil and hydrating squalane, this cleanser is good for those with sensitive skin, according to the brand. NBC Select reporter Zoe Malin says it doesn’t burn when she applies it, even when her skin is dry and raw. The brand is big on sustainability, so once you finish the product, you can buy a refill instead of entirely new packaging.
Apply this oil-based cleansing balm to dry skin first and then it will melt into a gentle cleanser to eliminate makeup and buildup, while also nourishing the skin, according to the brand. It has a vegan form of collagen that helps plump and smooth skin, and hyaluronic acid to add hydration and leave the skin feeling moisturized and refreshed, experts have previously told us. This formula also has coconut oil, which is comedogenic, so those with oily and acne-prone skin may want to steer clear.
On nights I have to wear heavier makeup — like for a wedding or party — I come home and use this oil-based cleanser to remove everything. It contains amino acids, which are good for sensitive skin and turns into a milky, soothing consistency upon contact with your skin, according to the brand. I’ve found that it leaves my skin really soft and clean.
Water-based cleansers
One of our favorite cleansers for dry skin, this fragrance-free option is hydrating and gentle. It contains glycerin that attracts moisture to your complexion along with ceramide-3 and niacinamide to nourish and protect the skin barrier, according to the brand. NBC Select updates editor Mili Godio appreciates the lightweight consistency and says it doesn’t leave her skin feeling dry or tight.
This is my go-to cleanser. It has no frills — which is exactly what I love most about it. It is gentle, gets my skin clean and doesn’t leave any residue behind. The mild cleanser is great for those with sensitive skin or eczema since it has the stamp of approval from the National Eczema Association. It is also fragrance-free and free of harsh chemicals. At under $10, you also can’t beat the price.
The goal after double cleansing is to make sure skin is clean but still moisturized. This hydrating cleanser from Cerave can help. It has hyaluronic acid, ceramides and glycerin to moisturize skin as you wash it, according to the brand. Reviewers also like the way the silky formula feels as the wash.
Moisturizers
This gel formula made our list of best moisturizers, with NBC Select commerce editor Lindsay Schneider saying it worked for her sensitive skin and that she liked how it felt cooling going on. It contains squalane, which experts have told us is great for hydration. It also contains probiotics to help balance your skin’s microbiome and soothe irritation, according to the brand.
If your skin tends to get dry easily, consider this go-to cream, which took the number one spot on our 100 best moisturizers list. It comes in a big tub, so it will last you for a long time. NBC Select reporter Harry Rabinowitz likes that it feels rich coming out of the jar, has very little aroma and that it feels nourishing on the skin.
Experts and NBC Select editors routinely recommend this moisturizer from Neutrogena. Malin says that when her skin is red and flaky, the hydrating formula is the only one that her skin can tolerate. It has hyaluronic acid to hydrate and the consistency is lightweight, so it absorbs quickly, according to the brand.
How to double cleanse
Though double cleansing is a bit more involved than just normally washing your face, it’s really not difficult. Here are the steps Green and Davis say you need to take to double cleanse skin effectively.
- Step one: Start by cleansing skin with an oil-based cleanser. Worried that something oil-based will make you breakout? Don’t be. “Oil-based [products] are better suited to remove impurities that are also oil-based, such as makeup, excess sebum, and sunscreen,” says Green. Massage the oil cleanser into skin for a minute or two, making sure to cover every area before washing it away with water.
- Step two: Now that you’ve removed the first layer of dirt and makeup from your skin, it is time to go back and remove any lingering dirt with a gentle, water-based cleanser. There’s more flexibility when it comes to this cleanser — just choose a cleanser that aligns with your skin type, says Green. Massage the cleanser over your face in circular motions before rinsing.
- Step three: The double-cleansing process helps you achieve the deepest, cleanest version of your skin, however, it also means you are rinsing away the natural oils that keep your face hydrated. So, you have to add moisture back, says Davis. After rising off your second cleanser, Green recommends applying moisturizer while the skin is still damp to maximize hydration and enhance your skin’s natural protective barrier.
Meet our experts
At NBC Select, we work with experts who have specialized knowledge and authority based on relevant training and/or experience. We also take steps to ensure that all expert advice and recommendations are made independently and with no undisclosed financial conflicts of interest.
- Dr. Michele Green is a board-certified cosmetic dermatologist in New York City.
- Dr. DiAnne Davis is a board-certified dermatologist in Dallas, TX. Davis has previously partnered with CeraVe, Cetaphil, Neutrogena, and La Roche Posay. Because of this, we only used her general guidance about double cleansing but did not ask her for specific product recommendations.
Why trust NBC Select?
I’m a contributor at NBC Select and a journalist who regularly covers beauty, home and lifestyle. I have covered a number of stories about skin care trends, including whether it is safe to try microneedling at home and wrinkle patches. For this story, I interviewed two board-certified dermatologists.
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