The Double Cleanse

Your current cleansing routine might not be enough.

My Story…

When I first started getting interested in skincare I thought I was doing great. Heck, I used to SLEEP in my makeup, surely anything is better than that! Or so I thought…

I would cleanse my skin with whatever new product sounded cool at the drugstore – everything from apricot scrub to a grapefruit foaming cleanser. I totally thought I was not only “on-trend” but that, in no time, my skin would be as flawless as the ladies in the advertisements. But no matter what cleanser I tried, my skin always had a micro layer of makeup and dirt that was always evident by the marks left on my cotton pads or white towels. 

Often, I wondered why my skin was not improving. Why my face never felt “clean”. Why I had so much texture. Don’t even get me started on how oily I was! Eventually, through the help of some serious skincare intervention (read: my mom dragging me into her bathroom and scrubbing my blackheads out) and a killer esthetician blog, I saw the light.

For me, once I seriously (and consistently) started double cleansing I noticed changes in my skin. My skin began to look clearer, there was less texture, and no more clogged pores. It’s been over a year since I began double cleansing and now I can’t even imagine my life (or my skin) without it. It’s now such a big part of my life, that I consider it a part of my daily self-care routine.

Why Double Cleanse?

Cleansing is a crucial part of any skincare routine. Not so much the products you use but the steps/end result you achieve. Double cleansing ensures all the makeup, dirt, and oil are removed from the skin. It is especially important to double cleanse whenever you wear makeup! One cleanse alone is not enough to remove makeup AND clean your skin.

A proper cleansing routine will make other aspects of your life go smoother. For me, my skincare regimen is a huge component of my daily self-care routine. While it may not be a big part of your life like it is for mine, efficient cleansing (and good skincare habit in general) will help other aspects of your life go smoother, in my opinion. Makeup goes on smoother, less stress from breakouts, and you have an opportunity to really listen to your skin and body and see how it reacts to different products and ingredients.

Double Cleanse Breakdown

Double cleansing breaks down into two simple steps, a first cleanse and a second cleanse.

First Cleanse:

This is the removal phase. This is where you remove anything that is on the surface of your skin. Removing eye makeup, foundation,sunscreen, and sweat. Whatever products you added to your skin that may have settled into your pores or collected “dirt” from the day. I tend to wear makeup most days, so I use an oil-based cleansing balm during my First Cleanse.

Second Cleanse:

This is the cleaning phase. The part where you are ACTUALLY cleansing your skin. These products will be in direct contact with your skin. I tend to use my higher-end cleansing product here. We want to cleanse, balance, and prep our skin for the rest of our skincare steps.

How to Double Cleanse

Step 1: Scoop a nickel-sized amount of cleansing balm (or cleansing oil) into your palm. With dry hands, warm the cleansing balm by rubbing your hand together for about 3 seconds

Step 2: Massage your balm-covered hands all over your dry face! Work in circular motions all over to loosen makeup and dirt from your face. Focus on hard-to-clean areas like mascara-coated lashes and liquid lipstick.

Step 3: Dampen a washcloth (terrycloth or microfiber) with very warm water. Ring out the towel and lay it on your face for a few seconds to help loosen the rest of the makeup and dirt. Think of this as a mini facial! Use the washcloth to wipe away everything on your face.

Step 4: Cleanse Number 2! Try not to completely dry your face in-between cleanse one and two. Instead, pat the skin lightly to remove excess water only.

Step 5:  Apply a nickle-sized amount of a cleanser that’s suited to your skin’s needs (or an all-around gentle cleanser) and work around face in circles upward to cleanse skin.

Step 6: Rinse skin and pat excess water off. Continue with the next steps of your skincare routine!

Double Cleanse Product Recommendations

First Cleanse –

Second Cleanse –