"With the ever-evolving skincare trends that are constantly circulating on social media—anyone else still slugging?—it can be hard to know what’s worth your time and what’s a gimmick. When double cleansing started to gain popularity, it sounded repetitive and unnecessary (kind of like the instructions on the back of a shampoo bottle telling you to rinse and repeat). But double cleansing has been around for longer than you might realize—and is a step that can actually make an impact in your skin.
Run, don't walk.
Double cleansing actually began in Japanese and Korean skincare practices, where both oil-based and foaming cleansers were incorporated into skincare routines. (It also gained attention during the ever-popular 10-step Korean skincare routine). I chatted Dr. Sarah Hogan, board-certified dermatologist and founder of Cosmedica Dermatology, to get the low-down on double cleansing, from whether it’s necessary to if it’s really for everyone.
Dr. Sarah Hogan, MD, FAAD
Dr. Sarah Hogan is a board-certified dermatologist, a fellowship-trained laser and cosmetic surgeon, and a fellow of the American Academy of Dermatology. She has been featured in Medscape, Self, Insider, Reuters, MSN, Newsweek, and The New York Times.
What is the double cleansing method?
As the name suggests, double cleansing refers to cleansing the skin twice: first with an oil-based cleanser, then with a water-based cleanser. The goal is that the cleansers work in tandem to leave you with cleaner skin that’s completely free of dirt, grime, and makeup.
Should you double cleanse every day?
Double cleansing helps to clean the skin deeply and remove all the remnants of the day: sweat, dirt, sunscreen, makeup—you name it. The goal is for the skin to be left squeaky clean both on the surface and within deeper layers, and therefore less prone to breakouts and congestion. That said, you can double cleanse every day, especially on days where you wore makeup or were out and about.
Who should double cleanse?
Like any skincare step or product, everyone’s skin can react differently to double cleansing. “For people who have certain skin conditions like eczema, rosacea, or sensitive skin, double cleansing can be too drying and even cause skin irritation”, says Hogan. Double cleansing should also only be done at night—not in the morning—to get rid of the makeup and grime that’s left on the skin throughout the day.
If you have oily skin and the idea of using an oil-based cleanser on your skin makes you panic, fear not: according to Hogan, double cleansing step can be helpful for those with oily skin as it removes excess oil and sebum from throughout the day.
Do you need two different cleansers to double cleanse?
Double cleansing works optimally by combining the cleansing benefits of both an oil-based and water-based cleanser, so you do need two different cleansers to double cleanse.
How to double cleanse
Wash your hands
Any time you’re touching your face, you should be starting with clean hands. Before you go in with your oil-based cleanser, thoroughly wash your face to ensure you aren’t spreading bacteria onto your face.
Start with a dry face
Since the first step of double cleansing is using an oil-based cleanser, you should be starting the process with a completely dry face.
Wash with an oil-based cleanser
Work your oil-based cleanser thoroughly into your skin, then rinse with water.
Wash with a water-based cleanser
After rinsing off your oil-based cleanser, begin working your water-based cleanser into the skin. (Before you do this, double check that your water-based cleanser is actually water-based—Hogan pointed out that she’s “had patients who thought they were doing double cleansing correctly, but were not using a water-based cleanser as their second step and developed milia on their face.”)
Once you’ve washed with your water-based cleanser, rinse again.
Pat dry with a clean towel
Once you’ve finished with both cleansers, pat—don’t rub!—your skin dry with a clean towel. (Emphasis on clean—drying with a dirty towel will defeat the purpose of double cleansing by adding bacteria back to your skin).
Jenna Piotrowicz, Editorial Assistant
Jenna began working as an Editorial Assistant for The Everygirl in 2024. With her eye for detail, she assists the team with content creation, sourcing products and images, and works behind the scenes to support The Everygirl in uploading and updating content.