Washing your face is washing your face, right? Kind of. Washing your face is obviously a good habit, but did you know how you cleanse your skin is a huge factor in the look, feel & health of your skin? Drumroll please. Introducinggggggg #doublecleanse
Ok Jess, so wash my face twice? Well- yes, but no. Overdo it and you will strip your skin's natural oils leaving you feeling sensitive & dry or you could have the opposite experience where your skin becomes greasier because it’s now trying to overcompensate for how much you're cleansing.
But, if you’re not cleansing your skin correctly, that can cause other skin issues to pop up.
I know what you’re thinking: “So what the heck do I do, Jess?!”
WHAT IS DOUBLE CLEANSING?
Double cleansing is a two-step process that includes an oil-based cleanser, followed by a water-based cleanser. Why do you need to wash your face once with an oil-based cleanser and once with a water-based cleanser?
When you do a double cleanse you are not only getting rid of makeup, you are also getting rid of a naturally occurring oil called sebum.
A quick note on sebum; our bodies produce sebum to regulate our PH, control our body temperature and to prevent bacteria from landing on our skin. Thanks sebum!
Since natural sebum is our skin ally, we need to treat it as such. Which means cleanse correctly and make sure we are not disrupting our natural oil production and the function of it.
WHY IS CLEANSING IMPORTANT?
Our skin sheds 40,000 cells per minute! Those dead skin cells need to be removed from our skin and the best way to do that is by washing & cleansing.
Okay, pretend you never cleansed your skin. (eek!) Your cells would mix with your make-up, spf, oil, dirt, and pollution, which would cause mila, blemishes, and clogged pores.
(Speaking of pores, we have about 20,000, on our face alone!)
When you don't cleanse your skin, all of the above settles into our pores, which not only clogs them but STRETCHES THEM OUT, giving them a larger look.
I am frequently asked about how to minimize pores and one of the best ways is by simply having clean skin!
Every skin type can benefit from double cleansing, including oily, acne-prone and sensitive skin types. In fact, oily skin types will benefit significantly from using an oil-based cleanser first because it will gently remove excess sebum without stripping your face dry, which will trigger it to go into overcompensation mode (aka: excess oil production).
How do I know if I am over cleansing?
Signs of over cleansing:
- tight, itchy, dry, papery or a squeaky clean feeling
- more oily than normal
If you have any of these symptoms, you can likely correct by trying the following:
1. Only double cleanse once a day
2. Use less product
3. Switch your water based cleanser to a more appropriate one. If you don’t know what is appropriate for you, book a facial with me HERE for help. We'll do a thorough analysis of your skin type and get you set up with the correct products and a routine with none of the guesswork or wasted dollars on ineffective products.
HOW DO I DOUBLE CLEANSE?
Step 1. Grab your oil-based cleanser. Oil based cleansers help melt away makeup which makes removing it easier and in turn prevents unnecessary scrubbing and tugging of the skin. Always be gentle with your skin.
Step 2. Grab your water-based cleanser. This can be in the form of a foam, gel, whatever works best for your and your skin type. Water based cleansers function to remove water based impurities like sweat and dirt.
You’ve made it this far, so I am going to assume you are officially with the double cleanse movement. Happy to have you :)
I bet you’re wondering how to find the right oil-based and water-based cleanser for you. I am an ingredient gal.
Forget the brand.
Forget the packaging.
What is in the bottle? ---> Your best bet is to take a careful look through the ingredients as not all cleansers are created equal.
Obviously stay away from
- ingredients that you’re allergic to.
-Avoid artificial fragrances as they can be a skin irritant.
-It’s best to avoid super alkaline face washes, as they will disrupt your skin’s natural acid mantle (a thin viscous fluid that sits atop the skin that protects it).
You want cleansers that will nourish the skin while cleansing it versus stripping it of all its natural oils.
Now not every oil is created equal for all skin types but here are a few of my favorites to get your toes wet,
- jojoba
-grape seed
-pumpkin seed oil
I stand behind double cleansing. I believe all skin types benefit from it.
I will be doing another post soon on my favorite oil cleansers, so keep an eye out for that. But as far as water based cleansers go, check out this Botanical Cleanser from my very own skincare line! It has over 92 vitamins and minerals to nourish, sooth, renew, cleanse, and repair skin! A perfect addition to your double cleansing routine!
Happy cleansing!