The Power of Double Cleansing: What It Is, Benefits & How to Do It Properly

Cleansing is the first and most important step in any skincare routine. It forms the base that every other step in your routine is built in. Double cleansing (cleansing twice) builds on that foundation.

It’s a two- step method that pairs a cream or oil-based cleanser, with a water-based cleanser to remove makeup, SPF, excess oil and pollution more thoroughly than a single wash can.

Cleansing well means more than just a quick swipe with a makeup wipe. It means using the correct formulas to lift away the day, while respecting the skin's delicate barrier rather than stripping it.

As conversations grow around over-cleansing and barrier health, more people are asking the fair question: is double cleansing genuinely necessary, or simply another skincare trend? This guide covers what double cleansing is, who benefits from it and how to do it without overdoing it.

Is Double Cleansing Necessary?

Not everyone needs to double cleanse. And not everyone needs to double cleanse every day. Whether it's necessary depends largely on your skin type, lifestyle, and the products you wear on your skin day to day.

The point of double cleansing is to ensure a thorough, residue-free cleanse, particularly for those who wear heavy SPF or makeup, have oily or congested skin, live in a polluted city environment, or exercise regularly and accumulate sweat. For these groups, a single cleanse may struggle to fully remove the build-up of the day, leaving behind residue that can contribute to congestion or dullness over time.

For others, especially those with drier or more sensitive skin, who wear minimal product or spend a lot of time indoors, a single gentle cleanse may be perfectly sufficient. Double cleansing every day isn't a requirement for healthy skin, and overdoing it with harsh formulas or excessive cleansing can disrupt the skin barrier rather than support it.

Can Double Cleansing Damage the Skin Barrier?

Double cleansing itself is not inherently damaging, but the way you cleanse can be. The skin barrier is a delicate network of lipids and proteins that keeps moisture in and irritants out. When we over-cleanse or reach for harsh, stripping surfactants, studies have shown it increases the chances of transepidermal water loss (TEWL) which disrupts the balance, leaving skin vulnerable to sensitivity, dehydration, and inflammation.

And there are key warning signs to look out for that may indicate you are over-cleansing: skin feeling tight, looking red or becoming reactive. Squeaky-clean is not the goal; comfortable and balanced is.

Those with drier or more sensitive skin types should also be particularly mindful. Double cleansing twice daily, morning and evening, is rarely necessary. Cleansing with the right formulas, used at the right frequency, makes all the difference.

Can All Skin Types Try Double Cleansing?

Yes, double cleansing is suitable for all skin types, but the approach should be tailored to your skin's individual needs. A one-size-fits-all routine rarely exists in skincare, and cleansing is no exception.

Those with oily, combination, or blemish-prone skin tend to find double cleansing most beneficial, as it offers a more thorough removal of excess sebum and congestion-causing impurities. For drier skin types, those with heightened sensitivity, or anyone with a compromised barrier, it’s best to be slightly more cautious and limit double cleansing to evenings or on days when wearing heavy makeup and SPF.

Whichever skin type you have, the second cleanse is where personalisation matters most. This step should actively address your skin's specific concerns, whether that's balancing oiliness, calming sensitivity, or supporting hydration.

A Double Cleansing Routine for Your Skin Type

Choosing the right double cleansing products for your skin type and concerns is the key to a routine you can feel confident starting.

Why Cleanser Formulation Matters

Not all cleansers behave in the same way. The effectiveness and comfort of cleansing, whether you’re double or single cleansing, depends on choosing a formula that works with your skin barrier and not against it.

The skin's natural pH sits at a mildly acidic 4.5–5.5, and this is the environment that supports a balanced microbiome and a functioning barrier. It has been proven that overly alkaline cleansers (like traditional bars of soap) can disturb this balance, disrupting the delicate ecosystem of bacteria that keeps skin healthy, undermining barrier function, and depleting natural hydration levels.

How Often Should You Double Cleanse?

There's no universal rule; double cleansing can be done daily or just a few times a week, depending on your lifestyle and skin's needs.

The evening is generally the best time to double cleanse, as this is when skin has accumulated a full day's worth of SPF, makeup, oil, and environmental pollutants that benefit from a thorough two-step removal.

In the morning, a single cleanse is usually sufficient, as there's little to remove beyond the light residue of overnight skincare and any oil produced while sleeping.

Some people only need to double cleanse occasionally or on specific evenings, rather than as a daily habit. If you don't wear make-up and spend most of your time indoors, perhaps working from home, your skin may not need nightly double cleansing. On the other hand, those living in cities or exposed to higher levels of daily pollution may find their skin benefits from cleansing twice every evening.

If you're new to double cleansing, we recommend starting once or twice a week and adjusting based on how your skin responds.

Should You Exfoliate after Double Cleansing?

Not necessarily. Double cleansing and exfoliating serve two different purposes: double cleansing removes build-up such as SPF, makeup, oil, and pollutants, while exfoliation removes dead skin cells from the skin's surface.

It's worth being cautious about exfoliating immediately after a thorough double cleanse, particularly if your first cleanser was quite active or your skin already feels slightly stripped. Layering exfoliation on top of this can compromise the skin barrier and lead to irritation, sensitivity, or redness, especially with frequent use.

That said, some exfoliating cleansers can be used as the second step in a double cleanse, offering a gentle way to combine the two without adding an extra product to your routine.

How often this is appropriate depends largely on skin type. Oily or congested skin may tolerate an exfoliating second cleanser more regularly, as it can help manage excess sebum and prevent build-up in the pores. Sensitive or reactive skin needs to be more cautious and limit exfoliating to once or twice a week.

We recommend exfoliating once or twice a week to help your double cleansing skincare routine, and remove dead skin cells.

Is Double Cleansing Right for Everyone?

Double cleansing is a technique, not a skincare rule. It is not something every skin type needs every single day, but rather a tool to reach for when your skin genuinely calls for it: after long days, heavy SPF application, or makeup wear.

The most effective cleansing routine is one built around your individual skin. Your skin type, lifestyle, environment, and daily SPF habits should all inform how and how often you cleanse.

What works for oily skin may be entirely unsuitable for dry or reactive complexions. Perhaps most importantly, more cleansing does not equal healthier skin. Stripping and over-cleansing can undo the very results you are working towards.

All of our cleansers are powerful enough to remove makeup, sunscreen and daily impurities in one single cleanse, but if you’re looking to elevate your cleansing routine, without disturbing anything, then double cleansing is the way forward.

^{[1] Proven via independent consumer study on Lipid Balance Cleansing Oil conducted over 2 weeks on 55 participants.
[2] Proven via independent self-assessment study conducted over 4 weeks on 101 participants of which 79% agreed.
[3] Proven via independent clinical study conducted over 4 weeks on 66 participants with all skin types.}