What is double cleansing and how to do it correctly

By and large, facial wipes (thank goodness) are pretty much a thing of the past among beauty fanatics.

Ineffective, environmentally damaging, and dreadful for your skin, lots of us have eschewed the convenience product in favour of quality cleansing formulas.

Over the last few years, thanks to the rise of no-nonsense skinfluencers (Caroline Hirons, Dija Ayodele and the like), more of us than ever are looking to invest in our skin and give it the love it deserves.

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Model with clear skin — You may already be double-cleansing without actually realising

But let's be totally honest, who has the time, or in fact the inclination, to spend hours layering on millions of different products in front of the mirror.

I'm of the opinion that a decent skincare routine needn't take over your life (I certainly don't have the stamina for the TikTok-adored Korean 10-step), instead, a few decent products and a spot of commitment will go a long way.

First things first, there is absolutely zero point in faffing about with expensive actives if you haven't got the basics nailed. If you do nothing else to your skin, you ought to cleanse it properly - not once, but twice.

To be clear, perfection is by no means the aim here. I can't pretend that I haven't stumbled into bed in the early hours still with a full face of makeup on, but the idea is to make these sorts of occasions the exception rather than the rule.

What is double cleansing?

Funnily enough, you might already be double cleansing, without consciously realising. The phrase essentially refers to using a cleanser to remove the day's residue (a delightful blend of makeup, pollution, sun protection and sweat), a heavy-duty balm, oil or cream will do the trick. Then you want to repeat the process, probably with something lighter like a milk, gel or lotion, to ensure that your skin is comfortable and balanced.

According to Joanne Evans, celebrity facialist and founder of Holland Park's Skin Matters, the double cleanse is "essential", considering what your face endures over the course of a single day.

"When it comes to thoroughly cleansing your skin, one cleanse is usually insufficient," she tells Hello! Fashion. "I always use an oil for the first cleanse. Any oil will do for this first stage of breaking through and melting away the dirt."

"After that, cleanse your skin again with a gel, lotion, or cream. This could be your toner as well to remove any residue left over, and to make sure every last bit of dirt is off at the end of the day," Joanne advises.

How we chose:

First Cleanse
Osmoclean Micellar Face Cleansing Oil
Institut Esthederm
Formula?
Oil.
This oil cleanser by Institut Esthederm makes for a great, unfussy first cleanse, melting makeup (including waterproof formulas) and SPF super speedily. I find it to be extremely gentle, even around the eye area, and the combination of meadowfoam and jojoba oil leaves my skin feeling comfortable and satiated every single time.
£34.00 AT LOOKFANTASTIC
Moringa Cleansing Balm
Emma Hardie
Formula?
Balm.
Adored by beauty editors and fans alike, Emma Hardie's 'Moringa' Cleansing Balm is total skincare classic, and rightly so. A fragrant, indulgent blend of orange, neroli, mandarin jasmine and rose oils work to remove any traces of makeup and create a spa-like moment during your nightly skincare ritual.
£52.00 AT M&S
Cold Cream
The Seated Queen
Formula?
Cream.
The Seated Queen's Cold Cream is one of my more recent cleanser discoveries, and I am very much here for its glamorous, vintage energy. Packed with fatty acids to support the skin's barrier, it removes makeup with ease, but it also makes for a lovely, opulent second cleanse.
£39.00 AT CULT BEAUTY
Second Cleanse
Evercalm Gentle Cleansing Milk
Ren Clean Skincare
Formula?
Milk.
Part of Ren's 'Evercalm' range, this milk cleanser has been indispensable in my travel skincare arsenal recently. It's infused with omega-rich oils (blackcurrant seed and sea buckthorn) for skin barrier support and suppleness. Plus, it's really effective at removing makeup, meaning I've been using it for both my first and second cleanse on overnight trips.
£25.00 AT JOHN LEWIS
Clean Slate Cleanser
Formula?
Gel.
May Botanicals' 'Clean Slate' is a really pleasant second cleanse, especially so if you have dehydrated, blemish-prone skin. It contains salicylic acid to break up pore blockages as well as rosewater for hydration and radiance.
£45.00 AT MAY BOTANICALS

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