to double cleanse or not to double cleanse?

As an avid makeup wearer, especially eye makeup – you will never see me without mascara! It is my must have no matter what I’m doing or where I’m going. I have been kind of” double cleansing” for as long as I can remember. Double cleaning is using an oil or a balm to remove makeup/dirt/oil first and then another cleanser, something water based to cleanse your skin. I double cleans in a way because I use a makeup remover (oil based) to remove all of my eye makeup, any blush, or lipstick and then I wash my face. I find when I don’t do this, I have a little bit of mascara or my wing liner leftover under my eyes, and I then need to use some remover to get this off which makes me wish I had done it before.

This prompted me to start really looking into double cleansing. It might sound a bit much to some, but honestly double cleaning is great! You never have any leftover makeup, and your skin feels clean but not stripped. By using the oil/balm you break down all the makeup and then the second cleanser is to clean the skin, and address any issues/concerns you might have– so you can use something for hydration, exfoliating, acne… There is a lot on the market for cleansing, so it is a little bit of a trial-and-error process to figure out what works for you. A great way to do this is to order travel sizes of products you like; this is always a great way to try products out without spending too much or committing to the full bottle. The travel size will give you enough product to actually get a feel for the products and give them a chance before deciding whether it works for you or not. You might find different combinations work best for you, and that’s the best thing, you can really customize your skin care routine here and if your skin changes you can switch up the cleansers to ensure they are addressing your concerns.

I have tried out a lot of different combinations, especially when my skin changes and has issues with sensitivity, and dryness. Some of my favorite cleaner combos are:

Normal to Dry skin

Eye Lom Cleanser, $105 – great for normal to dry skin
Fresh Sugar Strawberry Exfoliating Face Wash $42 – great if you feel your skin is a little dull
Or Guinot: Bioxygene Cleansing Foam $44

Sensitive Skin

REN Clean Skincare Evercalm™ Gentle Cleansing Milk $42 – great for sensitive skin
Consonant Natural Foaming Face Wash $26 – perfect for more sensitive to normal skin