The Double Cleansing & My Own Cleansing Method
Double cleansing involves thoroughly washing your face with two cleansers. The first is usually an oil-based cleanser, then followed up by a water-based cleanser.
An oil-based cleanser is designed to remove oil-based impurities like sebum and pollutants, and dissolves makeup and sunscreen; while the water-based cleanser removes the water-based debris such as sweat and dirt.
Double cleansing is very popular in Korea and Japan. It is part of the Korean 10-step skin care regime, and I read somewhere that Japanese geishas used cleansing oils followed by a foamy cleanser to remove their white makeup.
You can also use cleansing balm or micellar water as your first cleanser if oils aren’t for you. See Different Types of Facial Cleansers
There are other ways to double cleanse. In my case, I switched the two methods. I use a creamy water-based cleanser first, then micellar water after.
I start off with Glossier Milky Jelly Cleanser. It is a creamy gel face wash that has rosewater on ¼ of its H2O content, which is my third favorite beauty ingredient next to cocoa and milk protein. See Skincare Benefits of Rose
In case you are wondering how you would know if the cleanser is water-based, you can just check the ingredient list if it’s first ingredient is water or Aqua.
Glossier Milky Jelly Cleanser is not only good as a basic cleanser, but as a makeup remover as well.
See how Glossier’s co-founder Emily Weiss removed her makeup using the Glossier Milky Jelly Cleanser: How to: Glossier Milky Jelly Cleanser
When I run out of Glossier Milky Jelly Cleanser, which happens often because it is kinda hard to find Glossier products in the Philippines, I use Pond’s Instabright Tone Up Milk Foam.
Pond’s Instabright Tone Up Milk Foam actually has milk in it. See Skincare Benefits of Milk
Since it is Pond’s, the most known drugstore brand in the Philippines, you’ll most likely find it in any convenience stores, grocery stores, and pharmacies near you.
I don’t trust tap water especially in the Philippines, so I double cleanse using Pond’s Vitamin Micellar Water Brightening Rose or Nourishing Milk with cotton pads.
I use the Brightening Rose variant when I use the Glossier Milky Jelly Cleanser as my first cleanser. They go well together since both products have rose extract.
And I use the Nourishing Milk variant when I use Pond’s White Beauty Instabright Tone Up Milk Foam as they go well together with their milk content.
Double cleansing is important at night if you go out and wear makeup, but it’s not really necessary to do it in the morning or if you don’t leave the house.
In fact, I can just clean my face with just micellar water like what French people do. Or I can just use Milky Jelly Cleanser without having to double cleanse afterwards since it can be doubled as a makeup remover.
But I find it weird that I always feel like I have to double cleanse with micellar water after washing my face off because I don’t completely trust tap water, but at the same time, it feels incomplete if I just use micellar water. I don’t feel refreshed without washing my face off with water. So even if I didn’t go out or wear makeup, I have to do both and this is the cleansing method I do twice a day.