Double Cleansing in the Japanese skincare routine
Author: Jenny Schadow, Co-Founder MAYUNO
Double Cleansing is a two-step cleansing method for the face. An oil-based and a water-based cleanser are applied one after the other. The particular advantage of Double Cleansing is that it removes both oil-soluble and water-soluble impurities from the skin. Double Cleansing is best used in the evening to thoroughly cleanse the skin after a long day.
Double Cleansing is so simple:
1. Apply a high-quality cleansing oil, such as our RUHAKU 2-in-1 cleansing oil, in circular motions to your face and then rinse off with lukewarm water to remove make-up and excess sebum first.
2. Then use a gentle, water-based foam cleanser, for example our SHIGETA cleaning mousse, to thoroughly remove any remaining sweat and dirt.
How exactly does Double Cleansing work?
Step 1: Cleansing with oil
Cleansing with oil sounds counterintuitive, but it works surprisingly well. A high-quality oil cleanser removes fat-soluble substances such as excess sebum, make-up and sun cream. Oil has the ability to bind with other fats, which is what makes this cleanser so effective and gentle at the same time. You can recognise a high-quality oil cleanser by the fact that it washes off easily, and your skin feels soft rather than greasy after rinsing. We recommend our WAPHYTO cleansing oil, which gently and thoroughly purifies your skin thanks to valuable oils such as macadamia nut oil, rice bran oil and ingredients such as high-quality organic retinol. Cheap oil cleansers, on the other hand, are difficult to wash off and may even clog your pores!
To use, apply the cleansing oil to dry skin and massage it in well. If you use our WAPHYTO cleansing oil, you will be pampered with subtle exotic fragrances such as jasmine during application. Afterwards, you can easily rinse off the oil together with the dissolved residues with lukewarm water.
Step 2: Skin cleansing with a foam cleanser
This step ensures that your skin is squeaky clean, and the subsequent skincare products can be better absorbed. Water-soluble dirt such as sweat, dust and dead skin cells are removed. Again, make sure that the water-based cleanser is as gentle as possible on your skin and, ideally, moisturises it right away instead of drying it out. Japanese cleansers such as our SHIGETA cleansing mousse are especially favourable due to this characteristic.
To use, apply 3 - 4 pumps of the cleansing foam to your hand and spread the foam evenly over your face. You can then rinse off the foam and any remaining dirt with lukewarm water.
Another tip: The skin is particularly sensitive immediately after washing off. Excessive friction can lead to your top layer of skin being unnecessarily stressed. Therefore, be careful not to rub your skin when drying off, but to gently dab away the moisture.
How often should you use Double Cleansing?
Double Cleansing can be used daily and is particularly recommended in the evening, as a lot of residue accumulates on the skin during the day. Air pollution, sweat, sun cream and make-up leave traces that should be thoroughly removed. In the morning, a simple cleansing is often sufficient, as the skin is hardly stressed overnight. For sensitive skin, it is important to choose particularly mild products to avoid irritation.
Is Double Cleansing right for me?
Double Cleansing is worthwhile for almost every skin type, especially if you:
- Use make-up or sun cream.
- Sweat a lot during the day.
- Live in a city with high levels of air pollution.
The method is also suitable for sensitive skin, as long as you use gentle cleansing products. A big advantage is that your skin is optimally prepared for the subsequent care steps after a thorough Double Cleansing. Thereby improving the absorption of subsequent skincare products, such as moisturisers and serums, to provide your skin with nutrients and moisture. You can find out which steps in the Japanese skincare routine come after Double Cleansing in our article on the J-Beauty routine.
Should I also double cleanse if I have oily skin?
Double Cleansing can work wonders for oily skin, as an oil cleanser is particularly good at removing the excess sebum that is produced by your skin throughout the day and has absorbed dirt. If you suffer from blackheads and have visible, dark pores, a cleanser with salicylic acid can also be of great help.
Differences between Korean and Japanese Double Cleansing
Ingredients: Japanese products rely on minimalist, natural formulas with a very subtle, natural fragrance, while Korean products contain innovative and complex ingredients.
Consistency: Japanese oil cleansers are often richer and more moisturising, while Korean products tend to be lighter and suitable for layering. Japanese foam cleansers moisturise the skin as they cleanse, in line with the minimalist, multi-functional skincare concept. Korean foaming cleansers aim for a dense, soft foam that prepares the skin for the subsequent rehydration steps.
Which Double Cleansing is most suitable for you depends entirely on your preferences. If you want to find out which of the two skincare cultures suits you better, we have an article for you here that might interest you: Japanese skincare or Korean skincare?
FAQ
Frequently asked questions about Double Cleansing
Can I use micellar water as the first step instead of cleansing oil?
Micellar water can remove make-up, but it is no substitute for cleansing oil. It is based on surfactants, not the ‘oil-dissolves-oil’ principle, and is therefore less effective at removing oil-soluble residues such as sun cream or oxidised sebum. It also requires cotton pads, which cause additional friction on the skin.
Cleansing oil, on the other hand, is particularly effective on waterproof make-up, sun cream and clogged pores. It nourishes without drying out the skin whilst thoroughly cleansing oil-based residues. With the right formulation, it is also suitable for all skin types.
How long should I massage the cleansing oil in?
Allow yourself about 60 seconds. That may sound short, but it’s significantly longer than most people instinctively spend cleansing. During this time, the oil can sufficiently bind with make-up residue and sebum and gently unclog blocked pores.
Do I need to wait between the two cleansing steps?
No, you can move straight on to the foaming cleanser after rinsing off the cleansing oil. The only important thing is to rinse the oil off thoroughly with lukewarm water first, so that the foaming cleanser can work effectively.
From what age is double cleansing recommended?
Double cleansing isn’t a question of age, but of how much your skin is exposed to. If you sweat a lot or apply sun cream or make-up, you’ll benefit from it. This can be the case as early as your teenage years. The method is particularly beneficial for mature skin, as thoroughly cleansed skin can absorb anti-ageing ingredients much more effectively.
What is the ideal water temperature for cleansing?
Use lukewarm water, which is approximately at body temperature. Water that is too hot strips the skin of valuable lipids and can exacerbate redness. Cold water, on the other hand, is less effective at dissolving oil-based residues and can leave cleansing residues on the skin.
