Published: March 30, 2025
If you keep up with skincare trends, double cleansing has probably caught your attention a few times. Although it has long since been practiced in Korea, Japan, and other parts of Asia, the technique only went mainstream a couple of years ago…but it has really made its mark since then!
With so many raving about how double cleansing has helped to improve their skin, it’s only natural to be curious about how this concept works, along with its purported benefits. Could double cleansing really bring you the radiant glow you’ve been seeking? Read on as Avinichi investigates!
What is Double Cleansing?
Double cleansing is exactly what it sounds like – cleansing your skin twice instead of just once. However, while you could do this with just one cleanser, the beauty of double cleansing lies in how it enables your skin to benefit from two different types of cleansers.
The first cleanse is usually done with an oil-based cleanser. Since oil attracts oil, this cleanse will focus on any oil-based impurities that are lingering on your skin, such as sebum, sunscreen, and pollutants.
Once the first cleanser has been rinsed off, it’s then usually followed by a water-based cleanser. These formulas tend to hone in on water-based impurities, like dirt and sweat.
The Benefits of Double Cleansing
There are a few significant benefits provided by double cleansing. Firstly, as we mentioned above, each different type of cleanser works best on certain types of dirt. If you only use an oil-based cleanser, some of the water-based impurities on your skin will likely be left behind, and vice versa if you only use a water-based cleanser. Cleansing with both gives your skin a much more thorough cleanse.
It also means that your water-based cleanser will be able to penetrate your skin more effectively since it won’t have to fight through a layer of sebum first. Being able to remove deeper-seated dirt will save your skin from a lot of free radical damage. This then helps to keep the appearance of inflammation and aging at bay.
Of course, the cleaner your skin, the better the rest of your skincare products will work. Your skin will be able to absorb them much more easily, allowing all of your products to work to their full potential.
While some may worry about using an oil-based cleanser on oily skin, this is actually another benefit of double cleansing. As we said earlier, oil attracts oil. This means that many oil-based cleansers are actually better at removing excess sebum than water-based cleansers. The water-based cleanser that follows removes any residue, leaving oily skin feeling much less greasy. The thorough cleanse provided by double cleansing can be very helpful when it comes to preventing the appearance of clogged pores and acne breakouts.
The Downsides of Double Cleansing
So far, so good…but are there any downsides to double cleansing?
The main one is that you could easily accidentally end up over-cleansing your skin. This is when, in addition to cleaning away dirt, oil, and everything else, you also end up removing parts of your natural protective barrier. Once your skin barrier ends up damaged, a number of problems can occur. Dehydration becomes an issue, acne breakouts become more prevalent, flaking and peeling skin are common occurrences, and your skin will also suddenly be so much more sensitive. Keeping your skin barrier intact as much as possible is key if you want a healthy complexion.
With that said, double cleansing without over-cleansing can definitely be done. Just make sure that you don’t do it too often. Double cleansing shouldn’t be a twice-daily habit. Instead, save it for the evenings, and not every evening at that.
The cleansers that you choose will also have a big influence over whether or not you end up over-cleansing your skin…
How to Choose Your Cleansers
So, how do you go about choosing cleansers that are suitable for double cleansing and won’t contribute to skin damage?
The key is to keep things gentle. Since you’re using two different cleansers, you don’t need to burden your skin with overly harsh or potent formulas. Instead, pick cleansers that focus on keeping your skin barrier feeling strong and resilient.
Choosing an Oil-Based Cleanser
Your skin type will have a big impact on the oil-based cleanser you use. If you have oily skin, go for non-comedogenic cleansing oils. Jojoba, rosehip, and argan oils would all be great ingredients to try. Those ingredients are all revered for how they can balance out how oily the skin feels, making your complexion less greasy in the long run.
If your skin type is dry, you won’t need to worry about how comedogenic your oil-based cleanser is. In fact, the richer it is, the better! Look for formulas containing oils that have a high fatty acid content, such as coconut oil, marula oil, and sweet almond oil. Shea butter is another useful cleanser ingredient for dry skin.
Choosing a Water-Based Cleanser
There are several different types of water-based cleansers out there. Once again, keep your skin type in mind when choosing which to use.
Foaming cleansers tend to be the preferred choice for oily and combination skin. However, make sure that you go for a sulfate-free formula. As we discussed above, you need to keep things gentle to avoid over-cleansing your skin, even if your skin type is oily. A cleanser like the Avinichi Noni Clarifying Lather Purifier would be ideal because not only is it free of sulfates but it’s also packed with ingredients that will keep your skin barrier feeling preserved. Between peptides and plant extracts, it follows on great from an oil-based cleanser. However, it’s also very efficient when used on its own, making it a good cleanser for when you don’t want to double cleanse too.
With our foaming cleanser containing so many beneficial ingredients, it can, unlike many other foaming cleansers, be used on dry skin too. However, if your dry skin is also a little sensitive, you may want to opt for a more moisturizing water-based cleanser instead. This is where the Avinichi Noni Mousse Cleanser comes in. From its coconut-derived cleansing agents to its infusion of chamomile, calendula, lavender, and aloe vera extracts, it will leave your skin feeling clean yet calm.
Is Double Cleansing Suitable for All Skin Types?
One big question that many people have about double cleansing is whether or not it’s suitable for all skin types. There’s a big myth out there about double cleansing only being an option for oily skin types but, as you can see, it’s a technique that can benefit all.
The key is to ensure that your double cleanse is tailored to your skin type. Choosing the right cleansers and ensuring that you double cleanse in accordance with your skin type (oily skin can usually be cleansed a little more often than dry skin), is how to go about doing this.
What to Do After Double Cleansing Your Skin
With double cleansing being a great way to enhance the effects of your other skincare products, post-double-cleanse is an ideal time to give your skin some extra TLC. Here’s a routine to follow after you double cleanse your skin:
Apply a Hydrating Toner
Since your skin will be feeling extra-receptive after your double cleanse, try to give it as much hydration as possible. Start with a hydrating toner, just like the Avinichi Noni Pore Purifying Toner. With aloe vera leaf juice as one of its main ingredients, it will quickly quench your skin cells while also keeping them feeling soothed. This is enhanced by cucumber and chamomile extracts. Meanwhile, noni fruit extract is brimming with skin-loving antioxidants.
Use an Antioxidant Serum
Speaking of antioxidants, you should always try to incorporate as many as realistically possible into your skincare routine. The best way to do this is with an antioxidant serum, like the Avinichi Hydrating Multifruit C-Serum. This formula contains two forms of vitamin C, which is revered for being one of the best antioxidants around. It’s also infused with vitamin A, vitamin E, black mulberry extract, and a blend of antioxidant-rich plant oils.
Follow Up With a Hydrating Serum
While the plant oils in the vitamin C serum featured above will do a great job of hydrating your skin, layering another hydrating serum over the top will help to boost your skin’s moisture content even further.
The Hydrating Antioxidant Serum from the Avinichi Phyto Thermal Collection does this well while, as you can tell from its name, also giving your skin yet another layer of antioxidants! With sodium hyaluronate, peptides, hawthorn berry extract, lilac extract, and apple fruit extract, it’s full of ingredients that your skin will love.
Lock Everything in With a Moisturizer
It’s now time to lock everything into your skin with a moisturizer. The seal that this will form over your skin’s surface will not only prevent your serums from evaporating away or rubbing off but will also keep your skin feeling a little safer from environmental aggressors.
The Avinichi Noni Night Repair Cream would be an excellent choice if you’re double cleansing at night. It will give your skin cells all that they need to feel supported while they work on renewal and regeneration. Meanwhile, the Noni Morning Glow is a lighter formula that’s ideal if you’ve double cleansed in the morning.
Is Double Cleansing Worth Trying?
While many skincare trends are definitely not worth your time, double cleansing is one that is. In fact, it provides such a distinct advantage that many no longer view it as a trend – it has quickly become a skincare staple.
While you shouldn’t suddenly jump into double cleansing every day, give the technique a try to see how it could potentially improve your complexion. Once you experience its benefits, you’ll soon want to regularly incorporate it into your routine!
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