February 25, 2019

A Double Cleansing Routine That Won’t Strip Your Skin

I purchased this item and I receive a small commission if you shop using the links in this post.

Ahh the Korean Double Cleansing Method truly a great way to keep your complexion looking bright, clean, and fresh. It’s also an equally great way to strip your skin and make it dry!

If you’re not familiar with the double cleanse method it’s one that Korean women use for clear skin and involves washing your face using two steps and two different cleaners. The first cleanser is typically an oil-base ones and the second is typically a water-based cleanser. The idea is not only to get your skin squeaky clean but also, to remove any residue left behind by your initial cleanser as well as restore moisture that initial cleanse might have stripped away.

I always find double cleansing tricky since I have drier skin and this isn’t always a great method of facial cleansing for such a skin type. I’ve settled on a few methods one of which is an cleansing oil followed by a micellar water. The second one is a cleansing oil followed by a cream cleanse such as Pond’s Cold Cream from Japan. Another method I use cleansing oil followed by Good Cera Super Ceramide Foaming Wash. And lastly, I tend to use a cleansing balm or oil and follow up with a second cleanse using micellar water! This is a great method because it isn’t stripping at all for my drier skin!

Pixi + Caroline Hirons Double Cleanse was a great product that launched last year but it’s since been taken off shelves at Target but I do think it available online. It’s such a great all-in-one cleanser that takes care of the double cleanse routine for you! This worked great for my dry skin however, I tended to go through it very quickly due to the fact it was split in half.

However, I’ve since settled on the following method below. It gets my skin super clean plus it doesn’t strip.

Here’s what I use in my double cleansing routine that doesn’t strip my skin!

Ironically the products I use in my double cleanse are Japanese and not Korean. I use Fancl Mild Cleansing Oil first and follow it with Fancl Facial Washing Powder. Fancl products are super gentle on my skin and don’t strip as I cleanse.

Their cleansing oil is probably one of the best I’ve used in terms of not drying out my skin. It’s truly quite gentle and easy on my skin. I never feel tight or dry after using it.

Their powder cleanser is equally as lovely. It’s a fine loose powder which you add water to and work into a foam. It has a slick collagen wash-like feel on skin but washes clean away and leaves skin pleasantly moist after using it.

At the moment this is my double cleanse of choice. It works great without stripping my skin. If you have drier skin you might want to try it.

How do you double cleanse?

P.S. Fancl products typically come in blue and white packaging. The ones I have here are limited edition bottles that were created in collaboration with artist and photographer Mika Ninagawa which are still available if you want them!

I purchased this item and I receive a small commission if you shop using the links in this post.

About the Muse

Isabella MuseIsabella is just an average everyday geeky girl who doesn’t blend her eyeshadow correctly, wears too much blush, and hopes she never finds her holy grail products because she likes the thrill of the chase so much. Her mission is to bring you super honest reviews on makeup, skincare, fragrance and all things beauty. She’s in no way an expert on the topic and she sure as hell isn’t a super model. But she’s passionate about makeup and is seeking like-minded individuals that like pina coladas, getting caught in the rain, and ones that enjoy spending hundreds of dollars at Sephora without feeling buyer’s remorse. If you’re that person feel free to reach out and leave a comment or follow me on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Bloglovin‘.

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Comments

  • Christina

    I don’t think I’ve ever not double cleansed since wearing makeup as a teenager. Cleansing balms seem to be better for me than oils, but I’ve not tried Fancl’s. I haven’t tried too many cleansing powders, but if you say this one is good, I might try both the oil and the powder.

    I’m being pedantic, but I wouldn’t necessarily say it’s the Korean method of cleansing since both Japan and Korea have been utilising the double cleanse method since at least the 14th century. It’s interesting that most people attribute it to Korea, though. Muse, do you know if there are differences in the two cleansing methods or are they basically the same? I know that most Japanese cleansers are pretty gentle, relying on the cleansing oil to do most of the heavy lifting.

    • Isabella Muse

      I only started doing it in the last few years as I’ve always been a one step girl! I think that the double cleansing method is best for those with oily or problematic skin however, as someone with drier skin I like doing it because my skin feels and just looks fresher/cleaner. If that makes any sense at all! I typically relate it to Korea since the double cleanse seems more well known compared to the Japanese one. As for method, I think the Japanese method is a certain art form. It’s all about massage, minimal contact with skin during cleansing (typically foams are a huge hit) as not to pull skin, and also adjusting how you cleanse with concentration on areas such as your cheeks being the dirtiest and your t-zone being the oiliest. It always feels like the Korean method is a little more straight forward?!

      • Christina

        Huh, I guess I never paid too much attention to it. I just did whatever I was told back then and have been doing it since. I massage with my cleansing oil and focus on certain areas of my face, but I can’t say I devote more than maybe 5 minutes at most to the whole cleansing process. LOL! I’ve heard some people devote 30 minutes!!! Who has time to wash their face for 30 minutes?!!

        • Isabella Muse

          you’re telling me! I mean I think I have an intricate routine but some people go above and beyond! I admire anyone that spends that much time on cleansing and skincare application!

  • kjh

    It kind of depends. usually start with micellar. If a fair amount of m/u, like tonight, then the Nooni you reviewed, then the Cosrx low ph yada yada. Course I have to use up the Mamonde oil to foam, so might use that. yowie zowie is that a scent burst. Thank God it’s rose, rather than some irritating fragrance. When I was broke, I used straight grapeseed oil, and found that worked quite well. Might revert to that. What psychs me tonight is using the Klairs Midnight Blue Calming Cream over the Differin. The packaging on that LE Fancl is gorgeous! The ingredients do not show up on my laptop, so might Cosdna it.

    • Isabella Muse

      oops sorry!

      cleansing oil:
      Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Butylene Glycol Diisononanoate, Polyglyceryl-10 Diisostearate, Caprylyl Caprylate/Caprate, Polyglyceryl-20 Octaisononanoate, Diphenylsiloxy Phenyl Trimethicone, Polyglyceryl-20 Hexacaprylate, Limnanthes Alba (Meadowfoam) Seed Oil, Dimethicone, Glyceryl Behenate/Eicosadioate, Phytosteryl/Isostearyl/Cetyl/Stearyl/Behenyl Dimer Dilinoleate, Tocopherol, Stearoyl Inulin, Dextrin Palmitate

      powder cleanser:

      Sodium Cocoyl/Palmoyl/Sunfloweroyl Glutamate,Sodium Lauroyl Glutamate,Mannitol,Zea Mays (Corn) Starch,Glucose,Peg-75,Sodium Lauroyl Aspartate,Pullulan,Sodium Myristate,Oryza Sativa (Rice) Starch,Behenyl Alcohol,Potassium Myristate,Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose,Talc,Alpha-Glucan,Sodium Myristoyl Glutamate,Sodium Laurate,Agar,Potassium Laurate,Hydroxypropyl Starch Phosphate,Aminoethanesulfinic Acid,Stearic Acid,Lauramidopropylamine Oxide,Silica,Serine,Sorbitol,Glycerin,Allantoin,Dextran Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride,Potassium Palmitate,Sodium Palmitate,Lauric Acid,Polyglyceryl-10 Oleate,Tocopherol

      • Christina

        Sold! I’m going to try it then because a lot of cleansing oils have ethylhexyl palmitate in it, which is highly comedogenic and something my derm wants me to avoid. Nice to know this doesn’t have it or mineral oil. Thanks, Muse!

          • Patricia

            Will definitely try this later.Thanks for the advice and have a nice day!

          • Isabella Muse

            my pleasure and you too let me know how it goes!

  • JoaQuina74

    Good morning Muse. As a 44 yr old woman with oily-acneic skin I haven’t had the best luck with double cleansing. I’ve tried everything from HANSKIN BHA to Burt’s bees. I either follow up with COSRX Low Ph GMC or the d’alba Piedmont No-Subum Gel Cleanser and I always seem to wake up with more blemish’s. I purchased the COSRX Low PH Cleansing Milk Gel and have been using for about a month. Haven’t had anymore breakout but the texture is odd. Not sure if I’ll continue with this. I feel like I’m the only one who isn’t getting the great double cleanse results. I’m also a huge skincare/beauty junkie so any advise would be helpful. Please help!!!

    • Isabella Muse

      I always thought that anyone with oily or problem skin benefits the most from double cleansing! Surprised to hear it doesn’t work out for you 🙁 I wish I could offer up some suggestions but I’m dry as hell so most of my recs would come from a drier skin type! I really don’t have a lot of experience with oily skin!

  • Patricia

    Hi.,

    I’ve been doing double cleansing for the past 9 months. I don’t wear makeup,only sunscreen but I’ve noticed that after double cleansing, there were still impurities left in the cotton pads I’ve used for my BHA and AHA products. Does this mean I don’t cleanse well enough?Do you think I need to do the triple cleansing method? Thanks.

    • Isabella Muse

      That’s unusual. What products are you using to cleanse?

      • Patricia

        I’m using Hanskin Pore Cleansing Oil (PHA) and Saturday Skin Rise & Shine Purifying Cleanse or sometimes I’ve used Pixi Rose Cream Cleanser.

        • Isabella Muse

          Maybe you want to use a deeper foaming cleanser as the second step! and after all that, dry your face, and follow up with some micellar water!

          • Patricia

            I replied in the wrong section..haha..Again,thanks for the advice.