Skin Care How To: The Korean Double Cleansing Method

Don’t let the remnants of your makeup come back to haunt you— or your complexion. Ahead, we share how to double cleanse your face using three quick and easy methods! 

When Korean beauty products took the Western world by storm, with them came a new wave of skin care and beauty trends that would change the way we care for our skin. Case in point: the double cleanse. The classic K-beauty double cleanse consists of using an oil-based cleanser first, followed by a water-based cleanser. Oil cleansers can emulsify and ultimately lift away any oil-based impurities (think: makeup, excess sebum, and sunscreen), while water-based cleansers focus on—you guessed it—water-based debris (think: sweat and some environmental pollutants). By cleansing your complexion with both types of facial cleansers, you can help rid your skin of both kinds of pore-clogging debris.

As we stated above, the classic Korean beauty double cleanse consists of an oil-based cleanser and water-based cleanser. If you want to give this OG double cleanse technique a try, we recommend pairing The Body Shop’s Camomile Silky Cleansing Oil and Aloe Calming Foaming Wash.

Enriched with the brand’s Community Trade camomile, the Camomile Silky Cleansing Oil is a silky-soft oil-based cleanser that can gently remove makeup and other oil-based impurities. To use in a double cleanse, simply apply the cleanser to dry skin and use your fingers to gently massage the oil-based formula into your skin. Once you start to notice your makeup lift away, wet your hands with lukewarm water and continue to massage your complexion for about 30 seconds—this will emulsify the oil-based debris. Rinse your skin and move on to your water-based cleanser.

Step 2: The Body Shop’s Aloe Calming Foaming Wash

Formulated with the brand’s Community Trade aloe vera, the Aloe Calming Foaming Wash is a gentle, soap-free foaming cleanser that can cleanse the skin of water-based debris. To use in a double cleanse, apply to cleansed skin and massage with your fingertips. Rinse with lukewarm water or wipe clean with a washcloth and follow up with a hydrating moisturizer. 

Editor’s note: If you plan to rock a full face of Halloween makeup—such as a trendy sugar skull look—use makeup remover wipes or a lukewarm washcloth to remove as much of the makeup as possible before going in with the double cleanse.

If you’re looking for a lazy girl version of the double cleanse, this one’s for you. Makeup remover wipes and micellar water require close to zero effort and are both great alternatives for cleansing your complexion without water. We recommend pairing the Refreshing Remover Cleansing Towelettes with the Micellar Cleansing Water All-in-1 Waterproof Makeup Remover & Cleanser from Garnier.

Step 1: Garnier’s Refreshing Remover Cleansing Towelettes

Formulated with peppermint leaf and grape water extract, the Refreshing Remover Cleansing Towelettes from Garnier can gently remove makeup and impurities from the skin’s surface. To use in a double cleanse, remove a towelette from the sealed package and gently wipe the face and eye area. No rinsing necessary!

Step 2: Garnier’s Micellar Water All-in-1 Waterproof Makeup Remover & Cleanser

Formulated with micellar technology, the Micellar Water All-in-1 Waterproof Makeup Remover & Cleanser is a bi-phase facial cleanser that can gentle remove makeup and impurities from the complexion without any water. To use in a double cleanse, shake the solution, apply to a cotton pad, and gently wipe across your complexion. Don’t forget to follow up with a hydrating face lotion!

If you haven’t tried cleansing balm yet, you’re seriously missing out! Cleansing balms are like solid oil cleansers—meaning that they start off in a solid, balm-form, then melt into a cleansing oil upon the touch of your skin. When paired with a water-based cleanser, you’ve got yourself a whole new take on the classic double cleanse. We recommend pairing the Ultime8 Sublime Beauty Intensive Cleansing Balm with the Porefinist Gentle Foaming Cleansing Water both from Shu Uemura.

Step 1: Shu Uemura’s Ultime8 Sublime Beauty Intensive Cleansing Balm

Formulated with a combination of eight botanical oils, the Ultime8 Sublime Beauty Intensive Cleansing Balm from Shu Uemura can gently remove makeup and other oil-based impurities while providing your complexion with a boost of hydration. To use in a double cleanse, take a grape-sized amount of the balm in your palm and smooth over a dry complexion and then add water to emulsify. Follow up by rinsing your complexion with lukewarm water or wiping with a damp washcloth.

Step 2: Shu Uemura’s Porefinist Gentle Foaming Cleansing Water

Formulated with pineapple fruit extract and water lily, the Porefinist Gentle Foaming Cleansing Water from Shu Uemura can remove both water-based and oil-based impurities from the complexion—all while focusing on refining the skin’s texture, for smoother, softer-looking skin. To use in a double cleanse, apply the cleanser to skin and massage into a lather. Rinse with lukewarm water or wipe clean with a washcloth and follow up with a nourishing facial lotion.