Women’s Health UK – September 2019

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SKIN

DEEP

The cornerstone of a good skincare routine, double-cleansing refers to the use of two different cleansers one

after the other, or using the same cleanser twice in a row. Either way, it can be a valuable habit to adopt

Double-cleansing: worth the hassle?

THE EXPERT

Dr Johanna Ward,

founder of skincare

brand ZENii

Evolve Gentle

Cleansing Melt, £22

Nourishing baobab oil

makes this luxurious

cleansing balm a

must-have for dry skin.

Tata Harper Clarifying

Cleanser, £59

Unclogs pores and

tackles acne thanks

to plant-derived

salicylic acid.

L’Occitane Cleansing

Milk Facial Make-Up

Remover, £19

Infused with honey,

which is famed for

its antibacterial and

protective properties.

Givenchy Ready-To-

Cleanse Cleansing

Cream-In-Gel, £27.50

Transforms into a

creamy mousse to

rid skin of pesky

pollution particles.

Daily cleansing is one

of the most important

things you can do to

maintain skin health

as it removes make-up,

cellular debris, cosmetic

residue, sweat, oil,

bacteria and pollution

particles. Double-

cleansing is especially

important at night-time

if you wear heavy

make-up or if you’re exposed to high

levels of environmental pollution

throughout the day. Make-up, SPF, oil

and pollution particles aren’t water-

soluble, so water alone won’t remove

them. If you skimp on your cleansing

routine, your skin will be prone to

breakouts, dehydration and accelerated

ageing. Moreover, once the skin is properly

cleansed, any serums and creams will

work more deeply and effectively.

FORMULATIONS

There are lots of different

cleansers, from gels

and creams to foaming

washes and micellar

waters. But which one

you use is a matter of

preference. For the first

cleanse, many use an oil,

micellar or balm cleanser

to remove make-up, SPF

and sebum, followed by

a deeper, water-based

cleanser. Some advanced

formulas also combine

alpha-hydroxy or beta-

hydroxy acids, such as

glycolic and salicylic acid,

to exfoliate.

CLEANSING DOS

On average, people spend

less than 20 seconds

cleansing, but that’s not

enough. Massage cleanser

into your face in circular

motions for two minutes

to thoroughly remove dirt

and reap the benefits from

the cleanser’s ingredients

• especially with formulas
  that contain actives like
  salicylic and glycolic acid,
  which need to be in
  contact with the skin for
  a few minutes to work.

CLEANSING DON’TS

The temperature of the

water matters, too. If you

use scorching hot water,

you’re likely to irritate

your skin, so cleanse with

lukewarm water, then pat

the skin dry with a cloth.

Avoid cleansing with

soap at all costs – it strips

the skin of its natural oils

and disrupts the skin’s

barrier function, making

it sensitive. Also, choose

sulphate-free cleansers,

as sulphates irritate the

skin by stripping it of its

natural oils. As a rule,

avoid facial wipes – they

just move the grime

around your face, plus

they contain alcohol,

which can dry skin out.

‘As a rule, avoid

facial wipes – they

just move the

grime around’

SEPTEMBER 2019 | 83