Double Cleansing, come & tell me what you use, I need a change...

[VelvetShroudatMidnight]

At the moment I'm taking make up off with either a foaming cleanser & water/hot cloth cleanser/balm. Once the make ups off I second cleanse with micellar water but just found out from Caroline Hirons that's its Not Correct to use micellar for the second cleanser :) I then acid tone with Pixi Glow, serum & moisturise.

What do you all use for first & second cleanses?

[BeeeeAve]

I just cleanse twice with a flannel and hot cloth cleanser (Superdrug). It does mean you get through quite a few clean flannels each week, though, as mascara comes off all over the shop. But nothing else seems to work as well for me.

Agree, since I've been doing this double cleansing lark my skin is miles better.

[Nabootique]

Both serum and moisturiser can contain "active" ingredients, but the formula of the serum will lend itself to penetrating the surface, so any ingredients will be more effective. I think most common reason people start using a serum is for anti-ageing, with those ones selling more than, say, one for spots, hence the advertising being mostly around those ones.

The only thing that has actually been proved to be "anti-ageing" is vitamin a/retinol, but serums can be marketed as "minimising the appearance of wrinkles" without these ingredients if they contain something that plumps out the surface of the skin, even when that would be a temporary effect whilst using the product. "Appearance" rather than "presence"

[Floisme]

I read the small print on the skin care adverts and the only claim I've ever seen for serums is that they 'minimise the appearance of wrinkles' - which is exactly what they say about moisturiser.

For cleansing I use almond oil and a flannel. If I don't think I've got it all off, I do it again.

[DifferentCats]

I use a cream cleanser, usually Peaches and Clean and then wash the lot of with unperfumed vegetable soap.

I don't think you can get black eyeliner and heavy mascara off with just cream unless you grind it into your eyes. Soap lifts it off almost instantly.

[Nabootique]

You can use a make up remover as a cleanse, it's just that a lot of people prefer an oil or balm that does the make up removal job as well. The idea with double cleansing is that the first cleanse removes the grime and the second cleans the skin itself. Or another way of thinking is that like attracts like, so an oil/balm will remove oil based grime such as make up and excess oil, then a second cleanse with a water based gel/cream/milk will remove sweat, dead skin, etc.

A serum penetrates the skin and addresses skin issues, such as anti-aging, redness, spots, dehydration, etc., whereas a moisturiser, although some will have ingredients that penetrate, is more about sitting on top and protecting the skin, and should be chosen according to skin type, oily/normal/dry.

[josephwrightofderby]

Please can someone explain to me? I always thought makeup remover WAS a cleanser... because it cleans?

What is serum? Is it not just like moisturiser?? So why do I need moisturiser too?

I know absolutely nothing about this stuff and feel so lost

[Hopefully]

Yeah, double cleansing makes my skin miles better too (although it isn't terrible if I don't, just noticeably duller and more spot prone). I use micellar water as a make up/grime remover, I don't have any misconceptions about what it does at all.

[MadGhostlyGnome]

First cleanse with LRP micellar water to take off all makeup from the day.

Second cleanse with hot water, a flannel and LRP cream cleanser.

Then I rub in LRP Effaclar duo serum and a bit later use L'occitane moisturiser if I need it.

Skin is 100x better than before with this routine. Took me a long time to leave harsh foaming cleansers well alone.

[mrslebon]

Agree, my skin has never looked better since I've been hot cloth/double cleansing. I use Clinique Take the Day Off balm (brilliant, better than Emma Hardie or Aromatherapy Associates for me) and then REN Gentle Cleansing Milk which lasts for ages.

[ThatsHowYouGetAnts]

I use Balm Balm Frankincense Balm followed by Dudu Osun black soap.

Hot cloth method works for me. You'll have to pry my facecloths from my cold dead hands

[Tugstonia]

Double cleansing has transformed my skin from dull and acne-ridden to bright and clear, thanks to Caroline Hirons' advice. I use Ren Rosa No 1 cleansing balm and Ren ClearCalm clay cleanser. Works for me.

[Nabootique]

Horses for courses. If I used what Left does my skin would look like shit. I know because I did and it did. For years.

[PurpleDaisies]

Op is your current routine working for you?

There are so many different opinions out there about what's the best thing for your skin. Just do what's best for yours. Basically the best things you can do for it are not smoking, wearing sunscreen and having good genes.

[squoosh]

Removing a few dull dead skin cells isn't the same as 'removing the top layer of skin'.

[squoosh]

'removes the top layer of skin'?

If your dermatologist is telling you this I think I'd be asking for a refund. How much skin exactly do you think a piece of wet cloth can remove?

[LeftMyRidingCropInTheMortuary]

Using a flannel/brush/exfoliator except for very very gently will remove the top layer of skin and let bacteria in. And makes it more prone to sun damage. Whether or not you have sensitive skin. The skin sheds itself and doesn't need any help from us. That lovely new skin you see when you do these things is vulnerable skin that wasn't ready to come to the surface yet!

[squoosh]

'Just leave it alone, girls! Put down the flannels, hot water and nasty scrubby brush things.'


Why?

I don't have sensitive skin or rosacea. My skin loves a flannel. You've found what works for you but it doesn't mean it's going to suit everyone.

[LeftMyRidingCropInTheMortuary]

*I had/have rosacea too.

[LeftMyRidingCropInTheMortuary]

I've spent years under the care of a consultant dermatologist and this is what I ultimately learned. I had dreadful acne into my 30s and very sensitive skin. It's now the best it's been since I stopped over-treating it with products and procedures.

[LeftMyRidingCropInTheMortuary]

Too many products and too much fiddling with the skin. Just leave it alone, girls! Put down the flannels, hot water and nasty scrubby brush things.

[LeftMyRidingCropInTheMortuary]

A lot of misconceptions above.

Double cleansing was invented to double sales of beauty products!

Miscellar water is not meant to replace cleanser. At best, it's a make up remover or a stop-gap if you're at the gym or something.

And coconut oil is the worst thing you could possibly put on your skin - causes blocked pores.

All you need is a simple, non-foaming, non-comedogenic cleaner. Such as la roche posay or avene. And possibly a separate eye make up remover.

[Hopefully]

Any old micellar water for first cleanse, then homemade oil cleanser for hot cloth cleansing as second one.

[MamaLazarou]

I use Lush 9to 5 to take make up off, then cleanse with Ultrabland. I have also been trying Elemis Pro-Collagen cleansing balm and it is without doubt the nicest thing I have ever put on my skin. I now have to sell a kidney to buy the full-sized jar!

[CadiM]

I used to use a Superdrug hot cloth cleanser but recently switched to the Body Shop camomile balm and oil as my skin was getting very dry. I like them both and my skin is happier (and I'm happier when there's 40% off, the tin of balm is quite small).

[squoosh]

I don't believe in double cleansing. If a cleanser doesn't take all my makeup off in one go I don't buy it again.