What’s a Double Cleanse and Why Is It Important? | Benefit Cosmetics

August 7, 2024

Everything You Need to Know About Double Cleansing

We’re BIG fans of doubling up on the good stuff, like double cheese pizzas, double rainbows, double features at the movie theater, and of course, double cleansing.

So what’s the deal with the double cleanse? Why do you get so much more from a double-cleanse than a regular ol’ scrub? We’ve got all the answers about why you should start double cleansing, like, now.

Double Cleansing: The Quick Q and A

We know you want your double cleanse answers double time, so check out these at-a-glance Q&A’s:

• What is double cleansing? Double cleansing is exactly what it sounds like: cleansing skin twice! First, wash with an oil-based, makeup-removing cleanser, then rinse away anything leftover with a water-based cleanser.
• What are the benefits of double cleansing? Double cleansing combines the power of both cleansers for a whole new level of clean. Oil cleansers can help visibly melt away dirt, oil, grime, and makeup while water-based cleansers can visibly rinse away dirt, oil & impurities to help pores look and feel purified. When used together, the two cleansers can help visibly unclog pores, minimize the appearance of them, and even help your skin look and feel smoother.
• What cleansers do you recommend? The POREfessional Get Unblocked cleansing oil helps unblock your pores by melting away makeup and clearing out oil & pore-clogging debris. Once that step is complete, then go in with The POREfessional Good Cleanup foaming cleanser to rinse and remove anything leftover.

What is Double Cleansing?

Double cleansing is...

...cleansing twice.

Yeah, we know, it’s mind-blowing.

Seriously, we know it sounds simple, (which is a good thing! taking good care of your pores should be easy!) but there’s two key aspects to double cleansing that can unlock a whole host of pore benefits. 

1. The type of cleansers you use
2. The order you use ‘em

Your first cleanser should be an oil-based cleanser. Think of it as kind of like a pre-cleanse. Oil is key to loosening and melting away makeup AND helps visibly clear out impurities and pore-clogging oil and gunk. Just massage thoroughly with dry hands on dry skin, rinse, and sweep away! This also enables your next cleanser to work more effectively.

Your second cleanser should be a gentle, water-based cleanser. This cleanser is the clean sweep after the pre-cleanse, helping to visibly remove remaining dirt, oil, and impurities for a more thorough clean which is amazing for your pores and the key to skin that looks clearer, smoother, and healthier over time.

Benefits of Double Cleansing

Besides the fact that your pores deserve that aaaaah-just-been-double-cleansed feeling, there are a few key benefits to doubling up on your cleanser.

• Clearer pores: As we go through our day-to-day lives, dirt, grime, oil, leftover makeup, and impurities (aka GUNK) can accumulate on our skin—it happens, living a lil on the messy side is always more fun! But that gunk can get trapped into pores, making them appear larger and clogged, which can then lead to rough and bumpy skin texture. When you double cleanse, you help your skin say “See ya!” to that gunk and help pores look clearer.
• Visibly refined pores: Real talk: you can’t change the size of your pores (and that’s a good thing! We have a whole article about it). But we get it, visibly minimized pores can help you feel your best and double cleansing can help with that. When you help your pores stay clear of pore-clogging impurities, they can look smaller and less noticeable. It’s like what happens after you clear your kitchen countertop from extra clutter and you’re like “Wow, I'm like, an amazing interior designer, this kitchen looks so clean and fancy, it should be in a magazine.”
• Smoother skin: When your skin gets a regular double cleanse, it can help your skin feel and look smoother by removing the impurities that can get trapped in pores and can cause rough skin texture.

Try The POREfessional Double Cleanse!

We’ve got you (and your pores) sold on double cleansing, right? Now you’re probably looking for a cleaning crew to take your pore care game to the next level. Meet our double cleanse MVPs The POREfessional Get Unblocked pore-clearing makeup-removing cleansing oil and The POREfessional Good Cleanup pore-purifying foaming cleanser.

Alone, these cleansers are already potent pore care pals:

The POREfessional Get Unblocked is an oil-based cleanser that visibly melts away dirt, oil & makeup. The lightweight, non-comedogenic formula visibly unclogs, unblocks & clears out pores AND helps skin feel conditioned.

Here’s what people had to say about The POREfessional Get Unblocked:

• 93% said pores look clear over time**
• 92% said it visibly unclogs, unblocks and clears out pores over time**
• 93% said it visibly melts away dirt, oil & makeup*
• 93% said it visibly dissolves pore-clogging oil & grime*
• 95% said skin feels conditioned*
• 94% said skin feels nourished*
• 92% said skin looks less congested over time**
• 96% said skin looks healthy over time**

*self-evaluation by 107 participants after 1 use  

**self-evaluation by 107 participants after 1 month

The secret to this oil-cleansing superhero? Pore and skin-forward ingredients!

• Grape seed, jojoba seed & avocado oils help nourish & condition  
• Ceramide NP helps maintain moisture balance  
• Bisabolol helps skin feel comfortable

The POREfessional Good Cleanup has a reputation for good clean pore-loving fun. This gentle cleanser visibly removes dirt, oil & impurities to help pores look purified. It lathers up into a bubbly feelgood foam that cleanses without drying to help skin look clearer (and feel smoother).

Check the stats below from one study of people who tried The POREfessional Good Cleanup: 

• 99% said skin looks clearer and feels smoother over time**** 
• 91% said it visibly purifies pores***   
• 88% said pores look refined over time****  
• 100% said skin looks radiant over time****  
• 98% said skin is refreshed*** 

***self-evaluation by 116 participants after 1 use

****self-evaluation by 116 participants after 1 month

This water-based foaming cleanser also has some stellar ingredients for your daily double cleanse: 

• Lemon extract helps pores look smaller   
• Yuzu extract helps skin feel smoother  
• Bisabolol helps skin feel comfortable



Now, what happens when you put them together?

Cleansing with The POREfessional Get Unblocked first will help loosen makeup and remove any pore-clogging oil & gunk. Then, cleansing with The POREfessional Good Cleanup right afterwards will rinse away any leftover dirt and impurities. This clean team effectively removes longwearing AND waterproof makeup.

It’s a double cleanse dream team that acts kind of like a makeup remover to help your long-term pore goals turn into a reality.

Here’s how to do the 1,2 step:

• First Cleanse: Every night, apply The POREfessional Get Unblocked cleansing oil with dry hands. Massage thoroughly on to dry face & eye area in circular motions. Wet hands & keep massaging to emulsify. Rinse.
• Second Cleanse: Apply The POREfessional Good Cleanup foaming cleanser to face & massage in gentle, circular motions. Rinse. When used together, The POREfessional Get Unblocked cleansing oil and The POREfessional Good Cleanup foaming cleanser work well in removing waterproof and longwearing makeup, so skin looks and feels deep cleaned.
• When it comes to double cleansing, trust us on this—doubling up is twice as nice with The POREfessional.

Double Down on Pore Care with Benefit

Pore care should be the foundation of our beauty routines, which is why Benefit has made pores our biggest obsession. With 5,000+ trained and trusted Pore Experts globally, we’re always around to help you find the skincare routines and products that’ll help you fall in love with our pores.

Sources:

Abad-Santos, Alex. “Why You Should Wash Your Face Twice.” Vox, 10 July 2019, www.vox.com/culture/2019/7/10/18715664/double-cleansing-skin-care-explained.

“Double Cleansing Method Explained: Should You Try It?” Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland Clinic, 27 June 2024, health.clevelandclinic.org/double-cleansing-explained.

Mazzone Singh, Dianna. “Is Everyone Still Double-Cleansing?” Allure, Allure, 9 Oct. 2023, www.allure.com/story/what-is-double-cleansing.

Sharkey, Lauren. “A Beginner’s Guide to Double Cleansing.” Healthline, Healthline Media, 16 Dec. 2019, www.healthline.com/health/beauty-skin-care/double-cleansing.