“For people who have certain skin conditions like eczema, rosacea, or sensitive skin, double cleansing can be too drying and even cause skin irritation”, says Hogan. Double cleansing should also only be done at night—not in the morning—to get rid of the makeup and grime that's left on the skin throughout the day.
Over stripping the skin can have long-term effects, drying out the skin and causing irritation. The skin on the body, in general, produces less oil compared to the face, and a double cleanse may strip the skin of its natural oils, which can cause inflammatory skin conditions like eczema.
By washing your face twice, you can cause more harm than good. “Overwashing can lead to dryness, irritation and the breakdown of the skin barrier, which subsequently causes issues like breakouts and eczema,” warns Dr. Wu. But if you're looking for a way to help remove all the makeup, there's another option.
Potential Downsides of Double Cleansing
In skin care, overwashing means that you've washed away the natural oils your skin needs. This makes your skin dry, damages your protective barrier to leave you vulnerable to breakouts, and makes you more prone to inflammation and irritation.
Some dermatologists recommend double cleansing, while others tread more cautiously due to concerns that people may end up over-cleansing, leaving skin sensitized, stripped and uncomfortably dry. This is why the gentleness of the products you use really matters.
“For people who have certain skin conditions like eczema, rosacea, or sensitive skin, double cleansing can be too drying and even cause skin irritation”, says Hogan. Double cleansing should also only be done at night—not in the morning—to get rid of the makeup and grime that's left on the skin throughout the day.
Over-cleansing or using harsh products can strip the skin of its natural oils, causing it to produce more oil to compensate, potentially leading to more acne.
There's no question about it: over-cleansing can make your skin feel dry and tight. “If you're using an abrasive cleanser or the wrong cleanser for your skin type, it can strip your skin of its natural oils and, in turn, damage your skin's protective barrier, which results in that feeling of tightness” notes Robinson.
Signs of a Damaged Skin Barrier
General skin sensitivity when exposed to certain products or environmental allergens, irritants, and aggressors. Frequent inflammation or swelling of skin. Skin redness and discoloration that occurs frequently. Dry, itchy, or generally irritated skin.
If you have oily skin and/or wear makeup daily, you might find double cleansing every evening works just fine for you. If your skin isn't particularly oil-prone or you're only an occasional makeup wearer, double cleansing every single day probably isn't necessary — a gentle cleanser alone should do the job, says Dr.
Why is my face still dirty after double cleansing? You must use an appropriate cleanser based on your skin type and concern for double cleansing to work properly. Check your skin type and use a cleanser that deeply removes impurities.
Skin reactions such as peeling/burning/dry/reddened skin may occur, especially at the start of treatment. If any of these effects last or get worse, tell your doctor or pharmacist promptly. You may need to apply smaller amounts of the drug or use it less often. Consult your doctor or pharmacist for more details.
Clean skin is smooth, fresh, healthier- and brighter-looking, and able to soak up serums or moisturizers you might smooth on after. Double cleansing—using two different types of face wash to get a deeper cleanse—doesn't dry out or strip skin the way using a single, harsher cleanser might.
“Those with rosacea, eczema, or sensitive skin should probably avoid double cleansing as it may remove the skin's natural moisture, leaving it flakey, tight, and irritated,” says Totton. “You may also look to avoid double cleansing if you have dry skin.
Washing your face daily can make open pores worse
Open pores and blackheads can be caused both by genetics but also by a lack of elasticity and collagen production in the skin itself. Stripping away essential skin oils through daily facial washing can make the skin less elastic and so leave pores more open.
Can You Permanently Damage Your Skin Barrier? The good news is that nothing is permanent when it comes to your skin barrier. 'It is very difficult to permanently damage your skin barrier unless you have a cause or prone to a type of cause that can damage your skin barrier.
AHAs: AHAs are exfoliating acids that can be too harsh for a damaged skin barrier, leading to further irritation and sensitivity. BHAs: While effective for treating acne, BHAs like salicylic acid can dry and may strip the skin of its natural oils, further compromising the skin barrier.
Benefits of Snail Mucin for Skin
Moisturizes the skin: According to Dr. Lain, snail mucin contains moisturizing agents that work to repair the barrier function of the skin, both locking out irritants from the environment while also simultaneously locking in moisture.
Signs You're Over Cleansing
Itchy skin. Redness. Flaky skin. Tight and dry skin.
Many oily skin types can produce oil in the pores yet be dry on the skin surface. Dry, flaky skin can also result from the overuse of high concentration surface exfoliants that address blocked pores, however the skin surrounding the pores may become dry and inflamed.
It also improves the effectiveness of your skincare products. If you double cleanse each night, you help to clear your skin of the harmful toxins, dirt, and grime that build up each day. Double cleansing before you exfoliate improves the effectiveness of your exfoliation products.
Cons of double cleansing
Over stripping the skin can have long-term effects, drying out the skin and causing irritation. The skin on the body, in general, produces less oil compared to the face, and a double cleanse may strip the skin of its natural oils, which can cause inflammatory skin conditions like eczema.
When we see a breakout, our first instinct is to increase our cleansing efforts. More cleansing = cleaner skin = less acne, right? Wrong. Over-cleansing strips our skin of its natural oils, causing our already overactive glands to produce even more oil — setting up a negative cycle of oil production, worsening acne.
Dr. Lal recommends double cleansing for those who wear a lot of makeup or have very oily skin, in particular. “If you're wearing makeup every day, tinted sunscreen, or you're wearing things that are occlusive, then you should be double cleansing,” he says.