Double Time The best cleansing duos for your skin type

With ever-rising levels of pollution playing havoc on our bodies, washing away smog and dirt is more important than ever before when it comes to keeping skin clean and clear.

Here, with some help from Dr. Melissa Kanchanapoomi Levin, New York-based board-certified dermatologist and founder of Entière Dermatology, Lane Crawford breaks down what you need to know about double cleansing and shares the best cleansing duos for your skin type.

Squeaky clean skin coming right up.

“A beauty practice that dates back to the fourteenth century in East Asia, and popularised again in recent years, double cleansing is simply washing your face twice with two different types of cleansers,” says Dr. Levin. “It involves using an oil-based cleanser, balm, or micellar water to remove makeup, pollution, and sunscreen, followed by a second cleanse with a water-based cleanser aimed to remove any remaining build-up without using an aggressive cleanser, toner or wipe.”

“Double cleansing is important for those who live in urban environments with significant exposure to pollution, wear make-up, or acne-prone skin,” shares Levin. If any of these factors apply to you, Levin recommends double cleansing once daily in the evening. “Since I live in New York City and wear make-up every day, I double cleanse religiously,” shares Levin.

First apply an oil-based cleanser or micellar water, massage gently for one to two minutes to remove make-up and any build-up, and rinse off. Next, apply a water-based cleanser and rinse off to remove any remaining residue,” says Levin. “I don’t use any mechanical gadgets to cleanse since it is too harsh on my skin. I also avoid over-washing the skin as it can strip the skin’s natural barrier, cause broken capillaries, irritation, dryness, and trigger or worsen other inflammatory conditions.”

“If your skin is sensitive, opt for skin hydrating cleansers such as micellar water, or cleansing balms packed with moisturising and nourishing ingredients,” says Levin.

“Look for ingredients like salicylic acid or glycolic acid to clear out pores,” shares Levin, and suggests not to use scrubs and harsh toners which can stimulate more oil production.

If you’re lucky enough to have a ‘normal’ skin type, Levin suggests picking cleansers which are “non-abrasive and gentle”. Avoid harsh ingredients such as enzymes or acids like AHA or BHA.

Dry skin is more prone to develop wrinkles, so opt for nourishing cleansers that will boost your skin’s moisture levels - and provide anti-ageing benefits to boot.