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Double cleansing: how to do it, who needs it, who does not

Oil cleanser then foam, the first step of the Korean routine. The simple way to fully remove sunscreen and makeup, and why oily skin can wash with oil too.

Oliareen · 27 October 2026

Cleansing oil bottle laid flat with a cotton cloth

Sunscreen and makeup do not mix with water, so a face wash alone never lifts all of it. Double cleansing means: oil first to dissolve the oily dirt, then a water-based cleanser for the rest.

Step by step (two minutes)

  1. 1Dry hands, dry face: take an oil cleanser or balm (one pump, or twice a pea).
  2. 2Massage in gentle circles for 30–60 seconds; a little longer beside the nose, on the chin and along the hairline.
  3. 3Wet your hands slightly and massage again: the oil turns milky white (emulsifies). Skip this and oil stays behind.
  4. 4Rinse with lukewarm water.
  5. 5Now a low-pH foam or gel cleanser, 20–30 seconds, rinse, and pat dry with a towel.

Who needs it

  • Anyone wearing sunscreen or makeup, which is almost everyone, once at night.
  • Oily, blackhead-prone skin: oil dissolves oil; this is how the sebum sitting in pores loosens.

Who does not

  • In the morning: water or a light foam is enough.
  • On a day you wore nothing.
  • Very dry, flaking skin: twice a day is too much.

Which oil cleanser, which foam

  • Oily / acne: a light heartleaf or centella oil plus a low-pH gel. — Anua Heartleaf Pore Control Cleansing Oil 200ml, COSRX Low pH Good Morning Gel Cleanser 150ml
  • Normal / dry: a nourishing oil or balm plus a creamy, pH-balanced foam. — Beauty of Joseon Ginseng Cleansing Oil 210ml, Beauty of Joseon Radiance Cleansing Balm 100ml, Beplain Mung Bean pH-Balanced Cleansing Foam 160ml Limited Double Pack
  • Sensitive: fragrance-free, a centella foam. — IUNIK Centella Mild Cleansing Foam 120ml

Mistakes that damage skin

  • Oil cleanser on a wet face: it simply does not work.
  • Hot water, hard rubbing, scrubbing dry with the towel.
  • A "tight" feeling is not clean, it is over-washed. Change the cleanser.

For what comes next: the Korean skincare routine, step by step.

Sources

  • American Academy of Dermatology: wash no more than twice a day, lukewarm water, no scrubbing.
  • "Like dissolves like": oily residue dissolves in oil; that chemistry is the whole basis of double cleansing.
Cosmetics only, never medical advice.

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Double cleansing: how to do it, who needs it, who does not | Oliareen