Double cleansing is back in the spotlight: on TikTok the #DoubleCleanse hashtag has passed a billion views and the "cleansing balm girls" show off every day the almost hypnotic gesture of the balm dissolving their make-up. But behind the viral aesthetic lies a simple, tried-and-tested method, born from the tradition of Korean and Japanese skincare. The version taking off now has a new emphasis, in line with the 2026 protected-skin trend: cleansing thoroughly without attacking the skin barrier. Let's look at what it is and why it works.
What double cleansing is
Double cleansing means cleansing your face in two consecutive steps with two different products: first an oil-based cleanser (oil, balm or cleansing milk), then a water-based cleanser (mousse, gel or foam). The underlying idea is that "like dissolves like": oily substances such as make-up, sunscreen filters and sebum bind better to an oily product, while water-soluble residues and surface impurities are removed by the water phase.
It is not, then, a matter of washing your face twice with the same cleanser, but of combining two textures designed for different jobs. It is precisely this complementarity that makes the gesture more effective than a single cleanse, especially in the evening.
Why it works (and why people love it again)
The oil phase helps remove what water alone struggles to take away: waterproof make-up, resistant SPF and pollution particles that cling to the skin's lipids. The water phase completes the job, leaving the face fresh and ready to welcome the steps that follow. The result is skin that is more deeply cleansed, with a more even-looking pore appearance, and actives and moisturisers that feel like they perform better: not by chance, it is the first step of many routines aiming for the glass skin effect.
The most fashionable take today is the "gentle" one: the beauty web has shifted the focus from simply "cleansing a lot" to cleansing well while respecting the barrier. The ideal combination of the moment is a balm or oily milk first, followed by a gentle water-based cleanser that does not tug and leaves no feeling of tight skin. It is the way to enjoy the benefits of double cleansing while avoiding the over-cleansing effect, that is, cleansing so aggressive it can upset the hydrolipidic film. The American Academy of Dermatology's guidance on face cleansing points in the same direction: a gentle, non-abrasive cleanser, lukewarm water and fingertips instead of sponges or cloths, without scrubbing the skin.
How to add it to your routine
Double cleansing performs best in the evening, when make-up, sunscreen, sebum and the day's smog build up on the skin. In the morning, for most skin types, a single gentle cleanser is enough.
- Step 1 – oil phase: apply the oily product to a dry face and massage to dissolve make-up and impurities, then emulsify with a little water.
- Step 2 – water phase: continue with a gentle water-based cleanser, massage and rinse with lukewarm water.
- Afterwards: pat dry without rubbing and continue with toner, hydrating serums and fluids and cream.
Those with oily or combination skin tend to appreciate the "fresher" water phase, and often find it useful to pair cleansing with a targeted exfoliant such as salicylic acid (BHA); those with dry or sensitive skin may prefer milk textures and reduce the frequency of double cleansing to a few evenings a week, listening to their skin.
Recommended Chrissie products
To put together your double cleanse you can start from the Make-up removers and Toners and Cleansers collections, where you will find the two complementary phases.
- For the more enveloping first phase, Cleansing Milk helps dissolve make-up and leave the skin soft, ideal for those seeking a gentle gesture.
- To finish, Foam Cleanser Make-Up Remover offers fresh, foam-based cleansing that helps remove residues without weighing the skin down.
The combination of the two textures lets you adapt the ritual to your skin type and your make-up habits.
In short
- Double cleansing combines an oil phase and a water phase for a more complete cleanse.
- It is particularly useful in the evening, to remove make-up, SPF and impurities.
- The current trend favours a gentle approach that respects the skin barrier and avoids over-cleansing.
- Make-up remover or oily milk first, gentle water-based cleanser after: the order makes the difference.
- Adapt frequency and textures to your skin type, without overdoing the aggressiveness.
