This two-step process is an ancient Japanese beauty technique used by the geishas to remove their thick, white oshiroi makeup.

The perfect evening skincare routine starts with a great cleanse, and nothing washes away the day's SPF, mascara and stress quite like a double cleanse. It's the technique traditionally used by geishas, who massage camellia oil into their skin to dissolve their white oshiroi makeup. They then follow this with a foaming cleanser to wash it all away. This face cleansing method has also become a viral Korean beauty hack, used to achieve that super-clean "glass skin" base, which helps serums and creams absorb better.

What is double cleansing?

Double cleansing is a two-step method of face cleansing. The first step uses an oil cleanser (or an oil-based face wash balm) to dissolve and lift away everything oily sitting on the skin. Think of it like this: oil attracts oil. We're talking makeup, sunscreen, and even the excess sebum skin produces throughout the day.

This is followed by a second step, which uses a water-based gel or foaming face wash that washes away the oily residue along with all the makeup and grime it's lifted, leaving the skin completely clean. With all the makeup and excess oils gone, the skin is left perfectly prepped and ready to drink up all the goodness from our face serums and moisturisers. This is why I love using this method in the evening, our skin does its most important rejuvenation work overnight, so I really want to give that process a boost.

How to double cleanse

Keen to give it a go? Here's the simple routine I follow. I find it really easy to do, even when I'm tired.

Start with dry skin and an oil cleanser. Massage a natural oil cleanser onto dry skin, over your makeup, focusing on any areas with congestion or heavy makeup. The oil melts everything away, including zinc sunscreen, mineral makeup, mascara, and lip stains. I've added my favourite oil cleansers by skin type below for you.

Emulsify and rinse. Add lukewarm water to your face to create a milky texture, then rinse thoroughly or remove gently with a damp washcloth. This step makes sure any remnants from step one are lifted away.

Follow with a foaming cleanser. A gel or foam cleanser works beautifully to remove anything that's left. Pat your skin dry, then follow with a toner-soaked cotton pad. This step matters because it removes any leftover cleanser or dead skin cells that can block your serums and moisturisers from fully absorbing. Now your skin is perfectly clean and ready for your overnight nourishment.

The best 5 double cleansing pairings

Finding the perfect double cleansing duo can take a bit of trial and error, so I've done the hard work for you. These are five great natural cleanser pairings.

1. Oily & combination skin

If your skin is more oily or if you have an oily t-zone, the MooGoo Oil Cleansing Method followed by the MooGoo Gentle Foaming Face Cleanser is the perfect match. The oil cleanser is specifically made for this method (hence the name). It's a blend of rice bran, grape seed, jojoba and avocado oils that dissolve sunscreen, waterproof mascara and everything in between.  The foaming cleanser works well as step two because it contains natural AHAs from papaya for a gentle enzymatic exfoliation to sweep away dead skin cells while balancing the skin’s natural oils for a clear, fresh finish.

2. Dry & sensitive skin

For dry or sensitive skin, this pairing is like peaches and cream. The Raww Hydrating Cleansing Oil and the Andalou Sensitive 1000 Roses Gentle Cleansing Foam are a beautifully nourishing combination. The Raww oil has superfood macadamia, jojoba and avocado oils that deeply hydrate while melting away impurities, transforming into a milky emulsion with water and rinsing clean without any greasy residue. And the Andalou 1000 Roses foam uses a blend of alpine rose stem cells and postbiotics to support the skin barrier and microbiome. 

3. Blemish-prone skin

If your skin is prone to breakouts, the Tuttofare Cleansing Oil paired with the Noosa Basics Foaming Face Wash is an excellent match. The oil cleanser is made with jojoba oil, which is great for balancing blemish-prone skin, as well as antioxidant-rich olive oil to help manage breakouts. The Noosa Basics foaming wash deeply cleans the pores with tea tree oil and natural salicylic acid, plus neroli water, which has wonderful natural antibacterial properties. 

4. Sun-damaged skin & uneven skin tone

For sun damage, pigmentation and uneven skin tone, the 100% Pure Blood Orange Cleansing Balm paired with the LAMAV Sweet Orange Balancing Cleanser is one of the best brightening combos. The Blood Orange balm is rich in vitamin C and antibacterial olive leaf in an avocado oil base, and it effortlessly melts away stubborn mascara, long-wear lipstick and excess oils while deeply nourishing the skin. The LAMAV Sweet Orange gel cleanser is packed with skin-brightening Australian botanicals including desert lime and mountain pepper leaf as well as natural AHAs from papaya (for that extra enzymatic exfoliation) and lactic acid.

5. All Skin Types

Not sure exactly what your skin type is some days? This certified organic duo suits all skin. The Kora Organics Milky Mushroom Gentle Cleansing Oil paired with the Kora Organics Turmeric Glow Foaming Cleanser is a great match. The Milky Mushroom oil has hydrating silver ear mushroom, nourishing babassu oil and antioxidant apple seed oil, transforming into a silky milk when mixed with water to remove every last trace of makeup. The Turmeric Glow cleanser uses antioxidant-rich turmeric, soothing aloe vera and a natural sugar complex to bind moisture after rinsing, leaving the complexion hydrated and glowing.