1. You Might Not Benefit From Your Cleansing Product If Your Makeup Isn’t Effectively Removed First

One of the purposes of an Active Cleanse is effectively removing makeup first, allowing your skin to benefit more from the second cleansing product.  

Begin by applying an-oil based cleanser (cleansing oil or balm) to the skin and eye area to purify and hydrate without stripping skin. Alternatively, saturate a cotton pad with micellar water and sweep over the face and neck.  Micellar water is a useful agent for removing makeup and excess oils. 

2. Using SPF Every Day? You Should Introduce an Active Cleanse

It’s not just makeup that can benefit from being removed with an oil-based cleanser first, SPF is also difficult to remove completely in just one step. Even if you don’t wear makeup or SPF daily, introducing an Active Cleanse to your nighttime skincare routine is also beneficial if your skin is regularly exposed to pollution, or if you are prone to breakouts and congestion.

3. Combining Cleansers Will Help Target More Specific Skin Concerns

Rather than simply cleansing to remove makeup, adding a second cleanse to your evening routine will add more benefits to your skincare cycle. Not sure which cleanser to follow the oil-based balm? Dry and fine-line-prone skin will benefit from a gentle milk cleanser infused with nourishing oils and butters that help to hydrate, while oily and combination skin will benefit from a purifying foam cleanser that promotes a healthy balance and blemish-prone skin will benefit from a detoxifying clay cleanser that reduces breakouts.

4. An Active Cleanse Prepares Skin for Next Steps of Your Routine

In addition to delivering a more thorough cleanse of your skin, an Active Cleanse prepares skin for the next steps of your routine, allowing serums and moisturisers to better penetrate the epidermis and work more effectively. With continued use, this ritual can give the skin a clearer, more radiant and youthful-looking appearance. 

5. It’s an Approved Method by Omorovicza Therapists

“An Active Cleanse at night is all about effectively removing makeup, SPF, dirt and impurities from the skin to be able to start fresh for your nighttime skin regime. At night the skin is much more receptive to anything you apply, as the skin's cells regenerate fastest due to the increased blood flow to the skin. The first cleanser should either be oil-based, or a micellar cleanser used to remove all makeup and sunscreen. Follow this step with a water-based cleanser, suitable for your skin type, to remove any impurities and excess dirt from the skin. Active cleansing ensures nothing blocks your pores as you eliminate all the dirt and sebum collected on your skin.”  

- Omorovicza Therapist, Mayfair Institute  

How To Double Cleanse  

Step 1: Remove Makeup With A Cleansing Oil   

To begin your double cleansing ritual, apply an-oil based cleanser (cleansing oil or balm) to the skin and eye area to remove make-up, dirt and impurities. Alternatively, saturate a cotton pad with micellar water and sweep over the face and neck.  Micellar water is a useful agent for removing makeup and excess oils. It is water-based, perfect for those with sensitive skin, and thoroughly removes makeup, preparing skin for the products that follow.  

Step 2: Cleanse A Second Time   

The skin now free of makeup and impurities, the second cleanse is designed to remove any remaining traces of dirt, while targeting specific skin concerns and ready for actives you are using afterwards.   

Dry and fine-line-prone skin will benefit from a gentle milk cleanser infused with nourishing oils and butters that help to hydrate. 

Oily and combination skin will benefit from a purifying foam cleanser that promotes a healthy balance. 

Blemish-prone skin will benefit from a detoxifying clay cleanser that reduces breakouts.

What Is an Active Cleanse? 

Active cleansing is a two-step ritual that should be performed at the start of an evening skincare routine. A cleansing oil, balm or micellar water is used to remove makeup, SPF and impurities from the skin’s surface, before a water-soluble cream, milk, foam, or gel cleanser is applied to target specific concerns and prepare the skin for next steps.   

Should You Active Cleanse Every Day? 

Whilst it’s necessary to wash your face every day, an Active Cleanse is not always needed. 

One of the purposes of active cleansing is to help remove makeup and heavy-wearing sunscreen first, allowing skin to benefit more from the second cleansing product. If you don’t wear makeup, or don’t wear it every day, double cleansing might not be needed. 

Single cleansing in the morning is enough to prep the skin for the products to follow, allowing you to receive optimum benefits from them. Save the Active Cleanse, when you need to, for the evening, after a day of wearing makeup and/or having skin exposed to environmental aggressors. 

Is It Possible To Overwash Your Skin? 

Even if wearing makeup every day is not part of your lifestyle, it’s important to make sure you are cleansing each evening to remove dirt and pollution from the skin. 

Overwashing the face can cause dryness, irritation, and can strip the natural oils, giving skin little time to recover if double cleansing too often. It depends on the skin type. 

For sensitive skin, a single cleanse might be all that is needed. For oily skin, if you believe single cleansing is not removing excess oils to the extent that is needed, use an Active Cleanse more often.