When you try out makeup products for a living, a robust cleansing routine is an occupational necessity. Before I started my job, I had my cleansing routine on lock: a cotton round doused with micellar water, a quick lather with a gel cleanser and a hydrating moisturizer was all I needed to keep my skin happy. But once I started slathering and swiping new products onto my skin every day… things went awry.

First came a downturn in luminosity. Then an uptick of clogged pores—along with angry red breakouts that I may or may not have picked it (we’re all human!). My quick and easy cleansing routine simply didn’t cut it anymore and needed an overhaul. Well aware of the double cleansing hype, I decided to put the method to the test and give it a spin myself. What did I have to lose, right?

What is double cleansing?

Double cleansing is a skincare method that involves just two different products: an oil cleanser and a water-based cleanser. The idea is to first break down stubborn SPF, makeup, and waterproof formulas with an oil or balm cleanser. Then, a water-based (gel, foaming or otherwise) cleanser is used to thoroughly clean the skin and remove any lingering residue left behind from makeup, SPF or skincare products. This two-stage approach helps to prevent blocked pores and potential skin irritation.

Why should you double cleanse?

A single cleanse may not be sufficient to effectively get rid of everything on your face. If you’ve ever done a single lather and rinse, only to pat your face dry and only to find large splotches of makeup or grime end up on the towel, chances are you’ve not done a thorough enough cleanse. Double cleansing—when using oil followed by a water-based formula—means a better chance of breaking down the different particles.

If we follow the “like dissolves like” rule, oils work to break down other oils, like concealer, foundation, and certain mascaras. The second cleanse can then get rid of whatever’s left, like grime left from pollution, remnants of SPF and old skincare. You wouldn’t brush your teeth without toothpaste—this is similar.

“A double cleanse is important because the first cleanse has to dissolve oil well. Especially if you’re using heavy-duty products such as longwear and waterproof makeup,” dermatologist Beibei Du-Harpur, MD explains. The second step should always be a gentle, hydrating cleanse to prevent stripping the skin of essential natural oils, she notes. “If you need a second wash, it should always be with a gentle hydrating cleanser to prevent stripping your skin from essential natural oils, and ensure that there isn’t any lingering residue.”

Below, I outline how my two week experiment panned out.

The results:

Week one

I have oily skin and, naturally, was skeptical of putting yet another coat of oil all over my face. Pleasantly surprised, I instantly noticed how smoothly my makeup washed off my face—plus, the process was really therapeutic. Elemis’s Pro-Collagen Black Cherry Cleansing Balm is a delight to apply and I found that I barely scratched the surface of the tub during the first week of use. Next, I followed up with either the Sarah Chapman Rapid Radiance cleanser—on days when I wore heavier makeup and was out of house longer—or Cetaphil’s Gentle Skin cleanser.

After cleansing, I dutifully followed up with two moisturizers. The La Roche Posay Effaclar duo went on problem areas—blemishes and pimples—while the Cetaphil Daily Hydrating Moisturizer went everywhere else on my face. I allowed the products to sink in for around 10 to 20 minutes before drifting off to sleep.