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Truth be told, there are some nights we’re lucky to wash our face at all. (We know, we know.) So, with the recent surge of so-called “pre-cleansers” on the market (designed to pave the way for your cleanser to really do its job by helping to cut down on makeup and dirt), the idea of double-cleansing can seem like a bit of a stretch. But, just like you’d have to give a particularly messy dish a quick rinse before it’s loaded into the dishwasher, using an oil-based pre-cleanser can serve as that extra bit of elbow grease that ensures our regular washing routine can really get the job done.
Whether you can benefit from this added skin-care step depends on your lifestyle. According to Dr. Debra Jaliman, a New York-based dermatologist and author of Skin Rules, those who apply and reapply sunscreen while at the beach (which should be all of you) are prime candidates for pre-cleansing benefits. Adds Dr. Molly Wanner, a Massachusetts-based dermatologist and instructor in dermatology at Harvard Medical School, oil-based cleansers, typical for pre-cleanser formulations, are also helpful in removing makeup — making them a helpful extra step for those who sport daily face paint (whether at Kardashian levels or otherwise).
But, these products can also serve the low-maintenance girl, too. “Pre-cleansing can lead to fewer breakouts if you're not good in your cleansing routine,” Jaliman points out. No matter your cleansing M.O. — from religious to barely there — read on to find a pre-cleanser that works for you.
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