Is Double-Cleansing Right For Your Skin?

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.