Every great skincare routine begins with cleansing but its often not enough to cleanse just once especially if you’re wearing make-up and sunscreen – this is one step in your daily routine that does bear repeating and trust me - it’s the ultimate secret to skin happiness!
Double cleansing is a two-step process when you use two different type of cleansers to wash your face two separate times. The first cleanse helps to purify your skin of make-up, sunscreen, pollution, dirt, and debris and basically anything that can be found on the surface of your skin and the second cleanse ensures anything that wasn’t removed in the first step is washed away including anything clinging to the inside of the pores.
Your skin is pretty important—it protects you from outside elements and helps keep you alive but it's super sensitive though, so the types of products you use can affect how healthy and happy it is in a big way. If your cleansing routine isn’t meticulously cleaning your skin, the natural balance is likely disrupted, causing your skin to act up by breaking out or getting irritated so keeping it SUPER clean is one of the best ways to maintain a healthy skin barrier and keep skin looking its best.
Interestingly the origin of double cleansing dates back to 14th century Asia when Korean and Japanese geishas were very diligent about this ‘double cleanse’ step because of their white make up and bold red lips. To remove this heavy make-up, Japanese women would massage cleansing oils into their skin, rinse them away and follow with a foaming cleanser and there the creation of ‘double cleansing’ was created. Fast forward 8 centuries and the concept of double cleansing remains the same although face cleansers have come a very long way since then and are available in a wide variety of formulas designed to meet the needs of different skin types. And its thanks to advances in skincare technology that today’s face cleansers are more effective than ever before at getting rid of dirt, oil, and make-up without stripping away your natural moisture barrier.
‘Double cleansing’ provides more control over the level of thoroughness of your skincare routine, offering a seriously deep clean that revitalises dull skin by removing residue and blockages AND allows your skincare products to penetrate more deeply. If you are still wondering whether double cleansing is worth the extra effort, consider this: every skincare step post-cleanse is redundant if you don’t first clear away the roadblocks that prevent these products from working efficiently. After all a superhero serum won’t work its magic if it’s sat on top of some leftover sunscreen!
From gels to milks to creams and balms, there is no shortage of cleansing textures in the Gatineau cleanser collection and our cleansers do so much more than just cleanse. From deeply hydrating, calming, and soothing to brightness-boosting, these formulas have been carefully curated to make your skin look and feel its best.
Gentle Silk Cleanser and Gentle Silk Toner are a two-step recipe and the perfect primary step in your double cleanse routine. An ideal nourishing solution to cleanse and replenish the complexion, Gentle Silk Cleanser is a luscious milky formula with a delicate scent and is perfect for all skin types including those with even the most sensitive skin. Gently removing make-up dirt, oil, and impurities without stripping skin of its radiance or essential moisture, it has been infused with the delicate extracts of Silk which imparts its soothing powers as you cleanse along with conditioning Cottonseed Oil which provides a layer of protection and whisper light moisture-binding veil on the skin. This traditional formula offers a skin-priming effect that leaves your complexion feeling supple, soft, and healthy.
Its absolute equal and post primary cleanse counterpart is moisture quenching Gentle Silk Toner. As beautiful as it is hardworking, this skin-soothing alcohol free toner is the perfect follow-on from your cleanser, clearing skin of the last traces of makeup and impurities whilst rebalancing the skin’ pH levels leaving the complexion feeling refreshed and balanced. Like its partner, it has been housed in a supersize 500ml bottle and with the press pump dispenser it makes for effortless usage. The icing on the cake is the fact that you should expect no less than six months’ supply from these two beauties!
What you use as the second cleanse really comes down to personal preference, but it is usually a water-based cleanser which helps to further cleanse the skin of any remaining impurities especially inside the pores – this is where the magic happens! Radiance Enhancing Gelee Cleanser is an elite crop of facial wash and a gel-based formula which has a fresh take on friendly foam. It’s what I call a treatment cleanser, and it really packs a punch allowing you to go a little deeper with your cleansing ritual. Its non-stripping kind-to-skin formula performs ‘double duty’ as it not only cleanses but exfoliates too all in one simple step and it targets a swathe of concerns — from tackling congestion to gently resurfacing skin that's in need of a glow-up — there's something to suit every skin type and texture. Bursting with refining fruit enzymes and glow-inducing Vitamin C this rich gel works into a gentle lather erasing every last trace of make-up and dirt and literally leaves your complexion feeling oh so fresh and in a truly clean state – expect a cheek-to-cheek glow that is satisfyingly smooth as it is luminous.
If you imagine how your skin feels after one single cleanse – now double it. Double the cleanse double the benefits! And not only will it make your skin look extra glowy and feel more even, but it’s also left twice as clean – you will achieve peak skin-happiness and your other skincare products will love you for it!
Lucy x