Double Cleansing in Summer – When Is It Really Necessary?

During summer, a facial skincare routine can become more complex. Throughout the day, we apply sunscreen and often make-up, sweat more, and spend more time in urban environments, at the seaside or by the pool. This raises a common question in the evening: is one facial cleansing step enough, or is double cleansing necessary?

There is no single answer for everyone. Double cleansing is not an essential ritual every evening or for every skin type. However, it can be particularly beneficial on days when long-wearing or water-resistant sunscreen (SPF), make-up, or several layers of skincare products have been applied. What matters most is not the number of steps, but ensuring that the skin is thoroughly cleansed without leaving it tight, dry or irritated.

Why Is the Skin Barrier Under Greater Strain in Summer?

The skin barrier, the skin’s outer protective layer, is often compared to a brick wall: the skin cells are the “bricks”, while the intercellular lipids, including ceramides, cholesterol and fatty acids, form the “mortar” that helps retain moisture and protects the skin from environmental influences.

In summer, this system is affected by several factors at once. UV radiation can weaken the skin barrier, while prolonged contact with water, especially hot water, and overly intensive washing can increase dryness and irritation. Urban pollution is also associated with greater oxidative stress and increased water loss through the skin.

A particularly gentle approach is needed for dry, sensitive and acne-prone skin. Acne is not simply a problem of “excessively oily skin”; it can also be associated with impaired skin-barrier function. In addition, active ingredients used to treat acne may contribute to dryness and sensitivity, so overly aggressive cleansing can make the situation even more difficult.

Oily skin can also be dehydrated. However, increased sebum production should not automatically be interpreted as the skin attempting to compensate for a lack of moisture. Sebum production is influenced to a large extent by hormones, genetic factors, age and other individual circumstances.

The most practical guide is how the skin feels after cleansing. If it feels tight, stings or becomes noticeably more sensitive, the cleansing product or method may be too aggressive.

Why Should SPF Be Thoroughly Removed in the Evening?

Sunscreen (SPF) is one of the most important elements of a summer skincare routine. To help it remain on the skin throughout the day, especially in water-resistant formulas, sunscreens contain film-forming and oil-soluble ingredients. Combined with sebum, make-up, environmental pollutants, and dust, these can create a persistent layer that is not always completely removed with water alone.

A non-water-resistant sunscreen can often be removed effectively with a suitable facial cleanser. Water-resistant SPF, however, may be more effectively and comfortably removed with an oil-based cleanser, which helps dissolve oil-soluble sunscreen filters, make-up, and excess sebum before a water-based cleanser removes the remaining residue.

This does not mean that every sunscreen requires double cleansing. However, when using long-wearing or water-resistant SPF, reapplying sunscreen several times throughout the day, or wearing make-up, a two-step cleansing routine can help cleanse the skin more thoroughly while reducing the need for excessive rubbing, which may help minimise unnecessary irritation.

What Is Double Cleansing?

Double cleansing is a cleansing method that uses two different types of cleansers to remove different types of impurities and product residue. In the first step, an oil-based cleanser or cleansing balm helps dissolve oil-soluble substances, including sunscreen (SPF), excess sebum, and make-up. In the second step, a gentle water-based cleanser or micellar water helps remove any remaining residue, sweat, and water-soluble impurities while refreshing the skin.

However, double cleansing does not mean cleansing the skin more aggressively. Choose gentle, non-abrasive cleansers, avoid washing the face with hot water, and do not rub the skin with cleansing tools, sponges, or rough towels. Harsh cleansing agents and excessive cleansing can disrupt the skin’s protective lipids, leading to tightness, dryness, irritation, and a weakened skin barrier.

Woman’s hands holding LABRAINS micellar water & tonic during skincare routine

When Is Double Cleansing Worth Considering?

Double cleansing may be worth considering if, during the day, you have:

used water-resistant sunscreen (SPF) or reapplied sunscreen several times;
worn foundation, BB cream, or other long-wearing make-up;
sweated heavily or exercised;
spent a significant amount of time outdoors or in an urban environment exposed to pollution;
noticed that product residue still remains on the skin after one cleansing step.

On days without make-up, when wearing a lightweight, non-water-resistant SPF and exposing the skin to relatively few environmental stressors, a single gentle facial cleanser may be entirely sufficient. Dry or very sensitive skin does not require double cleansing simply because it is summer. Instead, your cleansing routine should be guided by what has been applied to the skin during the day and how your skin feels afterwards.

Gentle Double Cleansing with LABRAINS

If your skin would benefit from double cleansing, the products you choose are just as important as the cleansing routine itself. The aim is to remove sunscreen, make-up, excess sebum and other impurities thoroughly while helping maintain the skin barrier and minimising unnecessary irritation.

For the first step, use LABRAINS Oil-to-Milk Cleanser. Apply it to dry skin and massage gently to help dissolve water-resistant sunscreen (SPF), make-up, excess sebum and other oil-soluble impurities. When water is added, the cleanser transforms into a light milky emulsion that rinses away easily with lukewarm water.

The formula combines plant oils, glycerin, betaine and ceramides. The plant oils help dissolve oil-soluble impurities, while glycerin and betaine help support the skin’s moisture balance and comfort during cleansing. Ceramide NP is a skin-identical lipid that helps support the skin barrier, making the formula particularly suitable for dry, sensitive and barrier-compromised skin.

For the second step, use LABRAINS Micellar Water & Tonic 2in1. It contains gentle cleansing agents together with betaine, Lactobacillus ferment, and hinokitiol to help remove any remaining residue while leaving the skin feeling fresh and comfortable. Moisten a cotton pad with the product and gently sweep it over the skin without excessive rubbing.

As with any skincare routine, more steps do not automatically deliver better results. Double cleansing is most beneficial when it matches your skin’s needs and the products you have worn throughout the day. If your skin is very sensitive or reactive, introduce new products gradually and observe how your skin responds.

How to Perform Double Cleansing Correctly

Apply an oil-based cleanser to dry skin and massage gently, paying particular attention to areas where sunscreen (SPF) or make-up has been applied.
Add a small amount of lukewarm water to emulsify the cleanser, then rinse thoroughly.
If needed, follow with a gentle water-based cleanser or micellar water to remove any remaining residue. Avoid rubbing the skin or cleansing until it feels noticeably dry.
After cleansing, apply a moisturising serum or cream, especially if your skin tends to be dry or sensitive, or if you use active ingredients designed for acne-prone skin.

In the morning, your cleansing routine can be adapted to your skin type and the products used the previous evening. For dry or sensitive skin, a particularly gentle cleanse – or, in some cases, simply rinsing with water followed by appropriate skincare – may be more suitable than another intensive cleansing routine.

Clean Skin Is Not Stripped Skin

The goal of summer facial cleansing is to remove what has accumulated on the skin throughout the day, not to strip away its natural protective lipids. When needed, double cleansing can help thoroughly remove long-wearing or water-resistant sunscreen (SPF), make-up, excess sebum, and daily impurities while helping preserve skin comfort and support the skin barrier. However, it is not a universal routine that everyone should follow every evening.

The best cleansing routine is one that reflects your skin’s individual needs and what it has been exposed to during the day. Cleansing should be thorough enough to remove persistent product residue, yet gentle enough to leave the skin feeling clean, comfortable, and balanced – not tight, dry, or irritated.

Featured by LABRAINS