There are certain beauty terms that make us feel just plain fancy. We're not scrubbing our face, we're exfoliating. We aren't washing up — we're double cleansing. But, in fact, the latter is far from just a fluffy phrase. Double cleansing is a very real — and very effective — way to wash your face. And, the method is exactly as it sounds: Proponents preach cleansing the face once to remove makeup and a second time to truly purify the skin.
Sound like a bunch of new-age mumbo jumbo? Au contraire, double cleansing has been practiced for centuries in Japan. "It started as the only means of cleansing white metallic makeup [worn by women as a sign of beauty], which traumatized the skin," says Maree Lavo, vice president of education and sales development at Shiseido. "Cleansing oils were the only product that could remove this very difficult, paint-like foundation. However, after the makeup was removed, a second wash using a foam-like cleanser refreshed the skin and, at the same time, removed any residuals from the oil.