If you wear sunscreen, makeup, or simply go about your day exposed to oil, sweat, and environmental buildup, one quick cleanse may not be doing as much as you think.
Enter: double cleansing.
It’s a simple two-step method that helps thoroughly cleanse the skin without relying on one aggressive cleanser to do all the work. And when done correctly, it can leave your skin feeling clean, soft, balanced, and ready for the rest of your routine
What Is Double Cleansing?
Double cleansing is exactly what it sounds like: cleansing your face twice—but with two different types of cleansers.
Step 1: An oil-based cleanser
The first cleanse is designed to dissolve oil-based buildup like makeup, sunscreen, excess sebum, and other impurities sitting on the surface of your skin.
Step 2: A gentle water-based cleanser
The second cleanse removes what remains, including sweat, dirt, and residue, leaving your skin truly clean without that tight, stripped feeling.
Think of your first cleanse as taking the day off and your second as actually cleansing your skin.
Why Double Cleansing Matters
We ask a lot from our skincare. We want our serums, retinoids, moisturizers, and other treatments to work their best—but it all starts with properly cleansed skin.
A good double-cleansing routine can help:
Thoroughly remove makeup and SPF
Wash away excess oil and daily buildup
Keep pores feeling clean
Prepare skin for the rest of your routine
Cleanse effectively without over-stripping the skin barrier
The goal isn't to make your skin feel squeaky clean. In fact, that tight feeling after washing can be a sign that your cleanser is too harsh.
Your skin should feel clean, comfortable, soft, and balanced.
Who Should Double Cleanse?
Double cleansing can be especially helpful if you wear daily SPF, makeup, tinted skincare, or heavier complexion products.
And because sunscreen should be part of your everyday routine, double cleansing can make sense for many skin types—even on no-makeup days.
You also don't necessarily need to double cleanse morning and night. For most routines, it makes the most sense in the evening, when you're removing everything that has accumulated throughout the day.
The Biggest Mistake: Over-Cleansing
More cleansing isn't always better.
Double cleansing should be about using two complementary, gentle formulas, not scrubbing your face twice or using two harsh cleansers back-to-back.
Look for formulas that cleanse effectively while respecting the skin barrier. Your skin shouldn't feel dry, irritated, or tight when you're finished.
A Better Way to Wash Your Face Is Coming
At KH, we believe cleansing should be more than a step you rush through.
It should be effective. Gentle. Luxurious. And something you actually look forward to at the end of the day.
That's why we've been working on something new.
Two cleansers. Two completely different textures. One elevated cleansing ritual.
One melts away the day.
One leaves skin feeling soft, milky, and beautifully clean.
The KH double cleanse is coming soon.
And we have a feeling your nighttime routine is about to get a major upgrade.
