If you are a skincare junkie, follow us regularly on social media and all your friends have changed the way they clean their face, you probably have heard about the DC method.
The Double Cleanse method is as simple as it sounds - you need to clean your face twice with two different textured cleansers.
Skin needs to be cleansed of grime, sebum, sunscreen and makeup every night, but gently, without drying it out and maintaining a healthy hydrolipidic barrier. Cleansers are a very important step in any routine because inadequate cleansing can result in dehydration, irritation, clogged pores and more acne and they are needed to prepare the skin for the rest of your skincare.
Double cleanse involves two steps:
First step: lipid-based cleanser (oil, balm or milk)
Second step: water-based cleanser (foam or gel)
An oil cleanser like our Atomic is used as a first step. Atomic is unique due to the fact that it is based on extremely stable caprylic triglycerides with a very safe and non-irritating chemical profile. Oil attracts oil, so the texture itself is essential for gentle but effective removal of products with a sun protective factor, stubborn lipsticks, powders with heavy coverage, concealers and other pigmented products. Products such as those require an oil base that will dissolve and remove resistant formulas (designed to stay on your skin as long as possible) and oil-soluble pigments.
It is very important to apply the oil cleanser with your hands on dry face, without cotton pads which can irritate the skin. Gentle fingertip massage will melt the make-up off. After you distribute the oil on the entire face, gradually add water to emulsify the oil formula and turn it into milk. Dedicate at least 20 to 30 seconds to the first step, ideally a little longer. It is often the case that the massage is not done properly, so be sure to pay attention to how you use the oil cleanser. It is not enough to quickly "stir" the product and rinse it away. Take your time.
Second step is a water-based cleanser like our Amphibian. Cleanser in form of a gel will clean your skin of all residual impurities, but it must be mild and non-drying. Gel cleansers are formulated with surfactants, ingredients that reduce the surface tension of water and enable the removal of impurities and sebum. Some of the most well-known surfactants, like SLS and SLES, have a high irritant potential and can be drying due to their strong cleansing properties, which is why they are not recommended to be used often. Mild amphoteric surfactants are most often used in products for sensitive skin and in gentle face cleansers because they have the smallest, one could say negligible, irritating potential. That is why they were chosen for Amphibian, to make the cleansing experience as gentle as possible. We know you know how to use a gel cleanser, right? You need water to foam the product up before rinsing it out completely.
Frequently asked questions:
Do I really need to double cleanse every evening?
Yes, even if you don't wear make-up, we recommend an oil cleanser to remove sunscreen.
How do I clean my face in the morning?
Everything you do with your face must be gentle and done to maintain healthy skin’s hydrolipidic barrier. Therefore, it is enough to wash your face with water in the morning if your skin or T-zone is not extremely oily. Otherwise, a mild cleansing gel is sufficient.
