As an avid wearer of makeup, I had my cleansing routine locked down. A swipe of micellar water, gel cleanser, and hydrating moisturiser at night was all I needed to keep my skin microbiome happy and healthy. All of that changed once I moved further into the outskirts of the city, lengthening my morning commute to work. More time spent daydreaming on the Tube, instead of walking or a short bus ride, meant that pathogens and other particulate matter had an extra opportunity to latch onto my skin—gross, I know.

Of course, anyone who lives in the city knows that the outdoor air isn’t exactly clean to begin with, due to the emissions from vehicles on the road, our heating systems, and construction work. To make matters worse, a study from the University of Cambridge found that the issue intensifies on the transport systems, as “pollution particles are suspended for long periods, due to poor ventilation, particularly on station platforms.”

It didn’t take long for me to notice a downturn in the luminosity of my skin and an uptick in pesky comedones blocking my pores. My quick and easy cleansing regime just didn’t cut it anymore and needed an overhaul. Well aware of the double cleansing hype, I decided to put the method to the test and give it a spin myself. What did I have to lose, right?

What is double cleansing?

Double cleansing is a skincare method that involves just two products: an oil cleanser and a water-based cleanser. The idea is to thoroughly remove lingering residue from makeup and SPF products and prevent blocked pores or further skin irritation from occurring. “A double cleanse matters, when you’re using heavy-duty products such as longwear and waterproof make-up—the first cleanse has to be designed to dissolve oil well,” says dermatologist Dr Beibei Du-Harpur. “Some gel cleansers and micellar waters do work well for this. If you need a second wash, it should always be with a gentle hydrating cleanser to prevent stripping your skin from essential natural oils, and ensure that there isn’t any lingering residue.”

According to a study conducted at Sichuan University, there is evidence to suggest that using a face wash, over water alone, successfully cleanses the surface of the skin. In fact, after using a cleansing oil once, just 5.8 per cent of residue was left on the skin. But after using a regular cleanser to remove waterproof sunscreen, 37 per cent of residue was still left on the skin. With just a splash of water? 60 per cent of residue remained on the surface of the skin. Not ideal.