Anyone who knows me knows that I'm no fun when it comes to cleansing my face. (Otherwise I'm quite funny, I promise!) It's the most important step in your skincare routine and should never be neglected. Even the highest quality and most expensive skincare products are useless if the skin has not been thoroughly cleansed beforehand. And by thoroughly cleansed, I mean cleansed twice, also known as double cleansing.
Why facial cleansing is so important
While a single cleansing is sufficient in the morning, double cleansing is necessary in the evening. Why is that? Because we wear sunscreen and make-up during the day - both products that are specifically formulated to adhere well to the skin. What's more, our face gets a whole load of dirt floating around and should therefore be cleaned particularly carefully.
“Shea butter is not only ideal for skin care, but also for cleansing! It reliably destroys everything we no longer need on our skin in the evening and is gentle and nourishing at the same time.”
What is double cleansing?
Double cleansing is exactly that: cleansing twice in a row. There are different philosophies for this and they all have their justification. For example, those who don't like oily products use the oil-based product in a first step and then use something lighter, such as a gel cleanser. However, I would strongly recommend at least one oil-based cleanser, because nothing else dissolves dirt, make-up and sunscreen as effectively as oil and grease. And this is where our beloved shea butter comes into play.
I recommend these steps for facial cleansing
To shed a little more light on this double cleansing with shea butter story, I would like to share my personal evening skincare routine with you:
- First of all, I use a natural cosmetic micellar water on a reusable cotton pad. This is the first cleansing step. You can, but you don't have to.
- For the second cleansing step, I use pure shea butter. I warm the product in the palms of my hands, apply it to dry skin (for cleansing on dry skin, for care on damp skin :-)) and make a ritual of it:
- The products ensure that all traces of make-up, sunscreen and other dirt are dissolved and can be removed with a damp washcloth.
- As the shea butter does not emulsify, a washcloth is essential to get everything off. At the same time, it also acts as a gentle exfoliator and enhances the wellness effect.
- Afterwards, my skin is clean and ready for the next steps in my skincare routine. My beloved rose plant water is used first, then the moisture is locked in with the butter or with our lovely face balm. It's important to apply these water-free products to skin that is still damp.
And that's all there is to it! No witchcraft, right?
A mild trio for facial care: unscented face balm, pure shea butter and lip balm with lemon balm fragrance
As I said, double cleansing can look very different: You can also use the same product twice! Or first a base oil and then the butter. The only important thing is that you cleanse twice. And don't forget, this is about both: “Skin Care” and “Self Care”. Because anyone who knows me knows that I combine the two terms quite uncompromisingly and believe that it is not only important, but even essential, to take time for yourself and time for your skincare. Listen to your favorite music or podcast! Make yourself a cup of tea (or a glass of champagne - no judgment!)!
Be good to yourself and wash your face!
All the best
Sandra Gimmel
Make up artist & beauty blogger
