Double Cleansing on a Budget For Your Skin Type
Double cleansing is the cornerstone of a good nighttime skincare routine. I talk about it all the time. Whether you wear a full face of makeup, barely-there makeup, or just sunscreen, cleansing your face twice before you apply any other products will truly benefit your skin.
The biggest issues I hear from people are that double cleansing can be costly (balms and oils aren’t always cheap) and an oil-based first cleanse can be too heavy for someone with oily or acneic skin. Another common question I get is whether or not you can double cleanse with the same cleanser.
Well, guess what? There are lots of different products out there to double cleanse with and they’re not one-size-fits-all. And thanks to the huge selection of beauty products at Walmart and their “Here for Every Beauty” campaign that offers beauty products for all skin types and tones, I was able to pick out exactly what you need for a double cleanse on a budget.
Keep on scrolling and let me know if you have any questions!
Normal/Combination Skin:
Those with normal, dry, or combination skin get the most benefit from a traditional double cleanse, which consists of an oil-based cleanser or balm, followed by a gel or cream cleanser.
SooAE Refining Rose Petal Cleansing Oil ($7)
It’s exciting to see Korean beauty brands (the OGs of the double cleanse) take over the shelves of U.S. retailers and this one, SooAE, is no exception. The first ingredient in this cleansing oil is mineral oil, so it’s not fancy, but it still feels like it is since it softens and removes the toughest eyeliner and mascara, and happens to smell like a stroll through a rose garden. A note about cleansers like this with a heavy oil as the main ingredient: the difference between using the oil on its own versus in a formulation like this is the surfactants and emulsifiers included. Those help further cleanse the skin and make it easier to rinse off afterwards.
Earth to Skin Manuka Honey Hydrating Cleanser ($7)
For the second cleanse, you truly just need a gentle cleanser that will get the excess off your skin. The first cleanse softens and removes most of the makeup and grime and the second gets the rest. My first choice is normally a straight-forward gel cleanser, but this one happens to have a couple of my favorite humectants to hydrate the skin: glycerin and honey. That gives you the added benefit of not stripping your skin and, instead, prepping it for the next step in your routine.
Note: Both of these cleansers contain fragrance and, while we know it should be avoided for the most part, I feel like the exception is cleansers since they get rinsed off the skin. Obviously, avoid them if you have ultra-sensitive skin, but if you like a sensorial experience, cleansing would be the time to get it in.
Other products to try:
Ponds Makeup Remover Cleansing Balm ($10)
Avalon Organics Intense Defense Cleansing Gel ($9)
Dry Skin
If you have dry skin, you should absolutely go with a traditional double cleanse because your skin needs to retain moisture. If you have dry skin, go with my suggestions below.
Physician’s Formula The Perfect Matcha Cleansing Balm ($11)
This Physician’s Formula cleansing balm is another “not-so-fancy, but gets the job done” first step in your skincare routine. You’ll find that most affordable oil-based cleansers skimp on higher-priced ingredients, but this one happens to have a couple of nice ones like lactic acid (one of my favorite alpha-hydroxy acids to help hydrate and slough off dead skin cells), matcha, and bamboo shoot extract (for added antioxidants). It also emulsifies nicely and works well to soften and remove your makeup without leaving a film behind.
Skin to You Ready For This Jelly Cleanser ($8)
I’m not a huge fan of jelly cleansers, but many of our Mixed Makeup viewers love using them as the second cleanse in their routine. I gave this one a try and really liked it. I usually recommend cream cleansers for those with really dry skin, but this really does cleanse the skin and keeps it hydrated.
Other products to try:
Burt’s Bee 100% Natural Facial Cleansing Oil ($14)
Neutrogena Hydrating Cleansing Gel ($8)
Sensitive Skin
Those with sensitive skin have a hard time finding cleansers that are free of irritants like fragrance and parabens, so they often skip the double cleanse out of fear. Well, fear no more because there are products for you!
Albolene Moisturizing Cleanser ($10)
I’ll be honest, I don’t love this Albolene cleanser for myself, but it’s really gentle and a few people in our private Facebook group called Beauty Questions Answered mentioned it’s the only oil-based cleanser they can use on their sensitive skin. It makes sense when you look at the straight-forward list of ingredients. I highly recommend using a soft washcloth to remove it because it does leave a slight film behind.
Simple Water Boost Sensitive Skin Gel Cleanser ($6)
Those with sensitive skin know all about Simple Skincare because they’re known for their gentle and “simple” ingredients. This gel cleanser works well to remove grime from your skin but doesn’t have harsh ingredients or fragrance. I’ll note, it does have a small amount of lactic acid, so steer clear if it irritates your skin (though I find it’s the perfect chemical exfoliant for those with sensitive skin).
Other products to try:
Eucerin Sensitive Skin Redness Relief Cleanser ($7)
Oily Skin or Acne-Prone Skin
Those with oily skin or acne-prone skin (even if it’s dry) tell me they avoid the double cleanse because they worry about breakouts. I get it. I would be worried, too. While I think a lot of people, even you guys, can benefit from an oil-based first cleanse because it will help balance your oil production, it’s really on you to know your skin and what breaks it out.
Simple Kind to Skin Micellar Water ($7)
If you really want to avoid an oil-based first cleanse, then micellar water is for you. My absolute favorite brand is Bioderma ($15) because it’s perfectly formulated, in my opinion. They even have a version called Bioderma Sensibio ($15) that is made for oily skin, but if you really want to cut down on budget, I also love this one from Simple because, well, it’s simple! You don’t want to use a micellar water that has too many ingredients because it just ups the chances of it irritating your skin. Also keep in mind, if you use micellar water as your first cleanse, please be gentle. Don’t tug at your skin, especially your eye area. Soak a cotton pad (and when I say soak, I mean really get it wet) and press it to your eyes to soften and gently wipe away your makeup. Same with the rest of your face. Remember, you’re going to do a second cleanse anyway!
Equate Beauty Oil-Free Acne Wash ($4)
My favorite way to include salicylic acid in my skincare routine is in a cleanser. You get all the benefits without over-drying your skin. This oil-free acne wash by Equate is an affordable version of a well-known brand and you wouldn’t know the difference. It gets all the grime off, addresses acne, and controls oil production.
Hopefully this post will encourage you to pick up the double cleanse in your nighttime skincare routine no matter what skin type you have! For other skincare questions, take a look at some of my other posts on affordable skincare for oily and acne-prone skin and other affordable skincare products available at Walmart.
Want more drugstore skincare recommendations? Watch this:
