Cleansing is the absolute first step in your skincare routine. I mean, honestly, I labeled cleansers 1.0 and 1.1, so let's not overcomplicate your routine right off the bat. The answer is yes.

With all the talk about double cleansing, oil cleansing, gel cleansing, and having multiple cleansers for different reasons, it can start to feel like there is a right answer you are supposed to know.

There is not.

Cleansing gets easier when you understand what each cleanser is doing and choose what fits your day.

A cleanser has one main job: remove what needs to come off the skin while keeping your skin comfortable and ready for the rest of your routine.

So what needs to come off?

♡ makeup

♡ sunscreen

♡ product residue sitting on the skin

♡ excess oil

♡ sweat

♡ buildup from the day

Some nights, one cleanse is enough. Other times, especially on days with extra makeup, SPF, heavier products, or a good sweat from a hot yoga class, a second cleanse can help remove the little extra sitting on the surface.

Double cleansing is not a rule. It is a tool. Take it or leave it depending on your day.

If you are exhausted, one cleanse 100% is enough. If you have the time, energy, or more to remove, go for the second cleanse.

The goal is not to make cleansing feel like one more thing you have to get perfect. The goal is to choose the cleanse that fits your skin and your schedule and be consistent.

When I formulate cleansers at Back Bar, I usually start with two base options: oil and gel.

What an oil cleanser does

An oil cleanser is made to break down oil-based buildup on the skin.

That can include:

♡ makeup

♡ sunscreen

♡ heavier skincare products

♡ excess oil

♡ anything that feels like it is sitting on top of the skin

This works because oil attracts oil. So instead of trying to scrub makeup or SPF away, an oil cleanser helps loosen and dissolve what is sitting on the surface first.

Oil cleansing can be especially helpful around the eyes. If you wear mascara or eye makeup, you know that scrubbing at the eye area is not the move. An oil cleanser can help soften and loosen makeup so you are not tugging at that delicate skin.

You apply it first, let it break down what needs to come off, then remove it with water or a warm muslin cloth and pat dry. There should not be a greasy residue left behind.

If you have oily skin, an oil cleanser might sound like the last thing you would want to use, but it can be such a good option. Oil cleansing is not about adding more oil to the skin. It is about using oil to break down what is sitting on the surface so it can be removed more easily.

This is why I love an oil cleanser. It can make cleansing feel less aggressive and more thorough at the same time.

What a gel cleanser does

A gel cleanser is your fresh, everyday cleanse. It is the cleanser most people reach for when they want their skin to feel clean and ready for the rest of their routine.

This is the one I like for sweat, excess oil, daily residue, and that fresh-skin feeling after cleansing.

A gel cleanser works differently than an oil cleanser. The cleansing ingredients help grab onto what is sitting on the skin, mix with water, and rinse away. That is what gives you that clean, refreshed feeling.

You can use a gel cleanser on its own, especially on lighter days or in the morning.

If you are double cleansing, it would be your second step after an oil cleanser. The oil cleanser loosens the heavier surface buildup first. The gel cleanser follows to cleanse the skin itself and leave it ready for the rest of your skincare goodies.

So...one cleanse or two?

This is where you make the call. Skincare has to fit real life.

One cleanse can be a great choice when your day was lighter, you did not wear much makeup, or you just need your routine to stay simple enough to actually do it.

A double cleanse can be a great choice when you have more sitting on the skin at the end of the day.

Neither option is better across the board: A simple cleanse you actually do is more useful than a perfect routine that only happens once in a while.

A good cleanse should leave your skin feeling fresh, comfortable, and ready for your next step.

How cleansers are customized at Back Bar

At Back Bar, cleansers are built around how your skin behaves and how your routine works at home.

That may mean:

♡ a gel cleanser for a simple daily cleanse

♡ an oil cleanser for makeup, SPF, and eye makeup removal

♡ oil cleanser first and gel cleanser second for a double cleanse routine

Simply answer a few questions about your skin, your routine, and how you like your skin to feel after cleansing. From there, I build the formula around what makes sense for you.

The point is not to add more steps. The point is to make the first step fit you.