The 10-step Korean skin care routine hasn’t made headlines in a while, and the reason why is fantastic: it’s become a normal part of so many lives! The way Koreans approach skin care has really changed the way people view their skin care routine.

While the full 10-step K-beauty regimen is now a norm, the double cleansing method has recently received some attention from those who don’t normally follow a Korean skin care routine, but have learned the amazing benefits of two-step cleansing.

The double cleansing method is gaining traction as the best way to remove makeup and cleanse skin at the end of the day. (Though, truth be told, it’s also an excellent way to start the day!) If you’ve never heard of two-step cleansing, or you’re wanting to learn how to fit it into your skin care routine, here’s the basic rundown with our product recommendations for a perfect double cleansing experience.

Double cleansing is based on the belief that you need one cleansing step to loosen dirt, grime, makeup, dead skin cells, and excess oil, and then a second step to wash it all away. Makes sense, right? If you think about all the stuff that accumulates on the skin throughout the day, it’s logical to believe that the skin needs a little extra help to get clean before bed.

The first step of the two-step cleansing method is to use an oil-based cleanser to lift all the yucky stuff off the skin. For us, it’s Real Barrier Cleansing Oil Balm.

This specialized product uses a 100% naturally-derived blend of bergamot, marjoram, chamomile, olive, and safflower seed oils to melt away makeup, loosen dead skin cells, and scrub up dirt. In addition, shea butter, vitamin E, madecassoside, allantoin, panthenol, and patented ceramides all work together to deeply moisturize, condition, and soothe sensitive skin. It’s a full skin care service all in one oil-based cleanser!

Now that the day’s accumulation is loose and ready to be washed away, it’s time to use your favorite foaming cleanser to get skin sparkling clean. ATOPALM offers a variety of cleansers from which to choose based on your skin concerns or preferences. As an example, we recommend Real Barrier Cleansing Foam which is one of our best-sellers and an excellent basic foaming cleanser that works for all skin types.

When you apply your foaming cleanser after oil cleansing, it allows the foaming cleanser to better penetrate into the pores for a deeper clean. It rinses away all the funky stuff that you just dissolved and loosened with your oil cleanser, including oil-based makeup and sebum buildup. But there’s one thing it won’t fully remove—all the moisturizing and nourishing benefits left behind by the natural oils found in your oil-based cleanser!

After cleansing, your skin should feel refreshed and moisturized—never dry, tight, or itchy. Those are all feelings of stripped skin, which is not happy skin! Think of your double cleansing method as a way to purify skin, but also as a way to give your skin its first light layer of moisture before applying your focused moisturizing formula.

The double cleansing method can be a game-changer, but only if you used high-quality skin care products. As the first two steps of the 10-step Korean skin care routine, we highly recommend K-beauty products for your two-step cleansing method—and what could be better than ATOPALM, a decades-long favorite skin care brand in Korea itself?