We’ve all heard of double cleansing – a K-beauty-inspired trend that has had a huge influence on the skincare industry over the past couple of years. Now, however, skincare pros are recommending that you double up on a different part of your skincare routine: your moisturizer.
While double moisturizing may seem a little kooky, many people now swear by this technique, claiming that it has worked wonders for their skin. Is there any merit behind this trend? Join Celestolite as we explore the pros and cons of double moisturizing and, most importantly, whether or not it’s something that you should be doing too!
What is Double Moisturizing?
Double moisturizing is exactly what it sounds like – moisturizing your skin twice instead of just once. While some people simply apply the same moisturizer twice, double cleansing aficionados recommend using two different moisturizers. The first should be a lightweight cream that’s infused with plenty of humectants. A thicker cream – one that’s more occlusive-based – should then be layered over this.
The Benefits of Double Moisturizing
Why would you want to go through the effort of double moisturizing your skin? Turns out, this technique brings with it some serious benefits…
The main one is that double moisturizing can significantly boost skin hydration. Yes, applying a single layer of moisturizer will do this too, but double moisturizing essentially doubles up on the hydration that you give to your skin. The second moisturizer that you apply will lock the first into your skin while forming a thicker seal over your skin’s surface. This greatly reduces moisture loss.
This drastic increase in skin hydration levels has a few knock-on effects. The more hydrated your skin is, the smoother and firmer it will feel. The visible signs of aging, such as fine lines and wrinkles, will look less noticeable, too.
Double moisturizing can do a world of good for a damaged skin barrier as well. In many ways, a moisturizer mimics the key functions of your skin’s natural protective barrier. Double moisturizing doubles up on how supported and strengthened your skin barrier feels after it has been moisturized, giving it a much more resilient finish.
The Downsides of Double Moisturizing
So far, double moisturizing sounds pretty appealing! However, like with pretty much every skincare trend, there are some downsides that need to be considered too…
The main concern surrounds those with oily or combination skin. With your skin type already producing more oil than necessary, it’s important to keep your moisturizing efforts light. Applying a thick moisturizer to your skin, or even too much of a light moisturizer, could leave you with clogged pores and an increase in acne breakouts.
Some experts also ascertain that moisturizing too much can weaken a healthy skin barrier. Overusing moisturizers can affect your skin’s natural balance of moisture. It signals to your body that your skin doesn’t need as much moisture, meaning that your body cuts back on how much moisture it sends to your skin internally. This means that as soon as you stop double moisturizing, you’ll end up with dehydrated skin.
Should You Be Double Moisturizing?
As you can see, while double moisturizing has its benefits, it’s not for everyone. It’s a technique best adopted by those who have severely dry or damaged skin. It can also be beneficial for those with mature skin, as this is when the skin’s natural barrier starts to weaken and the skin begins to dry out. People with sensitive skin, or anyone suffering from eczema, psoriasis, or any other condition that indicates a weakened skin barrier, often do well with double moisturizing too.
Double moisturizing can also be particularly beneficial in the winter. At this time of year, maintaining skin hydration levels can be tricky. The dry air around you sucks moisture out of your skin at a much faster rate. Double moisturizing will slow this down, keeping your skin hydrated for longer.
How to Double Moisturize
Want to give double moisturizing a try? Here’s how:
Prep Your Skin
You’re probably aware of how you should never moisturize skin that hasn’t first been cleansed, so it goes without saying that the same applies to double moisturizing too. You’ll need to first prep your skin, which means clearing away all of those surface impurities. A gentle cleanser, like the Celestolite Estrella Cleanser Mousse, would be a good move before double moisturizing.
Once you’re done cleansing, continue on with your normal skincare routine. We would recommend following up with a hydrating toner, like the Celestolite Estrella Facial Toner. Then, layer on a hydrating serum. The Mars Stellar Serum from Celestolite is packed with hydrating ingredients.
Applying these hydrating products underneath your moisturizers will give your skin even more of a hydration boost. Your moisturizers will be sealing in extra moisture, which will leave your skin looking even plumper and dewier.
Apply a Lightweight Moisturizer
The first moisturizer that you apply should be lightweight. You don’t want to start with a cream that contains thick ingredients, as this will only block your second moisturizer from reaching your skin cells. Instead, look for one that’s infused with humectants. These ingredients feel weightless on the skin, yet they effectively bind moisture to the skin to leave it feeling quenched.
Either of the two moisturizers from the Celestolite Luna Collection would be good choices for your first moisturizer layer. The Luna Luminous Touch is loaded with powerful antioxidants, including retinol and resveratrol. It’s a great option if you’re also hoping to minimize the visible signs of skin aging.
Meanwhile, the Luna Mineral Cream is an even lighter formula. If you’re thinking about double moisturizing combination or oily skin, this would be the moisturizer to turn to. Thanks to an infusion of salicylic acid, you won’t have to worry about this moisturizer clogging up your pores.
Layer on a Richer Moisturizer
Double moisturizing is most effective if your second moisturizer contains a few occlusive ingredients. These are ingredients that create a film over the skin’s surface, making them great for pushing in all of the previous ingredients/products that you’ve applied.
While you’ll find occlusives in a few Celestolite formulas, the Estrella Night Cream is best suited for being the second layer in a double moisturizing routine. Its occlusive ingredients consist of shea butter and sunflower seed oil. Both do an excellent job of locking in moisture while conditioning the skin’s surface.
Alternatively, if you’d like to incorporate SPF into your double moisturizing regimen, turn your attention to the Nova Bright Skin Cream SPF 30. It’s not as rich as our night cream, but this can be beneficial if you’re double moisturizing during the day or in the summer.
Double Moisturizing With the Same Moisturizer
As we mentioned earlier, double moisturizing can be done with a single moisturizer. All you would need to do is apply your moisturizer twice. It won’t be as beneficial as layering a light and thick moisturizer, but it can still be a good solution if you’re in a fix and your skin is crying out for some extra hydration.
For the best results, wait for a minute or two in between applying your two layers of moisturizer. You want to give the first layer some time to settle into your skin before following up with the next. However, don’t let the first layer dry out completely. Your skin should still feel slightly damp when you move in with the second layer. This will help to ensure maximum hydration!
Double Moisturizing Your Body
It’s not just your face that can be double moisturized – you can do the same with your body too! If you’ve been struggling with areas of skin on your body that feel rough and dry, double moisturizing could be the solution you’ve been searching for.
When double moisturizing your body, the same rules apply. Start by prepping your skin, meaning giving it a good cleanse. You may also want to exfoliate – the Celestolite Radiant Body Exfoliant does this well.
Then, start with a layer of a light moisturizer, such as the Celestolite Hand & Body Cream. Your second moisturizer should be a thicker formula – a moisturizer like the Revitalizing Body Butter would be perfect. This is another moisturizer that uses shea butter as its main occlusive. It’s an ingredient that’s loaded with fatty acids that leave the skin feeling softer and more supple.
Listen to Your Skin
Even if you seem like the perfect candidate for the double moisturizing trend, it’s important that you listen to your skin after giving this technique a try. Your skin may be receptive to it at first, but double moisturizing too often could end up taking a toll. If you notice any undesired changes in your complexion, take a step back to figure out if double moisturizing is the cause.
If it is, this doesn’t mean that you have to completely stop double moisturizing. Instead, simply cut back. Rather than double moisturizing daily, save it for a few times a week when your skin feels particularly dry. Adjust how often you double moisturize based on the time of year, too. Your skin will benefit from this technique much more in the winter months than it will in the summer.
Summary
There’s no denying that double moisturizing can be a useful technique, but it’s not for everybody. If your skin is particularly oily, you may want to give this trend a miss! However, if you’ve been looking for a way to boost hydration and support in dry, damaged, or sensitive skin, double moisturizing could be exactly what your skin needs.
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