Blog · 30 October 2026
Double cleansing, explained: who needs it and what to buy
An oil cleanser, then a water-based one. When double cleansing is worth it, when it isn't, and the cleansers that are cheapest in your country today.
Double cleansing means two cleansers at night: an oil or balm to dissolve sunscreen, makeup and sebum, then a gentle water-based cleanser to rinse the rest. It is the step most associated with Korean skincare.
Our view: if you wear sunscreen or makeup every day, double cleansing at night is worth it. If you don't, one gentle cleanser is enough, and in the morning a splash of water or a mild cleanser does the job. Massage the oil onto dry skin, add a little water until it turns milky, then rinse.
First cleanse: oils and balms
Cleansing oils and balms in the US
| Product | Lowest price | Cheapest at | Stores | Save |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anua Heartleaf Pore Control Cleansing Oil 200ml | US$10.00 | Song of Skin | 7 | 50% |
| SKIN1004 Madagascar Centella Light Cleansing Oil 200ml | US$12.90 | Hola StyleKorean | 8 | 48% |
| Biodance Collagen Cleansing Oil 200ml | US$14.70 | Hola StyleKorean | 5 | 41% |
| heimish All Clean Balm 120ml | US$15.30 | MOIDA | 5 | 27% |
| Dr. Althea Pure Grinding Cleansing Balm 50ml | US$15.87 | DODOSKIN | 6 | 31% |
| Anua Heartleaf Pore Control Cleansing Oil Mild 200ml | US$17.00 | MOIDA | 5 | 15% |
| ma:nyo Pure Cleansing Oil 200ml | US$17.50 | Hola StyleKorean | 8 | 40% |
| BANILA CO Clean It Zero Cleansing Balm Original (100 ml) | US$17.60 | MOIDA | 6 | 20% |
| celimax Dual Barrier Purifying Cleansing Balm 50ml | US$18.00 | K-BEAUTY AVE | 5 | 20% |
| Haruharu Wonder Black Rice Moisture Deep Cleansing Oil 150ml | US$20.00 | K-BEAUTY AVE | 6 | 20% |
Cleansing oils and balms in the UK
| Product | Lowest price | Cheapest at | Stores | Save |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| heimish All Clean Balm 120ml | £12.26 | Justmylook | 3 | – |
| heimish All Clean Balm Mandarin 120ml | £12.26 | Justmylook | 3 | 23% |
| Beauty of Joseon Radiance Cleansing Balm 100ml | £12.38 | Justmylook | 4 | 27% |
| Haruharu Wonder Black Rice Moisture Deep Cleansing Oil 150ml | £12.54 | Justmylook | 5 | 37% |
| Beauty of Joseon Ginseng Cleansing Oil 210ml | £12.75 | Justmylook | 4 | 36% |
| Biodance Collagen Cleansing Oil 200ml | £13.99 | Justmylook | 3 | 13% |
| numbuzin No.1 Easy Peasy Cleansing Oil 200ml | £14.00 | Skin2Seoul | 3 | 34% |
| Dr. Althea Pure Grinding Cleansing Balm 50ml | £15.00 | Glam Touch | 3 | 17% |
| mixsoon Bean Cleansing Oil 195ml | £16.05 | Justmylook | 4 | 24% |
| House of Hur Purifying Cleansing Balm 50ml | £16.14 | Justmylook | 4 | 19% |
Cleansing oils and balms in Canada
Cleansing oils and balms in Australia
| Product | Lowest price | Cheapest at | Stores | Save |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| rom&nd Glasting Melting Balm (03 Sorbet Balm) 3.5g | A$12.00 | Lila Beauty | 4 | 54% |
| Anua Heartleaf Pore Control Cleansing Oil 200ml | A$19.95 | Lila Beauty | 5 | 45% |
| Dr. Althea Pure Grinding Cleansing Balm 50ml | A$20.95 | Lila Beauty | 4 | 49% |
| heimish All Clean Balm Mandarin 120ml | A$23.00 | Nudie Glow | 4 | – |
| Anua Heartleaf Pore Control Cleansing Oil Mild 200ml | A$23.95 | Lila Beauty | 4 | 42% |
| SOME BY MI Lacto Soy Sebum & Blackhead Cleansing Oil 200ml | A$26.95 | Lila Beauty | 4 | 27% |
| Biodance Collagen Cleansing Oil 200ml | A$28.50 | Lila Beauty | 5 | 48% |
| mixsoon Bean Cleansing Oil 195ml | A$28.50 | Lila Beauty | 4 | 37% |
| iUNIK Calendula Complete Cleansing Oil 200ml | A$29.00 | Kanvas Beauty | 4 | – |
| medicube Zero Pore Blackhead Deep Cleansing Oil 205ml | A$32.00 | Lila Beauty | 5 | 22% |
Cleansing oils and balms in New Zealand
| Product | Lowest price | Cheapest at | Stores | Save |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anua Heartleaf Pore Control Cleansing Oil Mini 20ml | NZ$11.90 | Deiji | 1 | – |
| rom&nd Glasting Melting Balm (15 Pecan Brew) 3.5g | NZ$19.00 | The Cosmetic Store | 2 | 13% |
| BANILA CO Clean it Zero Nourishing Cleansing Balm 100ml | NZ$29.90 | Deiji | 2 | 15% |
| BANILA CO Clean it Zero Calming Cleansing Balm 100ml | NZ$29.90 | Deiji | 1 | – |
| BANILA CO Clean it Zero Clarifying Cleansing Balm 100ml | NZ$29.90 | Deiji | 1 | – |
| Beauty of Joseon Radiance Cleansing Balm 100ml | NZ$31.90 | Deiji | 2 | – |
| Round Lab 1025 Dokdo Cleansing oil 200ml | NZ$32.90 | Deiji | 2 | 16% |
| Anua Heartleaf Pore Control Cleansing Oil 200ml | NZ$34.90 | Deiji | 1 | – |
| Dr. Althea Pure Grinding Cleansing Balm 50ml | NZ$35.00 | The Cosmetic Store | 2 | 8% |
| Anua Heartleaf Pore Control Cleansing Oil Mild 200ml | NZ$36.00 | The Cosmetic Store | 1 | – |
Cleansing oils and balms in Europe
| Product | Lowest price | Cheapest at | Stores | Save |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| celimax Derma Nature Fresh Blackhead Jojoba Cleansing Oil 150ml | €12.95 | Mimo Mimo | 6 | 35% |
| Dr. Althea Pure Grinding Cleansing Balm 50ml | €13.94 | Korean-Skincare.nl | 6 | 39% |
| heimish All Clean Balm 120ml | €13.95 | Mimo Mimo | 5 | 44% |
| Beauty of Joseon Radiance Cleansing Balm 100ml | €14.90 | LoveMyCosmetic | 6 | 40% |
| Pyunkang Yul Deep Cleansing Oil 290ml | €15.19 | Korean-Skincare.nl | 6 | 37% |
| mixsoon Bean Cleansing Oil 195ml | €16.79 | Korean-Skincare.nl | 6 | 35% |
| Haruharu Wonder Black Rice Moisture Deep Cleansing Oil 150ml | €16.90 | LoveMyCosmetic | 6 | 26% |
| heimish All Clean Balm Mandarin 120ml | €17.58 | Korean-Skincare.nl | 5 | 29% |
| Purito From Green Cleansing Oil 200ml | €18.95 | Mimo Mimo | 6 | 27% |
| ma:nyo Pure Cleansing Oil 200ml | €19.95 | Korean-Skincare.nl | 5 | 37% |
Second cleanse: gentle foams and gels
Water-based cleansers in the US
| Product | Lowest price | Cheapest at | Stores | Save |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| heimish All Clean Green Foam pH 5.5 150ml | US$8.40 | Hola StyleKorean | 5 | 40% |
| SKIN1004 Madagascar Centella Ampoule Foam 125ml | US$11.00 | MOIDA | 8 | 47% |
| Dr. Althea Green Relief Amino Gel Cleanser 100ml | US$11.00 | Hola StyleKorean | 5 | 48% |
| Anua Heartleaf Quercetinol Pore Deep Cleansing Foam 150ml | US$11.90 | MOIDA | 7 | 41% |
| COSRX Low pH Good Morning Gel Cleanser 150ml | US$11.90 | Hola StyleKorean | 7 | 15% |
| Haruharu Wonder Black Rice Moisture 5.5 Soft Cleansing Gel 100ml | US$11.90 | Hola StyleKorean | 6 | 40% |
| COSRX Advanced Snail Mucin Power Gel Cleanser 150ml | US$12.60 | Hola StyleKorean | 5 | 30% |
| SKIN1004 Madagascar Centella Poremizing Deep Cleansing Foam 125ml | US$13.50 | Cupidrop | 6 | 16% |
| medicube Zero Foam Cleanser 120g | US$14.00 | Glowiss | 5 | 41% |
| SKIN1004 Madagascar Centella Tea-Trica Bha Foam 125ml | US$14.40 | Cupidrop | 7 | 11% |
Water-based cleansers in the UK
Water-based cleansers in Canada
Water-based cleansers in Australia
Water-based cleansers in New Zealand
Water-based cleansers in Europe
Picks are the products the most stores in your country stock, shown cheapest first, so the table changes as stores restock and reprice. Nothing here is medical advice: patch test new products, and see a dermatologist for skin problems that don't settle. More from the blog.