Last week, zzzmadison left a comment asking if it’s necessary to double cleanse because she does not apply makeup but only uses sunblock and concealer. This is an important question and I thought I’ll bring it up as a post because it’ll also address comments left by some of you concerning the difficulty you’ve encountered in washing off the Marie Veronique Organics Moisturizing Face Screen Plus with your usual cleansers.
The answer to zzzmadison’s question would be yes and this is also confirmed by many of you who mentioned that you double cleanse precisely because you use a sunblock. So for those who want to know more, here’s why:
If you’re using a mineral-based sunscreen
If you’re using a sunblock, or also known as a mineral-based sunscreen, then such a product contains Titanium Dioxide and/or Zinc Oxide to reflect or scatter UV radiation before it reaches our skin. Such ingredients sit on our skin and will only be removed when you wash them off. Those like Marie Veronique Organics Moisturizing Face Screen Plus SPF 30 contain a high amount of Zinc Oxide and hence, are not easily washed off. You will definitely have to double cleanse. In fact, you should be worried if your mineral based sunscreen can be washed off relatively easily because it might not have withstood your perspiration and did not last as long as you’ve desired it to.
If you’re using a chemical-based sunscreen
On the other hand, if you’re using a chemical-based sunscreen, then such a product absorb the UV rays using chemical filters like Mexoryl, Tinosorb, Oxybenzone, and Avobenzone, amongst others. Unlike the mineral-based sunscreens, such chemical sunscreens work from within your skin but they most likely also contain Titanium Dioxide and/or Zinc Oxide to provide additional shield. In this case, it would mean you still have to double cleanse to ensure your skin is completely clean.
If you’re using a moisturizer with SPF
Even if you’re not using any sunscreen, your moisturizer with SPF protection may also contain some of the sun protection ingredients. Additionally, the products you’re using could possibly contain silicones. Double cleansing would ensure that your skin is well cleansed and won’t be clogged. And a weekly exfoliation would also do your skin good in terms of keeping it primed to absorb the other skin care goodies you slather on.
© www.vivawoman.net copyright notice
_______________________________________________________
I'm Sesame and Viva Woman is a 
I appreciate that some of you find my articles interesting and wish to share them. There are many ways you can share, such as via social media but copying or lifting content is definitely not the right way. Please note that all material here is copyrighted and I have a 
Have a question for me? Have something interesting to share with me? Then contact me! You may like to send me an email to vivawoman[at]gmail[dot]com. I will try to respond as soon as soon as I am able to. Emails requesting for link exchanges or containing unsolicited sales messages will be ignored.
thanks for the post! I’m using Sunplay sunblock lotion and based from the ingredients at the back, I’m assuming it’s a mineral based sunscreen..
I perspire a lot on my face area..and since sunblock is clear, I have no idea whether it’s still on my face, doing it’s job or not. How do I know if it’s still there or do I hv to re-apply? I don’t experience any water resistivity on my face after I sweat though,,
Re-applying is a tricky thing. I generally suggest re-applying when you’re out doing sports. If you have makeup, it’s almost impossible to re-apply. So the best way is to rely on powder with some SPF.
The only way to tell if a sunblock works is to examine your face after a period of time – if there are no new sun spots, then likely it’s doing the job. You must of course be using other products with antioxidants to help your skin too.
The MVO sunblock can be hard to wash off. If your rinse your face with only water, it’ll still be there.
No, definitely can’t wash off with just water.
I totally think double cleansing when using only sunscreen is impt
When I started to, my skin improved 
It does wonders isn’t it?
Hi! Regardless of whether I use makeup or just sunscreen, I apply Cetaphil on cotton rounds and swipe my face to get rid of the initial gunk on my face. Then I wet my face and follow it up with my favorite cleanser. Then I tone and moisturize as usual. So I guess I am a huge fan of double cleansing
That’s a good practice. Cetaphil is also very gentle and sounds great to be used the way you are using.
Wonderful post Sesame, I always double cleanse when I wear sunscreen. I find that even though I cleanse my skin thoroughly, there’s always still some of it left. If I don’t double cleanse after, I get small breakouts the next day!
Yep, a number of pple always said sunscreen makes them breakout but I wonder now if it’s because they didn’t cleanse thoroughly afterwards.
Yikes! I have never double cleansed after using sunscreen and all I ever use is mineral sun screen! I will do this from now on since my skin health is of utmost importance to me.
Try it and you should find your skin behaving better.
I find that the better the sunscreen, the better it clings to the skin. And if I don’t double cleanse, I wld have a sort of “rubbery” feeling on my skin. Plus, I will have red bumps on my skin. Immediately. The next day.
Agree. If it’s easy to wash off, then it’s not likely to have withstood all the perspiration or rubbing/blending when we apply other products or makeup over it.
haha.. somehow i feel rather flattered to have asked a question that led to a post =P
actually i dun feel my sunscreen (using LaRoche Posay) at the end of the day. perhaps it’s not offering enough protection?
nevertheless, i will double-cleanse from now on!
I find that normally I don’t feel anything with a chemical sunscreen. More for physical sunscreen (usually high zinc content ones).
When I was using LRP’s, I use it under makeup. So, I usually double-cleanse. I can get away with single cleansing with LRP’s and no makeup but just sometimes.
i see.. maybe i’ll double-cleanse on alternate days then hehe
Hey, I really have to thank you for asking the question because it led me thinking more. All your questions and comments will lead me to find out and then learn more too. So keep them coming!
No, your LRP is fine. Like what pf1123 had pointed out, it’s a chemical sunscreen mostly and maybe they might use Titanium Dioxide as one of the ingredients but probably not very high in content. So the sunscreen is meant to filter out the UV rays from within your skin so you should not feel like you have a layer coated on your skin.
hehe great to learn along too =)
When I use the MVO sunblock, I will have to double cleanse.
I use the John Masters Organics bearberry oily skin balancing face wash now.
If I do not double cleanse, there will still some left on my face.
The zinc oxide is very high and that’s why it’s not easily washed off. Do you like the product so far?
Yes! I love it! The best sunscreen I’ve used so far.
I will be trying out the untinted version when I run out of my tinted one.
Oh I’m so glad you love it. I always worry that what I recommend may not work so well for others so this is good to know.
The untinted one can make your face a bit white. Not much problem if you’re fair.
Hi,
I had just purchased Origins Antioxidant cleanser with White Tea which the counter lady said they are plant base and contains no harmful ingredient. They have good review on it too. However I notice that the third ingredient contains SLS, is confusing, has anyone use it? Is it wise to continue?
I tried to do a quick search on the ingredient list but cannot find them online. I’m wondering if it’s Sodium Lauryl Sulfoacetate that is used; the spelling is quite close.
Sodium Lauryl Sulfoacetate also SLS for short, isn’t the same as Sodium Lauryl Sulfate. The former is a plant derived cleansing agent and is much more skin friendly.
Thanks Sesame! I checked the product is Sodium Laureth Sulfate. Surprising to learn if they said they are plant base but still have scuh igredient in it. I am not sure wise to use it?
Hmm…if it’s listed as one of the top 5 ingredients, then the concentration is high. It depends on how you feel about it…if you can’t bring yourself to use it on your face, then you might want to use it on your body. Or just use this bottle and then be done with it.
I use La Roche-Posay SPF 50 and I always take everything off with a makeup wipe and then wash my face with a cleanser. Should be sufficient yes?
That counts as a double cleanse too.
Have you ever you used clinique’s city block physical tinted sunscreen?? I am looking for a good physical sunscreen that is not oily at all.. do you have any suggestions?? thanks!
I couldn’t find the ingredient list but from comments gathered on forums, it seems that this contains both zinc oxide and titanium dioxide. So I suppose this is quite an effective physical block sunscreen. It also seems the texture is rather good and is non-oily. Why don’t you try to test the texture over the counter to see if you’ll like it?
I did tried it ,I apply it after my moisturizer and it leaves a kind of residue very similar to the ones a eraser leaves after erasing something.. I was wondering if that is normal with physical sunblocks?
Nope, that shouldn’t be how your skin feels. If you feel that way, it could be too dry for you.
how do you know if you have wash away your sunblock completely?
It depends on the sunscreen. Some are thick and so you should feel there is no more “film” or “residue” after cleansing thoroughly. Others are less obvious but if you double cleanse, it should be removed thoroughly. If it’s not cleansed properly, you’re know when your skin start misbehaving like having clogged pores or breakouts.
I have a doubt Sesame – why is it necessary to apply MVO face screen after every 2 hours coz it contains only physical sunscreen ingredients which scatters the sun rays??
Not necessary actually as like you’ve posted out, it’s a physical sunscreen but some pple may need to cos of perspiration, etc. I sometimes will re-apply if I have to go under very hot sun.