Get the benefits of double-cleansing in one step

I’ve been devoted to a triple-cleanse every evening for quite some time, and although it might sound labor intensive, it really just involves washing with a cleansing oil or balm, following up with a more sudsy wash and finishing with a few swipes of micellar water. I’ve tried scores of oil-based cleansing products over the years, but I recently figured out what makes the difference between one I love and one I just use—and it’s the emulsification factor. Long story short, this means I’m down with an oil or balm that liquifies when I add water—and if it doesn’t liquify and leaves a Crisco-like feeling on my skin after I attempt to wash it off, I’m out.

For example, I’ve been using Shu Uemura’s cleansing oils for years, and never had an issue forking over $80+ for a bottle because it seriously lasts for like a year. I’ve also loved IT Cosmetics’ Bye Bye Makeup and Elemis’ Pro-Collagen Cleansing Balm as well, simply because they melt away makeup leave my skin feeling soft and supple. On the other hand, I recently received Omorovizca’s Thermal Cleansing Balm as a thank-you gift for subscribing to Porter magazine. It does not emulsify so it definitely requires extra effort to wash it all away and actually requires follow-up with another cleanser to get it all off.

So when I received DefenAge’s soon-to-be-released 1-Step Multi-Cleanse, I couldn’t help but feel like it was made for me. First you apply a dime-sized amount to dry skin and rub it into dry skin dissolve makeup, dirt and other debris. Then, you add a bit of water with your fingertips to create a cleansing milk that easily rinses away. It’s a truly effective time-saver that I’m happy to have in my cleansing arsenal—especially when I’m not in the mood to do my multi-step cleansing routine.