Another name for zinc sunscreens is mineral sunscreens, and they can be a little difficult to wash off. Especially if you’re using water-resistant sunscreen, you’ll want to make sure you remove it efficiently so that it doesn’t cause you acne breakouts later on.
The best method to do this is double cleansing, so in this blog post I’ll share the best double cleansing method and products to wash off zinc sunscreen properly.
If you already know how to double cleanse and you just need product recommendations, here you can find my suggestions for an oil-based cleanser and a water-based cleanser.
What is double cleansing?
Double cleansing is one of the most effective cleansing methods to remove anything from chemical sunscreens, physical sunscreens, makeup and excess oil.
Within the beauty community it’s very popular, and most skincare enthusiasts like to double cleanse if they’re wearing SPF, makeup or both that day. Personally, I think it’s the best way to cleanse!
Double cleansing is usually only done at the end of the day, and is not necessary in the morning. Since it’s especially difficult to remove zinc sunscreen, you’ll want to give your skin a thorough cleansing with a double cleanse.
What you’ll need:
To double cleanse, you’ll need to a first cleanser and a second cleanser.
A first cleanser is typically made of oil, usually in liquid, gel or balm format. A second cleanser is made predominantly from water, and is often called a water based cleanser.
It can look like a gel, liquid or sometimes a cream cleanser (assuming the cream is made of water, not oil).
Double cleansing method to wash off zinc sunscreen:
Here is my personal method for double cleansing. You might see variations of it online and on social media, but the key elements are usually the same:
- Massage your oil cleanser directly onto your dry skin for one minute. You can also use it to remove makeup, or remove that beforehand with eye makeup remover.
- Emulsify the oil by adding a little water, then rinse.
- Apply your water based cleanser and massage for one minute, then rinse. With each cleanser, massage the formula in gentle circular motions to break up the zinc sunscreen.
- Make sure all cleanser residue is gone from your face, then commence the rest of your routine.
Check out my other post for a more detailed tutorial on how to double cleanse.
As you can see, double cleansing is literally cleansing twice! However, it really should be with an oil then water based cleanser. When you cleanse with just two water based cleansers, it can be very drying on the skin.
If you already use a facial cleanser every day, chances are that it’s water based, so you can carry on using that. To double check, you can look at the ingredients list. If the first ingredient is water, it is a water based cleanser.
Top practical tips for double cleansing correctly
To wash off zinc sunscreen correctly, double cleansing is necessary (in my books at least!). However, you will want to make some small adjustments to get your method just right.
Use warm water, not hot!
Firsly, no matter your skin type, it’s important to use warm water instead of very hot water. Hot water can be especially drying, and can irritate sensitive skin. Even if you’re not sensitive, you might notice more irritation and dryness.
Don’t be fooled
Second, no matter the type of sunscreen, double cleansing is usually the best method of removal. It’s not just for zinc sunscreen or water-resistant sunscreen. Different types of sunscreen are all usually tough to remove, even if you can’t see any on your skin, it’s likely there at a microscopic level.
Hygiene is important
Finally, make sure you use a clean cloth, if you prefer to use a face cloth when cleansing. Not only can bacteria build up on a wet face cloth after use, but sunscreen residue and oil cleanser remains can get caught up in the fibres! It’s also okay to use your hands.
Cleansing oil vs. a regular cleanser
Sometimes people get scared when they see the suggestion of oil cleansing. There’s an age old myth that people with acne prone skin, or oily skin, can’t use an oil cleanser. This is absolutely not true!
Oil free skincare products break people out just as much as oil cleansers, and this is because it’s about the ingredients in that particular product.
If a product doesn’t suit your skin, it’s not going to work whether or not there’s oil in it. With the right cleanser you won’t see breakouts, oil or not!
Oil cleansing is especially effective to remove zinc sunscreen, because oil is most effective at dissolving… oil! After a day of wearing a heavy sunscreen, which probably contains a few oils, using an oil is going to be the most effective removal method.
Finding the right cleanser
Even though oil dissolves oil most effectively, there are some oils that I’d recommend more than others. For example, you might be drawn to natural oils like coconut oil, olive oil, jojoba oil and sweet almond oil.
While some of these can indeed work, something like coconut oil, for example, is not recommended. This is because coconut oil has a reputation for causing acne, so you might wish to avoid it.
Using natural oils can also be very messy, so it’s not everyone’s preference. This is why oil cleansers have been created. They are often more enjoyable to use as they’re in a gel-to-oil formula, or a balm texture.
Balm cleanser vs oil cleanser
Both a balm cleanser and oil cleansers also often contain a mix of oils, so you get a variety in one scoop. They’re a very effective way to remove excess oil, makeup, sebum and sunscreen after a long day.
What to avoid
If you have skin that’s especially prone to clogging, you will want to experiment with a few different cleansers. Personally I try to avoid cleansers with a base of ethylhexyl palmitate, which is most of them!
Everyone’s different, but I think this particular ingredient doesn’t play well with my skin. In my list of oil based cleansers for clog prone skin, you can find plenty of options.
You’ll also want to avoid anything with fragrance and essential oils, as these can be both irritating and sensitising.
Finding a water-based cleanser for double cleansing
You don’t need a super special cleanser for the second part of your double cleanse, because the hard work to remove zinc sunscreen is done by the oil cleanser. You do, however, need to make sure your cleanser isn’t very harsh, drying or stripping on the skin.
I recommend using a cleanser without any exfoliants, such as salicylic acid. It’s a personal choice, but I think it’s better to keep exfoliants to serums and toners.This way, you are more likely to keep the surface of your skin healthy, and not disrupt your skin’s protective layer known as the lipid barrier.
Using too many exfoliants, especially daily, can disrupt this and lead to breakouts, skin irritation and excess oil production.
The water based cleanser I’ve used for a few years now is by Dr Sam’s, but I also really love Coats. I have a few favourites, you can check them out on my water based cleanser recommendations page.
Is micellar water good to wash off zinc sunscreen?
Yes and no. Some people love their micellar waters! I always get asked about whether micellar water can replace the oil cleanser. Personally, I don’t think it can do as good a job.
Although it contains surfactants AKA cleansing agents, I think there’s really something to be said for massaging the oil cleanser into the skin.
However, if you want to use micellar water to remove your first layer of makeup as a first step, be my guest!
Final tips for how to wash off zinc sunscreen
Remember that zinc oxide sunscreen is tough to get off, so even if your skin appears ‘clean’ after a single cleanse, residue may still be leftover. Double cleansing is suitable for acne-prone skin, so don’t be scared away by the idea of using an oil!
Whilst searching for how to remove zinc sunscreen, you might also come across a lot of natural remedies or natural ingredients to remove sunscreen.
Natural isn’t always better in skincare, in fact natural can often be far worse! From lemon juice to coconut oil, a lot of these ‘natural’ solutions have the ability to cause tonnes of breakouts and irritation.
When there are simple yet effective methods like double cleansing out there, there’s no need to avoid properly formulated skincare products.
