Stop Clogging Your Pores

04 August 2026‎ ‎ |‎ ‎ 5 minutes

How to properly double-cleanse your SPF, especially during summer

Korean sunscreens have become a skincare staple thanks to their lightweight feel, powerful UV protection, and skin-loving ingredients. Unlike traditional sunscreens, many formulas also hydrate, calm irritation, and wear beautifully under makeup.

But their long-lasting performance comes with one downside: they need to be removed properly at the end of the day. Summer formulas, in particular, are built to withstand sweat, humidity, and water, which means they're also designed to cling to your skin long after you've come home.

That staying power is exactly why a single cleanse won't cut it, especially in summer. If sunscreen isn’t removed properly, it can get mixed with sweat and sebum, creating the perfect environment for clogged pores and unwanted breakouts.

This is where double cleansing makes all the difference. By cleansing in two gentle steps, you can effectively remove long-wearing sunscreen and impurities without disrupting your skin barrier. Here's how to do it properly.

Why water alone isn't enough

It's easy to assume that washing your face with water or a gentle cleansing foam is enough to remove sunscreen, but modern Korean SPF formulas aren't designed to rinse away so easily.

Many sunscreens rely on film-forming polymers and lipophilic (oil-loving) UV filters to create a long-lasting layer over the skin. That's great news for protection, as these ingredients effectively resist water and sweat, but it also means that plain water or a gentle foam cleanser can't easily break these oil-based filters.

Left on the skin, any SPF residue combines with everyday sebum and clogs pores, which is why the widely-known “Korean double cleansing” matters more in summer than any other season. The first cleanse dissolves oil-based sunscreen filters and excess sebum, while the second removes everything that's left behind.

Step 1: Melt away sunscreen with a Korean cleansing oil or balm

The first cleanse focuses on removing everything that water can't.
Korean oil-based cleansers bind to lipophilic UV filters and excess sebum, lifting them from the skin before they can settle into your pores. While it may seem counterintuitive, using oil is actually one of the most effective ways to dissolve and remove oily residue.

Apply your cleanser directly onto dry skin and gently massage for around 60 seconds, paying extra attention to areas where sunscreen tends to build up, such as around the nose and the T-zone.

Next, add a small amount of water and keep massaging the product in until it emulsifies, turning into a light milky texture. This process pulls trapped SPF and oil out of your pores before you rinse.

Whether you choose a lightweight Korean cleansing oil or a rich Korean cleansing balm often comes down to personal preference. Both are designed to remove long-wearing sunscreen effectively while preparing your skin for the second cleanse.

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Clear Houttuynia Cordata Vegan Cleansing Balm

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Deep Reset

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Step 2: Follow with a low-pH water-based cleanser

Once sunscreen, makeup and excess oil have been dissolved, it's time to remove any remaining residue.

A gentle Korean water-based cleanser completes the cleansing process while washing away impurities left behind during the first step. Choosing a low-pH cleanser, ideally around pH 5.5, helps support your skin's natural acid mantle instead of stripping away essential moisture.

This is particularly important during summer, when increased cleansing, higher temperatures and more frequent sweating can leave skin feeling dehydrated if harsh cleansers are used too often.

Massage your Korean cleansing foam onto damp skin before rinsing thoroughly with lukewarm water. Your skin should feel fresh and comfortable afterwards, never tight or squeaky clean.

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Step 3: Lock in hydration straight away

Cleansing prepares your skin for the rest of your routine, but it's important not to leave it without hydration for too long.

After gently patting your face dry with a clean towel, apply your toner or serum while your skin still feels slightly damp.

If your skin tends to become oily or congested during summer, ingredients such as tea tree can help keep excess oil at bay. However, if your skin feels dry or easily irritated, soothing ingredients like Centella Asiatica or hyaluronic acid might be a better fit for a hydrating step.

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iUNIK Tea Tree Relief Serum 50ml bottle with dropper on white background, calming soothing skincare

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Soothing and moisturising Centella Asiatica toner that calms sensitive skin and boosts hydration while reinforcing the skin's barrier.

Final thoughts

While double cleansing might seem like an extra step, it’s one of the most effective ways to keep your skin clear and comfortable during the summer. By thoroughly removing SPF, excess oil, and daily impurities without compromising your skin barrier, you're setting the perfect foundation for the rest of your routine. It takes just a few extra minutes, but the results are well worth the habit.

Author

Malkn

Malkn is a UK-based destination that brings together the best of K-Beauty and K-Fashion on one carefully curated platform. Through our editorial content, product curation, and direct partnerships with brands across South Korea, we make the most exciting Korean beauty and fashion labels more accessible than ever.

Why can't I just wash sunscreen off with a regular Korean foam cleanser?

Summer Korean SPF formulas use film-forming polymers and oil-loving UV filters designed to resist sweat and humidity, which makes them intentionally hard to rinse away. A single Korean water-based cleanser or foaming cleanser can’t fully break down these oil-based filters on its own. Leaving this residue behind in your skincare routine can lead to clogged pores, congestion, and summer breakouts.

Do I need to double cleanse even if I don't wear makeup?

Yes! Even without makeup, wearing daily sunscreen, especially water-resistant Korean SPF, is reason enough to adopt the Korean double-cleansing method. The oil cleanse step targets the SPF and sebum buildup regardless of whether you're wearing makeup on top of it.

Will a Korean cleansing oil make my oily skin worse?

No, Korean cleansing oils are formulated to dissolve oil-based impurities like sebum and SPF, not add extra oil to your skin. Massaging it in on dry skin and properly emulsifying with water before rinsing means it lifts residue away rather than leaving skin greasy.

What does "low pH" mean and why does it matter for a cleanser?

Skin’s natural surface sits at a slightly acidic level (around pH 5.5), often called the acid mantle, which helps keep the skin barrier intact. Traditional alkaline soaps sit at a much higher pH and can strip essential lipids, weakening the skin barrier, particularly in humid summer weather. A low-pH Korean cleanser gently washes away impurities while keeping that acid mantle undisturbed.

How soon after cleansing should I apply my Korean toner or serum?

As soon as possible, ideally within a few seconds of patting your skin dry. Skin loses moisture quickly once exposed to air, so locking in hydration immediately helps prevent the tightness or irritation that can follow a proper cleanse.

Vendor: IUNIK

Tea Tree Relief Serum

£15.00

Serum that calms irritated skin, reduces breakouts, and controls oil for acne-prone skin.

Shop this product

Vendor: MIXSOON

Centella Asiatica Toner

£12.00

Soothing and moisturising Centella Asiatica toner that calms sensitive skin and boosts hydration while reinforcing the skin's barrier.

Shop this product

Vendor: HARUHARU WONDER

Black Rice Hyaluronic Essence

£18.00

A refreshing, ultra-light hyaluronic essence that provides deep and lasting hydration for sensitive skin.

Shop this product

Vendor: SOMEBYMI

Snail Truecica Miracle Repair Low ph Gel Cleanser

£12.50

Low pH gel cleanser with Snail Truecica that soothes, protects, and strengthens the skin's moisture barrier.

Shop this product

Vendor: SKIN1004

Madagascar Centella Tea-Trica Purifying Toner

£23.20

A tea tree water toner that balances oil, removes dead skin cells, and soothes irritated skin.

Shop this product

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