How to Remove Sunscreen: When Foam Is Enough and When to Double Cleanse

How the test worked

In the study by Chen and colleagues, published in the Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology in 2020, 20 participants had sunscreen applied to their faces and washed it off with water only, a foam cleanser or a cleansing oil. Photos were taken with a skin-analysis camera before application, after application and after washing to compare how much remained, and participants were also asked how their skin felt. Two kinds of sunscreen were tested: a waterproof one and one that wasn’t.

In their conclusion, the researchers wrote that other types of sunscreen and cleansing products need further study. Since it’s one small study, Yuri reads these numbers only as a direction: “a waterproof product can stay behind after a single foam wash.”

Water alone left more than half behind

With water alone, 54.0% of the non-water-resistant sunscreen and 59.3% of the waterproof sunscreen remained. In this test, a plain-water rinse left more than half of both sunscreens on the skin.

For the non-water-resistant sunscreen, both the foam cleanser (15.6%) and the cleansing oil (13.4%) showed no statistical difference from skin before application (9.9%). For this sunscreen, the deciding factor wasn’t which product you used but whether you washed with a cleanser at all.

Where the waterproof results split

The waterproof sunscreen was a different story. Washed with a foam cleanser, 36.8% remained; washed with cleansing oil, 5.8% remained, which was not statistically different from skin before application (3.2%). The researchers concluded that non-water-resistant sunscreen may be washed off with either a cleanser or a cleansing oil, and waterproof sunscreen with a cleansing oil.

The study compared one cleanser and one oil, each used on its own. Double cleansing — oil followed by foam — wasn’t among the test conditions. So what these numbers support goes only as far as this: “waterproof sunscreen does better with one pass of an oil-type cleanser.”

40 and 80 minutes on US labels

The American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) explains that the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) no longer allows sunscreens to be labeled “waterproof,” because sweat and water eventually wash sunscreen off. Instead, US products state how long they stay effective on wet skin, as “water resistant” (40 minutes) or “very water resistant” (80 minutes).

The AAD also says a sunscreen labeled “sport” usually means 40 or 80 minutes of water resistance, so check the label. If you use products from abroad, read those front-of-pack words as water-resistance claims. How often to reapply while you’re in the water is covered separately in our sunscreen reapplication guide.

Kao — 80-minute water resistance, yet a face wash or body wash

Japan’s Kao, in its official English product guide for Bioré UV Aqua Rich Watery Essence, states the formula was tested for water resistance in water for 80 minutes and washes off with soap. Its removal step advises washing thoroughly with a face wash or body wash, without mentioning cleansing oil at all.

Kao’s example shows that being waterproof doesn’t automatically mean a product needs oil. That said, this guidance is for that product, so Yuri doesn’t carry it over to others.

Round Lab and Aestura — evening double cleansing recommended

In an official FAQ answer (2021), Round Lab said three of its sunscreens — the 365 sunscreen, its tone-up version and the birch moisturizing sunscreen — adhere closely to the skin, so it recommends double cleansing for a clean, safe cleanse. Aestura lists “in the evening, double cleansing with a first oil or milk cleanser and a second foam cleanser” as the recommended routine in the directions for its Derma UV365 barrier-moisture mineral sunscreen.

Both wrote “recommend,” not “must.” Round Lab gave close adhesion as the reason; Aestura’s page gives no reason.

When only a foam cleanser is used

The release states that when only a foam cleanser was used, some sunscreen ingredients remained on the skin and could cause skin trouble, so “thorough cleansing, such as double cleansing” was needed. “Could” expresses a possibility, and with “such as,” the sentence doesn’t make double cleansing the only answer either.

In the same test, overall satisfaction scored by consumers who used the products ranged from 3.1 to 3.8 out of 5, and rinsability also differed by product. On safety items such as heavy metals, every product met the relevant standards.

User scores and price

Among the items consumers scored after use, residue feel and post-wash softness and moisture didn’t differ much between products, unlike sunscreen removal, which varied. Prices ranged from 667 to 1,333 won per 10 ml, so the most expensive cost twice as much as the cheapest.

The release didn’t link price to sunscreen removal. So when picking a foam cleanser, check the label of the sunscreen you wore before the price, and keep an eye on what’s left on the towel and on your skin after washing.

When a mineral sunscreen recommends double cleansing

Aestura’s mineral sunscreen recommends evening double cleansing. Its page gives no reason, though, and the reason Round Lab gave for double cleansing was not filter type but “close adhesion to the skin.”

So Yuri doesn’t decide how to wash just because a product is mineral; she reads that product’s directions first. How to find mineral and organic filter names on the ingredient list is covered in our guide to mineral vs. chemical sunscreens.

Oily and combination skin

For combination skin, Neutrogena explains that a light first cleanser paired with a gentle gel or low-foaming cleanser that clears away T-zone oil without drying the cheeks may suit. Oily or acne-prone skin, it says, often goes with a light gel cleanser for that second step.

Neutrogena’s article stresses that dermatologists’ advice still stands: cleanse gently, don’t wash too often, and stick with non-comedogenic products that won’t clog pores. CeraVe gives a non-comedogenic cleansing balm as an example of a first cleanser for oily skin.

If you started with micellar water

Neutrogena mentions micellar water as a first-step option for light-makeup days or for anyone who prefers a no-rinse method, you put it on a cotton pad and sweep it lightly over the skin. Even so, it notes that when taking off sunscreen or several layers of product, some people follow with a rinse-off cleanser.

CeraVe also says micellar water, which doesn’t need rinsing, can replace the first step if oil cleansers don’t suit you. On sunscreen days, one way is to wash once more with a cleanser even after wiping with micellar water.

The AAD on a gentle touch

The American Academy of Dermatology says to wet your face with lukewarm water and apply a gentle, alcohol-free cleanser with your fingertips. Washing with anything other than your fingertips, such as a washcloth or mesh sponge, can irritate skin, and it says to resist the urge to scrub.

When rinsing, it says to rinse off all the cleanser, then gently pat dry with a clean towel. Push your hair back with a headband and splash one more round of rinse water along the hairline and jawline.

The AAD also says to apply moisturizer if your skin is dry or itchy after drying off, and when applying cream around the eyes, to do it gently without pulling the thin skin.

New to it? Watch for a few days

CeraVe says that when you first try double cleansing, start slowly, watch how your skin responds, and decide how often from there. It notes that dry to normal skin may not need double cleansing every evening, and that if you have rosacea or eczema, you should talk to a dermatologist before starting.

Neutrogena says that when you switch to gentler products or wash less often, changes in comfort, like tightness, stinging, or dryness, can show up within a few days, while acne concerns often take a few weeks to respond. So when you change how you cleanse, leave it alone for a few days and watch how your skin feels. If irritation gets worse in the meantime, Neutrogena’s article advises cutting back on steps and seeing a dermatologist.

Nights with exfoliants or retinoids

Neutrogena advises cleansing first, whether once or twice, then applying leave-on products such as exfoliating acids or retinoids, and finishing with moisturizer. If you double cleanse while using strong actives, you may need to use them less often or every other day, it says, especially if burning, peeling or redness increases.

Participants who reported dryness

In the study above, eight participants in the foam cleanser group and one in the cleansing oil group said their skin felt dry after washing. The researchers wrote that cleansing oil may cause less irritation and dryness than a cleanser. But that’s a “may,” and the result comes from a 20-person test.

So don’t assume oil is always gentler; the yardstick is how your own skin feels after washing.

Sunscreen on a baby’s skin

The American Academy of Dermatology advises avoiding sunscreen on babies younger than 6 months where possible and protecting them from the sun with shade and clothing. Only when shade and clothing aren’t enough should you apply a minimal amount, preferably a physical (mineral) sunscreen. And it writes that sunscreen should be washed off a baby’s skin once indoors.