Double cleansing benefits the beauty industry, not consumers | Letters
Source: Guardian Health ↗
Readers of the recent piece on double cleansing responded with personal anecdotes that underscore the practice’s limited relevance to everyday hygiene. Judith Russenberger of London explained that she showers only once a week, supplementing with a daily routine of soap, flannel and a bowl of water, a method she says conserves fresh water amid growing global scarcity. She cites UK forecasts predicting a shortfall of five billion litres per day for public supplies by 2055, with an additional one‑billion‑litre deficit for the broader economy, and notes that her skin remains healthy without the need for multiple cleansing steps.
Alan Craw, an 89‑year‑old man from Chesterfield, Derbyshire, offered a similar perspective from a male viewpoint, noting that he has gone a decade without using body wash or shampoo. He limits his showers to two or three minutes to avoid wasting hot water, arguing that cleanser runoff harms the environment. While he acknowledges the occasional use of a proprietary shaving cream for daily wet shaves, he maintains that his skin retains its natural oils and stays healthy without the extra cleansing ritual.
Dr. Lynda Morgan, writing from London, summed up the collective sentiment by stating that double cleansing offers no tangible benefit to consumers while generating additional revenue for beauty product manufacturers. The letters collectively highlight concerns about water conservation, environmental impact of cleanser chemicals, and the commercial motives driving the promotion of double cleansing, suggesting that the trend may serve industry interests more than genuine consumer needs.
⚡ Effects Interpreter
🌍World Economylow impact
What this means for you
- ▶Overseas suppliers might gradually rethink their pricing after news like this.
- ▶Growth projections drawn up in distant capitals might need a rethink.
🏙️Local Economylow impact
What this means for you
- ▶Slight businesses nearby might tweak their prices in the weeks ahead.
- ▶Everyday spending habits nearby might shift once the news sinks in.
🏦Rates & Bankslow impact
What this means for you
- ▶Savers might glance at their account rate — lenders adjust after big events.
- ▶Any move in rates would probably come down the road, not overnight.
❤️Healthlow impact
What this means for you
- ▶Reassurance from a professional usually goes further than headlines do.
- ▶Modest, sensible precautions can go a long way here.
💷Wealthlow impact
What this means for you
- ▶Private treatment costs, where relevant, could shift as demand changes.
- ▶Employers may see a knock-on cost if sick leave rises locally.
🏠Housinglow impact
What this means for you
- ▶Bricks and mortar tend to hold steady while other markets swing about.
- ▶First-time buyers watching the market closely may see little change in the short term.
🌍 Effects for your country
The U.S.'s central bank rate currently stands at 3.75%, so a global rates move like this could feed through to local borrowing costs. The U.S.'s economy is growing at 2.3% with inflation at 3.2%, the backdrop this story's effects play out against locally. Housing-market effects like this are usually felt most where mortgage rates track the U.S.'s own central bank rate closely. With the U.S.'s unemployment at 4.4%, personal-finance effects like this land on a labour market that is currently fairly stable. Health-system effects are harder to localise from economic indicators alone — the real impact in the U.S. depends more on local healthcare capacity than the figures above.
The UK's central bank rate currently stands at 3.75%, so a global rates move like this could feed through to local borrowing costs. The UK's economy is growing at 0.8% with inflation at 3.2%, the backdrop this story's effects play out against locally. Housing-market effects like this are usually felt most where mortgage rates track the UK's own central bank rate closely. With the UK's unemployment at 5.6%, personal-finance effects like this land on a labour market that is currently fairly stable. Health-system effects are harder to localise from economic indicators alone — the real impact in the UK depends more on local healthcare capacity than the figures above.
France's central bank rate currently stands at 2%, so a global rates move like this could feed through to local borrowing costs. France's economy is growing at 0.9% with inflation at 1.8%, the backdrop this story's effects play out against locally. Housing-market effects like this are usually felt most where mortgage rates track France's own central bank rate closely. With France's unemployment at 7.9%, personal-finance effects like this land on a labour market that is already under strain. Health-system effects are harder to localise from economic indicators alone — the real impact in France depends more on local healthcare capacity than the figures above.
Romania's central bank rate currently stands at 6.5%, so a global rates move like this could feed through to local borrowing costs. Romania's economy is growing at 0.7% with inflation at 7.8%, the backdrop this story's effects play out against locally. Housing-market effects like this are usually felt most where mortgage rates track Romania's own central bank rate closely. With Romania's unemployment at 6%, personal-finance effects like this land on a labour market that is currently fairly stable. Health-system effects are harder to localise from economic indicators alone — the real impact in Romania depends more on local healthcare capacity than the figures above.
The UAE's central bank rate currently stands at 3.65%, so a global rates move like this could feed through to local borrowing costs. The UAE's economy is growing at 3.1% with inflation at 2.5%, the backdrop this story's effects play out against locally. Housing-market effects like this are usually felt most where mortgage rates track the UAE's own central bank rate closely. Health-system effects are harder to localise from economic indicators alone — the real impact in the UAE depends more on local healthcare capacity than the figures above.