Double cleansing benefits the beauty industry, not consumers | Letters

Letters: Readers reflect on an article which explored whether we should be cleaning ourselves twice

With reference to your article about the merits, or not, of double cleansing (Double cleansing: should we really be cleaning ourselves twice in each shower?, 15 September), I wish to report that I shower once a week, while in between times wash daily with soap, flannel and a bowl of water (which then flushes the loo). I do this because I am deeply concerned at our misuse of the planet’s resources. We currently use fresh water at a faster rate globally than it can be replenished. Here in the UK, it is predicted that by 2055 we will have a 5bn litre a day shortfall for public water supplies – with a further 1bn litre a day deficit for the wider economy. My skin is perfectly healthy and I don’t smell anything other than naturally human.
Judith Russenberger
London

• All right, so I am a man, and I suspect that this piece is aimed at women, but do we really need all this? It is now nearly 10 years that I have not used any body wash or hair shampoo. My showers last no more than two or three minutes: any more is a waste of hot water. The run-off from these “cleansers” is not environmentally friendly.

I do not smell of anything except lightly of myself. My skin at the age of 89 is quite healthy as I do not take out any of its natural oils. On the negative side, however, I undertake a wet shave every day with a proprietary shaving cream.
Alan Craw
Chesterfield, Derbyshire

• Double cleansing? No benefit to you, but loads more money for the manufacturers of beauty products.
Dr Lynda Morgan
London

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