Seriously, I used to roll my eyes at the whole double cleanse trend. Thought it was just overcomplicating things for no reason. Then my skin started freaking out, similar to what you described, and I caved. Tried a cheap oil cleanser on a whim, and within a week, my pores looked clearer than they had in years. Turns out that water-based stuff just slides over the oil and gunk without really grabbing it. Now I'm a convert, and it's non-negotiable in my routine.