Tips for Choosing the Best Face and Body Towels
When selecting towels for drying your face and body, there is more to the decision than color and pattern alone. Some important considerations for choosing face and body towels include absorbency, drying time, material, and softness—especially for delicate facial skin. For the best performance and comfort, think about these factors when deciding which towels to buy.
How to Pick Towels for Face and Body
As with choosing bedding, pajamas, or pillows, narrow down your options in towels by focusing on a few key points. First, using a different towel for your face than you do for your body is a good practice. This keeps your hair and body products from getting into the fibers of your face towels, preventing clogged pores, breakouts, and irritation. It also prevents your facial care products from staining, bleaching, or damaging your body towels. Other variables to look for when choosing towels include:
- Size: Face towels come in smaller sizes than bath or body towels—choose a size that’s not bulky, but still offers the coverage you need.
- Absorbency: Drying your body requires more absorbency than drying your face, but make sure any towels you choose are plenty absorbent to help you dry off quickly and thoroughly.
- Softness: The gentler the towel, the better! Softness offers a more comfortable experience, while rough, scratchy fibers can cause irritation.
- Durability: While you should replace your towels every two to three years, starting with high-quality bath linens crafted of durable fibers means your towels will last longer.
- Material: Natural fibers such as cotton, bamboo, and TENCEL™ Lyocell are all absorbent, gentle, and eco-friendly material options for face and bath towels.
- Quick Drying: Characteristics such as weave, weight, and fiber type help towels dry out quickly to help prevent bacterial growth, mold, and mildew.
Best Towels for Drying Your Body
Drying off after a bath or shower requires an absorbent, soft towel. Scratchy, stiff towels just won’t do: They won’t get you dry enough and may irritate your skin. Prioritize these main features and attributes when choosing high-quality towels:
- Natural material
- Large size for full-body coverage
- Soft and fluffy texture
- Excellent absorbency
- Dries quickly between uses
How Big Should a Body Towel Be?
Body towels come in two common size options: conventional bath towels, and larger bath sheets. While the exact measurements vary by manufacturer, our standard bath towels are 30 inches by 54 inches, while our generously sized bath sheets are longer and wider, measuring 39 inches by 68 inches. Because of the extra bulk that comes with a larger towel, some people prefer to use a standard towel to dry and wrap their hair and a bath sheet to dry their body. The choice is yours!
Best Towels for Drying Your Face
Face towels, often called “washcloths,” are smaller than hand or body towels. These towels usually measure about 12 inches square and are ideal for washing or drying your face. Because of its smaller size, a washcloth is easier to use with water and facial cleansers to wash your face or remove makeup or to gently dry your face and neck after cleansing or exfoliating. As with body towels, consider material, texture, and absorbency when searching for the best face towel.
What Face Towels Are Best for Sensitive Skin?
For better comfort while washing and drying the sensitive skin on your face, choose soft, plush washcloths crafted in a natural material like pure cotton. Eco-friendly organic options keep chemical residues away from your face for even gentler cleansing. Even if you don’t have sensitive skin, take extra care to prevent irritating the face’s more delicate skin.
Face and Body Towel Care Tips
Maintaining face and body towel softness and absorbency requires proper laundering. Going too long between washings allows bacteria or mildew to grow, which can harm the quality, cleanliness, and longevity of your bath linens and may affect your health. Using fabric softeners or laundry additives can reduce the towels’ ability to sop up moisture and can contribute to skin irritation—it’s best to skip them and opt instead for gentle laundry detergent only.
Can You Use a Bath Towel Again Before Washing It?
Re-using bath towels between washings is an eco-friendly practice, but factor in health considerations as well: It’s recommended that you wash a towel after every three uses to prevent bacteria and mildew from growing. Regular laundering also washes away oils that are transferred from your body to the towel, resulting in better absorbency, and drying re-fluffs the fibers for a softer feel against the skin.
How Many Times Should You Use a Face Towel Before Washing It?
Like a bath towel, a face towel can be used to dry your face up to three times before washing—but it’s best to wash it frequently to keep built-up oils, musty smells, and bacteria at bay. Always allow your face cloth to dry fully between uses.
When selecting towels to dry your body and face, the choice generally comes down to personal preference, with a few key details. Consider size, material, absorbency, and dry time to ensure quality and softness. For more tips on choosing bedding or bath linens, explore our Guides.