Best Disposable Face Towels: Single-Use Picks Compared

Clean Skin Club was co-founded in January 2019 by Ben-David Imberman, Mor Shnaider and Aviran Mulain, according to the brand's about page. Its story starts with a realization: the bath towel you dry your face with is, in the brand's words, a breeding ground for bacteria. That led to Clean Towels XL, which the brand calls the first dermatologist-approved, single-use, 100% USDA bio-based facial towel. That is marketing language, so read it as the brand's claim.

The dermatologist side is easier to accept. Board-certified dermatologist Lauren Penzi told POPSUGAR that washcloths and towels are known to harbor bacteria through repeat use and moisture exposure. POPSUGAR also reports that the towels exploded in popularity on social media since the 2019 launch, and that the hashtag had nearly 17 million views on TikTok.

For me, disposable face towels are about one job: dry skin, no friction, nothing reused. A textured side can exfoliate lightly, and a smooth side can blot.

The first grid is eight disposable face towels and cleansing wipes, mostly Clean Skin Club in different versions. The second grid is eight pads, tools and cleansers I compared them with.

My tip: pat, do not rub, and use a clean towel after cleansing, not before.

Clean Skin Club has the most to choose from. Disposable Face Towel for Improved Skin XL is the original, with a dual-sided texture for gentle exfoliation, and it is safe for sensitive skin. Towels in the 35 count pack have a smooth side for drying and a textured side for gentle exfoliation, a smaller way to try the idea. Clean Towels Healthy Aging XL are glycerin-infused with an exfoliating texture, and the brand cites clinical claims on fine lines, firmness and brightness. Clean Towels Blemish Control XL have a one-raised-dot texture for deeper cleansing and oil removal, which is the one I would hand to oily, breakout-prone skin. Towels for Sensitive Skin XL are infused with aloe and glycerin, with a soft texture that minimizes friction.

The other three are pre-moistened wipes, which is a different job. Burt's Bees Facial Cleansing Towelettes Micellar Makeup Remover Wipes in Rose are 99% natural origin plant-based cloths with micellar rose water. Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleansing Cloths are soap-free and made to remove makeup and dirt without stripping natural oils. up&up Sensitive Ultra-Soft Makeup Remover Cleansing Towelettes are hypoallergenic, fragrance-free and quilted.

What I would skip: the exfoliating-texture towels on a day your skin is raw. Use the smooth side only, or wait.

If you like the single-use idea but want cotton, there are two pads. A house-brand set of organic cotton pads is GOTS-certified organic cotton in a square shape, extra-soft and lint free. Shiseido Super-Soft, 100% Natural Facial Cotton is made for gentle exfoliation, makeup removal and toning. I would reach for these when you want to apply a toner or lift off a mask, and the Shiseido ones are the ones I would pick for exfoliating gently. Both come in big counts, so you can keep a stack by the sink. I went deeper on a related idea in RIER Brand: Alpine Wool Layers Made for the City.

For a reusable option, A house-brand facial cleansing pad is a flexible silicone pad with a teardrop shape for around the nose and nubs for light massage. DAMDAM Snow Mushroom Pore Cleanser with Exfoliating Glove pairs a cleansing bar with a cloud glove, and it suits combination and oily skin. If you want to keep going, Where Is Solawave Made: The Venice, California Red Light Brand is the one I would read next.

Then the cleansers you would use before a towel. The Ordinary Glucoside Gentle Foaming Cleanser for Oily Skin is gentle and keeps the moisture barrier in mind. OLEHENRIKSEN B5 Boost Hydrating Solid Foaming Gentle Cleanser is a bouncy solid foam with provitamin B5 for normal to dry skin. OLIVIAUMMA Cashmere Whip Clarifying Face Cleanser is a whipped gel with heartleaf that gently exfoliates. A house-brand waterproof eye makeup remover is also here, and it is suitable for contact lens wearers.

What I would skip: the exfoliating glove and the exfoliating-texture towels in the same routine. Pick one source of friction.

I think disposable face towels are best seen as a habit, not a trend. If the bath towel is the problem, then swapping it once a day is a small change. I would begin with the original Clean Skin Club towels and move to the sensitive or blemish versions only if your skin asks for it. Think of a towel as the last step of the wash, after you have rinsed and before moisturizer goes on, which keeps it short. Keep the second grid for the steps that come before, because a towel dries your face but a cleanser, a pad and a remover do the actual cleaning.