Wash Your Face With a Washcloth

Created: Thursday, 08 April 2021 16:24

How you wash your face determines whether you have healthy, glowing skin and how well you remove makeup and debris. You’ve likely been washing your face for years, but does your method clean and invigorate your skin? The proper technique can have a significant impact on your skin's appearance and texture. 

Washing your face with a washcloth has significant benefits for your skin, including removing impurities and dead skin cells and stimulating blood flow for a healthy glow. It's essential to know how to use a washcloth — and which one to use — to get the best possible results. 

A Crash Course in Caring for Your Skin

The ideal skincare routine depends on your lifestyle and skin type, but some tasks are non-negotiable for healthy skin, including:

• Hydration: Drinking plenty of water is essential for healthy skin, helping maintain elasticity and reduce the signs of aging. 
• Sun protection: Sun damage can cause sunspots, premature aging and increase the risk of skin cancer. Apply a high sun protection factor (SPF) sunscreen at least 15 minutes before going outside and wear protective clothing. 
• Diet: Nutrition is a big part of skin health and premature aging. Avoid junk food and eat plenty of fresh fruit, vegetables and healthy fats. 
• Cleansing: Keeping your skin clean is essential. The best results require a gentle approach without strong soaps or zealous scrubbing that removes your skin's natural oils. 

Your skincare routine is also vital — having the right tools can make all the difference. Your washcloth and towel should be gentle, non-abrasive and easy to clean. Excessive scrubbing or rough textures cause friction and irritation. An appropriate towel can soften the skin, removing debris and absorbing moisture without causing damage. 

What's the Difference Between Face and Body Towels? 

Should you dry your face with a towel? This is a common question, and the answer is generally no. The towels you use to dry your face and body should accomplish different things. For instance, you likely want your face washcloth to be gentle against your facial skin as it's the most delicate. However, you might also want washcloths with exfoliating capabilities to remove dead skin cells. 

On the other hand, a body towel must be soft yet absorbent, as you'll use it to dry a large area. The skin on your body is less sensitive so you can use a larger, more absorbent towel. The best towels for your body are resilient, absorbent and large enough to wrap and dry yourself. 

Additionally, using different towels for your face and body is also a matter of cleanliness. By only using dedicated towels to dry your face after washing it or removing your makeup before doing your skincare routine, you prevent transferring germs from your body to your face. Keeping your face and body towels separate helps ensure your skin stays clean, especially if you're prone to breakouts. You should also have a separate towel for your hair for the same reason. 

Best Material for Face Washcloths

The best material for your washcloth depends on what you use it for and what kind of skin you have. As stated, the best kinds of towels for your face are made of cotton, as they're super gentle. However, you may want to exfoliate your face using a washcloth or purchase washcloths for use on your body.

A towel made fully or partially out of cotton is best for washing your face. This material makes for the best face towels for a number of reasons, including:

• Affordability: Because cotton is such a widely used material, you won't have to break the bank to afford quality cotton washcloths.
• Comfort: A cotton face towel is ideal for sensitive skin. For people with textile contact dermatitis, where they experience a skin reaction when touching certain fibers, cotton has proven to be non-irritating in most cases. Choosing a cotton washcloth will ensure you're as gentle as possible with your skin.
• Absorbency: The fibers inside cotton towels make them incredibly absorbent, so you can dry your face after washing it.

Ultimately, the best kind of washcloth will quickly dry your face without causing irritation. Here are a few considerations to make when choosing washcloths.

Best Washcloths for Sensitive Skin

If you have sensitive skin, look for hypoallergenic washcloths made of low-linting cotton material.

Often, sensitive skin can be allergic to the different chemicals that might be used to make a washcloth. That's why choosing the most gentle material possible is crucial. The skin on your face is delicate, so you want to treat it with care. A hypoallergenic material such as cotton is perfect for sensitive skin. Furthermore, low-linting cotton material results in less material that can grab onto germs.

Because the skin on your face is more sensitive than the skin on your body, look for washcloths made of 100% Aegean cotton, which is a version of Turkish cotton. While Turkish cotton is perfect for body towels, you'll find that Aegean cotton specifically is a wonderful option for your face.

Aegean cotton features strong, fluffy fibers that get softer over time and won't split or break as easily as other forms of cotton. Aegean cotton is also absorbent, and its lack of synthetic fibers and chemicals is ideal for sensitive skin. This type of cotton dries quickly so germs don't have time to accumulate amongst the moisture of the wet washcloth.

Best Washcloths for Exfoliating

If you're looking to use a washcloth for exfoliating your face or body, you should choose a material that dries quickly — and microfiber is the perfect option. This is the best washcloth material for exfoliating, as it's capable of holding quite a bit of weight, so it's great for soaking up any excess oil your skin may have. The texture of a microfiber cloth is rough enough to buff away dead skin cells while not irritating your skin.

How to Wash Your Face With a Washcloth

Washing your face with a washcloth requires some finesse to achieve the desired results. In addition to having a purpose-designed face washcloth, you must use quality products and have a delicate touch. The following steps will teach you how to use a washcloth the right way:

Before You Wash: Get Your Microfiber Washcloth and Other Supplies

Before you wash your face, you’ll need a few things:

• A microfiber face cloth: An exfoliating face cloth lets you remove debris, oil and makeup from your skin while gently stimulating your skin. Look for a premium facecloth that can help you remove dead skin cells to promote a vibrant look.
• Good cleansers: You can find a quality cleanser without spending an excessive amount of money. Cleansers with quality ingredients and no irritating perfumes or alcohol are ideal, but we recommend finding one you enjoy using.
• Clean water: Consider testing your water for hardness and impurities occasionally, especially if you use well water. An in-home filtration system can help you get the best quality water for drinking and for washing the delicate skin on your face. Use lukewarm or cool water since icy or hot water can cause damage.

Use Your Face Cloth to Exfoliate and Clean

Once you have everything you need, follow these rules to ensure your effort encourages beautiful skin:

• Wash your hands first: Wash your hands thoroughly to ensure you’re touching your face with clean hands.
• Check your cleanser’s instructions: Various cleaners can change your process. You should apply balms to a dry face, and foaming cleansers to damp skin. Either way, use your fingers to apply the product and water to your face.
• Massage the product into your skin with water: The movement of your hands will loosen any oils, dry skin cells or debris on your face.
• Use your washcloth: Wet your washcloth and wipe away the cleanser and residue gently. Run the cloth in water periodically until the cleanser is gone, avoiding the eye area. Splash some extra water on your face to remove any stubborn debris. Be careful to rinse your hairline, neck and jawline, too.
• Give yourself a steam treatment: Once or twice a week, wring the extra water from your washcloth and run it under hot water. Wring it out again and place the hot cloth over your face for a steam treatment. Keep the fabric on your face until it cools.
• Pat your skin gently with a dry towel: Use a soft towel to blot away any water and avoid rubbing your face.
• Toss your washcloth: Once you’ve washed your face, toss your washcloth and the towel you used to dry your face in the wash. This step ensures your washcloths are clean when you need them.

Common Face-Washing Mistakes

You could be damaging your skin without knowing it just by washing your face. Avoid these common mistakes to keep your skin healthy and glowing: 

• Hot water: Lukewarm water is perfect for washing your face. If the water is too hot, it can strip the skin of its natural oils, causing dryness, irritation, breakouts and redness. 
• Wet wipes: Wet wipes often contain chemicals that irritate the sensitive skin on your face. It's best to stick to warm water and quality cleansers. 
• Harsh soaps and cleansing products: Your facial products should match your skin type to avoid dryness and irritation. 
• Dirty towels and washcloths: Always wash your face with a clean washcloth and dry it with a clean towel to prevent the transfer or dirt and debris. 
• Hands: Unless your hands are spotless, they can transfer bacteria and debris to your face. As your hands touch many potential contaminants throughout the day, using a suitable washcloth is often safer. 
• Scrubbing: Being too vigorous when you scrub can cause micro-tears in your delicate facial skin. Instead, use a washcloth in small, circular motions to exfoliate. 
• Rinsing: Another common mistake is neglecting your rinsing routine, which can leave residue from your facewash or cleanser on your skin, clogging pores and causing irritation and breakouts. 
• Frequency: It might seem like the more you wash your face, the better, but the opposite is true. Washing too often will irritate your skin and cause oil overproduction. 
• Exfoliants: An exfoliant is fantastic for your skin, provided you do so in moderation. Over-exfoliating can cause dryness, flakiness and irritation. Exfoliate up to three times a week for best results. 

Best Towels and Washcloths for Your Body

Although your face requires special treatment, good skincare takes the rest of your body into account as well. For example, the best washcloths for your body might differ from those for your face. Now that you know how to care for your face, let's take a look at how to do the same for your body. 

Best Towels for Your Body

A soft and absorbent towel is best for use on your body. For example, Turkish cotton and micro cotton are great choices for drying off after a relaxing bath or shower.

• Turkish cotton: Turkish cotton towels are soft, lightweight and absorbent. These towels also dry quickly, which is perfect for when you step out of the bath or shower soaking wet. The best aspect of Turkish cotton towels is that they become fluffier and more absorbent as they're washed, which means their quality will only improve over time.
• Micro cotton: These towels are made differently than standard cotton towels. A micro cotton towel is spun using a process where the loops aren't twisted. The untwisted loops of a micro cotton towel are softer and more absorbent than a regular cotton towel's loops, which results in a towel with a much quicker drying time.

Either option will be a wonderful body towel — soft and fluffy with high absorbent abilities.

Best Material for Towels

When choosing towels for the rest of your body, you often have a wider variety of options. However, you'll likely find that the best material for the skin on your body is cotton, like for your face.

As stated, towels made with cotton are best for the body, as they can absorb moisture quickly and dry as fast. As a result, you won't be stuck with permanently wet towels that make your bathroom smell. Additionally, cotton towels are soft and fluffy, making for a luxurious bathroom experience.

If you have sensitive skin on your body or deal with a skin condition like eczema, cotton towels are naturally hypoallergenic, so they shouldn't irritate your skin.

Best Washcloths for Your Body

Choosing the right washcloth is more important than you might think, depending on your goal. You want a high-quality option for your bathroom or a gentle option for your children. Many options are available to suit your needs, but any washcloth you use on your skin should have the following features: 

• Gentle exfoliation: Washcloths can gently exfoliate your skin, so ensure you choose one that suits your skin type. 
• Size: Your washcloth should be long enough to reach every part of your body, especially hard-to-reach areas like your back. 
• Moisture retention: Absorbency is necessary for washcloths and towels. However, you want a washcloth that dries quickly to prevent mold, mildew and unwanted odors. 

Best Material for Washcloths

The perfect material is essential for any washcloth. It should be firm enough to clean and exfoliate your skin and soft enough not to cause damage. Several materials can strike this balance, including 100% cotton, microfiber and muslin. If you're on a budget, you can always opt for a cotton-polyester blend. Choosing the right material depends on your skin type and skincare goals, but remember, your washcloth should dry quickly and leave you feeling clean and ready for the day. 

How to Wash Your Body With a Towel

Firstly, you need to have an idea of your skin type so that you can create a solid skincare routine tailored to your needs. Start with a cleanser or body wash suited to your skin type. For example, if you have sensitive skin, you want something mild, unscented and without alcohol. From there, washing your body is the same as washing your face — avoid exfoliating too often, be gentle with your skin, keep the water lukewarm, and follow the instructions on your chosen product. 

Using your towels and washcloths can also affect your skincare routine. Keep the following tips in mind to ensure your towels enhance your skincare: 

Rinse Thoroughly

Failing to rinse enough is a common mistake when washing your face, but it can cause the same problems in your body. Whatever products you use in the bath or shower, take extra care to rinse them before you dry yourself. Not only can they adversely affect your skin, they can also damage your towels, especially if they contain harsh chemicals. 

Dry Properly

While we love absorbent towels and washcloths, but they can become breeding grounds for bacteria if they stay moist after use. Take your washcloth out of the bath or shower and leave it somewhere open to dry completely. The same goes with your towels — always leave them somewhere airy to dry. 

Wash Your Bath Towels Often

Debris can accumulate quickly on your bath towel. While it's unnecessary to wash them after each use like you would with a face towel, consider washing your towels after every third use to keep them clean and sanitary. 

Replace Your Towels When Needed

As you use your bath towels daily, they will eventually break down due to wear and tear — although a high-quality towel will last longer. Remember, your towel should be absorbent and soft, so if they stop absorbing water or start to feel scratchy, it's time to replace them. Other signs your towels need replacing include odor, faded colors, signs of mildew and rips or holes in your towels. 

A quality towel should last around two years, so if you've had your towels for longer, it may be worth replacing them even without apparent signs of wear. 

Shop Microfiber Washcloths and Bath Towels at Towel Supercenter

Having the right towels and washcloths can take your skincare routine to the next level, and you need a provider you can trust for the best quality. Towel Supercenter has a wide range of washcloths to suit any skincare routine and is trusted by salons, spas, and homeowners alike. In addition, our quality towels are ideal for any situation, whether you want to wrap yourself up in soft luxury or add one to your exfoliating routine. 

We're dedicated to providing the highest quality towels and washcloths in a large selection of colors to suit your aesthetic as much as your skin. Shop our selection today to find the perfect option to support healthy, glowing skin.