Upgrade your routine with washcloths from Pai, Eve Lom, Amazon, & more.
TL;DR
Our favorite washcloths overall are Pai Twin Flyer Cloths. We love the soft, ultra-absorbent organic cotton material and appreciate how the double-sided design allows you to cleanse and exfoliate. But if you’re looking for something a bit more basic and wallet-friendly, you can go wrong with Amazon Basics Fast-Drying Absorbent Washcloths, which come in packs of 24 or 60.
Ask any dermatologist, and they’ll tell you that cleansing the skin is one of the most essential steps in your skincare routine. But if you wear heavy makeup or just like your skin to feel really clean, you might find that your hands alone aren’t enough.
In this case, Dr. Nora Jaafar, a cosmetic and medical dermatology doctor, says there are many benefits to adding a washcloth to your cleansing routine—especially if your skin is oily. “A washcloth provides gentle physical exfoliation, helping to remove dirt, oil, and dead skin cells more effectively than hands alone,” she says. “It can also improve circulation and enhance the penetration of cleansers.” However, Dr. Nora advises using washcloths carefully. Overuse or using a rough, unclean cloth can cause irritation or breakouts, especially if you have sensitive or acne-prone skin.
To find the best washcloths for your daily cleanse, we spent 90 hours testing different highly rated washcloths. We evaluated each washcloth’s material, size, and machine-washability, then scored them based on texture and feel, exfoliating power, ease of makeup removal, and more.
Our Top Picks
Best Overall: Pai Twin Flyer Cloths at Amazon $19
Best for On the Go: Tatcha Kinu Silk Face Cloth at Tatcha.com
Best for Acne-Prone Skin: Resorè Face Towel at Resore.com
Best for Exfoliation: Eve Lom 3 Muslin Cloths at Amazon $27
Best for Sensitive Skin: SALE HipHop Panda Bamboo Washcloths at Amazon $40 $32
Best Basic: Amazon Basics Fast-Drying Absorbent Washcloths at Amazon $19
Best Chic Option: Coyuchi Organic Towel at Nordstrom $68
Best Plush Option: Brooklinen Super-Plush Washcloths at Amazon $29
Best for Makeup Removal:Tree To Tub Reuseable Makeup Remover Cloth at Amazon $14
Other item we love: Sulwhasoo Cleansing Oil at Amazon $40
Best Overall – Pai Twin Flyer Cloths
What We Like
- Double-sided for exfoliating and cleansing
- Made with 100% organic cotton
- Super-absorbent
- Very soft
What to Consider
- Doesn’t fully remove waterproof mascara
Material: 100% organic cotton | Size: Small | Absorbency: Very absorbent | Colors: Off-white | Machine Washable: Yes
There’s a lot to love about this washcloth. First, it’s double-sided—one side is muslin for exfoliation, and the other is flannel for cleansing and removing makeup. It’s made of 100% organic cotton, meaning it’s unlikely to irritate the skin, and at $19 for three cloths, it’s a relatively good value. The feel is very soft and luxurious (more so on the flannel side, but the muslin side is soft as well), and the muslin side is incredibly exfoliating. It’s nice and small, too, which we love.
The one downside of this washcloth is that it won’t remove all of your makeup. While it wiped away our tinted moisturizer, cheek tint, and concealer easily, it just wasn’t a match for waterproof mascara (which we learned throughout this testing process was incredibly hard to remove in general). Aside from that one issue, we were incredibly impressed.
Best for On the Go – Tatcha Kinu Silk Face Cloth
What We Like
- Works even when it isn’t wet
- Made from 100% silk
- Incredibly soft and luxurious
What to Consider
- Not machine washable
Material: 100% silk | Size: Small | Absorbency: Not very absorbent | Colors: Light purple | Machine Washable: No
Is there anything more luxurious than using 100% silk on your face? We don’t think so, which is why we love this washcloth for its texture and feel. It’s one of the least irritating washcloths we tested, and we loved how tiny it is, making it perfect for on-the-go use. Another bonus? It can be used wet or dry.
It didn’t rank high from an exfoliating perspective; after all, silk just isn’t that exfoliating. However, where it’s lacking in exfoliation, it makes up for in makeup removal: Although it didn’t get all of our makeup off (that pesky mascara!), the fact that it can remove foundation, cheek tint, and concealer even while dry is enough to score a five in our book. The soothing purple color is a nice touch.
One issue we had with this washcloth is that it’s not machine washable. We love to be able to throw everything in the laundry when it needs a good clean. It’s also pretty pricey: $70 (!) for a five-pack is a hefty price to pay for washcloths, so this is definitely for those who want to make more of an investment in their skin routine.
Best for Acne-Prone Skin – Resorè Face Towel
What We Like
- Kills acne-causing bacteria and breaks down dirt and odor
- Incredibly soft
- Removes makeup well
What to Consider
- Not super exfoliating
Material: 67% cotton, 15% lyocell, 15% rayon made from bamboo, 3% silverback polyester | Size: Medium | Absorbency: Very absorbent | Colors: White | Machine Washable: Yes
A supersoft washcloth that also fights acne? we’ll take it. We were impressed by how soothing this washcloth was on our skin, especially given the fact that it’s designed to kill acne-causing bacteria. Also impressive? Its ability to remove makeup. It quickly took off our tinted moisturizer, mascara, and cheek tint. While it didn’t immediately remove our mascara, with enough work, it finally did, which is more than we can say for most washcloths.
Another huge bonus is that it’s machine washable. The downside? When it came to exfoliation, we weren’t blown away. Plus, ringing it at $35 per cloth, it’s on the pricey side.
Best for Exfoliation – Eve Lom 3 Muslin Cloths
What We Like
- Great for buffing away dead skin and grime
- Made with 100% cotton
- Removes makeup relatively well
What to Consider
- A little bit drying/irritating
- Not super absorbent
Material: 100% cotton | Size: Medium | Absorbency: Somewhat absorbent | Colors: White | Machine Washable: Yes
There’s a lot to love about these washcloths from Eve Lom. They’re made from 100% cotton, they feel clean and crisp on the skin, they’re machine-washable, and at $22 for a three-pack, they’re pretty good value. We went into testing them hyper-focused on makeup removal, but we were surprised to find that exfoliation is where they really shined. They’re truly effective when buffing away dead skin and debris.
They do come with a small word of warning, though. Don’t scrub too hard with these muslin cloths, as our face felt a bit dry after using. Other than that, we liked them. They adequately remove makeup, taking off everything aside from our mascara relatively easily.
Best for Sensitive Skin – HipHop Panda Bamboo Washcloths
What We Like
- Incredibly soft and soothing
- Made from bamboo
- Small
- Face felt very soft after use
What to Consider
- Not exfoliating
- Doesn’t remove makeup completely
Material: 90% rayon made from bamboo, 10% cotton | Size: Small | Absorbency: Very absorbent | Colors: Available in seven colors | Machine Washable: Yes
Simply put, we loved this washcloth. While it didn’t remove all of our makeup, nor was it super exfoliating (it’s designed for newborns, so that makes sense), it was so soft and soothing on our skin.
Made from bamboo, these washcloths are some of the softest out there, so it should go without saying that we were impressed with the texture and feel of it. Their skin-smoothing, gentle nature also makes them a great option for anyone with sensitive or finicky skin. Plus, the little panda designs on the packaging are so cute—we’re a big fan!
Best Basic – Amazon Basics Fast-Drying Absorbent Washcloths
What We Like
What We Like
- A very standard, back-to-basics washcloth
- Affordable
- 100% Cotton
- Exfoliates and removes makeup relatively well
What to Consider
- No standout qualities
Material: 100% cotton | Size: Medium | Absorbency: Very absorbent | Colors: Available in 8 different colors | Machine Washable: Yes
This is a very, very basic washcloth but a reliable standby. In fact, it’s probably the washcloth you’ve been using your whole life. It’s not crazy soft, but not super rough either; it exfoliates, but not super well. It removes most makeup but leaves a little bit behind. Overall, if you’re looking for a very standard, bare-bones washcloth with no fancy promises, this is it. It doesn’t hurt that it’s machine washable and affordable, too.
Best Chic Option – Coyuchi Organic Towel
What We Like
- Very chic look
- Made from 100% organic cotton
- Removes makeup somewhat well
- Sustainable
- Skin felt smoother after use
What to Consider
- Stains easily
Material: 100% organic cotton | Size: Medium | Absorbency: Medium absorbency | Colors: White | Machine Washable: Yes
We’re longtime fans of Coyuchi, so we were excited to try this washcloth. It has a very chic look to it, thanks to the subtle gray stripe detail at the bottom. In terms of function, it removed most, but not all, of our makeup, and it did a great job of exfoliating our faces without leaving them dry or irritated. It wasn’t the softest or most luxurious washcloth we tried, but it was just soft enough.
One thing worth noting: It stains easily. It’s machine washable, so we threw it in the dryer, and our makeup was very visible on it afterward. So if you want it to maintain its chic look, we recommend using stain remover and rinsing it out before tossing it in your washer/dryer.
Best Plush Option – Brooklinen Super-Plush Washcloths
What We Like
- Very soft and plush as promised
- Made from 100% Turkish cotton
- Skin felt moisturized and calm after use
What to Consider
- On the large side
Material: 100% Turkish cotton | Size: Medium to large-ish | Absorbency: Somewhat absorbent | Colors: Available in 12 colors | Machine Washable: Yes
Similar to Coyuchi, we’ve been fans of Brooklinen for years. We absolutely love their bathrobes and swear by their sheets, so we were very excited to try this washcloth. It was very soft and plush and removed makeup somewhat well—it didn’t pick up much, if any, of our mascara. It did exfoliate our skin somewhat well, too.
The one downside to this washcloth (other than that it didn’t remove all of our makeup) is that it’s a little on the large side. It’s also a tad pricey at $19 per cloth. Overall, where this washcloth really stands out is the feel. It’s incredibly plush—must be that 100% Turkish cotton.
Best for Makeup Removal – Tree To Tub Reuseable Makeup Remover Cloth
What We Like
- Super soft and gentle
- Good for travel
- Dual sided
What to Consider
- While it feels super soft, it is made from polyester
Material: Polyester cloth | Size: Small | Absorbency: Relatively absorbent | Colors: Pink or gray | Machine Washable: Yes
The standout feature of this washcloth is how well it takes off makeup with just water, and fans rave about its ability to remove waterproof mascara quickly and easily. While it’s made from hypoallergenic 100% polyester cloth, it has the feel of a super-soft sherpa blanket. This feels gentle and nonirritating on the skin, even after a thorough cleanse. In terms of exfoliation, it’s double-sided: short fibers easily remove makeup and gently cleanse the skin, while long fibers on the opposite side can be used for gentle exfoliation and deeper cleansing. It’s also designed to work as a suction pad on pores, so it clings and removes dirt and debris with ease.
We love that this cloth is designed for longevity, too, and the brand promises it can withstand hundreds of machine washes. You can also wash it by hand if you take it on vacation. Win-win!
What to Look for in a Washcloth
- Material: Throughout testing, we learned different materials are geared toward different skin benefits and goals. For example, muslin exfoliates well, while polyester is relatively good at removing makeup. Ultrafine microfibers are excellent at removing makeup. Silk can remove makeup without you even having to wet it first. Cotton is a basic, effective material that cleanses and removes makeup well.
- Size: We found throughout testing that bigger is not necessarily better. We found smaller products to be much better—we loved when we could simply slip a washcloth into our bag or put it away neatly on a shelf. About 12 x 12 inches is a good size.
- Color: Do you want a washcloth that shows no signs of stains? You might want to opt for black. If you want a washcloth that shows you exactly what you’re taking off, a lighter color is better.
- Machine Washable: This might come down to personal preference, but I was always relieved to find that a washcloth was machine washable. In my opinion, it’s just so much easier!
FAQ
- Should you use a washcloth to wash your face? You don’t necessarily need to wash your face using a washcloth, but they do have their benefits. Dr. Anna Andrienko, board-certified dermatologist at Dr. Ducu Clinics, also says it depends on how you use it. “A washcloth can help gently exfoliate the skin, remove dead cells, and improve circulation, which can make your cleanser more effective,” she says. “It’s also great for making sure you remove every trace of makeup, sunscreen, and dirt.” The key, Dr Anna adds, is to use a clean, soft washcloth; harsh fabrics or rough scrubbing can do more harm than good.
- How do you use a washcloth to cleanse your face? “Start with a clean, damp washcloth and use warm (not hot) water,” advises Dr. Andrienko. Apply your cleanser directly to your face and gently massage it in with your fingers. Then, use the washcloth to wipe away the cleanser, using light circular motions—no need to scrub aggressively.“ Once you’re done, rinse your face with lukewarm water and pat dry with a fresh towel.
- How do you clean a washcloth for your face? Dr Nora, a cosmetic and medical dermatology doctor, says you should wash your washcloth after every use to prevent bacteria buildup. “Rinse it thoroughly with hot water after each use to remove residual cleanser and debris,” she says. “You should also machine wash it regularly (preferably after each use) in hot water with a mild, fragrance-free detergent.” Dr Nora also advises avoiding fabric softeners, which can leave residue that may clog pores. You should also air dry your wash cloth completely or tumble dry on a hot setting to kill bacteria. “Using a fresh washcloth each time is ideal, especially if you’re prone to breakouts,” she adds.
- How often should you replace your washcloths for your face? “Washcloths should be replaced every 1-2 months, or sooner if they become rough, discolored, or develop an odor,” says Dr Nora. “Over time, even frequent washing may not fully remove bacteria, oil, and dead skin buildup, which can contribute to skin irritation or acne.”
- What type of washcloth is best for the face? It depends on how you clean your skin and what you’re trying to achieve, but generally speaking, Dr.Andrienko advises looking for something soft, gentle, and non-abrasive. “Cotton muslin cloths are great for light exfoliation, while bamboo fiber cloths are naturally antibacterial and very soft,” she says. “Organic cotton washcloths are another good option since they’re free from harsh chemicals.”
- Are microfiber cloths good for the face? “Yes, microfiber cloths can be great for removing makeup and dirt without the need for a harsh cleanser,” says Dr Andrienko. “They’re especially useful if you have sensitive skin and want to avoid over-exfoliation.” She does advise, however, making sure you wash them after every use, as they can trap bacteria if not cleaned properly.
Meet Our Experts
For this article, Byrdie consulted with the following experts:
- Dr. Anna Andrienko is a board-certified dermatologist at Dr. Ducu Clinics.
- Dr. Nora Jaafar is a London-based cosmetic dermatologist and director of the Rejuvenation Clinic.