What Should You Dry Your Face With After Washing?
"What do you use to dry your face?" is one of the most common questions we hear, and the answers run from "a clean towel" to "nothing at all." We make disposable face towels, so we're not neutral here. But honestly, you don't need anything fancy to get this right.
Here's the short answer: gently pat your face dry with something clean and soft. That can be a fresh face towel or washcloth, a disposable face towel, or nothing at all if you like putting products on damp skin. What matters most is that it's clean and that you pat instead of rub. Cleveland Clinic's face washing guide says the same thing.
Towel, washcloth, air-dry or disposable?
Each one works. They just suit different routines:
- A face towel or hand towel: easy and already in your bathroom. The catch is keeping it fresh, since it hangs in a damp room between uses.
- A stack of washcloths: grab a clean one each time and toss it in the laundry. Great if you keep up with the washing.
- Air-drying: nothing touches your face, and it pairs well with putting serum on damp skin. It takes a few minutes, and dripping water isn't for everyone.
- A disposable face towel: a fresh, dry towel every time, with no laundry. The trade-off is that you throw it away after use.
- Paper towels: plenty of people use them in a pinch. If they feel rough on your skin, switch to something softer.
Should you leave your face damp for serums?
A lot of people like to. The American Academy of Dermatology's dry skin tips say to gently pat your skin dry and apply moisturizer while your skin is still damp.
So you don't have to choose between drying and not drying. Pat lightly, leave a little moisture behind, then go straight into your next step. Some products are meant for fully dry skin, so check the directions on yours.
Pat, don't rub
What you dry with matters less than how you do it. Cleveland Clinic's guide puts it simply: "Rubbing your face will disrupt your skin barrier, whereas pat drying is gently helping to remove the water from your face."
- Rinse off your cleanser with clean hands.
- Press a clean towel lightly against your face, one area at a time.
- Lift and move on. No back-and-forth scrubbing.
- Stop while your skin is still slightly damp if you're applying serum or moisturizer next.
How often to swap your face towel
There's no official face towel schedule, but the guidance points one way: the fresher, the better. Cleveland Clinic suggests washing bath and hand towels at least once a week and washcloths at least a couple of times a week, and more often if your bathroom is humid and towels don't dry out. For your face specifically, the same source says you don't want to use a towel "that's been sitting on your towel rack for two weeks."
Plenty of people simply use a fresh one every time, or every couple of uses. A few habits help either way:
- Keep one towel just for your face.
- Hang it spread open so it dries fully between uses.
- Swap it sooner if it smells musty or stays damp.
Is it OK to use your bath towel on your face?
Lots of people do, and if the towel is clean, that's fine. The common worry is drying your whole body first and then patting your face with the same towel. The easy fix is to dry your face first, or keep a small, separate towel for your face. If you're dealing with ongoing breakouts or irritation, a towel swap alone isn't the answer. That's a question for a dermatologist.
When a disposable face towel makes sense
If a clean washcloth every time already works for you, keep doing it. Disposables earn their spot when:
- Laundry is the step that keeps slipping.
- You travel or go to the gym and don't want to rely on someone else's towels.
- You share a bathroom and want a towel nobody else has used.
- You wear makeup most days and don't want stains on your good towels.
Sima disposable face towels come 50 to a box, each one XL (12 x 10 inches), so you pull out one fresh towel at a time. We take a closer look at the trade-offs, including the waste question, in Are Disposable Face Towels Worth It?
What to dry your face with after washing: FAQ
What is the best way to dry your face?
Pat it gently with something clean and soft. A fresh towel, a clean washcloth or a disposable face towel all work. Skip the rubbing.
Should you air dry your face?
You can. It's a good fit if you apply serum or moisturizer to damp skin anyway. Just follow your products' directions about damp or dry skin.
Is it OK to dry your face with a paper towel?
In a pinch, sure. Some feel rough, so pat very lightly. If yours scratch, a softer option is the easy fix.
Can drying your face with a towel cause breakouts?
We don't claim a towel causes or prevents breakouts. Using a clean towel and patting gently is simply good practice. If breakouts keep coming back, talk to a dermatologist.
Should you dry your face before putting on moisturizer?
Pat off most of the water, but you don't need to wait until your skin is bone dry. The AAD suggests applying moisturizer while skin is still damp.
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