The towel you reach for after washing your face is a small but telling detail of just how seriously you take your skincare.
Once the reserve of hotel bathrooms and gym kits, the disposable face towel has found its way into our daily routines, replacing flannels and microfibre cloths in the name of convenience and hygiene. But single use, by its very nature, prompts a question. What happens after you’ve used it?
Enter: the biodegradable face towel. Designed to vanish without a trace, or at least decompose without adding to the planet’s mounting landfill problem, they’re being praised as the most hygienic skincare hero to date. Unlike traditional options made from synthetic fibres or bleached paper pulp, the sustainable variety is usually crafted from materials such as bamboo, cotton and rayon. These break down naturally, with the help of microorganisms, moisture, and time, often within a few weeks to a couple of months.
Bamboo, for instance, is a fast-growing, renewable crop that requires no pesticides and minimal water. When processed correctly (without harsh chemicals, that is), it yields a soft, durable towel that’s surprisingly luxe. Cotton linter, the fuzz left behind after cotton is ginned, is another favourite. It’s a waste product that finds new purpose in beauty routines, offering softness without synthetic additives. Look for products certified compostable or labelled with third-party standards like FSC or OEKO-TEX, which offer some assurance that you’re not just wiping your face with greenwashed nonsense.
Of course, nothing is truly impact-free. Even the most responsibly made towel has a footprint. But for those trying to balance skin health with sustainability, there are better choices than the bleached rolls stacked on supermarket shelves. Keep scrolling for a selection of the best biodegradable and sustainably made cotton towelettes to instantly upgrade your skincare routine.
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Clean Skin Club Clean Towels XL Bamboo
Dermatologist-approved and a veritable viral favourite on TikTok, Clean Towels is home to a range of sustainable, disposable face towels – but their unbleached bamboo range takes the biscuit.
Gentle on the skin barrier, free from chemicals and preservatives and versatile in use, they’re crafted from 100 per cent USDA bio-based cellulose fibre and are certified biodegradable too – meaning you can pop them in your home compost. Though technically reusable, the brand recommends disposing of the towels between uses if you’re using them for your skin.
Buy now £14.00, Amazon
The Cheeky Panda Bamboo Facial Tissues
Bamboo is a sustainable material due to the sheer speed at which it grows, and Cheeky Panda is the expert in all things bamboo. These ultra-soft facial tissues are free from any pesky tissue dust, as bamboo fibres are longer than traditional tree fibres, which also means that each tissue produces 65.5 per cent fewer carbon emissions than a standard tissue.
They arrive with zero plastic packaging with a 100 per cent recyclable casing, but they sadly aren’t biodegradable. They are, however, made from FSC-certified bamboo.
Buy now £18.95, Amazon
Naked Paper Unbleached Bamboo Tissues
Unbleached and manufactured without fossil fuels, these bamboo tissues by Naked Paper publish all the evidence supporting their green claims, so you know that they’re the real deal. Their manufacturing process includes 8,000 on-site solar panels, water returned to the river in the same state it was found, and a patented system to recirculate heat – some of the many reasons that Naked Paper is B-Corp certified.
What’s more, unbleached tissue products break down more efficiently than bleached alternatives, making them a better option for composting and reducing landfill waste. Use these tissues to blot your face dry hygienically, or simply to blow your nose. Naked Paper also makes loo roll.
Buy now £2.50, Ocado
Ourmed Life Face Towels
Beloved for their brilliant absorbency and versatile wet or dry usage, these face towelettes by Ourmed are made from 100 per cent rayon, a non-woven fabric derived from natural plant fibres. Brilliant for acne-prone and sensitive skin, they come in a handy, recyclable cardboard box with doubles up as a dispenser.
They’re also fragrance-free, Oeko-Tex certified and free from any harsh chemicals. Rayon is also biodegradable, though any chemicals used in production can leech into the environment. Biodegrading availability in landfills is also increasingly sparse, so it’s best to compost at home where possible.
Buy now £12.34, Amazon
Dermacotton Value Pack Cotton Towels
For those with hypoallergenic concerns who prefer pure cotton towelettes, this pack from Dermacotton is set to elevate your skincare routine. Chemical-free, fragrance-free, hypoallergenic and biodegradable, they’re a relatively eco-friendly alternative to mucky shared towels – though cotton tends to require a lot of water during processing.
Buy now £11.65, Amazon
Conserving Beauty InstaMelt Day Dissolver Wipes 30 Pack
Convenient, vegan-friendly and perfect for festivals, this set of dissolvable makeup wipes is made with a water-soluble polymer. The wipe itself is infused with eight powerful makeup-busting oils, including squalane, jojoba and hemp seed, which also work to gently exfoliate the skin. It also comes in compostable packaging.
Buy now £24.00, Space NK
