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A Skincare Staple, Reimagined
The humble face cloth is making a powerful return in skincare, offering a gentle yet effective way to cleanse, exfoliate, and remove makeup.
At Ané, our Dual-Sided Organic Cotton Muslin and Microfibre Face Clothsare designed for versatile, low-fuss cleansing that's kind to your skin and the planet.
We took some time to go through our most frequently asked questions about the face cloths to create this guide and for you to discover why this underrated skincare essential is a must-have in your skincare routine.
While the world of skincare is ever-evolving, with new ingredients, trends, and techniques constantly making an appearance, there are some tried-and-tested methods to care for your skin that stand the test of time.
One such classic? The humble face cloth – or face flannel, if you prefer.
For many of us, the warm, damp cloth has been a staple since our childhood days – and in a time where many of us are looking for gentler, more effective ways to care for our skin, the face cloth is making a quiet but powerful return.
It's even been reported in various past press pieces that none other than Princess Kate herself has embraced the simple yet effective power of our Ané Face Cloths in her own skincare routine.
At Ané, we created our Dual-Sided Organic Cotton Muslin and Microfibre Face Cloths to offer a versatile, low-fuss solution for everyday cleansing, gentle exfoliation, and easy and thorough makeup removal — with materials that are kinder to your skin, and the planet.
In this guide, I’ll walk you through the most common questions we receive — plus some we think should be asked more often — when it comes to using face cloths as part of your skincare routine.
(Featuring the Ané Dual-Sided Organic Cotton Muslin and Microfibre Face Cloths)
This is a great question and a good starting poin - and the plain and simple answer is “no”.
You don’t need to use a face cloth of any kind, and your hands will do a perfectly reasonable job of cleansing your face.
However, let me make my case for using face cloths, in particular our Ané Dual-sided Face Cloths.
While washing your face with your hands is perfectly fine, using a face cloth can give your cleansing routine a real edge and more tangible benefits.
The gentle texture helps lift away daily grime, excess sebum, and stubborn product residue more effectively than hands alone — and cloths are especially helpful especially if you're wearing sunscreen or makeup. This is one of the main reasons I include them in my routine.
The Ané Dual-sided Face Clothsoffer a dual benefit:
Bonus Benefit: Save your towels from staining.
IYKYK. For anyone who finds that rinsing cleansers off with hands leaves a residue, or who ends up staining their nice towels, a face cloth is a simple, effective step up to get an extra good cleanse and protect your towels.
If you’ve been washing make-up stains out of your towels because you didn’t quite get all your foundation out of your hairline or around your jawline, you know exactly what I’m talking about.
This is another reason why I love using my face cloths. Because no matter how good my cleansing, or cleanser is - I always find I leave some product in my hairline or below my jaw that I didn't want to get wet per se - so catching this and making sure everything is cleansed and wiped away has saved my towels (and even pillow covers) from staining marks from makeup.
Using a face cloth can support your skin in three important ways:
Bonus tip 1: Improved absorption
Pressing a lukewarm cloth to your face before applying serums or masks can help gently open pores, improving product absorption.
Bonus tip 2: Product - free Exfoliation
Including some level of exfoliation in your routine is a key step (not overdoing it) - but if you prefer to not use any kind of chemical (liquid) or physical (scrub) exfoliant products then using a muslin face cloth can help with gentle exfoliation to remove dead skin.
Bonus tip 3: Product - free Cleansing
You can use your face cloth with any kind of cleanser - or you can use it with water only.
I very often just use my face cloth and lukewarm water in the morning when I don't want to do a full cleanse, or we're travelling or on a boat and there isn't much time to be fancy with my cleansing.
I wouldn't recommend doing this for a full face of heavy makeup - but especially in the morning or if you've not worn any makeup during the day this could be a good option to cut down on product and simplify your routine if that's what you prefer.
This is a valid concern — the key factor here is how you use them.
Our Ané cloths are made from skin-friendly materials: organic cotton and soft microfibre, both chosen for their gentle touch and low risk of irritation.
With proper care and technique, the cloths are suitable even for sensitive or blemish-prone skin.
Ideally, after every use — just as you wouldn’t reuse a dirty flannel or towels.
That’s why our cloths come in a pack of three:
We recommend machine washing at 30–40°C, with a mild, fragrance-free detergent (I personally use Ecover Zero) - but you also don’t need a specialised detergent.
I pop mine in with my whites and they come out lovely and clean.
Always hang your cloths to dry completely between uses.
Yes — it’s actually a great way to help them dry quickly, which reduces the risk of mould or bacterial growth.
Just don’t leave them bunched up or wet in a closed space. The cloths come with handy loop hooks to hang and air dry with ease.
Avoid tumble drying or ironing, which can wear down the fibres over time.
It depends on your skin, but here’s why we chose what we did for the Ané cloths:
This dual-texture design means you don’t have to choose between cleansing and exfoliation — you get both, in one simple step.
The other reason is that it makes for a more substantial product feel. To me a muslin cloth on its own feels very flimsy and I an only exfoliate with it. A microfibre cloth on its own means I then need an extra muslin cloth to get the gentle exfoliation I want - so for me it was best to just combine the two into one cloth and get the best of both.
We wouldn’t recommend it.
(1) The skin on your face is more delicate than your body, and (2) body towels or cloths can carry bacteria or residue that may trigger breakouts or irritation. I just don't think this is very hygienic.
Using a separate, soft cloth specifically for your face helps maintain hygiene — and supports your skin barrier over time.
6 Ways Customers Use their Ané Face Cloths
Here’s how I use the Ané Dual-Sided Face Cloths:
Always rinse the cloth thoroughly after use, squeeze out as much water as you can and hang it to dry.
Yes — in every way that matters.
Disposable wipes often disrupt the skin barrier and leave residue behind.
Our reusable cloths, by contrast, are designed to support your skin and are gentle enough for teenagers, babies, and sensitive skin types too.
With proper care, each cloth can last several months to a year — possibly longer. Here’s how to look after them:
A good face cloth may seem simple — but it’s one of the most underrated tools in a skincare routine.
With the right materials, care, and consistency, it becomes an effortless way to cleanse, polish, and glow — every day.
Our Ané Dual-Sided Organic Cotton Muslin and Microfibre Clothsare thoughtfully made to elevate your routine:
Explore the collection hereand experience the difference a little cloth can make.
The Ané Dual Sided Organic Cotton Muslin and Microfibre Face Clothsare thoughtfully designed to address many of the common questions and concerns surrounding face cloth use.
The organic cotton muslin side offers a gentle yet effective way to cleanse the skin and provide mild exfoliation. Its soft texture makes it particularly suitable for sensitive skin, ensuring a comfortable and non-irritating cleansing experience.
The microfibre side is excellent for effectively removing makeup, including stubborn or long-wearing formulas, and provides a deeper clean without harshness.
The dual-sided design offers a convenient solution for different skincare needs in one cloth, meaning you don't need to use separate cloths for different steps.
Both organic cotton and microfibre are known for their softness and gentle action on the skin, mitigating concerns about irritation when used correctly.
The high quality fabrics used in the Ané face cloths has good durability, wash well and have a reasonable lifespan when they're cared for properly.
Using a face cloth into your skincare routine can be a simple yet powerful way to enhance your cleansing process and promote healthier, more radiant skin.
By providing gentle exfoliation and more thorough removal of makeup, sunscreen and impurities, face cloths offer benefits that go beyond basic cleansing.
By following the guidelines and tips outlined above, you can confidently use your Ané face cloths in your daily skincare routine and start to see the benefits of this time-tested, underrated skincare essential for yourself.
And while it is definitely true that you don't needa facecloth in your routine, I can't imagine being without mine. I always love hearing about the cloths that get 'stolen' by husbands and boyfriends and teenage boys especially (we have a few in our family and they all love their Aunty Ané's face cloths).
And I also love that my husband insists on having his own cloths because he really can't be bothered with all the skincare steps, but this 2-in-1 little tool goes a long way!
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