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Original poster

Do Brits not use face cloths?

234 replies

UnicornSlippers29 · 30/08/2023 19:09

I'm from North America and I grew up washing my face with a face wash and a wash cloth.

Wet face, suds up the cloth and give it a gentle scrub until all my makeup is off and rinse with wet cloth. Then I use a toner on a cotton pad to remove any leftover traces, but there's usually not any unless I've missed a spot around my hairline.

I've noticed through travelling to hotels here in the U.K. and much of Europe that there are no face cloths (flannels?) in the rooms to wash my face with so I have to wet the bottom corner of the towel and use as a face cloth.

How does everyone wash their face here? Do you mainly use makeup wipes? I've tried a few but they never seem to work very well

  • I'm always left with lots of makeup on my toner soaked cotton pad. It also seems a lot of waste that ends up in the landfill.

How does everyone ensure their face is clean from makeup & sunscreen without a gentle scrub and water? Was I using the wipes wrong?

OP posts:
KnobbingtonKnobberson · 30/08/2023 19:34

Spacemoon · 30/08/2023 19:26

I'm quite surprised at the amount of replies saying they do use them, as I haven't heard of anyone under the age of about 60 using flannels. Not since the 80s/90s anyway! Remember using them all the time as a kid/teen though. I just assumed they had phased out as not even my parents use them anymore and they used to love a good flannel 🤣

I use those cloth reusable/washable pads and micellar water to remove make up. As does pretty much every woman I know.

I think there are two main camps of people who use them: older people and people who are a bit nerdy about skincare and use balms and oils and doubcle cleanse etc. (obv these two camps can overlap!).

I didn't take to micellar water.

BaaCode · 30/08/2023 19:34

I love flannels. I have good quality ones in the bathroom for washing myself and cheaper ones in my bedroom for wiping my hands on after applying hair products with my hands.
I also keep a cheap one in a ziplock bag in my handbag for those times when I use a public loo and there's no paper towels to dry my hands on and the hand blower isn't working either.

Mariotoaddaisy · 30/08/2023 19:34

It's not very difficult to pack your own flannel. Is it? 😂

Scousemousey · 30/08/2023 19:35

Would a microfiber cloth do the same job as those bamboo wipes to remove your makeup?

KateyCuckoo · 30/08/2023 19:35

UnicornSlippers29 · 30/08/2023 19:26

So do I 😂 Reminds me of the word my grandmother used to describe the cloths used to clean babies bums 😆

Edited
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I found it more cringy that you had to tell us how to use a 'face cloth' in your OP Grin

BaaCode · 30/08/2023 19:36

Oh, and if anyone can tell me what I've done with 7 new flannels from an 8 pack, I'd be grateful.

NewName122 · 30/08/2023 19:36

We do use them but we pack our own.

Ascendant15 · 30/08/2023 19:37

Thank God for Yanks telling us Brits how to wash. We'd never have thought of washing at all if they weren't around to teach us.

eurochick · 30/08/2023 19:37

Everyone seemed to use them when I was growing up but less so now. Some people use linen cloths with hot cloth cleansers but lots probably do what I do - remove eye make up with washable pads or cotton wool and then just wash their face (wet skin, use foaming cleanser, rinse face with water pooled in hands).

Creepyrosemary · 30/08/2023 19:37

I use my hands, it works for washing my hands and it works just as well for washing my face. I don't really see how a flannel would be any better for me. I don't use much skin make up though, so I wouldn't be surprised if a flannel does work better if you have to take off many layers of primer/foundation/highlighter/contouring/blush/powder.

guiltyfeethavegotnorythym · 30/08/2023 19:37

BaaCode · 30/08/2023 19:36

Oh, and if anyone can tell me what I've done with 7 new flannels from an 8 pack, I'd be grateful.

Your teenagers have them - somewhere .

viques · 30/08/2023 19:37

Even if a hotel supplied them I wouldn’t use them, god knows where they have been wiped! Many people in the uk use a muslin face wipe instead of a face flannel.

( face flannels are brilliant for wiping down clean surfaces in a bathroom btw, they really add a shine to taps, mirrors and sinks.) another reason not to use Hotel ones!

Mariotoaddaisy · 30/08/2023 19:38

KateyCuckoo · 30/08/2023 19:35

I found it more cringy that you had to tell us how to use a 'face cloth' in your OP Grin

Show quote history

So cringe. It makes you wonder what the OP is like in the real world. Does OP tell people how to use loo roll too? Does the OP scrunch or fold?

It's threads like these that end up being taken the piss out of on other forums! No bloody wonder. 🤣

Spectre8 · 30/08/2023 19:39

Sounds like a faff. Why can't you just lather up soap in hands and wash your face, thats what I do. I only exfoliate once maybe twice a week and use a scrub for that.

Never used a face cloth all my life

Toottooot · 30/08/2023 19:40

coxesorangepippin · 30/08/2023 19:19

Hate the word flannel

Not sure why

It makes me cringe - much prefer cloot.

GrannyAchingsShepherdsHut · 30/08/2023 19:42

I don't use one to wash. Didn't have them growing up either.

I wash my face with soap and my hands. I don't wear make up often but when I do I remove anything left behind with micellar water and cotton pads.

I wouldn't use a flannel supplied by a hotel. Logically I get what you're saying about it being no different to sheets and towels, but it really feels different. Like on a par with using hotel supplied knickers that are washed between guests! I've no idea why, but the thought revolts me.

Be careful using the towels to remove make up, if you stain them you may well get charged for them. Why not just pack your own flannel, it's not like it would take up much space?

BaaCode · 30/08/2023 19:43

Spectre8 · 30/08/2023 19:39

Sounds like a faff. Why can't you just lather up soap in hands and wash your face, thats what I do. I only exfoliate once maybe twice a week and use a scrub for that.

Never used a face cloth all my life

The flannel does the exfoliating for me.
Get a saucer, put some white sugar on it, wet flannel, dip in the sugar and ' wash ' your body / face.
Amazing exfoliation for free.

CantThinkOfANameAtAll · 30/08/2023 19:44

coxesorangepippin · 30/08/2023 19:19

Hate the word flannel

Not sure why

It reminds me of the old fashioned flannelette long johns that you see in old Western films or Dickensian winter dramas. It gives the connection of wiping your face on mens sweaty underpants which isn't a pleasant thought.

BubziOwl · 30/08/2023 19:44

Really surprised by this! I don't know anyone who uses a flannel to wash their face.

I use a flannel to dry my face after washing it, but it's not a part of the actual washing for me. I just use a face wash and water, rub it all in with my fingers, wash it off and pat dry!

I think it would be too abrasive for my skin to rub the soap in with a flannel?

FWIW I don't wear makeup but do wear sun cream

BaaCode · 30/08/2023 19:44

guiltyfeethavegotnorythym · 30/08/2023 19:37

Your teenagers have them - somewhere .

Show quote history

Unfortunately I can't blame them as they're all adults and married off.
Mind, that's not to say they've not sneaked them out when visiting.

Gnomegnomegnome · 30/08/2023 19:45

I love my flannels 😂I make sure that I buy really nice once because I love the routine of washing my face and doing my skin care. No one else is allowed to use my stash.

Funderthighs · 30/08/2023 19:45

I use washable cotton pads to take off my eye make-up so I don’t need a facecloth.

Specialtoes · 30/08/2023 19:45

I think they did go out of fashion and everyone was using cream cleansers and cotton wool, but flannels or cloths are back now. Unusual to find them provided in a hotel though, you'd take your own.

Original poster
UnicornSlippers29 · 30/08/2023 19:46

viques · 30/08/2023 19:37

Even if a hotel supplied them I wouldn’t use them, god knows where they have been wiped! Many people in the uk use a muslin face wipe instead of a face flannel.

( face flannels are brilliant for wiping down clean surfaces in a bathroom btw, they really add a shine to taps, mirrors and sinks.) another reason not to use Hotel ones!

Meh. I'm not that bothered. All of the ones I have used hotels seemed nice and fluffy and very clean. I imagine they must use industrial cleaner and loads of bleach to keep everything so white.

Touching the remote controls in hotel rooms on the other hand is something I will NEVER do! That's what a shower cap or the plastic wrapper of a cup is for! I bet those things are never cleaned! I would love for someone to do a swab on those and report back on what kind of wondrous bacterial growths they've found on there 🤢 Light switches come in a very close second...

OP posts:
Mariotoaddaisy · 30/08/2023 19:46

In the nicest possible way OP. You sound a bit crackers