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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:
Jennalong · 30/08/2023 21:36

2 cloths , one for face , one for rest of body. Also use a sponge in the shower.
Have a pile of white muslin cloths for make up removal.

ncob · 30/08/2023 21:37

KnobbingtonKnobberson · 30/08/2023 21:33

Well you're using the facecloth to remove your makeup so yeah, the makeup transfers on to it. I wet the cloth and then swipe one half of one side of the cloth over my face, rinse it and use the other half, rinse it again and use the other side of the cloth etc. etc. My face glows afterwards.

Personally I really didn't like micellar water and don't see that it actually cleanses your skin properly.

I have a lovely complexion (if I do say so myself) and this is what works for me.

Cloths go into a whites wash and come out clean. And that's about it really!

Show quote history

Thank you. Definitely going to give this a try! Any particular type of facecloth you (or others on here) recommend? Or just the ones that look like standards towels but tiny little squares? I never really understood the purpose so never bought them but looking forward to trying it out..

megletthesecond · 30/08/2023 21:38

I use one at home.
I wouldn't want to use a hotel flannel though.

framedpic · 30/08/2023 21:42

Lucy is such a prolific name, it wouldn't occur to me to make the connection

ErrolTheDragon · 30/08/2023 21:43

Unmute · 30/08/2023 19:20

You get them in posh hotels. Sometimes there are dark coloured ones with a note saying to use them for makeup, as well as the usual white ones.

I stayed in a lovely B&B on Harris which had white and brown facecloths with a note to request using the latter for makeup. The owner had thought of every little detail.
Lots of uk hotels do provide white ones.

I used to travel to the us quite a lot with work, and lived there a couple of years - I wouldn't have said their hotels were much more likely to provide face cloths.

SloraceHughorn · 30/08/2023 21:45

As everyone else has said, yep we definitely use them hotels don't usually provide them. Can be bought for about 50 pence in a supermarket.

I tend to use the kid's cloth wipes now because they're a quarter of the size of a regular flannel so pack down smaller. I have a load in my wash bag ready for when I go away.

Puffypuffin · 30/08/2023 21:45

I take my own. Recently ive been using washable washcloths to remove my make up with miceller water but I don't feel clean unless I've washed my face with a face cloth afterwards!

ErrolTheDragon · 30/08/2023 21:46

gabagood · 30/08/2023 21:10

I do! I have a pile of muslins in my bathroom.

But hotels in Europe don't supply them, I always take a few to use/wash out on holiday.

Some hotels in Europe supply extra small cloths, to use with the bidet. Bumcloths not facecloths.

KnobbingtonKnobberson · 30/08/2023 21:46

ncob · 30/08/2023 21:37

Thank you. Definitely going to give this a try! Any particular type of facecloth you (or others on here) recommend? Or just the ones that look like standards towels but tiny little squares? I never really understood the purpose so never bought them but looking forward to trying it out..

Show quote history

I like the Primark 'luxury' ones that cost about £3 for 4. They're nice and thick.

framedpic · 30/08/2023 21:47

Wrong thread!

Snugglemonkey · 30/08/2023 21:49

I use clinique take the day off cleansing balm, which I take off with a face cloth. I pack the wee penny sized ones, like a pp.

guiltyfeethavegotnorythym · 30/08/2023 21:51

Sainsbury's do good quality face cloths can't remember the price though .

SunflowerBlues · 30/08/2023 21:55

Mariotoaddaisy · 30/08/2023 19:46

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

😂

Userwithallthenumbers · 30/08/2023 21:59

Well, this was a revelation to me!

I can't recall ever staying in a hotel that didn't provide face cloths.

And I cannot see how a face cloth is any more a personal item than a towel. They are all going to get chucked in a hot service wash and the odds are the face cloth is a lot cleaner than the towel that has dried arses and been dumped onto floors.

dearanon · 30/08/2023 22:15

I use them occasionally. Depends if I can find them in the cupboard.

SD1978 · 30/08/2023 22:17

I wouldn't use a hotel flannel- much like a hospital one it's probably been on more arse cheeks than faces....... if one was provided I'd steer well clear of it

Puffypuffin · 30/08/2023 22:19

SD1978 · 30/08/2023 22:17

I wouldn't use a hotel flannel- much like a hospital one it's probably been on more arse cheeks than faces....... if one was provided I'd steer well clear of it

😂 me too!

guiltyfeethavegotnorythym · 30/08/2023 22:30

Actually you get disposable flannels in hospital , they are great , you get a nice big handful 😄.

Doublebubblegum · 30/08/2023 22:57

Flannel users - don't you just end up with loads of soaking wet flannels in your laundry basket??

Mxflamingnoravera · 30/08/2023 23:08

I have about 20 flannels, all from hotels from when I used to travel on business and every room had them (a big basket of up to 6 for a room per day). I sometimes use one for my face, I just use my cleanser (Zo) and rinse off with water in my hands. But I also no longer wear full make up, rarely even mascara, it always ends up rubbing onto my lower eyelids and end up with panda eyes.

Maddy70 · 30/08/2023 23:08

I'm a brit. I've never used a face cloth

Zwicky · 30/08/2023 23:17

“Flannel users - don't you just end up with loads of soaking wet flannels in your laundry basket??*

I end up with a load of dry (or in stages of drying) but used ones hanging over the side of my bath. It’s not ideal tbh.

whathappenedtosummer23 · 30/08/2023 23:20

So many odd answers. I had no idea a flannel was such a personal item. They’re in most hotels I’ve been to and I don’t hesitate to use them. Why would I?

drspouse · 30/08/2023 23:21

Jamtartforme · 30/08/2023 20:11

Towel rail? Mine is heated so they dry in half an hour.

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I hang mine off the edge of the bath (for use on two consecutive days face washing or possibly while in the bath).
For moving on to the wash basket I either leave it on the bathroom radiator, or pick it up in a sweep of towels that need washing.

ErrolTheDragon · 30/08/2023 23:29

Doublebubblegum · 30/08/2023 22:57

Flannel users - don't you just end up with loads of soaking wet flannels in your laundry basket??

No. I have 2 baskets on the bathroom shelf, one for clean, the other for used. Each flannel goes onto the side of the bath after use, then in the evening onto the rack on the radiator, the previous one on there will be dry and go into the used basket.