wow i'll have to try that someitme.
i suppose using a towel even if you
had a separate one for your face, would
be a nice communal congregating spot
for germs and bacteria.

Maybe a cloth towel. But air-dryeing takes time and we're usually rushing. I thnk cloth towel is gentle enough w/o taking so much time

sometimes i dry my face with a paper towel because I heard that it's better. like marley11 said, bacteria tends to congregate on towels because of the material. most of the time though (if I'm using a toner on my skin)I dry my face off with a tiny towel that's reserved for my face only and then I pat on lavender moisturizing cream from l'occitane. my complexion has definitely improved

I only try to pat my face lightly with a fresh washcloth. I'd never use a towl that has just been sitting there. I need to put my moisturizer on after that and need to pat off some of the water.

i use a really soft towel and massage in circles to dry my face. it's not a communal towel and i wash my towels frequently, so i don't worry too much about germs. besides, that's what the skin helps protect against.

sounds great, but who has time for that these days??

Yes I do...I hate waiting for my face to dry! I may try it again though.

I have a towel that I only use for my face. But, I'll have to try the air drying thing!

I'm going to try that! Hehe.

I do after the shower, my face always feels nice afterwards. Sometimes I will mix in my moisturizer with the water on my face.

Er.. I think she's onto something with applying her moisturizer to damp skin, but I doubt that the use or non-use of a towel has anything to do with it. I know women with gorgeous skin who don't even use water to wash their face, just cold cream and a cloth...*shrug* To each her own.

that towel thing seems like a load of poo to me.

I have a separate towel for my face.

I bought some washcloths that are nice quality and very inexpensive. I use a fresh/clean one every night when I dry my face. I have enough to cover until I do laundry again. LOL! This has made a huge difference in reducing the amount of irritation and breakouts I get since starting this.

i have a seperate towel for my face because having the same towel just seems wrong. i think i have to towel dry it or else i just feel odd and face seems tighter.

you are right, shafiii. My face feels tighter as well if I don't get to it. I like to pat off most of the moisture but I guess there is some still left and that's when I apply my moisturizer so it absorbs well. If I waited to air dry my face, my moisturizer wouldn't go on as nicely.

When I get out of the shower, I wet a washcloth with cold water, wring it out, pat my face with it [which closes pores], then immediately apply moisturizer while skin is still damp. It's worth the extra effort, as I've had good results. FYI - The person who mentioned using paper towels - I read years ago to never use paper products [tissues, etc.] on the face as there are tiny wood pulp fibers that are irritating to the skin.

I use paper towels too....I use them in the kitchen too because I think towels are so germy.

I never really thought about it. I should start using a towel for my face only and wash it frequently. I don't think I could let it air dry especially when it's humid. I'd feel dirty again.

i already do that any way! i guess i should keep doing it!

i use paper towels as well. Ive tried air-drying but I need to get use to it, it feels so naked-y. lol.

I apply my tonic after the shower so I guess it dries a bit with the cotton... I guess I don't worry so much about it.

That's one I've gotta try!!

i pat my face dry with my bath towel. gentle pats are the key!

I like to think that using a towel is also doing a bit of exfoliating. I wonder if the new microfiber towels are softer and dry so much faster. I plan to get one and dedicate it to my face.

i put my face cream on w/o drying my face. i read somewhere that doing this locks in the water and hydrates your skin. who really knows though, probably most of having good skin is a combo of good genes and limited sun exposure.

I do, even though I think it's so unsanitary because people do wipe their hands on it, even after going to the bathroom. I try not to think about it. Oh and I pat it on my face, not wipe.

Dermatologists usually say that one has to always tap your face with a towel, and never let it air dry. I'm not sure if I remember correctly, but it has something to do with the water on your face sucking away the water in your face... So I fave a little white towel i use for my face and my hands before putting on contact lenses. Trying to always keep that one super super clean (ok, trying... )

Gosh. There are a lot of differing opinions posted here. I will be testing some of the suggestions to see what works for me.

I use a towel that's just for my face and I pat dry my face so some moisture stays then add moisturizer. I going to give this tip a try on the days when I have time to see if it makes a difference.

yeah, that sounds good. but I always wash before put down my head to go to sleep. How's that going to work.

I always let my face air-dry after I wash it...

thanks for the tip! ima do what she does form now on

After a shower i always let my face air dry. But if im washing it with cleanser i use a clean washcloth for washing/drying.

I pat my face dry but its still with a towel (not my handtowel).

I don't air dry but I too, only pat - never rub.

I never even considered what towel drying was doing to my face. Interesting...

eh, as long as you maintain proper hygiene and wash your towels at least once a week, I don't see how that would make a difference. if you pat (versus rub), of course

I haven't used a towel for over 3 years. I wipe my face with a paper towel. I started doing this when I started getting chemical peels and treating my face. I was told there's tons of bacteria on a towel which was making my face worse.

pfftttt ... I've used a towel for 39 years and my skin is perfectly fine. I still get "carded" because I look so young and get complimented on my complexion all the time. As long as your towel isn't dirty, I don't see a problem with it.

I pat my face dry with a towel, but it's always a fresh towel reserved only for my face. Also, I wash all my towels after only one use so I don't think they are "germy". That's what the washing machine is for! I couldn't bear to dry off with a towel that's been hanging around air-drying after I had used it on another day!

i pat my face dry.

yes i pat it dry..unless its after a bath or shower then occasionally ill air dry it.

I pat my face with the towel to get most of the water off, and let the rest air dry.

Am I missing something here?! Isn't that what a towel is for, to dry off (face and body) with?!

I use a differnt washclothe eveyday to dry my face but while it is semi damp i put on my face lotion with SPF!