I’ve been searching for the best bath towel for sensitive skin my whole life. If I spend 10 minutes in the sun, I burn. If I switch shampoos, I might get red welts. And it seems that if I come within a mile radius of poison ivy, I’ll itch all over. When it comes to bathtime, I want to soothe and nourish my body.
This is why I am so excited that I finally discovered the best bath towels for sensitive skin. Cariloha Bamboo Towels are made from a combination of blended bamboo viscose and combed Turkish cotton. Not only are they super duper soft, but they absorb moisture so well that I can stay wrapped in one for a long time after my bath, and I don’t need to worry about getting a rash or any irritation.
I’ve spent my life dreading the feel of scratchy cotton towels, which other people in my family think are perfectly fine. I’m proud to say that soon after I discovered the Cariloha Bamboo Towels, even my normal-skinned husband and son became converts.
Why Bamboo Towels Are Ideal for Sensitive Skin
Bamboo is considered a grass. When it grows, there’s no need to treat it with pesticides to keep away pests. Because bamboo is naturally antimicrobial, bamboo takes care of that on its own.
I don’t know about you, but a bath towel made of natural material that can prevent the growth of moisture-loving bacteria and viruses sounds good already. It’s going to be a much better friend to your sensitive skin than a towel made from a non-organic material that doesn’t have the super germ-fighting properties of bamboo.
Certified Organic and Non-Toxic
Many bamboo towels are certified organic and non-toxic, so you can be sure that once the bamboo is processed into bamboo viscose, any processing agents won’t be heavily chemical either.
Bamboo Bath Towels Are Hypoallergenic
The antimicrobial properties of bamboo create a hypoallergenic towel that naturally repels mildew and mold. I’m allergic to mold, so I don’t want to be anywhere near it. Knowing that my Cariloha towels protect my sensitive skin from these nasty microbes makes me love them even more.
Anti-Microbial Properties Endure
Scientists studied the antimicrobial properties of bamboo viscose and found that even after laundering 50 times, the germ-fighting benefits in the textile remain strong. That said, your towels should remain tough germ-fighters (and odor resisters) as long as you have them.
The Benefits of Blended Bamboo Towels
It’s possible to buy 100% bamboo towels, but won’t be plush. By blending the bamboo viscose with combed Turkish cotton, Cariloha is able to deliver the fullness of a combed cotton towel with the softness of bamboo. If you ask me, it’s definitely the best of both worlds.
Not Too Thin, Not Too Thick —Just Right
Towels are rated in GSM, or grams per square meter. This gives you a measure of the heaviness of a towel. Normally, towels range between 300-900 GSM, and the Cariloha Bamboo Towels weigh in at 600 GSM.
Now if you’re all about the thickest towels you could ever find, these won’t be the towels for you.
The Best Bath Towels for Sensitive Skin Are Soft Enough for a Princess
Remember the story about the princess who lay atop 20 mattresses? Beneath the bottom mattress was a single pea, so that caused the princess awful insomnia. No one needed to tell her about the pea.
She could feel it, even from 20 mattresses above. I am the princess in that story, and my husband is so NOT the princess. He could sleep with a thousand peas beneath his mattress and not notice a thing.
Up until recently, he had some really thick cotton towels that he loved, but they were so, so scratchy and took forever to dry. I honestly have no idea how he could let them touch his skin, sensitive or not.
I tell you this to say that the Cariloha bath towels are even soft enough for a baby. But they are also enticing for people with regular skin, because guess what?
After we had our Cariloha towels for about a month, guess what? My husband finally folded up his scratchy cotton towels and put them in the garage. He was finally ready to get rid of those beastly things. Why? Because he traded up.
As they say, progress is measured in small steps.
Perfect for Babies and Kids
You know how babies and children have the softest, silkiest skin ever? Well, it’s naturally sensitive, too. If you want to keep your young ones feeling as comfortable as possible, again, the Cariloha towels are the best choice. Plus, because the textile is so incredibly soft, it will help you maintain the gorgeous quality of their skin.
When you have little ones, you probably don’t have time to do the laundry every five minutes. You’ll probably be glad to know that they are odor-resistant, because they repel mold, mildew and bacteria. I’m happy to report that your kids can use them a few times before you’ll need to toss them in the laundry.
Why Absorbency Is Key If You Have Sensitive Skin
Of course, there are lots of reasons your skin might be sensitive. Maybe your skin is sensitive because you’ve recently had surgery. Maybe you have a condition like eczema or rosacea. Or maybe you’ve got a lot of chemical sensitivities.
Keeps Skin Hydrated and Dry
Whatever the cause of your skin sensitivity, it’s best to have hydrated but dry skin, rather than damp, clammy skin. Damp skin is more likely to get itchy and break out in a rash. And no matter what towel you use, it’s important to pat your skin dry rather than wipe it dry in order to reduce irritation.
Bamboo Viscose Is Much More Absorbent Than Cotton
Researchers who study textiles found that bamboo towels are four times more absorbent than cotton towels. I find that I wrap myself in my Cariloha Bamboo Bath Sheet when I get out of the tub and I’ll be warm and dry in a few minutes. Because the bath sheet is enormous—really twice the size of a regular bath towel—I feel like I’m in a warm, cozy blanket.
Once I get out of the tub, I love to wrap myself in the bath sheet, get into bed and read. It’s the best!
Remember, Fabric Softeners and Harsh Detergents Are Evil
If you’ve got sensitive skin, I probably don’t need to remind you that fabric softeners and harsh detergents with fragrance are the enemy. Well, guess what? Your Cariloha Bamboo Bath Towels hate those things, too.
I told you it’s a match made in heaven!
So the good news is that you can throw your towels in with warm water (not hot) and half the amount of gentle detergent you would use on clothes. In order to keep them looking their best, launder your Cariloha towels separately from other clothes and linens and turn the heat to low. (This is true for any bath towels you might own.)
Cariloha Bamboo Towels: The Best Bath Towels for Sensitive Skin
Each Cariloha Towel Set comes with a bath towel, a hand towel and a washcloth. You can choose from a wide range of color options.
Shown above is a regular-sized bath towel (76cm x 142cm / 30” x 56”). You can order just one if you want.
The Cariloha Bath Sheet (101cm x 178 cm/ 40” x 70”) comes with one absolutely enormous towel. Like I mentioned, it feels like a soft blanket. I love mine, but since it’s so big, it will take a bit longer to dry than the regular-sized towels. (I also use mine to cover myself these days when I lay down for savasana at the end of an online yoga class.) Note: Despite the photo on Amazon which shows three folded towels, you get one bath sheet per order.
If you’re looking for luxurious products to use on your sensitive skin, this is the towel for you. In fact, you’ll feel like you’re in the spa at a 5-star hotel, when really, you’re in your own bathroom.
For more on why bamboo bath towels are eco-friendly and why 5-star hotels are switching out cotton towels for bamboo see The Bathtubber’s post on 7 Amazing Bamboo Towel Benefits.