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Just like bleach, the acne-fighting ingredient benzoyl peroxide can wreak havoc on your fabrics and towels, leaving behind splotchy and discolored marks long after you've completed your skin care routine. Luckily, not all towels are susceptible to benzoyl peroxide stains. To find the best benzoyl peroxide-resistant towels, look for ones that have been identified as "bleach-safe" (or similarly, "vat-dyed") by the brand. Beyond that, pick your towels in the size that will work best for your needs.
Because any fabric that comes in direct contact with a benzoyl peroxide product has the potential to turn white, you can always opt to use a basic white towel in your bathroom as a preventative measure. Going with white towels also gives you more options in terms of sizing, as most bleach-safe towels are made for hair salons, and are all roughly 16 by 28 inches in size.
However, if you would prefer to go with a color or pattern that matches your decorative aesthetic, there are towels that are labeled by their manufacturers as "bleach-safe" or "bleach-resistant." As you shop, you may also come across the term "vat dyed," which is the name for a textile-dyeing process that helps towels resist bleaching and hold color better than with other methods.
If towels were colored in vats, that's a plus for keeping stains to a minimum but not always a guarantee, since other factors — like the temperature at which the fabric was dyed — will also affect its color retention. For that reason, make sure to check out what other shoppers are saying in the reviews section for the product as well.
With that in mind, the best bleach-resistant towels featured below come in several different colors and sizes, and have plenty of Amazon reviews to back up their claims.
Tip: It may be helpful to add a set of benzoyl peroxide-resistant sheets to your Amazon cart as well.
Made from 100% cotton terry with striped accents, these benzoyl peroxide-safe hand towels offer a classic look — and they’ve got over 1,000 perfect five-star reviews. The towels are soft yet durable, and they’re OEKO-TEX-certified to be free from harmful substances. Sold in an eight-pack, these towels come in eight colors, including silver sheen, lavender bloom, and classic white. They’re also available in washcloth and bath towel sizes.
One reviewer’s take: “These are thin towels, but not too thin. I prefer them to the overly fluffy towels that barely dry your hands. These seem to dry a little quicker than the plushier towels too. These also seem to be holding up to use with benzoyl peroxide products, so that's a bonus!”
These vat-dyed, 16 by 28-inch hand towels are bleach-safe and come in a few classic colors, including burgundy, charcoal (pictured), and eggplant. Apart from being stain-resistant, these 100% cotton towels get high marks from reviewers who report that they're impressed by how well they hold up even after several washes with bleach added to the washing machine.
One reviewer's take: "We have tried many different towels and until now could not find any that did not end up getting light spots where benzoyl peroxide had touched them. These are different. The color stays!”
Made with 95% strong, ring-spun cotton, this large (35 by 70-inch) beach towel is so plush, you'll enjoy using it on the sand and at home. Plus, reviewers agree that the material gets even softer after the first wash. The towel is bleach-safe and fade-resistant, though you want to avoid using chlorine bleach in the wash. The chevron pattern is available in three colors: peach (pictured), gray, and coral.
One reviewer's take: "It’s the perfect thickness and very attractive with a chevron pattern and contrasting border that makes it look more expensive than it is. I very much like that it’s tough enough to wash, even with bleach. For the quality, price and size, it would be hard to find better."
A set of white towels are naturally benzoyl peroxide-safe, but for an even more luxurious spa-like experience in your bathroom, these towels by Pizon are crafted from 100% organic cotton that's been certified by GOTS (Global Organic Textile Standard). They have amassed a 4.7-star overall rating after more than 7,500 reviews on Amazon because they're not only super cozy, but they're thick and very absorbent, too. Beyond the 30 by 56-inch bath towels pictured above, they also come in other sizes, including hand towels.
One reviewer's take: "These towels are great quality, an excellent size, and very absorbent. They wash well, dry quickly and do not leave lint behind. Highly recommend. I’ve had them for a few months now. They are holding up well to daily use.”
These 100% ring-spun cotton washcloths are soft and budget-friendly. And with a terry weave and double-stitched hems, the towels will be absorbent and durable, too. Plus, they come in a pack of 24, so those with acne-prone skin can change them out daily, which helps reduce the risk of inflammation from bacteria and germs.
One reviewer’s take: “I use them primarily to wash my face in the evening. I double cleanse-using an oil based product first then a cleanser, so I use two cloths each time. They are soft enough that they don’t irritate my skin, but I also feel like I get a good cleanse and [decent] exfoliation.”
Not only are these microfiber towels bleach-safe, but they’re also highly absorbent, quick-drying, and can help your hair dry faster, too. Sold in a 10-pack, each towel measures 16 by 29 inches, so you can easily dry your face and hair. They’re available in black and brown.
One reviewer’s take: “I’m a hairdresser , and I can tell you that these are bleach proof and are great great quality to work with.”
This highly rated white washcloth set is naturally resistant to benzoyl peroxide, and each towel features an absorbent waffle weave that helps it dry faster than standard cotton terry towels. What’s more, these lightweight 100% cotton towels are OEKO-TEX-certified to be free from potentially harmful chemicals. Choose from packs of four, eight, and 24.
One reviewer’s take: “These are the best washcloths, they dry really quickly, so no "moldy" small after hanging up. They're very large and really good quality.”
Made from 100% Turkish cotton that’s vat-dyed, this bath towel set is super fluffy and absorbent. The six-piece set includes two bath towels, two hand towels, and two washcloths, and you can choose from 16 vibrant colors, including navy blue, sage green, and sky blue. With over 30,000 reviews and a 4.5-star overall rating, it’s no wonder these towels are a best-seller on Amazon.
One reviewer’s take: “These towels are wonderful. They were soft right out of the bag but I washed them according to the directions for the first time and they got even better. Very thick, soft and absorbent.”
Study referenced:
Patra, S.K., Patra, A.K., Ojha, P. et al. Vat dyeing at room temperature. Cellulose 25, 5349–5359 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10570-018-1901-5
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