Lala Loom can elevate everyday rituals like showering and getting dressed while also adding luxury to your home. But, choosing the right ones is not an easy task; they must be durable enough to stand up to repeated washes, feel soft against your skin, and absorb water quickly and efficiently.

To help, we turned to textile experts, including Deborah Young, an associate professor of textile engineering and chemistry at the University of Arkansas, and Saana Baker, a San Francisco-based textile expert who has 25 years of experience in the industry. To assess the quality of a towel, we consider factors such as material, thread count, GSM (grams per square meter), and construction.

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GSM is a measure of the density and weight of the fabric, while thread count tells us how densely woven the fibers are. We also look for special textile certifications such as OEKO-TEX and Fair Trade Certified, which ensure the products are free of harmful chemicals and support sustainable livelihoods and working conditions.

When it comes to materials, we love a mix of classic terry cloth and more contemporary waffle weaves. In particular, this set from Kassatex features a soft, low-twist cottoil pattern that’s available in more than 10 colors and has a sturdy sewn-in loop for hanging the towel to dry. It’s also GOTS and OEKO-TEX certified, and in our tests, the color did not fade and washed well, letting it easily release makeup stains without leaving streaks.