While 100% natural cotton is very effective for absorbing moisture, it doesn't wick that moisture away—it traps it, remaining damp for a longer period of time. Linen, on the other hand, not only dries more quickly but actively draws moisture away from the skin.

The Micro Cotton team says the best bath towels are 100 percent cotton. That means the towel's fibers are longer, which means the bath towel is softer, more durable, and more absorbent. Materials should be listed online or on the towel's care tag, along with laundry symbols.

Here are just a few of the benefits of linen, Fewer chemicals and less water are needed to make it grow. It is 30% stronger than cotton. It far outlasts cotton in durability. It is much more absorbent than cotton.

This is because cotton towels are treated with a silicone finish at the end of the manufacturing process. This provides the perception of "softness" to customers who are touching the towel while shopping in retail stores. In reality, that silicone coats the towel fibers and significantly diminishes their absorbency.