Which facial tissue is best?

What began as a makeup and cold cream remover has become the faithful companion to cold and allergy sufferers everywhere. Combining strength, absorbency and softness, facial tissue is now a must-have in homes, schools and offices.

Not all brands of facial tissue are created equally, however. Some entry-level brands may not measure up to the performance standards set by recognizable names such as Kleenex or Puffs. There are medicated facial tissues for cold and allergy sufferers. There are scented versions for those who prefer some fragrance. There are even lotion-infused facial tissues that provide additional comfort for long-haul users.

Our top pick, Kleenex Ultra Soft Facial Tissues, is a premium three-ply from one of the most recognized brands in the facial-tissue industry. It has exceptional absorbency and softness, especially for long-term use.

What to know before you buy facial tissue?

Paper quality

Facial tissue and bathroom tissue are similar in overall construction. Some inexpensive brands use a coarser paper product as the base and then only offer a single ply. Long-term use of these tissues often leads to redness and soreness. They may perform well enough for make-up removal but not for colds and allergies.

Better facial tissues offer at least two layers of material for strength and absorbency. Premium brands often feature three plies, and the base is derived from virgin wood pulp for additional softness. The overall quality of the tissue paper should be a major decision factor because an inferior product can cause a lot of discomfort later.

Strength and absorbency

One good argument for two-ply and three-ply facial tissues is overall strength. One layer of processed paper can easily disintegrate during use, but multiple layers will keep the tissue intact. Some brands can shed bits of paper lint because they are formulated more for softness than strength. This might not be a deal breaker for those with sensitive skin, but long-term users should opt for brands that can hold their own during an illness.

Absorbency is also a factor when evaluating facial tissues. The tissue must be able to absorb and trap liquid mucus. Inexpensive one- or two-ply brands sometimes make the process more unpleasant because they do not immediately absorb mucus. This is why softer two- and three-ply brands are so popular with cold and allergy sufferers. An absorbent facial tissue draws the mucus deeper into the paper, away from the skin.

Enhancements

Lotion

For cold and allergy sufferers, a lotion-infused facial tissue is a much-appreciated upgrade. The small amount of lotion adds to the overall softness of the tissue, and helps reduce the soreness and redness associated with long-term use. However, lotion-infused facial tissue is not ideal for other tasks, such as cleaning eyeglasses. Lotion-infused facial tissues can be more expensive, and the quantity may be more limited per box.

Virus or bacteria-killing agents

While not as easy to find on regular store shelves, there are facial tissue brands infused with virus- or bacteria-killing agents. These products can help reduce the spread of cold or flu viruses by neutralizing the shed virus on the tissue. Antibacterial facial tissue also helps decontaminate surfaces where used tissues have been discarded.

How much you can expect to spend on facial tissue

Most brands of facial tissues are affordable. An inexpensive box of one- or two-ply tissues can cost less than $1 and are often sold in bulk for a significant discount. The overall quality is variable, however. For regular home or office use, expect to pay around $3 for a box of unenhanced two- or three-ply facial tissues from recognizable brands. Premium brands with exceptional three-ply softness and absorbency cost a dollar or two more per box, while facial tissues enhanced with lotion or antibacterial/antiviral agents can average around $6 a box.

Facial tissue FAQ

Are facial tissues safe for a septic system?

A. Most facial tissues do not break down as easily as toilet tissues. You can flush a few facial tissues down the toilet in an emergency, but they will eventually start to clog a septic system before they disintegrate completely.

Are there facial tissues with virus-killing properties?

A. While many facial tissues are not treated with anything more powerful than skin lotion, there are some brands that do contain an effective virus-killing agent. This information should be included on the product’s packaging.

What’s the best facial tissue to buy?

Top facial tissue

Kleenex Ultra Soft Facial Tissues

What you need to know: These super-soft facial tissues are ideal for cold and allergy sufferers who need the absorbency and strength of a three-ply product.

What you’ll love: The sturdy three-ply construction has an exceptionally soft texture, ideal for sensitive skin. The very absorbent material is great for allergy symptoms (runny nose, frequent sneezing).

What you should consider: They can shed material during use.

Top facial tissue for the money

Amazon Basics Facial Tissues

What you need to know: These value-priced facial tissues work best as “everyday” products in the office, guest room, bathroom or bedroom.

What you’ll love: They are budget-friendly, especially in bulk. They are produced from recycled or sustainable sources, and the two-ply construction comes in attractive packaging.

What you should consider: They are not as soft on the skin as some other brands and generate significant lint.

Worth checking out

Puffs Plus Lotion Facial Tissues

What you need to know: While standard facial tissues can irritate the skin over time, these soft lotion-infused facial tissues from a trusted brand are designed to reduce soreness.

What you’ll love: The infused lotion protects sensitive or raw skin. They’re also very soft.

What you should consider: There are a limited number of tissues per box. Lotion-infused tissues cannot be used to clean glasses.

Prices listed reflect time and date of publication and are subject to change.

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Officials in Ramsey and Washington counties have announced expansion of the counties’ joint food scraps pickup program to 19 additional cities in Washington County.

The new cities covered by the program are: Afton, Bayport, Baytown Township, Birchwood Village, Dellwood, Denmark Township, Grant, Lake Elmo, Lake St. Croix Beach, Lakeland, Lakeland Shores, Mahtomedi, Oak Park Heights, Pine Springs, Stillwater, Stillwater Township, St. Mary’s Point, West Lakeland Township and Willernie.

“We are thrilled to expand the Food Scraps Pickup Program to approximately 28,000 additional households, making this service available to over 106,000 total households in Washington and Ramsey counties,” Trista Martinson, executive director of Ramsey/Washington Recycling & Energy, said in a statement. “It is inspiring to see residents’ enthusiasm for the program. We’re excited to continue expanding a program that offers a convenient option for residents to turn their food scraps into a valuable resource and contribute to a more sustainable future.”

The program has already been offered for several months in Cottage Grove, Grey Cloud Island Township, Landfall, Maplewood, Newport, North St. Paul, Oakdale, St. Paul Park and Woodbury.

The food scraps composting program — which involves residents recycling their food scraps by placing them in a special bag and tossing it in their trash bin — will continue to roll out over multiple years and eventually be available to all residents in Ramsey and Washington counties, officials said.

Residents can sign up for the free program by going to FoodScrapsPickup.com or calling 651-661-9393. An annual supply of 6-gallon or 13-gallon food scrap bags will be shipped to participants’ homes with an instruction guide on how to start collecting food scraps.

Each week, or when a food scrap bag is full, residents will tie a knot at the top and then place the bag inside their trash cart or dumpster to be collected by their trash hauler. The program-provided food scrap bags are designed to be extra durable, so they don’t tear open during the trip in the garbage truck, county officials said.

County officials estimate that 20 percent of trash in Ramsey and Washington counties is food scraps, such as fruit and vegetable peels, eggshells and bones.

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Today is Monday, Oct. 7, the 281st day of 2024. There are 85 days left in the year.

Today in history:

On Oct. 7, 2003, California voters recalled Gov. Gray Davis and elected Arnold Schwarzenegger their new governor.

Also on this date:

In 1765, the Stamp Act Congress convened in New York to draw up colonial grievances against England.

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In 1913, the first moving assembly line began operation at the Ford Motor Company factory in Highland Park, Michigan.

In 1916, in the most lopsided victory in college football history, Georgia Tech defeated Cumberland University 222-0 in Atlanta.

In 1985, Palestinian gunmen hijacked the Italian cruise ship Achille Lauro (ah-KEE’-leh LOW’-roh) in the Mediterranean Sea. The hijackers shot and killed Leon Klinghoffer, a Jewish American tourist in a wheelchair, and pushed him overboard, before surrendering on Oct. 9.

In 1992, trade representatives of the United States, Canada and Mexico initialed the North American Free Trade Agreement during a ceremony in San Antonio, Texas, in the presence of President George H.W. Bush, Canadian Prime Minister Brian Mulroney and Mexican President Carlos Salinas de Gortari.

In 1998, Matthew Shepard, a gay college student, was beaten and left tied to a wooden fencepost outside of Laramie, Wyoming; he died five days later. Russell Henderson and Aaron McKinney are serving life sentences for Shepard’s murder.

In 2001, the war in Afghanistan started as the United States and Britain launched air attacks against military targets and Osama bin Laden’s training camps in the wake of the Sept. 11 attacks.

In 2023, Hamas launched air and ground attacks on Israel, killing nearly 1,200 and taking more than 250 hostages. The attacks, followed hours later by Israeli counterattacks, marked the beginning of the current Israel-Hamas War.

Today’s Birthdays:

Author Thomas Keneally is 89.
Comedian and talk-show host Joy Behar is 82.
Singer John Mellencamp is 73.
Rock musician Tico Torres (Bon Jovi) is 71.
Cellist Yo-Yo Ma is 69.
Recording executive and TV personality Simon Cowell is 65.
Singer-actor Toni Braxton is 57.
Rock singer-musician Thom Yorke (Radiohead) is 56.
Actor Nicole Ari Parker is 54.
Football Hall of Famer Charles Woodson is 48.
Singer Taylor Hicks is 48.
Actor Omar Miller is 46.
MLB outfielder Mookie Betts is 32.

RE’IM, Israel — Israelis held somber ceremonies on Monday to mark a year since the deadliest attack in the country’s history, a Hamas-led raid that shattered its sense of security and ignited wars on two fronts with no end in sight.

Hamas marked the anniversary of its Oct. 7, 2023, attack by firing a barrage of rockets at Tel Aviv, underscoring its resilience after a year of war and devastation in Gaza. Lebanon’s Hezbollah, which began firing rockets at Israel on Oct. 8 in support if its ally Hamas, vowed to keep up the barrages despite its recent losses.

The surprise cross-border attack one year ago — which caught Israelis unprepared on a major Jewish holiday — shook their faith in their leaders and their military, and its aftershocks are still rippling across the region. Around 100 hostages captured that day have not been returned, a third of whom are believed to be dead, and cease-fire efforts have ground to a halt.

The war in Gaza rages on and Israel is fighting a new war against Hezbollah. There is also an escalating conflict with Iran — which backs both Hamas and Hezbollah — that threatens to drag the region into an even more dangerous conflagration.

No formal commemorative event is planned in Gaza, where fighting is still underway, huge areas have been completely destroyed and most of the population have been driven from their homes.

In Lebanon, meanwhile, an Israeli strike killed at least 10 firefighters, the latest in a series of strikes that have killed dozens of first responders, according to Lebanon’s Health Ministry. It said they were in a municipality building in the southern town of Baraachit that was hit as they prepared for a mission.

There was no immediate comment from the Israeli military.

Israelis hold memorials and call for the return of hostages

Israelis flocked to ceremonies, cemeteries and memorial sites around the country, remembering the hundreds of victims, the dozens of hostages still in captivity and soldiers killed in battle. Commemorations were also planned across Europe and elsewhere.

Hamas-led militants killed some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, in the Oct. 7 attack and abducted another 250.

Before dawn, hundreds of families of those killed at the Nova music festival, joined by Israeli President Isaac Herzog, gathered at the site where at least 364 revelers were killed and many others were taken hostage. As the sun rose, organizers played the same trance track that was abruptly halted when the barrage of rockets began.

At 6:29 a.m. — the exact minute Hamas launched its attack — the crowd observed a moment of silence. One woman’s piercing wail broke the quiet and booms echoed from the fighting in Gaza, just a few kilometers (miles) away.

“When we are here, we are near our loved ones,” said Sigal Bar-On, whose niece, Yuval Bar-On, 25, and her fiancé Moshe Shuva, 34, were killed in the attack two months before they were to be married.

“We can’t understand how a year has passed,” said Shimon Busika, whose son, Yarden Busika, 25, was killed at the festival. “It’s the most natural place to be, to be here for this moment of silence,” he said.

At 6:31 a.m., four projectiles were launched from Gaza toward the same communities that came under fierce assault last year, the Israeli military said. The ceremony was not disrupted.

The military said another five rockets were launched from the southern Gaza city of Khan Younis toward central Israel, setting off air raid sirens in Tel Aviv. Two women were lightly wounded, according to first responders, and there was minor damage. The military said it struck the sites from which the projectiles were launched.

Meanwhile, the families of hostages still held in Gaza gathered near Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s Jerusalem residence and stood during a two-minute siren.

“We are here to remind (the hostages) that we haven’t forgotten them,” said Shiri Albag, whose daughter Liri is among the captives. In a speech addressing Netanyahu, she said: “We wont let you rest until all of them are back, every last one of them.”

Netanyahu released a statement honoring those who were killed or captured, saying “we went through a terrible massacre a year ago and we arose as a nation as lions.”

The flags at the Israeli Knesset were lowered to half-staff, and an official state ceremony is set to air on Monday. The ceremony was prerecorded without an audience — apparently to avoid potential disruptions — in the southern city of Ofakim, which was among several communities and army bases that were attacked a year ago.

Anger at the government’s failure to prevent the attack and frustration that it has not returned the remaining hostages prompted families of those killed and taken captive to hold a separate event in Tel Aviv.

That event had been set to draw tens of thousands of people but was scaled back over prohibitions on large gatherings due to the threat of missile attacks from Iran and Hezbollah.

Hamas and Hezbollah vow to fight on

The war in Gaza has killed more than 41,000 Palestinians, displaced most of the territory’s 2.3 million population and sparked a humanitarian crisis that has led to widespread hunger.

But Hamas remains in control of the territory and its forces have repeatedly regrouped in areas where Israel carried out major operations. On Sunday, Israeli forces encircled the northern town of Jabaliya and launched another major operation there that the military says is aimed at rooting out militants.

In Lebanon, Hezbollah has continued to fire rockets, missiles and drones at Israel even after a wave of Israeli strikes in recent weeks killed most of its top command — including longtime leader Hassan Nasrallah — and pounded large areas of Lebanon. Israel launched what has so far been a limited ground operation across the border last week.

At least 1,400 Lebanese, including civilians, medics and Hezbollah fighters, have been killed and 1.2 million driven from their homes. Israel says it aims to drive the militant group from its border so tens of thousands of Israeli citizens can return home.

Israel has also vowed to respond to a ballistic missile attack last week that Iran said was in response to the killing of Nasrallah, top Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh and one of its own Revolutionary Guard generals.

In a statement on Monday, Hezbollah vowed to continue its attacks until there is a cease-fire in Gaza, saying Israel “was and will remain a deadly, aggressive, cancerous gland that must be eliminated, no matter how long it takes.”

___

Goldenberg reported from Tel Aviv, Israel. Associated Press reporters Kareem Chehayeb in Beirut and Julia Frankel in Jerusalem contributed.

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