Facial tissue converting demands the softest, cleanest parent roll in the tissue range because the finished product touches the face. The short answer: use a 14–18 GSM, low-lint virgin wood pulp parent roll, almost always converted as 2-ply (or 3-ply for premium), on a 76 mm (3 inch) core. HUAXIN supplies facial parent rolls in slit widths from 200 to 2850 mm, diameters up to 1150 mm, for both box and soft-pack (interfold) lines. This page covers the specs, GSM and ply choices, and the machine checks for a facial tissue RFQ.

What is facial tissue converting?

Facial tissue converting unwinds a soft parent roll, embosses and laminates plies, then either folds and cuts interfold sheets for box and soft-pack dispensers or rewinds logs for other formats. Because facial tissue is used on sensitive skin and must leave no lint, the parent roll's softness, cleanliness and brightness matter more than bulk strength. The complete facial tissue base paper buying guide sets out the full buying decision, and the guide to choosing facial tissue parent rolls covers grade selection.

Parent roll specifications for facial tissue converting

Recommended GSM and ply for facial tissue

Facial tissue is kept light and highly creped for softness. Higher GSM adds perceived thickness but can reduce the silky hand that premium brands target.

Matching the parent roll to your facial tissue line

• Reel width: match the width to the fold or interfold lanes with minimal trim; choose full-width or mill-slit reels. See the parent roll width matching guide.
• Core and diameter: confirm the unwind stand accepts a 76 mm (3 inch) core and reels up to 1150 mm diameter.
• Softness and lint: specify virgin furnish, brightness and low-lint requirements; avoid fluorescent agents for sensitive-skin grades.
• Moisture control: 4–7% moisture keeps folding and cutting accurate and prevents dust and static.

Quality standards and testing for these parent rolls

Every HUAXIN parent roll is produced under an ISO 9001 quality system and an FSC-aligned chain of custody. Tissue properties are measured against the ISO 12625 series (parts 3–8 cover thickness, tensile strength, wet strength, tearing resistance and other tissue properties), moisture is checked to ISO 287 and pH to ISO 6588-1. Samples are conditioned at 23 °C and 50% relative humidity before testing; reels are supplied at a controlled 4–7% moisture, and basis-weight tolerance is held to roughly ±3% across a full container and ±5% on a single sample. For facial tissue, low lint, brightness and the absence of fluorescent agents are the most common private-label requirements.

• Consistent basis weight keeps embossing, perforation and sheet count stable run after run.
• Controlled moisture prevents edge waviness, telescoping and unwind breaks — see the moisture, packaging and storage guide.
• Traceable test reports support your own customer specifications and private-label compliance.

Why converters choose HUAXIN for this grade

• Soft, high-crepe virgin pulp grades engineered for facial contact
• Low lint and controlled brightness, including no-fluorescent-agent options
• Custom width and GSM for box, soft-pack and interfold lines
• Stable moisture and tension for clean folding and cutting at speed
• OEM packaging and private-label support with ISO 12625 test reports

Frequently asked questions

Q: What GSM is best for facial tissue?
A: Most box and soft-pack facial tissue runs at 14–18 GSM per ply, with standard 2-ply around 15–17 GSM and premium 3-ply at 17–18 GSM. See the best GSM for facial tissue guide.

Q: Why is facial tissue sold as 2-ply or 3-ply?
A: Laminating two or three light plies gives a softer, bulkier feel than one heavier sheet, while keeping each ply low in GSM and gentle on skin.

Q: Does facial tissue need virgin pulp?
A: Premium facial grades generally use 100% virgin wood pulp for softness, brightness and low lint. The virgin, recycled and bamboo comparison compares furnish options.

Q: Can the same parent roll be used for box and soft-pack lines?
A: The same grade can often feed both, provided the reel width matches the specific fold or interfold lanes and the unwind diameter fits the stand.

Q: What is the MOQ for facial tissue parent rolls?
A: Orders are usually by full container (about 12–13 tonnes); exact minimums and lead times are confirmed for your grade. The first-time buyer guide explains more.

Related guides and how to get a quote

Related reading: the best GSM for facial tissue, reel sizes and core size and virgin vs recycled vs bamboo pulp. Send us your target grade, width, GSM and tonnage — the team at HUAXIN will reply with a current price, a loading plan and a lead time. See the facial tissue jumbo roll line for the full product line, or contact HUAXIN directly. First-time buyers can also review the MOQ, lead time, samples and payment guide.