It may come as no surprise to the sleep deprived among us, but nodding off to a deep and long doze is the single most important thing for resetting both your body and mind.
It can also play a vital role in your beauty routine where a good night’s sleep has been tied to a glowing complexion, reduced puffiness around your eyes, and an overall healthier appearance. But did you know that your bedsheets may be doing more harm than good?
Cotton may be the most affordable option and the easiest to care for but it can strip your hair and skin of its natural oils and moisture. It is for this reason that beauty editors have long switched up more traditional bedding for silk alternatives.
Silk pillowcases are not only a super luxe fabrication that will encourage a cosy and comfy night sleep but the material is also hypoallergenic and less absorbent. This will keep your skin’s moisture – and all your night creams, lotions and potions – where they belong, firmly on your face. For this same reason, your scalp does not need to work as hard to replenish itself, prolonging your cut and blow dry that extra bit longer from becoming greasy.
The sumptuously soft fabrication is also far less abrasive, which is ideal for the sensitive skin and the likes of rosacea. If you toss and turn throughout the night, silk pillowcases are kinder to your hair, preventing tugging or ripping.
But if we still haven’t convinced you, the material is not a good conductor of heat so you can take advantage of that oh-so covetable cold pillow feeling for longer.
We have gathered a selection of silk pillows at all price tags so you can reap the benefits of this beauty must-have.
How are silk pillowcases good for your skin?
Silk does not absorb moisture like standard cotton pillowcases. This keeps your pillow cool, dry and hygienic all night long, which in turn keeps your skin fresh and bacteria free. It will also ensure maximum absorption of your skincare products.
How are silk pillowcases good for your hair?
Due to the moisture-wicking ability of silk, some experts believe that silk pillowcases can help your hair retain moisture and natural oils, which keeps it looking silky smooth all day long. Plus, the frictonless surface prevents breakage.
How do I clean a silk pillowcase?
It’s simple, and far from intimidating. On a delicate, cold wash with a detergent specifically made for delicates, turn your pillowcase inside-out and run your machine. If you’re being extra careful, you can purchase a mesh washing bag to really prevent any unwanted snags.
Best silk pillowcases at a glance:
- Best for luxury: Slip Pure Silk Pillowcase - £85, John Lewis
- Best for minimising frizz: John Lewis Silk Standard Pillowcase - £45, John Lewis
- Best for a hotel-like feel: The White Company Silk Pillowcase - £70, The White Company
- Best for a vegan alternative: Kitsch Satin Sleep Set - £28, Beauty Bay
- Best for skincare obsessives: ESPA Silk Pillowcase - £70, ESPA
- Best for allergies: M&S Pure Silk Pillowcase - £29.50, M&S
- Best for classic aesthetics: Gingerlily Silk Pillowcase - £99, Harrods
- Best for beauty benefits on a budget: Alaska Bear Mulberry Silk Pillowcase - £20.39, Amazon
- Best for beauty sleep: Coco + Eve Beauty Sleep Pillow Case - £19.90, Coco + Eve
- Best for reducing hair breakage: Drowsy Envelope Silk Pillow Case - £89, Drowsy
- Best for colour and size options: Lilysilk Pillowcase With Hidden Zipper - £23, Lilysilk
To learn more about the best silk pillowcases, read on...
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Slip Pure Silk Pillowcase
Best for: luxury
Crafted from 100 per cent pure mulberry silk, this best-seller is dubbed as an anti-ageing, anti sleep crease and anti bed head pillowcase. The material is impressively lightweight and feels as decadent as it looks. While it’s hard to tell if the bedtime accessory has anti-ageing benefits, we did notice that our skin was more radiant with improved texture after a few weeks.
Likewise, hair didn’t lack moisture after just once sleep against it. With a celebrity fan base including Kourtney Kardashian and Kendall Jenner, it can be paired with the matching eye mask to enhance your beauty sleep even further. The pillowcase is available in an array of designs to suit your bedroom aesthetic.
Buy now £89.00, John Lewis
John Lewis Silk Standard Pillowcase
Best for: minimising frizz
Keep bedhead at bay with this affordable but luxurious John Lewis offering. Available in a variety of pretty pastel hues, the 19 momme silk cover is perfect for those who are new to the pillowcase fabric. It feels impressively cool against the skin, making it ideal for summer, and does a good job of retaining the moisture of your hair. It’s also machine washable at 40oC.
Buy now £50.00, John Lewis
The White Company Silk Pillowcases
Best for: a hotel-like feel
Get that hotel-like luxe in the comfort of your own home by adding The White Company’s silk pillowcases to your sheet rotation. The sheet specialist offer not one but two iterations, the Audley Silk Oxford Pillowcase With Border and Silk Beauty Pillowcase For Hair & Skin.
For both iterations, the hypoallergenic fabric is idea for those with sensitive skin or those suffering from rosacea to wake up without puffiness or redness. For the likes of us that sleep covered in lotions and potions, the silk pillowcases are less absorbent so the creams stay where they belong – on our faces.
The material also doesn’t tug on your scalp when you toss and turn during the night, so your hair will thank you for making the switch. It is also temperature regulating and has a sumptuous skin feel.
Buy now £70.00, The White Company
Kitsch Satin Sleep Set
Best for: Instagrammable bedding + a vegan alternative to silk
LA-born label Kitsch offer a range of silk pillowcases with fun designs like leopard, floral, dotted or in pretty in pink blush hues. The cases are offered in a set alongside a satin eye mask and scrunchie in the same motif. The set is vegan-friendly with a luxurious feel despite the affordable price tag.
Buy now £28.25, Beauty Bay
ESPA Silk Pillowcase
Best for: skincare obsessives
Rejuvenate your hair and skin with this pillowcase from luxury skin and wellness label ESPA. The brand specialises in products to help you create a spa-like experience in the comfort of your own home and as such, this pillow is soft and sumptuous. Crafted with quality at the forefront, it is made from 22 Momme that is breathable so you’ll wake up refreshed.
It also does not conduct static electricity, thereby protecting hair and ensuring that any creams that you use on your face are absorbed into your skin instead of the pillow.
Buy now £60.00, ESPA
M&S Pure Silk Pillowcase
Best for: allergies
This pillowcase from M&S is available in white, grey, pink or mink to suit your interior design aesthetic, while also including all the skin and hair benefits associated with the sumptuous material.
The hypoallergenic pillowcase is crafted entirely of pure silk using sustainable practices. It is said to slow down the onset of fine lines and wrinkles and prevents against split ends and hair breakages.
Buy now £29.50, M&S
Gingerlily Silk Pillowcase
Best for: classic aesthetics
Produced by Gingerlily, the purveyors in ultimate luxe silk bedding, this silk pillowcase presents in classic good taste. If a white silk pillowcase makes you a bit nervous for those coffee-in-bed mornings, you can scoop up the Gingerlily pillowcase in a silver-grey colour too.
Buy now £45.00, Fenwick
Alaska Bear Mulberry Silk Pillowcase
Best for: beauty benefits on a budget
Another budget friendly option, Alaska Bear’s pillowcase is carefully crafted from pure charmeuse silk to protect the face and hair from damage. The hypoallergenic cover is delicate against sensitive skin to ensure you aren’t disturbed by irritation. Aside from the multiple beauty benefits, it’s also a lovely addition to your bedroom décor and it comes in a rainbow array of colourways.
Buy now £25.99, Amazon
Drowsy Envelope Silk Pillow Case
Best for: reducing hair breakage
From the sleep experts behind the super soft sleep eye mask, Drowsy has expanded its offering to include pillowcases. Each is finely crafted from 22 Momme mulberry silk that reduces friction – so you can say goodbye to split ends and tangles and hello to great hair each and every day of the week. There’s also skincare benefits too, keeping your skin hydrated throughout the night and you’ll stay cool, calm and collected no matter the temperature outside as the fabric is thermo-regulating. The construction is crease-free.
Buy now £89.00, Drowsy
Lilysilk Pillowcase With Hidden Zipper
Best for: colour and size options
With fourteen colours and three sizes available, including a square option, the Lilysilk pillowcase has something for everyone. Lilysilk also offer a monogram service, creating truly bespoke bed luxury. Perfect as a wedding gift the newlyweds are sure to appreciate.
Buy now £39.00, Lilysilk
Verdict
While each of these has multiple beauty benefits, the Slip Pure Silk Pillowcase was no doubt our favourite. The luxurious bedtime accessory is made from pure high-quality silk that feels gentle enough for all skin types and comes in a range of versatile colours.
