Whoever coined the term "beauty sleep" didn’t warn us of all the rigorous steps we’d need to take to live up to it. It’s easy enough to put your head on the pillow, doze off, and call it a day, but the beauty part only comes when we take measures to ensure it does, from a nightly skin-care regimen to humidifiers — and even the material of those pillowcases you’re snoozing on.
While cotton or polyester pillowcases are the standard bedding fabrics, there are actually major beauty benefits to investing in silk pillowcases instead. “Silk pillowcases work wonders for all kinds of hair types and textures as they keep the cuticle layer of the hair intact, and don’t cause the friction traditional pillowcases do," celebrity hairstylist and Slip spokesperson Jen Atkin tells Refinery29.
As for skin, New York-based dermatologist Amy Wechsler, MD, warns that cotton material pulls at the skin at night, whereas silk makes a gentle alternative. “Silk is a smooth material, making it less prone to tugging on the delicate parts of your neck and skin while you move in your sleep,” Dr. Wechsler says. "It’s also naturally less absorbent, which ensures the moisturizer or serum you put on your face before going to bed gets absorbed by your skin rather than your pillowcase.”
Ahead, the best silk pillowcases to check out so that you can say goodbye to basic fabrics and hello to better skin and hair in the a.m. If you can dream it, you can achieve it… particularly if it’s smoother, healthier skin and hair you’re dreaming of.
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Slip Silk Pillowcase
The pillowcases (and scrunchies, and eye masks…) from this pro-approved brand are made of the dreamiest silk, so it’s not hard to imagine why they’ve become one of the beauty industry’s most unlikely cult favorites.
Slip Silk Pillowcase – Standard/Queen, $85, available at Sephora
Morning Glamour Solid Satin Pillowcase Set
Snag yourself two silk pillowcases with this under-$20 set that comes in variety of colors so you can easily match your current bedding.
Morning Glamour Solid Satin Pillowcase Set , $13.26, available at Target
Drybar Slumber Party Silk Pillowcase
The next time you hit "add to cart" on your favorite Drybar styling product, you might as well invest in this 100% natural silk pillowcase, too.
DryBar Slumber Party Silk Pillowcase, $45, available at Sephora
The Hollywood Silk Solution Pillowcase
One more reason silk pillowcases like this one come in handy: Because they cause less friction than standard cotton fabrics, they can actually help extend the lifespan of a blowout.
The Hollywood Silk Solution Caramel — Pillowcase, $45, available at The Hollywood Silk Solution
Shhh Silk Tropical Leaf Silk Pillowcase
These pillowcases come in a variety of fun designs, like this tropical leaf option, so you don’t have to stick to the classic white or gold silk. The best part? They also come with zip closures, so there’s zero worries about pillows sliding out.
shhh silk Tropical Leaf Silk Pillowcase, $85, available at shhh silk
Brooklinen Mulberry Silk Pillowcase
If you’re prone to sweating in your sleep (like many of us, especially during the summer), silk pillowcases like this one work great to keep you more naturally cool vs. stuffy, which you might find with a heavier fabric.
Brooklinen Mulberry Silk Pillowcase, $59, available at Brooklinen
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Source: Refinery29 – Thatiana Diaz