This is why we’re investing in a silk pillowcase

Sleep is the most important part of any self-care routine. You can have a religious schedule of acids, masks and creams and, without enough sleep, your skin will still look dull. We don’t call it beauty sleep for no reason, guys. With no early morning commute, we’re spending more time sleeping than ever – bar the odd drunken Zoom call that lasts until 3 am (I now understand why pubs have closing times). So, now seems like a pretty good time to invest in a silk pillowcase – but what are the benefits?

By Beth Ludolf

• 1 Prevents skin creasing

  You know when you wake up with a big crease mark down your face? Yeah, your pillowcase is actually to blame for that. When you toss and turn in your sleep, the friction between your skin and the cotton creates crease lines. Silk is much smoother so there’s less friction, less tugging on the skin and fewer wrinkles.
• 2 Stops hair from frizzing

  If you’re prone to bedhead, listen up. Not only is silk an anti-static material, but it also has much less friction (yep, we talk about this a lot). This means your hair doesn’t get as roughed up while you sleep. If you’ve styled your hair, sleeping on silk can prolong its life, which means less heat-styling too.
• 3 It's less absorbent

  We lose three times more moisture from our skin during the night than the day – and that’s without your pillowcase absorbing even more. Silk is much less absorbent than cotton so it takes in less moisture from the skin and hair, keeping them hydrated. Especially helpful if you suffer from dry skin, hair or a flaky scalp.
• 4 Prevents breakage

  We already know never to go to bed with wet hair and to brush our hair properly but sleeping on silk is another way to prevent breakage. The smooth texture of the silk means less friction (if this was a drinking game, you’d be drunk by now) and therefore less breakage. It’s the same concept as using a silk scrunchie.
• 5 Helps regulate temperature

  If you fancy going the whole hog with silk bed sheets too, there’s benefits there too. Firstly, natural fibres like silk are more breathable so they help to keep the skin cooler. This helps reduce sweating and puffiness. Secondly, the feeling of freshly shaved legs against silk sheets is… *chef's kiss*.

  During this uncertain time, we’ll be continuing to create the content you love – whether for distraction, inspiration or to give guidance on wellbeing. If there’s anything you’d like to see (or not see) please contact us on Instagram @treatwell_uk. We hope you keep safe and healthy.