The benefits of using a silk pillowcase...a beauty secret worth knowing

Last Christmas my Mum presented me with a beautifully wrapped silk pillowcase.  I had been complaining that I was often waking up with dreaded sleep creases across my face (normally reserved for my favourite sleeping side) which in later years seemed to take an increasing amount of time to disappear and would invariably spread from my eye down the side of my cheek. This was usually also combined with the rather attractive 'bed head' look which would require some vigorous brushing to smooth back into place. Not a great way to start the day and so much for 'beauty sleep'!

Mum had been advocating the anti-ageing benefits of using a silk pillowcase for a couple of years and considering how fabulous she looks, any beauty advice she does give I tend to take seriously! She eventually decided to treat me to my very own little piece of beauty luxury (no doubt to quieten my whinging!).

What are the benefits of using a silk pillowcase?

As well as feeling beautifully soft next to my skin and also cool and luxurious, the most noticeable difference when using my new pillowcase was the complete absence of sleep lines.  This in itself felt like a major triumph as I knew consistent sleep creases probably wasn't helping the ageing process!

The other major benefit was my hair.  I no longer looked like I'd been dragged through a hedge backwards. The pillowcase was definitely becoming my new 'beauty sleep' best friend.

There has of course been lots of research into the benefits of sleeping on silk and here's what some of the experts have to say:

Dr. Samuel J. Stegman - Dermatologic Surgeon

In 1987 Dr. Stegman's hallmark work on sleep wrinkles proved that the muscular region of the face known as the "underlying superficial muscular aponeurotic system" (SMAS) was damaged by pillow contact. He found a correlation between the location of the underlying SMAS and sleep lines. This particular manifestation of ageing disappears in the morning in teenagers but will persist longer and longer as we age. Many people in their forties and fifties maintain the sleep crease throughout the day. Dr Stegmans conclusion was attempting to change sleep pattern, i.e. sleeping on your back - but this is often more difficult than it sounds as we don't know how we move in our sleep.  As there is this correlation between the SMAS and sleep lines it makes sense to sleep on the softest, most purest pillows and pillowcases available and that is silk covered Silk floss filled pillows and silk charmeuse pillowcases.

Dr. Dennis Gross - Dermatologist

Persistently pressing our faces into a pillow causes trauma to the skin. Over time, this trauma, aggravated by the friction of a cotton pillowcase, can create permanent creases as our collagen breaks down.

Dr Sobel - Dermatologist

Dr Sobel - (New York Magazine's top Dermatologist five years in a row) gives this advice - "Long the secret of film divas, silk pillowcases prevents facial skin from creasing during the night and allows the skin to glide along the pillow so the face rests comfortably without placing pressure on creased skin, effectively "ironing in" wrinkles."
Courtesy of ARA Content

Other benefits:

Haircare

Hair products often tout silk content in their products, or claim that hair will feel "silky smooth." Because silk contains proteins hair follicles need, silk should create a softer and more nourishing sleeping surface for one's hair. Some silk pillow companies state that silk also helps rid "morning bed head" because these proteins are anti-frizz and trap less body heat than other fabrics. Also, rougher fabrics may break strands of hair when sleepers toss and turn at night.

Allergies and Cleanliness

Silk doesn't collect dust mites and house mites like other pillow surfaces. One company claims that the protein sericin repels mites and fungi, making for a cleaner sleeping surface for sufferers of asthma and other allergies. Pure silk is naturally mildew resistant and is very durable.

Easy Care

Silk pillowcases can be gently machine-washed. Silk dries very quickly compared to cotton.

Where to buy:

After deciding I wanted to do a post on the benefits of using a silk pillowcase I did some research online to find a good supplier. The one company that really impressed me was Cliffton Silks. 

For their website click here: http://www.silkgifts.co.uk/

This is what they have to say:

'Before 2001 we had spent many years sourcing silk from all over the world to find the right one – after discussions with top skin and hair specialists we were told that it was Silk Charmeuse that was the silk to use – because of the way it is weaved - it produces a soft lustre texture that is more beneficial to sleep on with regards to the skin and hair - you need this type of weave to enable your face and hair to glide across the pillowcase whilst asleep causing less friction therefore less damage.

We have our silk especially weaved for us in China to ensure the process involves no added chemicals or dyes and with a superior weight of 25 momme – Our products are exclusive to this site - they are all hand-made in England finished with French seams - no foreign labour is used.'

Cliffton Silks kindly sent me one of their beautiful pillowcases to try out. It came wrapped in ivory tissue paper with a luxurious black ribbon bow. The pillowcase inside was wonderfully soft with a 7 inch pillow retainer to stop the pillow from falling out.

They retail at £24.00 including free postage and packing.  A small price to pay for the anti-ageing benefits you get in return! They come in ivory, cream, black or red. They will also make a perfect Christmas gift either for yourself or a loved one and are not just for the ladies - men need some help too after all!

So what are you waiting for....bring a little luxury into your life and sleep crease free! 

Last Christmas my Mum presented me with a beautifully wrapped silk pillowcase.  I had been complaining that I was often waking up with dreaded sleep creases across my face (normally reserved for my favourite sleeping side) which in later years seemed to take an increasing amount of time to disappear and would invariably spread from my eye down the side of my cheek. This was usually also combined with the rather attractive 'bed head' look which would require some vigorous brushing to smooth back into place. Not a great way to start the day and so much for 'beauty sleep'!

Mum had been advocating the anti-ageing benefits of using a silk pillowcase for a couple of years and considering how fabulous she looks, any beauty advice she does give I tend to take seriously! She eventually decided to treat me to my very own little piece of beauty luxury (no doubt to quieten my whinging!).

What are the benefits of using a silk pillowcase?

As well as feeling beautifully soft next to my skin and also cool and luxurious, the most noticeable difference when using my new pillowcase was the complete absence of sleep lines.  This in itself felt like a major triumph as I knew consistent sleep creases probably wasn't helping the ageing process!

The other major benefit was my hair.  I no longer looked like I'd been dragged through a hedge backwards. The pillowcase was definitely becoming my new 'beauty sleep' best friend.

There has of course been lots of research into the benefits of sleeping on silk and here's what some of the experts have to say:

Dr. Samuel J. Stegman - Dermatologic Surgeon

In 1987 Dr. Stegman's hallmark work on sleep wrinkles proved that the muscular region of the face known as the "underlying superficial muscular aponeurotic system" (SMAS) was damaged by pillow contact. He found a correlation between the location of the underlying SMAS and sleep lines. This particular manifestation of ageing disappears in the morning in teenagers but will persist longer and longer as we age. Many people in their forties and fifties maintain the sleep crease throughout the day. Dr Stegmans conclusion was attempting to change sleep pattern, i.e. sleeping on your back - but this is often more difficult than it sounds as we don't know how we move in our sleep.  As there is this correlation between the SMAS and sleep lines it makes sense to sleep on the softest, most purest pillows and pillowcases available and that is silk covered Silk floss filled pillows and silk charmeuse pillowcases.

Dr. Dennis Gross - Dermatologist

Persistently pressing our faces into a pillow causes trauma to the skin. Over time, this trauma, aggravated by the friction of a cotton pillowcase, can create permanent creases as our collagen breaks down.

Dr Sobel - Dermatologist

Dr Sobel - (New York Magazine's top Dermatologist five years in a row) gives this advice - "Long the secret of film divas, silk pillowcases prevents facial skin from creasing during the night and allows the skin to glide along the pillow so the face rests comfortably without placing pressure on creased skin, effectively "ironing in" wrinkles."
Courtesy of ARA Content

Other benefits:

Haircare

Hair products often tout silk content in their products, or claim that hair will feel "silky smooth." Because silk contains proteins hair follicles need, silk should create a softer and more nourishing sleeping surface for one's hair. Some silk pillow companies state that silk also helps rid "morning bed head" because these proteins are anti-frizz and trap less body heat than other fabrics. Also, rougher fabrics may break strands of hair when sleepers toss and turn at night.

Allergies and Cleanliness

Silk doesn't collect dust mites and house mites like other pillow surfaces. One company claims that the protein sericin repels mites and fungi, making for a cleaner sleeping surface for sufferers of asthma and other allergies. Pure silk is naturally mildew resistant and is very durable.

Easy Care

Silk pillowcases can be gently machine-washed. Silk dries very quickly compared to cotton.

Where to buy:

After deciding I wanted to do a post on the benefits of using a silk pillowcase I did some research online to find a good supplier. The one company that really impressed me was Cliffton Silks. 

For their website click here: http://www.silkgifts.co.uk/

This is what they have to say:

'Before 2001 we had spent many years sourcing silk from all over the world to find the right one – after discussions with top skin and hair specialists we were told that it was Silk Charmeuse that was the silk to use – because of the way it is weaved - it produces a soft lustre texture that is more beneficial to sleep on with regards to the skin and hair - you need this type of weave to enable your face and hair to glide across the pillowcase whilst asleep causing less friction therefore less damage.

We have our silk especially weaved for us in China to ensure the process involves no added chemicals or dyes and with a superior weight of 25 momme – Our products are exclusive to this site - they are all hand-made in England finished with French seams - no foreign labour is used.'

Cliffton Silks kindly sent me one of their beautiful pillowcases to try out. It came wrapped in ivory tissue paper with a luxurious black ribbon bow. The pillowcase inside was wonderfully soft with a 7 inch pillow retainer to stop the pillow from falling out.

They retail at £24.00 including free postage and packing.  A small price to pay for the anti-ageing benefits you get in return! They come in ivory, cream, black or red. They will also make a perfect Christmas gift either for yourself or a loved one and are not just for the ladies - men need some help too after all!

So what are you waiting for....bring a little luxury into your life and sleep crease free!