Want Better Skin, Lashes & Hair? Get a Silk Pillowcase

 I was introduced to silk pillow cases by my Grandma MeMe. I remember as a little girl going to my grandmothers house and watching her while she performed her nightly beauty ritual. She would always clean her face with cold water, put on night cream, brush her hair and sleep on a silk pillowcase. I should mention that she was very beautiful. Grandma MeMe looked like a cross between Katherine Hepburn and Jane Wyman. People regularly would comment on her beauty and at her funeral many were surprised to learn of her real age. Her skin was creamy with very few wrinkles and her hair was thick and healthy well into her 80’s. Turns out Grandma MeMe knew about the power of a silk pillowcase and the importance of taking care of yourself long before it was popular.

Grandma MeMe

When you think about it your face has more contact with your pillowcase than any other fabric. The average person spends over 1.6 million hours sleeping in a lifetime. So, if you want to keep your face looking refreshed and healthy, your choice in pillowcases is very important.

I know, your asking yourself — how can a pillowcase make such a difference? 

Here are some of the proven benefits:

MINIMIZES WRINKLES & RETAINS SKIN MOISTURE

Silk pillowcases eliminate facial folds & wrinkles.  Silk is soft to the touch and allows your face to glide against the pillowcase. More abrasive fabrics, such as cotton, flannel and wool, can cause creases, lines and wrinkles to develop around your eyes, forehead and mouth.

Silk pillowcases clear your complexion. Silk pillowcases help keep your skin supple and allow your pores to breathe. Cotton   pillowcases, on the other hand, draw the moisture from your skin as you sleep. Note: It’s important to change pillowcases (silk or not) every few days because the natural oils and product residue from your hair can clog facial pores and lead to acne.

Silk pillowcases help your skin to retain it’s moisture. Silk helps keep moisture close to your skin and will help your skin stay more hydrated than many fabrics on the market. Sleeping on silk is great option for helping your skin maintain its natural moisture.

   Silk pillowcases are often recommended by dermatologists to be beneficial to your skin since natural silk is a very good thermal insulator, helping you to stay cooler during the summer months and warmer during the winter months, which supports healthy skin. 

Note: It’s important to change pillowcases (silk or not) every few days because the natural oils and product residue from your hair can clog facial pores and lead to acne.

REDUCES SPLIT ENDS, BREAKAGE & BED HEAD

Are you tired of waking up in the morning with your hair looking like a small animal attempted to build a nest in it the night before?  Sleeping on silk pillowcases will help keep that bed head under control. The natural smooth silk surface can help reduce friction on your hair which often causes damage, like spilt ends and breakage. A

Silk pillowcase also helps smooth frizzy hair and minimizes static. Another added benefit is that silk helps keep your hairdo looking fresher and less “slept on” in the morning. People who suffer from alopecia areata or side effects of chemotherapy find that sleeping on silk keeps their hair from coming out in clumps.

PROTECTS YOUR LASHES

A silk pillowcase helps keep fragile eyelashes intact. When your head rests on a cotton or flannel pillowcase, your eyes are often pressed up against the coarse material for much of the night. Eyelash breakage and loss can be reduced, because the silky material glides over the skin and hair instead of rubbing against it and loosening your lashes. Silk pillowcases can be especially helpful for those who wear eyelash extensions.

Don’t you want to feel it?

ITS BETTER FOR YOU

Reduce your chemical exposure. Silk is produced from domesticated silk worms that are bred and raised in captivity. They have no predators to defend against and are pampered throughout their life, helping to produce a fine silk fiber with little chemical exposure. In contrast, many fabrics on the marketplace, are produced from chemically intensive crops that require pesticides, herbicides and other chemical treatments before making it to your bed sheets.

Silk is naturally hypoallergenic. Some of silk’s hypoallergenic properties include a natural resistance to dust mites, fungus and mold, in addition to many other allergens.

IT FEELS AMAZING

We think nothing of treating ourselves to an occasional massage, mani-pedi or a relaxing day at the spa but we don’t think about the one thing we do every day — sleep.  Whatever your escape, laying your head to rest at night on a silk pillowcase is the perfect way to end your day. There is no better feeling then the soft, smooth and luxurious feel of silk against your skin when you go to bed at night. You’ll wake up feeling refreshed and looking more rested.

YOUR WORTH IT!

You may assume a silk pillowcase will be hard to care for but they are actually easier than you think. Many of the silk pillowcases are machine washable and if not they can easily be hand washed. They last 1-1 1/2 years based on care. The cost is higher than cotton, flannel or satin but in the long run you will be glad you made the purchase. Pricing starts around $20-$25 per standard size pillowcase.

Ready to try a Silk Pillowcase?

There are numerous options for purchases but the two I have used are below.

https://www.fishersfinery.com

https://www.lilysilk.com

Would be happy to hear your comments and recommendations.

Dr. Vanessa Rodriguez is a board-certified general practitioner with more than 15 years of patient care experience. She takes an integrative approach to patient care that considers the whole person – mind, body, and spirit – and is deeply committed to assisting her patients in achieving and sustaining optimal health. Dr. Vanessa is also a skilled writer and medical reviewer, specializing in preventive care and health promotion. Her articles are written in an approachable manner that is simple to comprehend and implement in one’s own life. Dr. Vanessa’s mission is to equip her patients and readers with the knowledge and resources necessary to live their greatest lives.

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