Silk is the best pillowcase for improving skin problems like acne and breakouts because it provides a cleaner, more hygienic sleep surface. It all comes down to absorbency and moisture retention, as this is where all the dirt, oils, and sweat goes.
Pillowcases made from high-quality materials like silk and bamboo can help prevent acne due to their smooth and soft feel. While these materials can sometimes carry a higher price-point, they're often more durable, meaning you might not have to replace them as often as lower-quality alternatives.
As such, silk is prone to fading when exposed to direct sunlight, either indoors or outside. Even this best silk bedding will fade if left in direct sunlight. This is why we recommend always hanging your silk to dry away from the sun. Happily, your silk sheets should air dry very quickly, even indoors.
Silk is a naturally occurring fiber, sometimes even organic! Great for acne. It's no miracle cure, but as we mentioned above, a silk pillowcase won't absorb oils and product from your skin and hair, then transferring that back onto your face all night long.
Sleeping on a silk pillowcase is actually a great idea for anyone with oily hair.
Yes you can. However, whether your pillowcase is silk or cotton, going to bed with wet hair can attract bacteria. If your silk pillowcase absorbs some of your hair product, you can wash this out as easily as a cotton pillow case in most cases, but keeping in mind that silk is more delicate than cotton.
Silk pillowcases, like your other bed linens, come into direct contact with your skin every night, so it's important to wash them regularly — typically about every seven to ten days. To learn more about washing bed linens, check out this guide to washing and properly caring for bedding.
Which one you choose comes down to a few factors, like price and preference. "I like satin more because it's less expensive than silk, but it's also smoother than silk, reducing the friction between the hair strands and the pillowcase," says Dr. Isfahan Chambers-Harris, Trichologist, Ph. D.
Unequivocally, bamboo fabric is the best type of bed sheet for sensitive, oily or acne-prone skin.
Silk is hypoallergenic and less absorbent, preventing the trapping of oil or bacteria on the pillowcase, which benefits the skin and complexion as well.
If you have oily hair, a silk pillowcase may not be the best choice, since a cotton pillowcase will absorb oil better, according to Aguirre. Silk pillowcases will be more beneficial if you have dry hair, or are experiencing breakage.
If you find an oil stain on your silk garment, you may want to take an additional step by applying talcum powder to the soiled area and allow it to sit overnight. The talcum powder will help to lift the stain, after which you can wash the garment as directed on the care label.
Detergent can stiffen silk
Even if you are hand washing your silks are per the instructions, if you are using a detergent, they can become stiff. Using a castile soap like Dr Bronner's instead can help a lot. Even after air drying, though, your silk may still be a bit stiff.
Temperatures above 80 degrees Fahrenheit (29 Celsius) can damage silk significantly. It is best to wash all silk products in cold water. Don't use bleach, which will harm the fabric and cause it to yellow, or fabric softener which can leave residue on the fabric.
However, conventional silk is not made ethically as it requires boiling live silkworms while still in their cocoons, and child labor is not uncommon in this industry. It's also not sustainable because sericulture is very energy and water-intensive, and a lot of chemicals are added to the fabric.
When thinking about sustainability of silk, one has to be aware of risks related to agriculture (the growing of mulberry trees, which silkworms eat), animal rights (silkworms are raised and usually killed in the process of making silk), water consumption, pollution, and impact on workers and their communities.
"Whilst sleeping on a silk pillowcase is great for your skin, it doesn't have the same overnight conditioning effect of a silk hair wrap," explains Sotiriou. "A wrap cocoons the hair, encasing your naturally forming oils rather than letting them transfer to your pillow.
Sleeping on silk can also help with controlling oil (sebum) production on your scalp. Unlike common cotton, silk doesn't absorb the scalp's naturally occurring oil (which is necessary for hair shine and scalp health), meaning the scalp isn't trying to replenish the sebum levels lost to cotton!
But silk doesn't take in oils like cotton. This means that it doesn't make hair as brittle. Because the material isn't absorbing your hair oils, your hair will be more moisturized than with a cotton pillow.