You probably never thought twice about your pillowcase making you look older or turning your hair greasy nor drying out your skin. Once a well-kept secret of beauty insiders, silk pillowcases and sheets have gone mainstream. Style bloggers and beauty experts everywhere are weighing in to recommend sleeping on silk.
But still, many people don’t see the point of silk bedding. All they see is a large price tag. However, there are many benefits of silk that make it worthwhile. In fact, those who have actually tried silk bedding are shocked by how much it improves their quality of sleep. Once they’ve slept under silk, they often have a difficult time switching back to their rough, cotton bedding. For them, silk is no longer a want, but a need.
Now, you might think that’s ridiculous. How can silk be something you need in your life? To answer that question, here are some ways silk bedding improves your quality of sleep and quality of life.
Regulates Body Temperature
One of the main reasons people love sleeping on silk is that it feels fabulous and with good reason. Along with defining the essence of luxury and comfort, silk has the special property of being breathable and helping to regulate body temperature. Silk sheets can keep you comfortable in warm and cold weather alike. Unlike cotton, which absorbs moisture, silk wicks away moisture to keep you keeps you cool and dry. In colder temperatures, silk’s low conductivity means that the fiber is able to create a thin layer of insulation that will keep you warm. By helping you regulate body temperature year-round in all conditions, silk makes it possible for you to get a great night of comfortable rest.
Reduces Allergies
Silk is repellent to dust mites and moths so it’s perfect for anyone who suffers from asthma or allergies. It also resists mildew and mold. Silk is naturally hypoallergenic so it can also be highly beneficial for those suffering from eczema or sensitive skin conditions.
Silk also has an amazing ability to help our skin reabsorb moisture through the natural occurring amino acids within silk. Absorbing moisture that has been lost during the day while sleeping will aid in rejuvenating the skin throughout the night. This is hugely beneficial to sufferers of dry skin.
Shiny and Healthy Hair
Hair care experts advise the usage of silk pillowcases as sleeping on silk can help prevent thinning of the hair. Silk additionally avoids knotted hair and split ends, it promotes hydration, providing shinier hair and decreases sebum production which in turn reduces the chance of having oily hair.
Along with tearing at your tresses, cotton also robs hair of essential moisture. Remember, cotton is known for being absorbent. This means cotton pillowcases actually act like a reverse conditioner, especially on coarse, curly, or wiry hair. Think about all the money and time you spend working to nourish and condition your hair, only to have it undone overnight by your cotton pillowcase! It’s time to switch to silk.
A Youthful and Glowing Complexion
The tightly-woven, smooth fibers of silk help keep moisture close to the skin, says Jennifer Peterson, MD, a dermatologist at the Dermatology & Laser Surgery Center in Houston. When you wake up after sleeping on a silk pillowcase, your face will be better hydrated than if you slept on cotton. This is a great beauty tip for those with dry, flaky skin. As a bonus, she says, hydrated, plump skin cells show fewer fine lines (wrinkles!) and more luminosity than dehydrated skin cells.
“There are also pretty good studies showing that what we call ‘sleep wrinkles’ form on the side of your face on which you sleep,” says Jeffrey Spiegel, MD, a facial plastic surgeon and professor at Boston University. One way to prevent them? Use a silk pillowcase, which is gentler and less likely than cotton to resist the face and cause wrinkles. Talk about beauty sleep!
Position Matters
Your sleeping position matters as well. If you are apt to sleeping on your side or tummy, you will likely end up with more wrinkles than if you sleep on your back. This makes sense since a side- or tummy-sleepers’ face is pressed flat on the pillow, giving the face many chances during the night to get wrinkled.
Silk can help prevent wrinkles, but it’s not an assurance. Silk is just a better option to cotton. Combine silk pillowcases with sleeping on your back, and the opportunities of developing wrinkles in the evening reduces significantly.
How Genetics and Environment Play a Role
Some individuals can use regular cotton pillowcases their entire life and have very little wrinkles, while others can use silk pillowcases and have a great deal of wrinkles. How is this possible? Genetics and the environment continue to contribute in whether you will end up with this age-related issue.
If you’re inclined to a less than desirable amount of collagen or elastin in your skin, you will likely get wrinkles whether or not you use a silk pillowcase. Your sleep position may not provide you with a favorable outcome either.
If you smoke, tan routinely, or consume great deals of processed foods, these lifestyle choices can all add to triggering wrinkles. A silk pillowcase wouldn’t be a wrinkle-preventer in cases like these.
Using a cotton pillowcase and sleeping on your side/belly simply contributes to the opportunities of getting wrinkles; it does not necessarily ensure they will happen.
Anti-Aging and Wrinkle Treatments in Manhattan and Long Island
James Christian Cosmetics specializes in anti-aging skin care treatments that can enhance the texture, tone, and look of your skin. If you’ve made the switch to silk and still aren’t seeing favorable changes, call our 24/7 Cosmetic Concierge line by texting or calling us at 917-860-3113 or call 1-844-iBOTOX-Now during regular business hours.
Our aesthetic offices serve clients in Nassau and Suffolk counties, and the surrounding locations of Long Island and beyond, including our flagship offices in Manhattan and Commack, Islip, West Sayville, Westhampton Beach, Rockville Centre, Farmingdale, and Babylon Village, New York.
*Information in this article is not medical advice and may not be factually accurate. It is intended for entertainment purposes only. Consult with a physician before attempting any tips in this blog post and to get the most up to date factual data about any procedure or treatment.
