Did you know cotton pillowcases carry more bacteria than satin or silk pillowcases? And if you suffer from acne or random acne breakouts, this may be due to you using cotton pillowcases to sleep. Changing your bed sheets more often can fix this issue. However, the benefits of a satin or silk pillowcase are too promising to ignore.
There isn’t a massive difference between silk and satin pillowcases. Silk is made from natural fibres and it is smoother, glossier and softer than satin. But compared to cotton pillowcases, both materials are healthier for your skin and hair. Your choice of material entirely depends on your lifestyle and how much you want to splurge on pillowcases.
Why are satin and silk pillowcases better?
Pillowcases made from satin or silk are great for people with sensitive or acne-prone skin, they improve the quality of your sleep and you are likely to wake up with great hair.
For example, If you suffer from dry hair, a cotton pillowcase can exacerbate this issue by absorbing all the moisture and hydration in your hair. Hence why cotton pillowcases carry more bacteria, and consequently affect your skin.
So yes, satin and silk pillowcases are better overall. If you are still not convinced here is a comprehensive guide to prove why and how these materials supersede cotton pillowcases.
Skin.
Transitioning to a lifestyle where you sleep with a satin or silk pillowcase is one of the best things you can do for your skin.
If you’ve reached your mid to late twenties and are interested in preventing wrinkles, the soft and smooth surfaces of satin and silk pillowcases will supplement your anti-ageing routine.
The smoothness of these materials does not tug at the skin which is one of the causes of premature wrinkles, redness and hyperpigmentation.
One of the common causes of acne is dehydrated skin. Your skin combats this by naturally creating oils to moisturise your skin. This consequently blocks your pores and causes acne. But since satin and silk pillowcases do not dry out the skin it decreases the potential for acne.
Hair.
Whether you are trying to preserve an elaborate hairstyle, keep your hair shiny or generally care for the health of your hair then satin and silk pillowcases will always do the job.
There is a reason why people with textured hair favour satin and silk pillowcases. It doesn’t dry out the hair, protects your hair from frizz and helps to maintain your hairstyle. All of these attributes are beneficial to the overall health of your hair.
Quality of sleep.
Both satin and silk pillowcases can help improve the quality of your sleep. If you have dust mite allergies or sensitive skin invest in a silk pillowcase specifically. This is because this material not only is softer and smoother than satin, but it is also hypoallergenic.
Similarly but not less beneficial for a good night’s sleep, satin is a breathable material that prevents the breeding of bacteria. It is soft so you’ll feel comfortable and luxurious, it is also cooling and more.
Silk has similar but better-performing benefits compared to silk. The one distinctive difference between them is that silk is always made from natural fibres, whilst satin is a type of weave made from any type of material such as linen, cotton or silk.
Now, the drawbacks.
Both fibres are more expensive than cotton. Silk is more expensive. There is also the issue of maintaining the quality of both materials. These fibres require a special wash because of how delicate they are, silk being more arduous than satin. I’d recommend hand washing or using the delicate cycle.
So yes, having cotton sheets paired with cotton pillowcases may be convenient and cheaper, but it may not be worth all the negatives of sleeping on a cotton pillowcase. And nowadays there are silk and satin beddings available in the market at affordable price points.
However, this is why I emphasise that making this decision is purely a lifestyle choice. It is a fact that caring for both satin and silk pillowcases isn't a walk in the park. This is especially true for silk fibres. But it goes without saying, that the benefits far outweigh the negatives.