Stephanie says: Is it true that it is better for your skin to sleep on silk pillow cases
The Left Brain believes:
There is some evidence, like this Pubmed article, that indicates special silk clothing can reduce atopic dermatitis in children who are prone to that condition. However, I have can’t find any evidence that sleeping on silk pillowcases is really better for your skin. Nonetheless, one brand, Silkskin Antiwrinkle Pillowcases, says they actually fight the signs of aging. Here are a few claims from their website followed by my comments:
1. Gives your skin the chance to breathe naturally
While your skin does perspire and while certain chemicals can clog your pores and cause acne, skin does not really “breathe” so silk doesn’t really make a difference in this regard.
2. Because moisture levels are being maintained throughout the night, deeper lines and wrinkles are not forming.
Moisture loss causes dry scaly skin, not wrinkles. A pillow case can not stop wrinkles from forming.
3. Different from run of the mill silk pillow case as it is made from organic silk which contains amino acids, the building blocks of your skin.
ALL silk is made of amino acids, so the fact that this silk is organic is completely irrelevant. And the amino acid profile of silk is different than keratin protein, which is what skin is made of. And, even if it were the same, it’s not like the amino acids leap off the pillowcase and attach to your skin.
4. Organic silk also has the same pH balance of your skin.
Measuring pH really only makes sense when you’re talking about a water solution. Yes, skin has a optimal pH balance, but the pH of fabric you’re sleeping on is really irrelevant.
5. When sleeping on this pillowcase, your night cream is fully absorbed by the skin and won’t rub off like it usually does, therefore allowing the cream to work to maximum effect.
I’m curious if Silkskin has any actual data to back up this claim. I suppose it’s possible that silk is less absorbent than cotton, which means it could absorb less oils and moisture from the surface of your skin. But even if silk is less absorbent, just the friction of your skin against the fabric as you move around in your sleep is still enough to wipe some of the lotion off your face. Without some kind of test data to show Silkskin has a beneficial effect, I’m skeptical on this claim.
6. Silk stops you getting the dreaded ‘bedhead’ as your hair will simply glide over the pillowcase.
Bed head isn’t just caused by rubbing your hair across the fabric of the pillow. It’s also caused by the warmth and moisture of your perspiring scalp saturating your hair and reforming the hydrogen bonds (also known as salt bonds) in your hair, which results in the bizarre hair configuration you wake up with. Since silk doesn’t stop you from perspiring, it probably has little effect on bed head. But once again, if there’s test data to the contrary I’ll gladly reconsider my position.
7. Dust mites cannot live on silk so the pillowcase is excellent for allergy sufferers.
This is the most intriguing of all Silkskin’s claims. While I found references to very tightly woven pillowcases being used to prevent dust mites from penetrating into pillows, I could not find any legitimate scientific source that answered this question one way or the other.
The Beauty Brains bottom line:
There may be some legitimate benefits to sleeping on silk, but Silkskin makes a number of definitive claims without providing much information to back them up. Maybe it’s true that dust mites can’t live on silk, but I’d rather not take the word of the company trying to sell me the product as proof. A little independent confirmation would go a long way toward making me feel better about buying this product.
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Dear above, thank you for your response and final comment about our product. I would like to point out that I did not say you wish to sell pillows, you know that we have got excellent natural listings which benefit your company by getting people to your blog site. Please read my last response again. Also, we were discussing fake email address’s from competitors, so why have you spun it around? Freedom of speech is great if it’s from genuine people, which a few comments are. We know the pattern, the people and the comments. If you wish to speak to us, can I suggest you contact our office? we have got no problems with your concept, but we have contacted you outside of this blog to explain what has been happening, but you chose to ignore it. ( for your own benefits ) That is mean!
I purchased 2 Silkskin pillowcases direct from their website (www.silkskin.co.uk) in Feb at a cost of £70. By June, the seams had split, depsite being cared for exactly to instructions. I have phoned and left messages (their phones are not manned), sent emails, and a Recorded Delivery letter requesting a refund. All have been ignored. Do not touch this product/company with a bargepole!
Hi guys, just wanted to say what an entertaining half hour I’ve just had, reading all your comments!
Not sure which company I’m going to get my pillowcase from, and now, I’m not even sure it’s going to be silk! But I do know this, my ever increasing battle to keep the lines at bay will go on, and on and on, so I’m happy for any help I can get :O)
Cheers jenny
I have just brought a fantastic pillowcase and eye mask, both in silk and I have fallen in love with them! Every morning I wake up with lines on my face, but since the begining of the week I have not had one! yippee!! I tried to use it without my husband noticing, but when he did he didn’t say anything (that cant be a good sign) Anyway, Im thrilled with it. I got it from Amazon for 14.99 which is cheaper than anywhere else Ive seen at the moment, am very chuffed with it! jenny
This is what I brought:
100% Charmeuse Silk Pillowcase (IVORY) 50 cm x 75… JASMINE SILK
Whats even better than sleeping on a silk pillowcase is sleeping on a SILK PILLOW
Bought one recently and its wonderful
its called the ante wrinkle silk pillow
and I got it from
http://www.silkgifts.co.uk
Yes. Silk is the best thing you can sleep on. With its amino acid and silk protein complex, naturally, it is also softer on you skin and keeps it hydrated more than any other fabric in the world.
well, this is the funniest blog i’ve ever read. First of all, these silkskin people are bonkers… what are you, five year olds??? Jeez, you have a company and people criticize it, its part of life… and i believe left brain never even criticized your product (as other consumers had), they are just commenting on your ridiculous claims. IF instead of whining you had tried to explain these, like I’m about to, then maybe you’d at least seem professional. FREEDOM OF SPEECH people!!! Now, on reducing wrinkles, this claim would only make sense if based on its absorbent capabilities compared to cotton, which dries out skin more hence could make it more prone to wrinkles. Still, this is just a conjecture and not fact. Creases are a completely different thing, NOT the same as wrinkles. Second, bedhead is also caused by friction on hair that as we all know causes static energy that turns into frizz. Since silk and satin are smoother than cotton, they create less static, and hence, better looking hair in the morning. Dust mites feed on dead human cells, and unless silk has some special power that repels them, then dust mites will pretty much live there. as left brain said, if you care to provide us with ANY scientific proof, I will gladly sponsor your company in any and all blogs I may stumble upon. Meanwhile, let me just say you are looking pretty immature and unprofessional, and that I think the creator of the blog deserves an apology. GOOD DAY!!
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