Why changing up your linen could be the best thing for your hair and skin
Skincare is undeniably important.
It's something I cottoned onto just as I was exiting my teens, taking the time to research and curate a more basic routine that works for me and my skin now as an adult. I plaster my face with SPF in the mornings, and douse it in hyaluronic acid each evening. I cleanse nightly, exfoliate once a week, and moisturise when I remember. But I also always, always, sleep on my Silvi pillowcase.
NOTE: Prices are accurate at time of publishing.
Find out more: The Anti-Acne™ Silk Pillowcase
And I'm not alone. Over the last few years, I've noticed a lot more people – online and in real life – are happy to divulge their routines, their favourite products, their best tips, and among them is almost always a silk pillowcase.
If you're still hesitating about jumping on the Silvi pillowcase bandwagon– perhaps it's the price, or the fact that the shiny texture feels a bit '80s – I can't emphasise just how life-changing it has been for me. However, it has taken a bit of reflection for me to realise just how good I have things since making the switch.
While I've dabbled with satin in the past (which is also amazing), I took the plunge and bought a Silvi case 12 months ago. After delving into some research about why Silvi's material is so good for your skin and hair, it seemed like the obvious choice. Silvi combine certified, 6A grading (the highest grade possible), 22 momme mulberry silk with silver ion technology, so your pillowcase works to keep your skin clean as you sleep and your hair smooth as.
Firstly, how is mulberry silk good for your hair and skin?
If it's a matter of cotton versus silk, silk is naturally smoother than other fabrics (obviously). Sleeping on rougher fabric creates friction when you toss and turn through the night, which can cause snags in your hair, leaving you to regularly wake up with a tangled mane.
We also get "crush wrinkles" on our face when we sleep on our side, which we can often spot if we look in the mirror first thing after waking up. Again, less friction means less crushing on the skin, making silk the superior material for snoozing on.
However, Silvi doesn't use pure silk. They use mulberry silk infused with silver ions, which ups the game even more. The silver is proven to help the material prevent breakouts, and is odour resistant, which leads into my favourite Silvi quality: you only need to wash your pillowcase fortnightly. The silver also repels dust mites and bacteria, so you can be assured no tiny nasties are hanging around while you sleep. The combination of silk and silver is also hypoallergenic, so the pillowcase will suit literally anyone.
The silver also repels dust mites and bacteria, so you can be assured no tiny nasties are hanging around while you sleep.
As someone with frizzy hair, and a lazier-than-most skincare routine, my pillowcase is doing a lot of the heavy lifting. However, I've only realised this recently, after stints where I went away and left my pillowcase behind – a modern day tragedy.
Over the last year, I've also been embracing my curls more and more. When it's not too humid, or raining constantly, they tend to sit in mostly frizz-free waves. I completely underestimated the power of the pillowcase when it came to my newfound acceptance of my curly hair after I spent five nights away from home on a holiday, where I dared to wash my hair once.
This is what happened:
Of course, frizz control often comes down to the hair products you use, but by this point, I was desperately missing my pillowcase as I tried to unknot my hair and tame it into submission for a wedding the following day.
The pillowcases cost $89 each, but they do come cheaper individually if you buy more than one. You can get them at $80 each if you buy two, $75 each if you get three, or $71 each if you get four or more. And if you like to switch up your bedding every now and then, having more than one colour can be a great novelty.
The Body-Care Bamboo Sheet Set
If you're also struggling with your skin in areas other than your face, you might want to look at updating your entire sheet set. Silvi also has a bamboo sheet set that comes with one fitted and one flat sheet. It's also infused with the same bacteria-killing silver, and is anti-odour, meaning the sheets can also go a fortnight without a wash.
Currently, the set is $114.50, reduced down from $229. It comes in ivory, charcoal, and silver.
If you're looking for a sign to switch to silk, this is it. I promise, once you go silk, you'll never go back.
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