This Is How Your Choice of Pillowcase Can Affect Your Skin

Considering we spend one third of our lives asleep, it's important to maximise the returns on every one of those elusive Zs we work so hard to catch. When we're sleeping is the perfect time to let our skincare routine really work its magic. Every oil and serum we massage onto our faces needs overnight quiet time to really work its magic, and so what we rest our faces on every night is an important part of the overall process.

Your choice of pillowcase is a crucial factor in how effective your skincare routine is. So, which material is best to sleep on at night? We are big believers in the benefits of 100% French flax linen, if you hadn't already noticed, but let's discuss the pros and cons of some of the common fabrics used to make pillowcases, from cotton to silk and the synthetic blends that are a nightmare for any good skincare routine.

Cotton

Besides the excessive water wasted in its production, regular cotton pillowcases can result in dry skin, with a host of symptoms such as itching, redness, rashes, scaling and peeling all possible from their use. Cotton pillowcases may also strip the skin of essential oils and minerals—potentially speeding up the aging process—and may shrink when washed, wrinkling easily as well.

Silk

Although there are numerous offerings on the market, silk pillowcases are harder to care for—often demanding dry-cleaning—and can tear easily. Similar alternatives like satin or nylon will be more cheaply available and claim to have the same effects, but with lower absorbency levels, these options will also make your skin sweat throughout the night.

Linen

Durable, anti-bacterial and easy to wash, linen pillowcases make the perfect bedfellows to catch the most beauty sleep. No harsh chemicals are used to craft or wash our Bed Threads linen, meaning that sleeping on our pillowcases won’t exacerbate sensitive or acne-prone skin. The absorbency and temperature-regulating technologies of the material prevent facial sweat and adjust to match body temperature, facilitating you to sleep unperturbed through the night and prevent breakouts simultaneously.

The right pillowcase must also be made of natural fabrics—just like our 100% pure French flax linen—as these will be more breathable and transfer less oils while you sleep. That our Bed Threads come in a variety of colourways, even allowing you to customise your own bundle, means that you can not only sleep soundly in the knowledge that your skin is taken care of, but accomplish this in style, too.

So, if you've made the smart move and have started sleeping on 100% French flax linen pillowcases, keep reading to find out how to care for them properly so you can put your best face forward.

Caring for linen

Ideally, it's best to wash your pillowcases every two to three days—which sounds like a lot but think about how frequently you wash certain items of clothing and it won't seem so over-the-top. Our no-nonsense, no dry-clean linen care instructions make it easy, and without the proper care you risk oils and dirt from  skin and hair, as well as the surrounding environment, to build up over time, threatening to clog pores, cause blemishes and irritate sensitive skin.

Then there's acne mechanica, which is the appearance of acne caused by the skin’s interaction with materials or objects, and can be the direct result of too much shut eye on the wrong pillowcase. Besides washing your face nightly before you go to sleep, ensure that your pillowcase is cleaned frequently but also comfortable to sleep on—or watch as it becomes a hotbed of dirt and discomfort that will threaten an inevitable breakout.

Enjoyed this? We Asked 5 People What Sleeping on Linen Sheets Feels Like—Here's What They Said.