Adhering to a pro-active recipe for antiaging is a multi-faceted approach that is inclusive of several factors which all play an integral role in contributing to skin health as a whole. The wealth of products that make up a skin care arsenal include diet, exercise, and general health, sun protection, environmental exposures, and physical factors, such as how one positions skin while sleeping. These are all important factors that comprehensively determine how well a person’s age.

So, how great of a role does sleeping on a silk pillowcase play in this great skin equation? Also, how does it compare to the use of traditional cotton fabrics? While sleeping on one’s back is the ideal position to mitigate facial wrinkling that results from placing too much pressure on either side of the face, it is not always comfortable or even possible due to underlying health conditions. Sleeping on one’s side compresses the skin up towards the mid-line of the face, which creates a tugging and pulling of the skin that forms temporary folds and creases. As skin ages, there is an inevitable loss of elasticity, which further exacerbates its susceptibility to folding and wrinkling that may become more prominent and even permanent over time. These long-term effects may be mitigated by limiting the amount of friction through sleep positioning and the use of gentler fabrics for those areas of exposure.

Far inferior in form and function to its more expensive counterpart, traditional cotton is one of the most absorbent materials. Due to its molecular structure and hydrophilic nature, the fibers in cotton are capable of drawing in and trapping a staggering amount of moisture, as well as product from the skin while one sleeps. Cotton can also absorb hair product into the pillowcase, which can then transfer onto the skin, leading to unwanted breakouts and irritation.

Silk, on the other hand, provides an exponentially smoother surface which causes minimal friction and dragging of delicate facial skin. It is especially beneficial to those with drier skin, as the smoothness of silk makes it less apt to absorb moisture, leaving the skin hydrated. And while a faux silk pillowcase made of polyester is an affordable and durable alternative that will deliver ample benefits, opt for a higher-quality case comprised of mulberry silk with a high momme, or fabric weight of 22 or more to capitalize on these skin benefits.

There are several companies that have taken these preventive measures a step further by incorporating the added benefit of shape design. Most often shaped like a half-moon to accommodate the natural curves of the face, these pillows are specially fabricated to limit the compressive effect on the cheeks, thereby reducing the formation of sleep lines.

While silk pillowcases cannot single-handedly prevent all facial wrinkling, they add a tangible layer of prevention. And what better way to optimize beauty sleep than to incorporate the luxury of silk, all while minimizing skin damage and facilitating the vital recovery and renewal process that occurs in the skin while snoozing.