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Pillow talk: silk or cotton?

Next to your skincare products, the most contact your face has with any item is your pillowcase. If you are lucky you have your face pressed into your pillow for up to eight hours a night. That’s one third of your life. Have you ever given any thought to the effect on your skin your pillow choices have? Probably not, right?
I have read a lot of articles and adverts over the last couple of years touting the supposed anti-wrinkle effect of sleeping on a silk pillowcase as opposed to cotton or polyester. I have never been able to find any research supporting these claims, quite the opposite, but I can tell you that treating yourself to a silk pillowcase or two is something I heartily recommend. While it doesn’t appear to have any actual benefits which can be supported by science (yet at least), it does feel lovely on your skin. I even bring one on holidays with me.
Whatever type of pillowcase you choose, it is very important to change it often, even daily if possible, particularly if you suffer from acne or – cardinal sin- don’t cleanse your face before bed. Bacteria and debris can build up very quickly from hair products, perspiration, dust (and whatever your children/pets track in!). Really, do you want to put your lovely, clean, moisturised face on last night’s hairspray, sweat and shed skin cells? Didn’t think so.
Finally, I don’t recommend using fabric conditioner on your pillowcases. The fragrance can be irritant to skin but also it leaves a film on fabric which transfers to your skin, clogging it up and contributing to congestion in the pores.

Bonus! As Skin Essentials products are so readily absorbed by the skin and are non-greasy, they will penetrate into the skin, long before they could be transferred/absorbed by your pillow, saving your sheets and your wallet!

Now, you’re off to change your pillow case, aren’t you? 🙂

Mariga, skin expert at Skin Essentials by Mariga, Wexford

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