For hotel-level sleep and a bedroom aesthetic worthy of its own Pinterest board, the best silk pillowcases will not only upgrade your bed, but will give your skin and hair the care they deserve overnight.

If you’re yet to invest in this beauty-editor must-have, you’re seriously missing a trick. But fear not, we’ve outlined the benefits of switching to silk, along with our tried-and-tested recommendations of the best ones to invest in today, to help you achieve the best beauty sleep of your life.

Silk boasts a wealth of hair and beauty bonuses, including anti-ageing properties for our skin and smoothing properties for our hair. In fact, silk helps to retain the skin’s natural moisture while we snooze, keeping it soft and supple, and in turn reduces fine lines, wrinkles and breakouts.

Suffice to say, a silk pillowcase is a no-brainer for those of us with sensitive skin, too. It’s little wonder this organic textile has long been recommended by dermatologists. Similarly, pure silk keeps our hair naturally hydrated, and thanks to its luxuriously smooth surface, there’s far less friction than with cotton or linen alternatives, meaning a silk pillowcase can be used to prevent hair breakage, static, and even split ends. The result? Gorgeous, glossy locks – who doesn’t want to wake up to a good hair day, every day?

Typically, silk pillowcases are sold either individually or in pairs, and can be used separately to complement our luxe bedding set-up. But for all-out opulence, look for complete pure silk bedding sets, sheets, and bedspreads. Throw in an electric diffuser, sleep mask, and a weighted blanket, and you’re in for a serious sleep upgrade.

Meet the expert:

• Georgia Louise, Celebrity Facialist and Global Skin Care Adviser at La Mer.

What to look for in a silk pillowcase:

• Momme: Momme count refers to the density of silk and indicates the quality of the material. Think of it like thread count — more threads mean extra durability. Most luxury silk pillowcases run from 19 momme (soft, relatively affordable) to 22 momme or 25 momme (top-of-the-line, more expensive). For the highest-quality textiles, look for mulberry silk; the fibres are longer and more uniform, making the fabric smoother and longer-lasting.
• Colour: These days you can find a silk pillowcase in almost any shade. Classics (like white, beige, and black) and jewel tones (like royal blue and orange) are the most common options. Silk is highly susceptible to washing machine-resistant stains, so pick a dark colour or a busy print if the marks will bother you.
• Closure: A zipper closure keeps the material tight over your pillow, making silk’s natural wrinkles less prevalent. Envelope closures, on the other hand, have more give. Fidgety sleepers might find that these slip off during the night.
• Care: Make sure to read the care instructions before throwing your pillowcase set in the laundry with your bed sheets and duvet cover. Not all pillowcases can be machine-washed on a delicate cycle; some types of silk require hand washing in cold water. Line-drying is best, as dryers can cause damage to the material; you can steam your pillowcase to remove any wrinkles.
• Price: Are expensive silk pillowcases better than the budget-friendly ones? In short, not necessarily; they often use high-quality materials and finishing so they’ll last longer, but our testers loved plenty of under-£50 price point options that stood the test of time just as much as Blissy and other high-end competitors.

How we tested the best silk pillowcases:

With so many silk pillowcases on the market – differing in silk grade, momme weight, size, and care instructions – it can be tricky to know which one truly delivers on comfort, durability, and beauty benefits. To cut through the noise, we tested a wide range of silk pillowcases across weeks of use to find the ones genuinely worth the investment.

We focused on pillowcases made from high-quality mulberry silk, all with a minimum of 19 momme for optimal softness and longevity. Our testing spanned different closures (envelope vs. zipper), fit across standard and king pillows, and additional features like hypoallergenic properties or OEKO-TEX certifications. While most of our testing was done with standard-size pillowcases, we also included king, travel and square sizes to accommodate different needs.

Each silk pillowcase in this round up has been evaluated for its smoothness, breathability, ease of care, along with any notable beauty benefits we noticed after switching to silk. We also considered whether they held up well after repeated washing. Lean more about how we test.

Ahead, our full edit of tried and tested silk pillowcases to elevate your beauty sleep tenfold.