The Best Silk Pillowcases for Better Skin and Hair
The secret to my smooth hair is actually my pillowcase.
Tested by Amanda ConstantineHome & Apparel Reviews Analyst
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To unlock unique beauty benefits and exceptional comfort, consider upgrading your cotton pillowcase to one made of silk. A traditional pillowcase causes friction when you lie on it, which can lead to frizzy hair, bedhead knots and skin creases (that may eventually cause wrinkles with time). On the flip side, silk pillowcases are ultra smooth, so the surface can reduce friction against your hair and skin. Not to mention, silk material feels soft and cool to sleep on, elevating your bed into a luxurious escape.
Silk is an investment and the quality can vary drastically between styles, so you want to ensure you're choosing a pillowcase that'll last. In the Good Housekeeping Institute Textiles Lab, we've been testing silk pillowcases for nearly 10 years. We have put them through the wringer using specialized Lab equipment and have analyzed feedback from at-home sleep testers. In recent years, we've tested more than 35 silk pillowcases to find the smoothest, most comfortable and most durable options.
Fishers Finery 25mm Mulberry Silk Pillowcase
Pros
- High scores for comfort and smoothness
- Abrasion-resistant fabric
- Wicks moisture and feels cool
Cons
- Slight shrinkage in the wash
Fiber content: 100% mulberry silk | Fabric weight: 25 momme | Closure type: Envelope | Sizes: Standard, Queen, King | Colors: 14 options | Care instructions: Brand recommends dry cleaning or handwashing, but it is machine washer-safe on a dry cycle in a mesh bag, then lay flat to dry
Consistently a top performer in our tests, this silk pillowcase from Fishers Finery is made of a high-quality material: mulberry silk with a 25 momme weight, meaning a substantial amount of silk is used in the fabric. It stood out from other silk pillowcases for being moisture-wicking and durable (despite some shrinkage in the wash); in fact, it didn't show any signs of wear in our Lab's rigorous abrasion tests. It even impressed us enough to earn the Good Housekeeping Seal.
It's also available in a 19-momme silk fabric that costs slightly less and a 30-momme option that costs more. We recommend the 25-momme silk style for the best balance of benefits vs. price.
What testers say: At-home testers unanimously told us the pillowcase was comfy to sleep on and that they woke up without creases in their skin. They specifically highlighted the soft, smooth feel in their feedback and said they preferred it over pillowcases they'd previously used. One noted, "It felt cool for longer," and added, "The silky case was better for my hair than my cotton pillowcase." Another tester similarly shared, "It worked wonders for my hair and left it noticeably untangled in the morning."
READ OUR FULL REVIEW: Fishers Finery's Silk Pillowcase
Promeed 100% Silk Pillowcase
Pros
- Rated as smooth by sleep testers
- Excellent moisture-wicking scores
- Good assortment of sizes
Cons
- Less abrasion-resistant than other cases we tested
Fiber content: 100% mulberry silk | Fabric weight: 23 momme | Closure type: Zipper | Sizes: Toddler/Travel, Standard, Queen, King, California King | Colors: 15 options | Care instructions: It's machine washable on a gentle cycle in a mesh bag (included) with liquid detergent.
We were thoroughly impressed by how this pillowcase is made with quality fabric, despite costing significantly less than other styles. The material proved both strong and shrink-resistant in our Lab's durability tests, though the abrasion-resistance scores were just average. It also proved to be sweat-wicking in our moisture-management tests, which can help you to feel more comfortable as you sleep.
Beyond its proven performance, this silk pillowcase also comes in a wide range of sizes (more than other options) to help you find the best fit, including a mini size to fit toddler or travel pillows. The brand also carries single or two-packs, which are an even better value.
What testers say: The fabric was highly regarded by our sleep testers. One described it as "smooth and more comfortable than the cotton ones I was using." Our testers also gave the fabric high scores across the board, from softness to appearance to overall satisfaction, and noted that it held up well to home laundering without snags or shrinkage. A GH analyst who has slept on silk pillowcases from many brands shared that this one was just as luxurious as the others she has tried.
Blissy Silk Pillowcase
Pros
- Users said it prevented bedhead
- High comfort ratings
- Fabric held up well to washing
Cons
- The brand makes bold claims that we couldn't validate in our review
Fiber content: 100% mulberry silk | Fabric weight: 22 momme | Closure type: Zipper | Sizes: Standard, Queen, King | Colors: 24 options | Care instructions: Machine washable on a cold, gentle cycle and dryer safe at low temperatures. The brand recommends air drying for best results.
This popular pick is one of the most searched-for silk pillowcase brands, and it's a personal favorite of several GH editors and product analysts who use it at home and swear by it. Beyond that, the pillowcase looked and felt great after our laundering tests and maintained its smoothness once washed, which is a huge feat for delicate silk fabric. It also wicked moisture well and proved pill-resistant in our tests.
Just note that we've seen marketing from Blissy that made claims we couldn't validate in our evaluations. For instance, it has claimed to "fight against acne," which is terminology that the FDA says should only be used by drugs or medical devices that have received approval to make these claims. Though we can't recommend buying a silk pillowcase solely based on these types of promises, we still love how smooth the material is for comfort and crease prevention.
What testers say: This pillowcase earned high ratings from testers for helping them to maintain mess-free hair. Users with thick, curly and frizzy hair said they woke up without bedhead. One tester shared, "I swear this pillowcase helps stop tangling in my fine yet frizzy wavy hair," and added, "I've had mine for 5 years, and it's still in great shape." It also earned perfect comfort scores and a tester described the fabric as "the perfect weight — not too light or too heavy."
READ OUR FULL REVIEW: Blissy Silk Pillowcase
Brooklinen Mulberry Silk Pillowcase
Pros
- Luxurious and comfortable
- Users saw no facial skin creases after sleeping on it
- Testers liked the thick fabric
Cons
- Less smooth after repeated laundering
Fiber content: 100% mulberry silk | Fabric weight: 22 momme | Closure type: Envelope | Sizes: Standard, King | Colors: 6 options | Care instructions: Machine washable in cold water with pH-neutral detergent. Hand wash as needed. Lay flat to dry.
If you're most concerned about facial lines, our testers gave this pillowcase perfect scores for preventing skin creases. It feels exceptionally smooth, though we found that its smoothness faded a bit after repeated washings. Still, it held up well throughout our tests.
Another perk with this pillowcase is the brand's year-long trial period: Brooklinen offers returns for 365 days so you can get a refund (minus a $9.95 return fee), even if you just don't love it.
What testers say: Besides noting that they woke up without creases on their skin, testers gave Brooklinen's silk pillowcase high marks for feeling smooth, cool and comfortable. Testers also liked how substantial it appeared and thought it seemed thicker than other silk pillowcases they'd used. "I like the closure of the pillowcase," one said. "I like that the fabric was thick, cold and nice to sleep on. I love that the pillowcase is machine-washable! That makes all the difference."
Bedsure Satin Pillowcase 2-Pack
Pros
- Excellent value
- Smooth feel
- Holds up well to laundering
Cons
- Made of polyester instead of real silk
Fiber content: 100% polyester | Fabric weight: N/A | Closure type: Envelope | Sizes: Standard, Queen, King, Body | Colors: 39 options | Care instructions: Machine washable and dryer safe on low heat
This one is an Amazon's best seller, even though it's not actually made with any silk. Instead, the fabric is polyester satin so it's less expensive and less delicate than silk, which means it's much easier to care for: safe for both the washing machine and dryer. It held up well to washing and was more wrinkle-resistant than real silk in our Lab's evaluations.
And although it's not the real deal, we were surprisingly impressed with its performance and sleek appearance. On top of that, it has more than 300,000 reviews with an average 4.5-star rating on Amazon. And because it's sold as a set of two, each pillowcase is under $6 a piece — usually on sale for less.
What testers say: Our sleep testers unanimously rated this pillowcase as feeling smooth, and some highlighted how comfortable it felt to sleep on. "It was so soft to the touch and never felt sweaty during the night," one told us. Another told us that she preferred it over her regular pillowcase and shared that her hair was much less messy in the mornings. Just note that synthetic satin doesn't feel as luxurious as real silk, so it didn't score as highly in areas like bedhead reduction, skin-crease prevention or cooling capabilities.
Slip Pure Silk Pillowcase
Pros
- Ultra-smooth fabric
- Moisture-wicking and temperature-regulating material
- Comfortable to sleep on
Cons
- Expensive and delicate
Fiber content: 100% mulberry silk | Fabric weight: 22 momme | Closure type: Zipper | Sizes: Queen | Colors: 19 options | Care instructions: Machine washable on a gentle cycle in cold water. Line dry in shade. The brand also recommends handwashing and dry cleaning without trichloroethylene.
This buzzy brand was one of the first silk pillowcases sold at beauty retailers (like Sephora and Nordstrom) and helped make silk pillowcases popular in the U.S. It's still a top performer today, thanks to its super smooth fabric — it's actually one of the softest pillowcases we've ever tested.
It's expensive, but the fabric wicked moisture exceptionally well in Lab tests, which means it can help keep you cool throughout the night. Just note that the fabric wasn't as strong as others, and it was prone to wrinkles after laundering, so take special care when washing this one.
What testers say: When we laid out silk pillowcases in our Lab, this one earned the highest softness ratings from testers in a blind comparison. Plus, the at-home users also said it felt great to sleep on. One called it "calming to use at night because it was soft and cool to the touch." Another tester shared, "Out of every silk pillowcase I've tried, this one is by far the smoothest. The fabric is supple and soft and feels so gentle against my face and hair."
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THXSILK Mulberry Silk Pillowcase
Pros
- Perfect smoothness scores from testers
- Cool feel
- Sold directly by the manufacturer, helps keep prices lower
Cons
- Showed signs of wear after laundering
Fiber content: 100% mulberry silk | Fabric weight: 22 momme | Closure type: Zipper | Sizes: Twin, Queen, King | Colors: 30 options | Care instructions: Brand recommends handwashing, but notes it is machine washable on a gentle cycle in lukewarm water. Hang in the shade or tumble dry with no heat to dry.
If you prefer to cover your entire bed in silk, THXSILK also carries a wide range of other silk products on Amazon, including silk sheets that have stood out in our Textiles Lab tests. The items are all sold directly by the silk manufacturer, which helps keep the cost down without sacrificing performance.
This pillowcase in particular earned perfect scores in our Lab's abrasion tests that mimic real-life use, like tossing and turning at night. It did show some signs of wear after laundering, though, and the brand makes skin-related claims that we couldn't validate in our evaluations.
What testers say: Sleep testers gave it perfect smoothness ratings after trying it at home. They also highlighted its easy-to-use zipper closure and unanimously told us the pillowcase had a cooling feel. In fact, one said it felt almost "too cold" when she first used it, making it especially great for hot sleepers.
Other silk pillowcases we tested
Though these didn't perform as well as our top-tested picks, they had some standout features that are worth considering as you shop:
- Best Sustainable: The Ethical Silk Company Mulberry Silk Pillowcase uses a unique production process in which the silk is taken from the cocoon after the moth has already left it, unlike traditional silk fabrics. As a result, the fabric is more matte and less shiny. The case is also undyed to lessen the environmental impact. The downside is this one wasn't abrasion-resistant or moisture-wicking in our Lab's evaluations, and it wasn't as smooth in our consumer tester reviews.
- Most Durable: The Cuddledown Silk Pillowcase is ideal for those who are most worried about taking care of delicate fabric. It earned the highest overall durability rating and didn't show any signs of wear during our abrasion tests. However, it didn't wick moisture as well as other silk cases in our evaluations.
- Most Luxurious: This Clementine Sleep Organic Silk Pillowcase is made using 100% mulberry silk with a 22 momme weight. Testers gave it high marks for its smooth feel, but it showed signs of abrasion in our tests. The brand's silk bonnet aced our tests and was even a Good Housekeeping Bedding Awards recipient.
How we test silk pillowcases
In the Good Housekeeping Institute Textiles Lab, we evaluate each pillowcase to make sure it feels comfortable and offers optimal benefits. We also want to make sure our picks are durable enough to last — especially since silk can be costly. We tested over 35 silk and satin pillowcases before making our recommendations. Here's how we review each one:
✔️ Fabric strength: We use our specialized machine, called an Instron (pictured here), that pulls apart swatches of fabric to determine how strong the material is.
✔️ Abrasion resistance: Our Martindale machine (pictured here) rubs swatches of silk in various directions against a wool abradant fabric, which mimics real-life tossing and turning. Throughout this process, we check the fabric for signs of wear, including pilling and holes from abrasion.
✔️ Moisture-wicking capabilities: To check if the pillowcases can keep you cool, we use drops of water to measure how well the fabrics wick away liquids to show how the fabric will respond to sweat. The ideal pillowcase spreads out a drop of liquid quickly.
✔️ Washability: We launder each pillowcase according to its care label and measure shrinkage, change in appearance and change in softness after repeated launderings. We then visually assess creases that form in the fabrics after laundering to get a sense of how much they'll wrinkle.
✔️ Consumer tests: Last but not least, we send the pillowcases to at-home reviewers to sleep on for weeks, who then provide feedback on aspects like comfort, bedhead resistance, skin-crease prevention and temperature regulation. They also answer open-ended questions to give us a deeper understanding of their experiences.
How to shop for the best silk pillowcases
Although they may look similar, silk pillowcases can vary greatly in terms of quality and feel. Here's what to consider when shopping for your silk pillowcase:
✔️ Know the difference between silk and satin: Silk is a fiber, whereas satin is a weave. Most silk pillowcases are both silk and satin, but you can find satin pillowcases made of polyester for a lower price. Mulberry silk is the highest quality silk you can find. Think of it as the Egyptian cotton equivalent of silk: The fibers are longer and more uniform so the fabric is smoother and more durable.
✔️ Check the momme: This term is used to describe silk fabric weight. Unlike thread count for cotton sheets, silk fabrics use momme to let you know how much silk is used. You'll usually find a range of 15 to 30 momme, but in our tests, the top performers were 22 momme or higher.
✔️ Consider the pillowcase closure: Silk pillowcases can be slippery, so you want to make sure your favorite pillow will stay put inside. Some covers use an envelope closure where the fabric tucks into itself, while others use a zipper. The zippers tend to enclose the pillow better, but they sometimes look a little flimsy and can be finicky to open and close.
✔️ Check the care instructions: Believe it or not, some silk pillowcases can be machine-washed. Check the care label before you buy to make sure; most will suggest using the delicate cycle and hang-drying.
What are the benefits of silk pillowcases?
Not only do they feel great to sleep on, but silk pillowcase benefits also include smoother hair and smoother skin.
Studies show friction from tossing and turning causes creases in the skin, and a silky smooth surface can reduce this effect in the long run, says Neal Schultz, M.D., a New York City-based dermatologist and author of It's Not Just About Wrinkles. Similarly, with less friction on your hair, you're less likely to wake with frizz and tangles.
But keep in mind: You should always be wary of unrealistic promises, and you can't expect major changes like fewer breakouts, amino acid absorption or anti-aging benefits.
Are silk pillowcases machine washable?
Yes, most of the time silk pillowcases can be machine washed on the gentle cycle. Make sure to check the care label before laundering. Good Housekeeping's Cleaning Lab also recommends using a mesh laundry bag and a mild detergent.
What are the disadvantages of silk pillowcases?
While silk pillowcases offer numerous benefits, it's important to consider the drawbacks. Silk is a delicate material and generally requires special care compared to traditional cotton pillowcases, which are usually machine washable and dryer safe. Silk has a slippery feel that isn't for everyone, either.
Why trust Good Housekeeping?
Lexie Sachs is the executive director of strategy & operations at the Good Housekeeping Institute, where she oversees bedding evaluations. She has been hands-on testing silk pillowcases since they became popular in the U.S. in 2016 and has since tested dozens of real silk and synthetic satin options. Sachs sleeps on a silk pillowcase every night and personally swears by its benefits.
Amanda Constantine is a home & apparel reviews analyst in the Textiles Lab and has been with Good Housekeeping since 2022. She has tested silk pillowcases in the Lab and has coordinated sleep testing with consumer testers to try the pillowcases out on their own beds. Constantine has been sleeping on silk pillowcases for seven years and even packs one with her when she travels because she's a true believer in the benefits of silk. She used her personal and professional expertise when making updates to this article.
Lexie Sachs (she/her) is the executive director of strategy and operations at the Good Housekeeping Institute and a lead reviewer of products in the bedding, travel, lifestyle, home furnishings and apparel spaces. She has over 15 years of experience in the consumer products industry and a degree in fiber science from Cornell University. Lexie serves as an expert source both within Good Housekeeping and other media outlets, regularly appearing on national broadcast TV segments. Prior to joining GH in 2013, Lexie worked in merchandising and product development in the fashion and home industries.
Amanda (she/her) researches and reports on products in the Good Housekeeping Institute's Textiles, Paper & Apparel Lab, ranging from clothing and accessories to home furnishings. She holds undergraduate degrees in apparel merchandising and product development and advertising and marketing communications, as well as a master of science degree in consumer sciences from The Ohio State University. Prior to joining Good Housekeeping in 2022, Amanda was a lecturer for the fashion and retail studies program at Ohio State, where she taught fashion and textiles courses.
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