10 best silk pillowcases for smooth skin and glossy hair in 2025

This pillowcase impressed me from the start. It arrived wrapped in tissue, inside a zebra-print box that matched the fabric, and featured a neat zip closure along with subtle embroidered branding. Even before I put it on a pillow, the 22-momme silk felt decadently smooth and had a weighty, luxurious texture that more than justifies the price tag. The Blissy pillowcase is machine washable, provided you use a mesh laundry bag and a 30C delicate cycle.

I can confidently say the silk benefited my hair, too. By morning, my hair was noticeably less matted. While I still had a few tangles in the finer strands on top, the usual trouble spots remained smooth and easy to comb. After several nights, I also noticed a definite increase in shine, even after heat styling. When it comes to my skin, however, it’s hard to pinpoint whether improvements in my complexion were due to the pillowcase or my skincare routine.

If you're on a budget, Dorma's silk pillowcase is an impressive entry-level option. I found this pillowcase to be similar in quality to John Lewis’s 19-momme option, despite Dorma’s version being £15 cheaper. The only noticeable difference was a slight unevenness in the Dorma silk weave.

After sleeping on heat-styled curls, I woke up to find them mostly intact, just a little tousled. It’s a solid result for this price point, and a definite upgrade from my usual cotton pillowcase. As for my skin, I experienced a bit more sticking and friction than with higher-end silks, but nothing that disrupted sleep or caused irritation. Just bear in mind that it creases a lot after the wash,

This Australian brand’s silk offering spans scrunchies, protective hair turbans and, of course, pillowcases. I tested the queen pillowcase duo, which saves £10 on the price of buying the pillowcases individually. With its 22-momme weight, the silk is noticeably high quality and remains indulgently heavy and slippery even after hand washing. It’s also machine-washable on a cold, delicate cycle (just skip the fabric softener).

As for the feel and performance, Slip’s pillowcase kept my heat-styled curls intact overnight, even after brushing them before bed. Much like the other silk pillowcases I tested, I didn’t notice any major differences to my skin with this one (I think such results will prove more long-term), but I did enjoy the cooling, soft feel of the fabric on my skin. The branded embroidery was a nice, premium touch.

This set was by far the most hotel-like experience of the lot, but there’s no getting away from that price tag. If you want exceptional silk pillowcases, these should be first on the list, but £200 is a lot to spend on clear skin.

One of the few options which can be tumble-dried, this pair is ideal for busy lifestyles and offers temperature regulation for warmer months. Despite my nightly tossing and turning, I noticed minimal creasing, so there’s no need to iron these pillowcases before guests arrive.

The fabric feels luxurious, but if you’re particular about bedroom aesthetics, be aware that the Oxford trim lacks structure when propped upright. That said, I got around this by stacking the pillows flat-side down, as shown. That’s a minor quibble, however. These are excellent silk pillowcases, and you can get a set of two for cheaper than some single silk pillowcases.

Best known for its mulberry silk sleep masks, Drowsy also makes luxurious silk pillowcases. Available in 11 colourways, the pillowcases are crafted from 22-momme mulberry silk for a smooth, soft finish. The design features a simple envelope closure, which makes changing your sheets quick and easy, while it’s also machine washable without ruining the quality. Plus, the high-quality fabric doesn’t need ironing.

After applying my skincare at night, the pillowcase felt featherlight on my skin and helped it to retain its moisture, unlike the friction caused by linen or cotton cases. On hot summer nights, the cooling properties of silk felt particularly pleasing, but it’s the benefits to my hair that most impressed me. My hair is naturally frizzy and knotty, so I usually wake up to find my hair looks like Hagrid’s, but Drowsy’s pillowcase tames flyaways and prevents tangles thanks to its friction-free finish. I woke up with smooth, soft hair, just like when I went to sleep. Yes, this pillowcase doesn’t come cheap, but if you have the money, you’ll love the benefits.

The high 25 momme silk density was obvious as soon as I unpacked these pillowcases. The fabric felt heavy compared to some alternatives, draping smoothly over the pillow's inner. The material felt cool and smooth to the touch, though I found the texture became a little mussed after washing this set.

They sleep cool, perfect for the summer. It’s a little objective, but I think these were the best-looking pillows I tested. I thought the envelope closure could have overlapped a little more, as it left a small gap on my pillows, but as for the overall style and quality, I’d pick these again in a heartbeat.

If you have a Beauty Pie subscription, the £34 member price for this silk pillowcase is a no-brainer. Even at the non-member price, it’s still a solid choice. Made from heavyweight 22-momme silk with refined piping, it feels a cut above many other options. It’s machine washable on a cold cycle and can be line-dried – unlike the John Lewis option – and dries crease-free with a smooth finish.

While testing, I went to bed with freshly styled curls and woke up to find no kinks or flatness. The curls had relaxed into waves, but their shape remained largely intact.

One notable difference with this pillowcase is the texture. Unlike others with a glossy, mirror-like finish, this one has a slightly feathered feel – still ultra-soft, but subtly matte. I actually appreciated this, as it prevented my face, with skincare applied, from sticking to the surface. Just bear in mind that it costs £85 for non-members, so it’s fairly expensive.

If you're new to silk for hair or skincare, John Lewis's pillowcase is a great starting point. Sitting comfortably between high-end and budget options, it’s made from 100 per cent organic mulberry silk – albeit at a relatively light 19 momme weight – and is hardy enough for machine washing.

Like other silk pillowcases I tested, this one helped reduce hair matting and knots caused by friction. The pillowcase also looked elegant, with a subtle luxe sheen. While soft on my skin, it tended to cling to freshly applied skincare, which was something I found more common with the lighter silk weights. The silk's naturally non-absorbent qualities helped my skin to retain moisture overnight, though, which, in the long term, can minimise dehydration and reduce the appearance of fine lines. I didn’t notice any significant anti-ageing benefits during testing, but the breathable weave offered a cooler, more comfortable sleep during warmer nights.

There’s a small discrepancy between the packaging and online care instructions: the packaging suggests it’s tumble dryer-safe (using the industry symbol for low heat), while the website advises against it. The machine wash guidelines are also a bit fussy, recommending silk-specific detergent, no fabric softener and no drying in sunlight, so you can’t throw it in with your regular laundry. I chose to handwash mine for consistency across all tests, and it dried well, with a few soft creases akin to the relaxed, ‘lived-in’ look of linen.

This pillowcase uses a lower-weight silk than pricier options and comes in a simple, fuss-free design: standard size, envelope closure and subtle embroidered branding. While it lacks the high-gloss sheen of premium options and has a slightly organza-like feel, it performs well. I woke up with noticeably fewer tangles and less frizz.

Like Beauty Pie's crepe-textured silk, I appreciated the soft finish. The only issue is that it absorbs makeup like a sponge, so if you fall asleep with your makeup on, you might wake to find it covered in foundation. To be fair, sleeping in makeup cancels out the skincare perks of silk anyway, but it’s worth knowing.

The Betsy print pillowcases – complete with ditsy florals in pinks, yellows and blues – are wonderfully summery. Sold here as a set of two, the pillowcases make excellent base pillows as part of a quad or, for single beds, they’re a perfect pair for stacking.

At a lower density of 16 momme (compared with others in this guide), the feel of the silk was a tad stiffer than I’d have liked, given the premium price point, though the pillowcases hand washed beautifully without creasing and, come morning, I found my hair, while still messy, was significantly easier to comb through.