Blog Post
Cotton vs Silk: 7 Questions About Silk Pillowcases… Answered!
Jane Mott • 14 April 2020
1. Can silk pillowcases prevent wrinkles?
Believe it or not, yes they can!
Silk is kinder to your skin as it presents a cleaner surface for cradling your cheek & face – silk provides a smooth surface with very little friction which means less tugging on skin than with a cotton pillowcase.
I am sure we have all woken up with crease marks or ‘crush wrinkles’ on our face at least once!
The friction from tossing and turning causes creases in the skin, but a silky smooth surface can reduce that effect in the long run.
So yes, silk pillowcases can decrease wrinkles and improve the appearance of skin’s hydration, which can make you look more youthful.
Using the right skincare products daily can also prevent anti-aging, dull skin, uneven skin tone and age spots I am happy to advise you on the right products and treatments to achieve your beauty goals.
2. Do silk pillowcases prevent frizzy hair?
Yes! Thanks to silk's super smooth texture, hair glides over it without any friction which means you'll be less likely to wake up with frizzy hair, tangles, or bedhead, whereas cotton fabric snags your hair and twists it at the root throughout the night, damaging hair and causing bed-head nest of tangles in the morning cotton also draws moisture from your hair, drying it out.
Sleeping on silk is a secret that women with textured and curly hair have been using for years to keep styles like braids and blowouts preserved for longer without adding frizz.
3. Do silk pillowcases keep skin hydrated?
This is true, thanks to that super-smooth texture of silk.
Silk smoothness means it less apt to absorb and trap moisture from skin, it allows your skincare products to stay on your skin and not get absorbed into the pillowcase keeping sensitive skin comfortable and moisture retention maintained which also helps prevent wrinkles.
4. Do silk pillowcases keep hair healthy?
In some ways, yes: silk helps keep hair hydrated, and silk can help with brittle hair, because silk leaves that hydration right where it belongs: in your hair.
Cotton will absorb moisture from your hair leaving strands dry and damaged. Silk smoother surface doesn’t cause the same friction thereby having a positive impact on your hair!
I certainly noticed a visible difference to my hair in less than two weeks of switching to a silk pillowcase last summer. For me the switch to silk definitely resulted in smoother hair that became more manageable. I just wish I had done it sooner.
5. Do silk pillowcases help prevent or reduce acne?
Wheras it’s true that silk doesn’t absorb as much moisture as cotton, you shouldn’t expect it to clear up acne or prevent breakouts completely.
That said cotton can make acne worse, as it absorbs the natural oil and bacteria from your face, plus will absorbs your skincare and hair products; that all combines and creates a grime that then accumulates on your pillowcase night after night; which in turn will transfer back and forth from pillow to skin, to hair.
Not a nice thought at all, and the friction from cotton on pimple-prone skin can create more inflammation, aggravating any skin all conditions such as spots, acne, dermatitis as well as accelerating skin aging and wrinkles.
I noticed an improvement in my skin and I certainly suffer with less breakouts since switching to silk pillowcases.
6. Are silk pillowcases naturally hypoallergenic?
FACT
- Silk is a hypoallergenic fabric
Silk is considered to be a hypoallergenic material, because it is highly resistant to dust mites, deterioration, and is excellent at wicking away moisture-causing bacteria. In comparison, cotton bedding is the perfect place for bacteria to grow, since this type of fabric readily absorbs moisture.
You should switch to silk rather than cotton bedding if you are concerned about allergic reactions or have sensitive skin.
Sleeping on a silk pillowcase can help keep puffiness and other skin allergy symptoms at bay; silk with its smoother surface causes very little friction, thus decreasing the abrasion of the skin and won’t rub dry, irritated skin types.
7. Can silk pillowcases prevent split ends?
The slippery smooth texture of silk will prevent tangles and frizz, but it can’t prevent hair breakage and damage altogether.
Instead, try using a bond building, strengthening hair care products and getting regular trims to prevent split ends. I am always happy to recommend proven haircare products and schedule a hair appointment for me to trim your split ends.
Bottom line…yes silk pillowcases do really make a difference
Silk pillowcases can improve skin and hair hydration, prevent fine lines and wrinkles, and result in smoother, frizz-free hair every morning.
Look for Mulberry silk, which is silk's equivalent of Egyptian cotton.
Plus take your silk pillowcase with you when travelling – they take up so little space just fold the silk pillowcase up pop it in your bag and then slip it over the pillow on the plane and the any pillow you’ll be sleeping on while away.
Silk simply makes for a more beautiful sleep!
I’d love to hear your thoughts and comments, if you have enjoyed this blog please share it with you friends.
If you have any questions, you’d like me to answer personally please contact me. I am always happy to help!
Jane Mott Hair & Makeup - Specialist in Makeup to Look Younger & all round Beauty Addict
Can you imagine yourself going out without wearing mascara?
The skin around the eyes is more fragile, more prone to dryness, and quicker to show age and fatigue. Good quality eye creams can and will address some of the issues. How to apply your eye cream: • Use a pin-sized amount – no need to drown your skin in eye cream. • Use your ring finger as the delicate eye area requires a delicate touch without too much pressure (avoid pulling your skin when using an eye cream) • Be very gentle while you pat or tap to lightly massage the cream in. • Work your way out. Apply the eye cream around your orbital bone, starting from the outer corner of your eye, working your way towards the inner corner underneath and outwards above as the eye muscle are circular. • Don’t let the eye cream get too close to your eye. Don’t put it on your eyelids or eyelashes, as it can easily get into your eye and cause irritation. • Don’t pull at your skin. If you’re a bit too harsh and rub the skin instead of gently tapping, patting your skin can stretch. Since the eye area is so delicate, that stretch can lead to irritation or wear and tear on the skin. • Don’t forget – less is more. Don’t put on too much, as it can also cause irritation and you can easily reach the opposite effect if you go overboard #eyes #eyecream
How? Sunlight breaks down the natural protective protein found in each of your hair strands, destroys natural shine, zaps moisture leaving your hair looking lack-lustre, brittle, dry and in some cases frizzy! The sun bleaches your colour and unfortunately often with uneven, brassy, unattractive results. Not all of us are as blessed as the lucky few whose hair takes on subtle highlights from the sun. Like your skin your scalp can get seem oilier in summer as heat causes your sebaceous glands to produce more oil, combine this with perspiration and your hair feels dirtier. Keep it healthy For our best summer hair we need our hair to be healthy. So first and foremost book yourself regular appointments with your hairdresser to trim off those dry frizzy ends. Once they are damaged or starting to split the only way to get rid of the problem is to trim away the damage. This doesn’t mean you need to have your hair cut short –just a mini-trim to prevent split ends becoming split hair. There are many products on the market which contain silicone and these will temporarily ‘glue’ the hair cuticle smooth, flattening out the roughness…but they are only temporary solutions. Don’t… Be tempted to shampoo your hair everyday as this deprives the hair of its natural moisture. Avoid hot water hair wash, as the heat can damage your hair so use cool water instead. Switch to a repairing or moisture enriching shampoo during summer, rather than your normal shampoo to help protect against summer damage. Washing your hair every other day will allow your scalp’s oil production to re-balance itself, which is extra important for moisture during summertime weather. Don’t brush your hair when it’s wet or frizzy as wet hair will stretch and dry damaged hair will snag ad cause more damage, use a wide tooth comb to gently tease out tangles and prevent over-stretching or damaging the hair. Gently blow dry your hair, but not completely. Instead finger dry your hair on a medium to low heat setting, as it will save you time and reduce hair damage. Apply your styling product, twist random sections of your hair for a low-key, relaxed look. All of is low-maintenance routine and gives you a great look that you don’t have to keep checking on throughout the day. Forget the hair spray as its extremely drying. It contains ingredients like alcohol and ethanol which can be very damaging to your hair because they dry it out, causing it to snap or break very easily. Protect Dry hair will absorb the first liquid it's exposed to so during the summer you need to protect it, whether wet or dry hair, with a leave in conditioner, preferably one with SPF. There are lots of hair products available that include UV filters. You can try running your hands through your hair after applying sunscreen to your body to leave a fine residue of SPF through your hair. This is particularly advisable before swimming to protect against sea salt and pool chemicals drying effects. Heat Up Use the heat of the summer sun for some repair. While you’re sunbathing treat your tresses to a deep-conditioning treatment – apply conditioner generously, then comb through to the ends of your hair and loosely pile on the top of your head and let the product go to work while you relax. Not only does this protect your hair from salt or chlorinated water but will give your hair an extra boost of softness and shine. Just a drop… A few drops of Moroccan Argan Oil applied through your hair will nourish and seal each hair strand as the oil acts as an additional barrier to sunlight, sea and pool because oil and water don’t mix. (I recommend OROFLUIDO Beauty Elixir for Your Hair it’s a mixture of 3 oils smelling exquisite I use on my hair client and many of my loved it and now use it at home) I also use myself and stock EnvyPro Super Oil 3 that will moisturise and nourish all hair types. Giving a lightweight feel and finish, this oil keeps hair tangle and frizz free, with built in sunscreen to help protect colour fading. And Elixirs provide sun-damaged hair with moisture and both conveniently may be applied to wet or dry hair. Try L'Oreal Elvive Extraordinary Oil UV Filter for All Hair Types 100ml Remember Wear a hat or cap or wrap scarf loosely round your head to protect your hair from the sun’s damaging effects, or tie it up in a loose bun, top knot or plait so only outer layer are exposed to direct sunlight. Drink plenty of water and eat a healthy diet rich in omega-3 fatty acids plus lots of fruit and vegetables as vitamins A, B and other have proven in studies to keep your hair strong and looking healthy and shiny. I’d love to hear your thought and comments on all of this. And if you enjoyed this article then please take a moment to share it via social media.
Though it may seem to be a simple task that we all do regularly, I often get asked questions where the solution can easily be found by ensuring they are following simple but effective hair washing steps - especially children, once they start washing their own hair. Here are my simple steps... 1) apply a small dollop of shampoo in palm of hand (about a 10 pence piece size) add a little water and apply to their scalp & root area using finger tips to massage scalp in circular motions - this lets the shampoo cleanse the scalp, grab any product debris, sebum on the skin area. 2) then let the water rinse the shampoo through to the ends of the hair, make sure hair is well rinsed, squeaky clean - yes that's really a thing! BEWARE - failure to rinse thoroughly at this point may cause scalp irritation, even dandruff, as shampoo particles that can cause scalp itching an irritation! (especially if highly fragranced) 3) Gently squeeze out excess water from hair - from roots to tips 4) Time to condition - apply a larger dollop of conditioner into palm of hand, distribute between both hands and apply from mid-lengths or your hair to the very ends. (the scalp will naturally condition your roots so only apply any conditioner remaining on your hands lightly to root area) 5) Wait 1 minute and rinse thoroughly - again until squeaky clean. 6) Gently squeeze out excess water from root to tips and wrap in a towel. DO NOT be tempted to twist your hair in the towel as this will cause damage as while hair is wet it becomes stretchy and therefore more prone to stress and damage. 7) comb through with fingers, a wide toothed comb or a tangle teaser - do not be tempted to brush you hair when wet as this will stretch, damage and stress you hair which can cause or increase frizz once dried. If blow drying apply a heat protection product first and only use your hair dryer on its medium setting and direct air flow from roots to tip working from the underneath sections first. WHY - The reason for only using your medium hair dryer setting is that hairdryers are so hot and powerful that a full power blast will evaporate moisture too quickly causing hair to be become dry and frizzy. (which in turn won't save you time overall as you'll spend more time trying to smooth and straighten) NOTE - A 2nd shampoo is only required when hair is either A) very dirty, B) built up with a lot of product(s) C) washing out hair tint after applying colour The number of shampoos and conditioners available online and in the hih street can and is overwhelming, even for me as a hair and beauty professional. What with ... added silicone and fragrances that you should be avoiding. The added oils that could leave your hair greasy or weighed down. Along with so many other ingredients 🤷🏻♀️ it is no wonder its so confusing! I was introduced to EnvyPro in 2012 and have been a personal and professional user and stockist ever since. In fact I was waiting for a Keratin enriched product to appear on the market following the appearance of Brazilian Keratin Smoothing Treatments that give up to 6 months of straightening but take hours to apply in salon with a price tag to match! EnvyPro was designed and created an industry acclaimed hairdresser, Paul Bryan, who has tons of experience handling all hair types within his own salons. This is not a product range created by boffins on a lab but by an experienced hair industry professional. There are just 6 products in the range all enriched with keratin and hydrolyzed silk amino acids (keratin is a natural protein found in your hair, skin and hairs) The EnvyPro Gentle Cleansing Shampoo & Detangling Conditioner are designed so every hair type is cleansed, soft and never weighed down 👧🏼👩🏻🧑🏾🧓🏽👧🏽👩🏼 Discover the restoring power of this incredible duo in either 250ml retail size or 1 Litre salon pump size. (ask me for samples) I am so confident you'll love these products that I offer a money-backed guarantee should you wish to return them to me 👍
Rare is the woman who can indulge with abandon at dessert and not wonder where a little extra wobble might show up later. Sugar is a sly villain; it will give our taste buds a hit of pleasure before wreaking havoc everywhere else. But there probably aren't many of us who worry that eating it might also cause wrinkles. The science is this: When you have sugar molecules in your system, they bombard the body's cells like a meteor shower—bonding onto fats and proteins in a process known as glycation. This forms advanced glycation end products (commonly shortened, appropriately, to AGEs), which cause protein fibers to become stiff and malformed. Much of what is known about glycation's ill effects comes from diabetes research. The proteins in skin most prone to glycation are the same ones that make a youthful complexion so plump —collagen and elastin. When those proteins hook up with renegade sugars, they become discolored, weak, and less supple; this shows up on the skin's surface as wrinkles, sagginess, and a loss of radiance. The complexion also becomes more vulnerable to bad-news assailants such as UV light and cigarette smoke. It's happening right now, to all of us. It can even be measured. If you take a fluorescent image of children, their faces will come out very dark, but with each decade, the AGEs, and therefore the brightness, will accumulate more and more. The external signs of glycation show up around the age of 30 or 35, when a build-up of sun damage, environmental oxidative stress, and hormonal changes this development of AGEs begins to show their unwanted results. When you're younger, your body has more resources to ward off damage, and you're producing more collagen. When you reach a certain age, these sugar by-products begin to build up at the same time that your threshold for damage is getting lower. Health-nut staples such as whole grains, fruits, and vegetables turn to glucose when digested too—albeit in less damaging fashion. We shouldn’t eliminate all types of sugar from our diets; they are essential fuel for cells and energy metabolism, critical to survival. Diet and lifestyle choices can affect how quickly the effects can be seen on the skin. Glycation is seen prematurely in smokers, as smoke reduces antioxidants in skin, and smokers' vitamin C and E are being used up trying to take care of all this oxidation, so they don't have a lot of antioxidant potential to take care of normal processes like glycation. Skin care too makes a difference. Scientists have been on the hunt for potent anti-glycati on agents since the '80s, but products containing viable AGE fighters only began to appear on the market about five years ago. Now that glycation is widely recognized as a major cause of aging, lots of comprehensive anti-aging creams contain AGE fighters too. Mary Kay has a number of age-fighting products within their TIMEWISE® range. Many ingredients have been proven to significantly interfere with the glycation process while stimulating collagen synthesis—anything that stimulates the fibroblasts to build new collagen is going to help eradicate damage. Since your body has a process where old collagen is broken down by enzymes and new collagen is generated, what's going to happen is that the old glycated collagen will eventually be eliminated and replaced by un-glycated collagen. Which is great news for us all, so the sooner you start using AGE fighting skincare products the sooner you start to generate new collagen. Mary Kay conducted a 12 week clinical study using their TIMEWISE® Miracle Set , overseen by a panel of dermatologists and saw an 83% in reductions in fine lines and wrinkles along with a 25% improvement in elasticity. Ask Jane today for a Free Mary Kay TimeWise® Pamper Facial and experience 12 age-diminishing benefits to help you look your beautiful youthful best. (Extracts from article written by April Long)
Lash Intensity™ Mascara was Mary Kays most successful mascara launch ever! Temporarily selling out within 2weeks of its launch in 2016 in the UK and across Europe, It is still a best selling favourite to this day! WHY? - A Little TLC : Triple Lash Conditioning Lash Intensity™ Mascara is formulated with Pro Vitamin B5 (commonly used in hair products) to help protect, condition and lashes. It’s also formulated with an emollient fatty-acid compound shown to bind 170 percent of its weight in water to help prevent lash breakage. Plus, the formula contains vitamin E, a well-known protective antioxidant. Lash Intensity™ Mascara delivers wow-worthy volume plus irresistible length to magnify, maximise and multiply the look of your lashes! HOW WIth its Double Impact™ Brush for our most intense mascara yet!
There are 5 things to consider... Your skin, your makeup, lighting, seating and camera angle, 1) Your skins hydration - always use a good moisturiser and massage it well into your skin in upward circular motion. This will hydrate fine lines and even out the appearance of any imperfections. Your skin will instantly look better and a moisturiser with SPF will also help with the damaging effects of blue light from your devices. Mary Kay TimeWise 3D Day Cream with SPF 30 will hydrate for 12 hours and gives broad spectrum protection against blue light. 2) Your makeup should be applied using as much daylight as possible, set up your make-up products and mirror facing a window to ensure the natural light illuminates your face. Always wear foundation and conceal under the eyes. Invest in a good quality transfer resistant foundation that will stays in place all day without needing constant touch ups, the Mary Kay CC cream (Complexion Corrector ) is a quick one step solution to even out your skin tone, cover imperfections, whilst giving your skin an instant radiant glow so you won’t look flat on camera. Next banish undereye dark circles with s peach toned concealer to neutralise the bluish hue, the Mary Kay Undereye Corrector will banish and brighten those dark smudges making you look instantly more alert. Then add some colour to the social triangle of your face... which takes in both your eyes and your mouth. Remember, contrast and colour can often be diminished by cameras so it’s best to apply a little more makeup than you are used to wearing, without going over the top! What looks natural face to face is quite different on-screen so you'll need to bridge the gap between the two. Start by framing your face by lightly filling in your eyebrows, comb through Mary Kay Volumising Brow Tint - with its tiny mascara like brush you just comb through a hint of natural colour. Next define your eyes by applying two coats of mascara on your lashes, Mary Kay Love Lash Mascara will add definition and volume. For your cheeks sweep some natural colour onto the apples of your cheeks, the peachy /apricot of Mary Kay Sheer Dimension Powder in Lace to add radiance. Complete your makeup with a pinky nude lip colour or gloss on your lips to enhance your mouth. Or use your favourite lip colour for a little extra confidence. 3) Lighting - Avoid sitting under spotlights and set yourself up in natural daylight facing a window if possible. Ideally you want to place your Laptop in front of the light so that the light is on your face, and on the back of your laptop screen 4) Seating - sit up straight, don't slouch, lean very slightly forward so you look engaged and interested. Check what is visible on screen behind you... and turn off any background noise that may distort sound quality such as the dishwasher, washing machine or television. If you can't turn background noise off wear earbud headphones and mute your microphone when listening to others. 5) Camera angle - position your tablet or laptop up at the right height so you are not looking down which causes shadows on your face. Experiment with books or a box to get the right height prior Finally, take a deep breath, smile... you've got this! I’d love to hear your thoughts and comments, if you have enjoyed this blog please share it with you friends. If you have any questions, you’d like me to answer personally please contact me. I am always happy to help!
Please note this video was made in 2017 but the principles remain true.
How does it work? Due to the simple fact that your feet truly are one of the main centers of your body. You can heal the body through your feet. Think foot reflexology. The feet are where we find the “meridian points”, which are similar to acupuncture points. It’s believed that, as these points contain significant electrical properties, stimulating them could help to relieve discomfort in various different parts of the body. Foe Exampl - Using a Menthol & Eucalputus VapoRub on your feet can help to cure coughs and the ancient practice of sleeping with onion slices on the soles of your feet is believed to treat a cold as onions are a proven bactericide. Why Charcoal? When you use a detoxifying activated charcoal foot mask on your feet, the mixture can draw impurities from the body and skin, moisturize skin cells and stimulate your lymphatic flow and circulation. When applied to the soles of your feet cctivated charcoal foot masks also excel at absorbing odors, thereby leaving your feet especially clean and fresh. You can buy insoles with charcoal for precisely this purpose. What Is Activated Charcoal? Activated charcoal, sometimes called activated carbon, is charcoal that has been processed to expand its surface area. It’s often used to treat cases of drug overdose and poisoning because drugs and toxins easily bind to it and can then be flushed from the body. Activated charcoal is also frequently used in masks due to its ability to absorb twice it's weight in toxins drawn out from the body, it cleans and smoothes the skin. In short... an activated charcoal mask when used on the feet delivers both relaxation and detox effects. Click to discover more about Mary Kay Deep Cleansing Charcoal Mask
Dermaplaning is a skin treatment that uses an exfoliating blade to skim dead skin cells and hair from your face, bascally a gentle exfoliation. In addition dermaplaning removes 'peach fuzz' or vellus hairs that cover your face and results is a more radiant, less dull, smoother texture complexion. Is it the same as shaving? Many people assume it like shaving but dermaplaning involves a sharp, precise scalpel blade which is different from typical razor blades. What are the Benefits of Dermaplaning? Promotes smoother, softer skin Diminishes the look of fine lines Removes soft facial hair that traps dirt and oils Safe procedure for removing dead skin cells and “peachfuzz”- gentle exfoliatio Reduces the appearance of acne scars Works on all skin types Instant results and no downtime Products penetrate deeper into your skin. FACT - Your skin is exposed daily to harsh environmental toxins, irritants, and sun damage which can cause the top layer of your skin to appear dull, and it can make you look aged. Dermaplaning clears away the damaged skin cells so newer skin cells are what you see when you look in the mirror. How does dermaplaning work? A sterile blade is used at a 45-degree angle to making small feather like strokes across your skin removing dead skin cells, scar tissue, and other debris that may be blocking your pores and making your skin’s surface look uneve. How often can you Dermaplaning your skin? Dermaplaning is usually performed every three to four weeks. It is good to have the skin complete its normal rejuvenation cycle, which is thirty days, before going back and having the treatment done. The procedure generally will remove between two to three weeks of dead skin from the facial area.