SILKUP Pillowcase – the perfect beauty sleep companion

I am an absolute convert to sleeping on a silk pillowcase, not something I thought I would ever say, but I have quite a few different branded ones and if you have never tried them, I really recommend you do.  On the blog today I am sharing a new silk pillowcase from a brand called SILKUP.

SILKUP is perhaps best known for its Luna Silk Hair Wrap, which by the way looks just amazing. As SILKUP state, we all want to have stronger, healthier hair, spending money, time and effort making it look its best during the day. But have you ever thought about the damage you are causing at night when you lay your head down on your pillow?  That question is one I had never thought about until I read about the benefits of sleeping on silk and they include:

• Reduced sleep creases
• Reduced thinning of the hair and split ends
• Keeps hair moisturised
• Promotes Growth
• Kinder to sensitive skin
• Helping the body to regulate the correct temperature

I am one of those people who will wake up at night because the pillow I am sleeping on is too hot, I turn the pillow over to the cooler side. I've got cold gel inserts to help regulate the temperature, I have slept on cold towels that have spent the day in the fridge.  I have noticed the sleep creases and I have suffered from horrendous friction and frizz, all of which can only come from one thing - my pillowcase.

The SILKUP pillowcase is made from 100% mulberry silk (19 momme) and features a hidden zip fastening to not only keep your pillowcase in place but also ensure it won't snag on your hair. Each pillowcase is designed to fit a standard international/queen size pillow

I was kindly gifted a SILKUP pillow in Midnight Blue, the most beautiful shade of blue as you can see above and it comes wonderfully packaged with the minimal amount of creases, though once it has been put onto your pillow and smoothed, the creases disappear.  As well as being available in Midnight Blue, you can also find two further shades - Graphite which is black and Stone which is Beige.

As I have said, investing in a silk pillowcase is absolutely something I would now do, having been lucky enough to try a few brands now, as I have said, it has been quite the experience.  So why silk?

Benefits of Silk Pillowcases

As mentioned, not only does a silk pillowcase feel luxurious to sleep on, they have many benefits for your hair, your skin and of course you.  

Silk is a natural material and hosts anti-static properties which in turn can reduce friction on the hair as well as helping to improve your hairs quality and it has been said there has been a reduction in thinning, split ends and frizz. A silk pillowcase also helps with extending the life of a blow-dry by two days, reducing the need to restyle in the morning and therefore avoiding any additional heat damage.   The latter point I am pleased to say is absolutely true and is one of the first things I was able to put to the test.

When it comes to your skin, sleeping on a silky-smooth surface with little friction is said to minimise the look of facial lines and wrinkles.  Now thankfully, my lines and wrinkles are not noticeable and it isn't something I can claim works, but for me, the claim that helping skin to retain moisture is something I was intrigued by.  As a beauty blogger, I am lucky to receive a lot of products to try and test and there is, on some occasions, I purchase the products I have been sent, so spending money on products is not something I want to see wasted.  What I have found so that a silk pillowcase doesn't absorb anything that I apply, there are no marks left on the pillow and over the last 6 months, there has been a change to my skin and how it feels.  It is by no means flawless, but the dryness I have on both cheeks, something I have mentioned regularly on this blog, has got better, it is still there, but nowhere near as flaky and irritated as it has been.

Also important to note is that Silk is naturally hypoallergenic which can help reduce the symptoms of allergies repelling bed and dust mites, dust, pollen and other airborne allergens.

So What Makes Silkup Pillowcases different?

There are a lot of brands who now offer silk pillowcases, I have four different branded ones on my bed, one has been featured and there are two others yet to come.  But what makes SILKUP different? 

Nichola Stott, SILKUP Founder said: “Sleeping on silk is a great way to help your skin maintain its natural moisture. Not only does it feel luxurious against your skin, we have found we save money on the skincare products we use as our skin is able to retain more moisture.”

SILKUP’s also has a vision to transition the world towards zero-waste hair and beauty products through their high quality, innovative products designed to help reduce the number of products needed on your hair and skin. By using their products, you will see an improvement in the appearance of your skin and hair, meaning less money spent on products and less time spent styling hair.

Price and Availability

Each pillowcase from SILKUP is priced at £58 and they can be found right here.

*this post contains PR samples and/or Affiliate Links unless indicated otherwise - you can learn more on my Disclaimer page.

Christmas Gifting with Emma Hardie Skincare

If you are a regular here then you will be aware that my love for Emma Hardie runs deep, especially the Moringa Cleansing Balm which I am always raving about. If you didn't know, Emma Hardie is a renowned facialist and leading pioneer in natural healing and skin rejuvenation. Emma prides itself on creating natural, cruelty-free products with integrity, avoiding skin sensitising ingredients and using natural botanicals to help the skin.

If you have never used a single Emma Hardie product, then today's gift guide is not only better than the 2018 offering, but it is one you will find tempting and not want to miss. I have something for every budget within this guide, so whether you want to spend £10, £60 or something in-between this is what you can find:

Firstly we have Merrily Moringa (£10) - The perfect stocking filler, secret Santa or something to hang on your tree, this Merrily Moringa kit is one to grab. Inside you will find Emma Hardie's Award-winning Moringa Cleansing Balm and Dual-Action Cleansing Cloth in a deluxe travel size (15ml). 

This, if you have never tried the Moringa Cleansing Balm is a great introduction to just how amazing it is.  I have featured this Balm many times on my blog and it is a purifying botanical cleansing balm that removes all traces of face and eye make-up, deeply cleanses the pores as well as balancing, hydrating and moisturising all skin types. Like all Emma Hardie products, this balm is packed full of amazing ingredients, you will find:

• Grape Seed Oil and Sweet Almond Oil rich in essential fatty acids help to plump and soften
• Moringa seed extract, Wild Sea Fennel and Vitamin E balance, purify and help to minimise the appearance of open pores
• Essential oils of Orange, Neroli and Mandarin rejuvenate and revitalise the skin whilst calming the senses
• Jasmine and Rose help to recondition dull, dry, dehydrated and mature skins

The Dual-action cloth is perfect for use with the cleansing balm.  One side of the cloth is a gentle microfibre material for deep cleansing and removal whereas the other side is a muslin cloth for polishing the skin. 

Up next is the Daily Essentials Collection Cracker (£20) - Alongside the cult favourite Moringa Cleansing Balm, this cracker has everything you need to create an easy to follow skincare routine using only Emma Hardie products. 

Inside you will find a Moringa Cleansing Balm (15ml), Dual-Action Cleansing Cloth, Protect & Prime SPF 30 (15ml), Midas Touch Revitalising Cream (15ml).  Again, a great way to become acquainted with a brand and their much-loved products before splashing out on full sizes.  

As well as the balm, Protect & Prime is an amazing product (review here) and one I have gone through tubes of.  With its SPF30, Protect and Prime is a lightweight, non-greasy skin protecting and priming cream.  Packed full of amazing ingredients such as Mongongo Oil, Oat Extract and Vitamin E, they all work to protect and guard the skin against premature ageing, sun damage and environmental exposure. It also has a unique light-diffusing formulation to prime the skin and even out the complexion as well as helping to blur the appearance of fine lines and pores. 

The Midas Touch Revitalising Cream (review here) is one of my favourite creams. With its luxurious texture which absorbs incredibly quickly into the skin, this cream is formulated with hyaluronic acid to banish signs of fatigue and stress as well as to hydrate and plump the skin. Other ingredients include a powerful blend of marine and botanical extracts such as antioxidant edelweiss stem cells which work to condition and tone while brightening properties are delivered by natural polymatrix algae film extract.  Also found within this cream are the natural oils of Moringa, Primrose and Rosehip which work together to moisturise, nourish and soothe and it smells just incredible.

If you are already a fan of Emma Hardie and have used a few products, then the Brightening Collection (£50) is one to be adding to your wishlist.

This Collection has been specially designed to hydrate, cleanse, revitalise and brighten for naturally radiant skin. Inside you will find a Moringa Cleansing Balm 50ml, Dual-Action Cleansing Cloth, Rosehip Exfoliating Seeds 5g, Purifying Detox Pink Clay Mask, Moisture Boost Vit + C Cream.

The Rosehip Exfoliating Seeds I first came across earlier this year and it is such a good inclusion and a real skin treat. All you need to do is to add just a pinch of the seeds to the Moringa balm for a gentle exfoliation action whilst you cleanse, they are not at all abrasive on the skin and it really does give a wonderful bespoke at-home facial.

The Purifying Detox Pink Clay Mask (full review here) is described as being a botanical-rich, purifying and detoxifying mask that deeply cleanses and balances skin, exfoliating gently to remove impurities and refine pores. It is formulated using Australian pink clay which is said to improve the skin’s natural moisture levels as it cleanses and refines. Then there is Emma Hardie’s trademarked ‘Defensil’ technology which aims to reduce redness and inflammation thereby leave your complexion looking much smoother and more even there is also the brand’s signature moringa seed oil, which is not only rich in vitamins C and E, it also provides antioxidant protection, deflecting skin-damaging environmental pollutants.

The final item within this collection is the Moisture Boost Vit + C Cream is described as being a Vitamin C enriched face cream that helps to promote your skins natural radiance. Using a pure blend of Vitamin B3 and time-released Vitamin C they help to reduce the appearance of dark spots and areas of high colour. It also increases healthy collagen production, leaving the skin looking brighter and clearer as well as reducing the visible signs of ageing. Red Algae Extract has a reversing effect on UV damage creating a luminous and refined complexion, whilst Pumpkin Enzymes, Shea Butter and Grapeseed Oil all encourage increased cellular renewal and regeneration.

The final gift that I am sharing today is incredible and it is an absolute must for any Emma Hardie Fan and it is called Glow on the Go (£60).  

The products within this collection are designed to boost your skins natural radiance and included you will find a 50ml Moringa Cleansing Balm, Dual-Action Cleansing Cloth, 30ml Brilliance Facial Oil, 20ml Moisture Boost Vit C Cream.  Again there is a skincare routine right here to ensure your skin is cleansed, cleaned and moisturised.

All of these products you will find mentioned above, except the Brilliance Facial Oil.  For me, oil is an absolute must in the winter. From Emma Hardie, this Brilliance Facial Oil is described as being a multi-active, lightweight, nourishing facial oil complex which includes nine essential oils - Palma Rose, Orange, Mint, Vanilla, Geranium, Camomile, Lemon, Rose and Lavender. These oils all come together to re-balance and replenish precious moisture while balancing sebum production. The oils work alongside Omega 3 which helps to restructure the skin and promote elasticity and Camelina 'Gold of Pleasure' oil which is known for its powerful antioxidant properties to protect the skin from environmental damage.  This oil has been on my watch list for some time and I have been using it daily since it arrived and not only does it feel incredible on the skin, I love that it is a non-greasy oil and my skin just drinks it as quick as I apply it.

There is absolutely something for everyone within this Emma Hardie Skincare gift guide and whether you are a huge fan, new to the brand or yet to discover the brand, this is such a great introduction.  You can find all of these gifts and more on the Emma Hardie website.

Do you have a favourite Emma Hardie product?

*this post contains PR samples and/or Affiliate Links unless indicated otherwise - you can learn more on my Disclaimer page.