How to stop your pillowcase from sabotaging your beauty sleep

Anyone who has ever dealt with acne probably has a hefty hit list of the culprits that could be the cause. From hormones and certain topicals to diet and pollution, there are a tonne of factors that could be to blame for your breakouts. But if you’re yet to suspect what you're sleeping on, well, you should.
Acne mechanica (a specific type of acne that results from material or objects touching your face) is all too real, and the pillowcase you lay your head on at night is actually one of the very worst offenders.
Basically, if your pillow cover isn’t washed or switched out on the regular, even the strongest skin care regimen won’t be able to save you from the buildup of dirt, oil and bacteria calling your pillow home.
So, to keep your case from sabotaging your precious beauty sleep, we’ve come up with five skin-saving strategies to ensure your bed stays a safe place for snoozing instead of a bacteria breeding ground.
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1: Opt for a page-turning pillowcase
Yep, these exist, and they’re genius. If you’re lazy with laundry, or you know, just a human being who doesn’t have time to wash their pillowcase after every nap, pick up a page-turner quick smart. The amount of time they can go unwashed all comes down to the material you opt for
If you want to go a full week, the cotton option gives you eight night’s worth of sleep-ready sheets. Or, if you’re partial to a pillowcase of the silk variety, the satin case gives you three nights of silky-soft sleep with each wash. Either way, you’ll be able to spend less time washing and cleansing, and more time sleeping and enjoying your clear complexion. Ideal.
bh loves: déjà Cotton Pillowcase (approx. $66 getdeja.com), déjà Silk Pillowcase (approx. $131, getdeja.com)
2: Try a tea tree oil rinse
When you do wash your case, you’ll want to make sure you’re banishing as much bacteria as possible. Add a few drops of tea tree oil into the wash to freshen the fabric, nix any unpleasant odours and remove any lurking mould or mildew (because, um, gross). Rinsing your pillowcase with tea tree oil will also work to kill microbial buildup thanks to its anti-bacterial and anti-fungal status.
3: Limit hair to skin product transfer
Your skin isn’t the only thing commonly in contact with your pillow. If you’re a back or side sleeper, your case is absorbing all of the delightful grime, oil and product from your hair too. Yep, every pump of volumising mousse or smoothing serum you’ve applied is now transferring straight to your face via your pillow.
So, if you wouldn’t spritz salt spray directly onto your skin, try a silk wrap on your hair at night to protect your precious complexion. It’ll also help to keep hair silky soft and smooth, as well as away from your face through the night. Perk city.
bh loves: Silke London Hair Wrap ($96, sephora.com.au)
4: Steer clear of fabric softeners
They may make your clothes feel like butter, but they’re not so great for the fabric you lay your head on. Not only do they generally contain a concoction of chemicals and fragrances that you probably don’t want so close to your face, but the softener agents within these formulas can also cause congestion, as they often coat fabric fibres with layers of residue that can clog your pores – best to steer clear (pun most certainly intended).
5: Go disposable (but biodegradable)
Big fan of your current case? No worries; there’s no need to swap it out entirely. Just throw on one of these pillow slipcovers before bed. They’re super soft and comfy to sleep on, plus they won’t absorb your expensive night creams like a lot of other pillowcases do. They’re also infused with eucalyptus, tea tree and lemon to calm your mind (and your skin) as you rest. Keep each cover on for up to four nights, then simply swap it out. No need to worry about environmental guilt either; these bad boys are biodegradable. Win win.
bh loves: Clean Kovr 1 month pack ($45, kovrdpillowslips.com)
Main image credit: @bellahadid
Have you put any of these skin strategies into play?
74 Member Comments
I didn't even know disposable pillowcases existed until I read this article. I really want a silk pillowcase
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These are some fantastic tips. Never ever thought about the products on the hair transferring from pillow to skin, really good points
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Since I started using a silk pillow case my skin and hair are so much better, I always wash it once or twice a week too
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Can't imagine a disposable pillow case. I wash mine regularly , would rather that than throwing it away, biodegradable or otherwise.
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I wash mine once a week but the biodegradable ones sound good too
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great ideas but i cant get on board with disposable and the cost
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Exactly, how expensive would that be.
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My goodness that is expensive
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That pillowcase is genius!
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Cotton is so cool in summer
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The silk hair wrap looks gorgeous and helpful!! I wouldn't be a fan of changing my pillow case everyday, I think that's quite unsustainable for costs purposes.
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No good sleep for me without fresh pillowcases and always cotton!
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Really interesting to hear about how much a pillow case can make a difference
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The bit about fabric softeners was a eye opener, I've never even thought about it before. Thankfully I only use it on my towels. You learn all kinds of things on BH.
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I haven't come across the disposable pillow slips. I'm glad they're biodegradable.
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I love the idea of the hair wrap.
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I have never heard of the page turner pillowcase and it is a good idea. I know that if I do not change my pillowcase regularly I get more pimples so I change them often.
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just marked the message by bellasandra2 as spam.
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Some great tips here.
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I didn't know those type of pillowcases existed. I always change mine every week.
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The page turner one sounds like a cool idea but wouldn't your oils etc seep through the fabric onto the next layer anyway?
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that's a very great point!!
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