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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

A quick one, so excuse the blatant use of aibu, but which are the best pure silk pillowcases?

35 replies

Whatwaswrongwiththatusername · 27/08/2026 08:58

Hi, I need a fairly quick shortlist of good silk pillowcases (from reputable stores/sites, not cheaply made, or fake polyester satin etc, time sensitive so preferably within a week delivery). In particular if anyone has any of the lilysilk ones and how they are? I would have gone directly to lilysilk at the top of the list , and whilst I like their silk the quality of their silk bonnets has not impressed me; I bought two different styles and the elastic went on both after a quite short period. However I have a beautiful pair of long pjs (a gift and which I’m too fat for! Sob) and the silk is lovely with those, I haven’t been able to wear/wash those much due to rather quickly becoming too much of a massive heffer, and so do not know how they’d be after a while. But I still keep coming back to them to look at their pillowcases, so if anyone has any I’d love to know how you find them, and also which ones you have.

I would also like to know what other brands have been bought and can be recommended.

My preferable list of needs/wants (these will be a gift for me, but not from me, I just need to find some to put on my wishlist):

  1. preferably 20 momme or above
  2. silk on top and underneath (not a silk top with cotton under)
  3. the smooth side of the silk on both - not the matte side on the bottom
  4. typical 75-50cm (standard size for uk pillows)
  5. maybe machine washable, I wash bonnets etc by had usually but have also machine washed
  6. i think I’d prefer plain to oxford or patterned silk, unless it is a beautiful pattern, not just something g like boring stripes (unless a beautiful colour)
  7. a selction of colours to choose from - would usually go for a silver/grey, but maybe also some bright jewel tones for something different, rather than the usual pastel/light colours, but not so important
  8. zippered would be good, but not against envelope
  9. Any current deals like bogof, or half price
  10. i think that’s pretty much it really.
I may be being totally U just for posting for traffic, but time pressure. So thank you if you’ve read this far - I know it’s turned out long - and can help me out, also, am I allowed to post in more than one topic at the same time, as wondering if style & beauty might also be a good place to post. Thank you 🤗

(am using a different username as this it very outing if read by certain people)
eta: can’t change the title but I meant a quick response please, not a quick read, as you can see, sorry 😁 also, how do I turn the poll off? Apologies if that’s still there but let’s say I am being unreasonable because I want good quality because they’ll be a gift for me so someone else is paying, I am not being unreasonable because if you can’t ask for a luxury item as a gift, when can you? And the gift giver is totally prepared! 😁

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Whatwaswrongwiththatusername · 27/08/2026 17:37

Hisappotomus · 27/08/2026 16:17

It's lovely BUT dry clean only. Who wants that?

Yes, that is the only downside, tbh. And it is a big downside, unfortunately. Although what would really happen to it if you gently washed it by hand, I always wonder, with things like this. I wash my other silk things by hand or washing machine, and it actually makes me think that maybe it’s because it’s not colourfast.

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bugalugs45 · 27/08/2026 16:51

I’ve got one from John Lewis ( own brand ) , cost me £45 ish but very happy with it . And it was available in lots of different colours . I’ve just looked and there’s 20% off
them at the moment

Papyrophile · 27/08/2026 16:40

I have just bought one from Beauty Pie because the ones I have are ageing, but I can't speak on the quality as it hasn't been on a pillow yet.

Hisappotomus · 27/08/2026 16:17

Whatwaswrongwiththatusername · 27/08/2026 14:26

It's lovely BUT dry clean only. Who wants that?

Whatwaswrongwiththatusername · 27/08/2026 14:31

ok… there’s so many! I am living the blue/teal colours the most. These patterns are beautiful! I had an idea they probably would be. Some are a bit twee but others are just gorgeous. I’m looking to see if some of the pairs also come separately so I could mix n match. I think this could be very dangerous, for someone else’s wallet 😂

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Whatwaswrongwiththatusername · 27/08/2026 14:22

cloudtreecarpet · 27/08/2026 10:00

Oh boo, I thought from the thread title that you were recommending the best silk pillowcase...
Oh well, I will watch to see if anyone else does.

There’s been quite a lot of recommendations now, so I hope you’re looking at them too ☺️

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InterIgnis · 27/08/2026 12:15

22 momme/6A mulberry silk. Great quality, and so far so durable: https://www.sleepwithclementine.com/collections/pillowcases

Clementine have the Atelier Medica line which is silk infused with skincare.

There’s also Ecosa silk for 30 momme/6A mulberry silk. They don’t ship to the UK directly but apparently you can find them on AmazonUK.

Organic Silk Pillowcases

Advanced skin health with pillowcases made from 100% GOTS certified organic silk bonnets in 4 ranges including silver ion silk, & infused with hyaluronic acid.

https://www.sleepwithclementine.com/collections/pillowcases

Whatwaswrongwiththatusername · 27/08/2026 12:02

Lilypad34 · 27/08/2026 11:02

Would you consider bamboo instead? I have them and they’re lovely. I don’t use silk because of the animal cruelty aspect but ignore me if bamboo isn’t an option I’m not here to wail what about the animals 😬

I couldn’t edit my other post, but also meant to say that some of the stain on the bamboo ones would be face creams and oils etc, so not just natural face/hair oils. I think that’s the main difference really is that I find with silk it doesn’t absorb those things so much, so stays on/in the skin more and my face feels better in the morning, and I suppose that, along with the soft, tight weave of the material is why my hair becomes less frizzy with silk.
I really haven’t been practicing much in the way of “self care” like I used to be able to do so I suppose it’s just a step in trying to get back to being a bit kinder to myself, if that makes sense? I always used to have the last step of my routine of some good rosehip oil on my faces, which isn’t an “oily” oil, but I imagine some of it might be that, which doesn’t seem to happen with silk as it does absorb pretty quickly into the skin, but I do want to try and get back into at least using that regularly again. OTT, but a good quality, pure rosehip oil is a great last step for anyone that has ever considered using it. It absolutely doesn’t leave the skin feeling oily or make it oily, and it does make a difference.

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TravellingJack · 27/08/2026 12:01

Another vote for M&S. I’ve had some success with Amazon but have ordered the exact same item twice and the first was silk, the second was polyester… so I went back to M&S. I found some in one of their outlets once for about £15 instead of £30 so stocked up a bit, as I do find they eventually give up and disintegrate after machine washing! Did take over a year for my first one to become completely unusable and that was weekly washing on 30 and 40 washes so pretty hardwearing, considering.

Whatwaswrongwiththatusername · 27/08/2026 11:55

Wow, getting lots of recommendations now, thank you all! I’ve seen a few names mentioned multiple times and will be looking into all of them in the next couple of days. I may possibly be able to get to a mns at some point, as it would be good to feel them.
Those of you recommending specific ones (that haven’t been linked to already), could you maybe drop me a link and let me know if you’ve got one yourself and how they have lasted?

Im glad someone has mentioned lillysilk up there, and that it turned into a rag, thank you for that. I have had my doubts due to the bonnets I got from them which completely lost their elastic quite quickly, although tbf the silk itself any too bad, but at their prices I would expect the pillowcases to be a better quality of silk than the bonnets. But it’s also the whole make up of them, if their elastics went it makes me wonder what would the stitching etc on the cases be like after a few uses and washes, so I was concerned about the quality, although, as I said I do have some beautiful (unwearable due to now resembling a whale that’s got its flipper wrapped around an electric eel) pjs from there but I’ve not been able to test the longevity and washability-ness of them, so thank you for that. It could have been a very sad disappointment, especially at their full prices.

Keep them coming, I really appreciate it, thank you!

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Whatwaswrongwiththatusername · 27/08/2026 11:42

Lilypad34 · 27/08/2026 11:02

Would you consider bamboo instead? I have them and they’re lovely. I don’t use silk because of the animal cruelty aspect but ignore me if bamboo isn’t an option I’m not here to wail what about the animals 😬

Thank you for the suggestion, but actually I did accidentally buy two bamboo “silk” pillowcases slightly by mistake a while ago 😄 they were the first ones I bought, and whilst I do use them more than my normal pillowcases I haven’t found they’re as good as the silk. They seem to soak up the slightest hint of oil on the skin/hair and I found that I have never been able to wash it out properly since the first use and wash. There’s still a dark area. I’ve no idea why it has never washed out, so I worry whether it’s just a stain or there’s still oil in it and it’ll make my face oily or something? I’ve never had that problem with my silk bonnets (very Little House On The Prairie, i know). So now, although I do use them, and in fact have one on atm, with a large cheap square of silk that I tuck over the pillowcase they were just disappointing really and just not quite “enough” for my hair. Honestly, since I started wearing the silk bonnets I do look less like I’ve been sleeping with my finger in a socket, but I also want to be able to have the option to not have the extra hassle of getting hair up and out the way so it all fits and doesn’t come undone (I have quite a lot of hair) every night and needing to wear a bonnet without waking up looking absolutely shocking. I mean, I probably don’t look much better wearing the bonnet (have a proper poooooofy one on atm so I’m sure I look stunning) but at least I can whip it off quickly enough and look semi decent under it now.
I do appreciate your ethical concerns though, and it has crossed my mind and it did when I posted, but I have seen a suggestion further up for an ethical silk company so that will be one I’ll be looking at.
I do have a couple of the cheap 1mt sq silk scarfs I put over my pillowcases but obviously they slip around.
Id be open to looking into any good suggestions for bamboo though, if you have any you think are good, as extra pillowcases.

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EmpressaurusKitty · 27/08/2026 11:28

Lilypad34 · 27/08/2026 11:02

Would you consider bamboo instead? I have them and they’re lovely. I don’t use silk because of the animal cruelty aspect but ignore me if bamboo isn’t an option I’m not here to wail what about the animals 😬

Boiling the silkworms inside their cocoons? Someone’s linked to an Ethical Silk Company upthread which says they extract the silk after the silkworms have turned into moths & left.

Hisappotomus · 27/08/2026 11:06

I've got a stash of John Lewis ones as that's all we sleep on. I started using them about 10 years ago I think and only a couple of pairs have eventually started to split. I change my pillowcases every 3 days or so.

I bought a pair of M & S ones recently as they are £10 cheaper and while they felt just as lovely to sleep on, after washing a couple of times there are pulls. I haven't had that at all in my John Lewis ones.

Lilypad34 · 27/08/2026 11:02

Would you consider bamboo instead? I have them and they’re lovely. I don’t use silk because of the animal cruelty aspect but ignore me if bamboo isn’t an option I’m not here to wail what about the animals 😬

ParmoParmoPARMO · 27/08/2026 11:00

Got mine from John Lewis. £45.
Ridiculously indulgent but,I only have one!

dairydebris · 27/08/2026 10:59

Coco and Wolf.

GatherlyGal · 27/08/2026 10:59

Marks and Spencer are the best for the money.

Don't machine wash too hot and don't tumble and they last longer.

Nitgel · 27/08/2026 10:57

I have bought from.john lewis the mulberry silk. Its pretty hard wearing and I bung it in the dryer too

Lovesacake · 27/08/2026 10:56

Jasmine Silk every time. Lily silk are rubbish the pillow cases turned to rags

LifeAt60 · 27/08/2026 10:50

Mine are all from This is Silk and they're still good at five years old, but the price seems to have gone up quite a bit. I'm sure they were about £50 when I bought them, they're now £86.

thisissilk.com/products/pure-silk-skincare-pillowcase

Whatwaswrongwiththatusername · 27/08/2026 10:50

Thank you for your recs so far, I will have to look into them all later, hopefully will see something perfect. Haven’t heard of some of these, and would never have thought about Liberty. Unfortunately it isn’t possible to get to any outlet stores, but that would’ve been a good idea otherwise.
and thanks @mnhqfor editing my title, it seems to have worked.
Please keep all suggestions coming, I’ve a few to look at already, but as many as possible please! 🤗

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Newusernames · 27/08/2026 10:49

I use Slip Silk. Have quite a few in different colours. They last forever and wash well. They often go on sale so I have never paid full price for them.