Pillowcases can have a big effect on your skin and hair. That’s why it’s essential to pay special attention to what they’re made of. Vegan silk pillowcases are healthy, soft, and guilt-free.
Wondering which one to go for? We’re here to help! In this article, we’ll review the 4 best vegan silk pillowcases.
4 Options for Cruelty-Free Silk Pillowcases
First, I’ll share the pillowcases themselves. After that, I’ll also share some tips on how to choose, and factors to consider when buying.
Vegan Silk: Lyocell Bamboo Pillow Cases (Set of 2)
This queen-size set of 2 pillowcases is made entirely out of lyocell bamboo. Bamboo plants are great for the environment, and lyocell is especially so.
This set carries the Stanford 100% Eco-Green certification by OEKO-TEX. This means it creates no harmful waste at any point in its production.
And it offers much more than being cruelty-free and environmentally friendly. It’s hypoallergenic, so if you have any allergies or sensitive skin, this set will help you sleep comfortably.
It’s breathable and odor-resistant, so it stays fresh for long periods of time. Also, it’s thermo-regulating, making it perfect for any season. It’s warming during the winter and cooling during the summer.
This set is also moisture-absorbent, which allows it to dry faster. Lyocell is anti-bacterial, which means that this set will require less frequent washing.
It’s a gentle fabric on your skin, hair, and eye-lashes
Things we like
- It’s certified to cause zero harm to the environment
- It’s hypoallergenic
- It’s breathable
- It’s thermo-regulating
Things we don’t like
- It’s on the more expensive side
Rivet: Half Moon Sateen Pillowcase Set
This pillowcase set by Rivet (Amazon link) is beautiful, comfy, healthy, and 100% vegan. The set comes in two colors, white and peach-pink.
Sometimes in other pillowcases, cotton is used as the main fabric but other non-vegan fabrics are added, too. The Rivet Half Moonset is 100% cotton, though, so you don’t have to worry at all about any animal suffering.
Rivet Half Moon set is also sateen. This means that the fabric is made using vegan satin weave structures. The process of making sateen strengthens the fibers and makes them more durable. It also gives them a luxurious and radiant look.
It’s also amazing for anyone who has allergies because it resists mildew. Sateen is also breathable. While pure Egyptian cotton has a coarse feeling to it before it softens with time, sateen is soft from day one.
This set is very crisp and doesn’t need ironing. It also fits perfectly and doesn’t shrink after the first wash.
Things We Like
- Crisp and silky
- Breathable
- A good choice for those with allergies
Things We Don’t Like
- Uses a lot of water in the manufacturing process
Bedsure: Cooling Bamboo Pillowcases Set
This set of 2 pillowcases by Bedsure is made out of 100% bamboo. Fabrics made out of bamboo are generally some of the most sustainable fabrics there are.
Companies using bamboo fabrics don’t have as much waste as others. So bamboo fabrics aren’t just the animals’ friends, but also the environment’s as a whole.
However, beware that the type of bamboo used for this product is viscose. The process used to make it could produce some toxic waste.
Bedsure’s bamboo set isn’t just bamboo-derived, but also has a sateen finish to ensure the softness and sleekness of the fabric. This, of course, is perfect for your hair and skin.
It’s also moisture- and odor-resistant. This makes it even more breathable and suitable for all seasons. Its absorption of moisture helps with those sleepless hot summer nights.
The set is also designed in an envelope closure way. This is to prevent the pillowcases from slipping off your pillows during the night. It even has a 7” attached hem finish on the inside to help it fit even more tightly.
The set comes in grey and in standard, queen, and king sizes. Bedsure also has a 1-month return policy.
Things we like
- Made of Bamboo
- Sustainable
- Silky!
- Breathable.
Things we don’t like
- The viscose Bamboo process used to make it creates some toxic waste
Bedsure: Satin Pillowcase (2-Pack)
This Bedsure alternative is for you if you’re really looking for the feeling of silk, but want a vegan alternative.
The vegan satin is made of 100% polyester. Traditionally, satin was woven out of silk. But silk depends on animal exploitation for its manufacturing process.
Silk is also less durable and sturdy than this polyester satin. And silk pillowcases often need professional care.
Polyester satin is good for your hair. Its sleekness and smoothness cause less friction. It reduces hair breakage, especially if you’re curly-haired and more prone to damaging friction during the night.
As for skin, the smooth texture of the vegan satin pillowcase helps prevent sleep lines, as well.
As with Bedsure’s previous set above, this set also uses the envelope closure design to prevent slipping off, as this is even more likely with the sleekness of a vegan satin pillowcase. It’s also breathable and good for any season.
This set comes in various beautiful colors and shades, including dark green, silver-grey, and black.
Things we like
- You get all the benefits of silk without the animal exploitation
- It’s good for your hair and skin
- It’s non-slip
- It’s breathable
- It’s available in several colors
Things we don’t like
- Polyester uses some chemicals in its production and may cause some harm to the environment
Vegan Silk Pillowcase Buying Guide
Changing from regular fabrics that exploit animals to vegan fabrics isn’t always an easy process. Mainly, that’s because of the lack of information people have about the topic.
So let’s get up to speed on the fabrics you’ll be considering to replace silk, and why you’d consider each one.
What’s So Special About Bamboo?
Because of how few resources this plant takes to grow, pesticide and water-wise, it’s widely seen as one of the most eco-friendly plants.
The plant grows incredibly rapidly in comparison to other similar plants. It can grow up to 3 feet in one day! This is why it doesn’t need any other non-organic fertilizers, chemicals, or pesticides.
It also needs way less water than other plants. Bamboo absorbs 5 times as much carbon dioxide and releases over 30% more oxygen in comparison to other woody plants, too.
Similarly, its waste is usually much less than the others. Great choice for a sustainable, cruelty-free silk pillowcase.
Types of Bamboo
While the Bamboo plant itself is as good as it gets, the processes used to make it into fabrics are more complicated.
Viscose
Viscose is a versatile fabric. It’s often used in bedding sets for its softness and ease of maintenance.
In the solvent and dissolving process in the making of the fiber, viscose bamboo uses sodium hydroxide. This is a corrosive chemical, and it’s often used as the solvent to dissolve the plant pulp. This could create toxic waste that might prove difficult to get rid of.
Lyocell
Lyocell bamboo doesn’t create waste and its cycle is closed-loop. This is because it uses organic amino acids as its solvent.
The amino acids are then later reused in the manufacturing process and the water is evaporated, which can also be reused. This ensures the closed-loop cycle and minimal waste.
Cotton
Cotton is one of the best vegan fabrics out there, from a user-experience standpoint. Its biggest problem, however, is that it uses up to 5,000 gallons of water for planting 1 kg.
My Vegan Silk Pillowcase Recommendation
Animals are frequently mistreated to make fabrics. Vegan silk/satin pillowcases are excellent alternatives. They’re eco-friendly, some more than others, but they’re all striving for the least harmful impact. Vegan fabric manufacturers strive to achieve this in different ways.
With any of these cruelty-free silk pillowcases, you’ll know that no suffering of any animal was caused for your comfort. Not to mention that you’ll wake up with glowing, healthy hair and skin.
I especially recommend Vegan Silk Lyocell Bamboo Pillow Cases (Amazon link) for its zero environmental impact, complete lack of animal cruelty, and for its silky quality fabric.
Two More Recommendations for Your Plant-Based Journey
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2. This is the best vegan multivitamin I’ve found in my 14 years of being vegan. It has vitamin B12, vitamin D, omega-3—and nothing else. Translation: It only has the nutrients vegans are actually low in. Read my full review of Future Kind’s multivitamin here (with 10% discount).