I Tried Cozy Earth's "Aloe-Treated" Silk Pillowcase and Consider Me Converted — It's Expensive, Sure, but Think of the Money I'll Save on Facials

Maybe it's the fact I live in London (where the water is very, very hard) or that I recently turned 31, but I've started to really notice those little lines that I wake up with around my eyes — I sleep on my side with my face seriously scrunched into the pillow — sticking around until well after my first cup of coffee. So, when Cozy Earth kindly offered me the chance to test one of its silk pillowcases, I thought it was about time I jumped on the bandwagon.

The benefits of silk pillowcases, by now, are generally well understood. Smoother hair, it's softer on your skin, hypoallergenic, naturally thermoregulating... so, what's taken me so long? Honestly, I was hesitant about the work involved in washing silk pillowcases, and I don't particularly love the lustrous look of the fabric against my otherwise crisp cotton bedding.

Safe to say, I was going to be a picky customer when it came to reviewing Cozy Earth's £90 Silk Pillowcase, but the brand has reached cult-status in the US (it even made it to Oprah's 'Favorite Things' list before), so I was excited to see how it stacked up. Before writing this review, I made sure to inspect, wash, and use the pillowcase for two weeks to see if it really was deserving of its 4.9/5-star reviews. Here's how it went.

First Impressions

My first impression of the Cozy Earth Silk Pillowcase was very positive. I really liked the color (I already have John Lewis' Washed Cotton bedding in French Blue that I was trying to match, and it was pretty close).

Apart from that, this is what stood out to me most:

• Shipping: Considering it was coming from a US brand, delivery to the UK was faster than I've experienced with some local brands. Specifically, the order was confirmed on Tuesday, shipped on Friday, and received the following Monday. It's also worth noting that there is free shipping to the UK on orders over £350, and considering the cheapest sheet set starts at £240, it shouldn't be hard to spend that much.
• Packaging: I'm a sucker for pretty packaging, and although I don't imagine I'll ever actually be bothered to store my pillowcase in it again, it did arrive in its own buttoned-up pouch, rather than plastic, which felt like a nice touch.
• Sizing: Once I put it on my standard-sized pillow, I did notice that it felt a little oversized, but perhaps that has to do with the US-UK bedding size conversion. Regardless, the pillowcase has a decent-sized overlap closure inside that comfortably holds my pillow in place.

Is Cozy Earth's Silk Pillowcase Good Quality?

Cozy Earth lists that its silk pillowcases are made from 100% Mulberry silk with 6A long fibers, which is the highest quality of raw silk available. Mulberry silk is made by silkworms, which are fed mulberry leaves, and is known to be the best and softest variety. Considering it's produced in a controlled environment, it's also considered the most consistent and therefore durable type of silk.

On first inspection, it felt just as cool and silky smooth as you'd expect. It was lightweight and subtly shimmered as it caught the light. To add to its silky-smooth feel, the fabric has been sand-washed and "treated with aloe vera," which, according to the brand, provides additional soothing benefits to hair and skin.

As it's a delicate fabric by nature, a lot of the complaints I read about silk pillowcases relate to tears, especially along the seams. I did see that one review mentioned the pillowcase had started splitting along the seam after nine months of use. In my own inspection, I noticed it appeared to be a double seam (good for durability) and that it looked very neat. I consulted my mother, a talented seamstress, who confirmed my suspicions: "Looks very well made," she added.

It's also worth noting that Cozy Earth's bedding range comes with a '100 Night Sleep Trial' where you can sleep on your decision (literally) before choosing whether you'd like to return or exchange the product. After that time, the complete bedding and bath collection has a 10-year warranty against "pilling, abnormal rips and tears, and workmanship defects", and in that instance, will be replaced.

How Easy is Cozy Earth's Silk Pillowcase to Care for?

This, for me, is arguably the biggest question, because it was the care required that prevented me from purchasing a silk pillowcase in the past. Cozy Earth's website says it's machine washable, but the tag on the pillowcase specifies dry cleaning or hand-washing in cold water using a mild detergent. It also recommends hanging to dry and only using an iron on a cool setting — and definitely not the dryer.

Taking the more cautious approach, I chose to hand-wash my pillowcase in cold water with Koala Eco's Natural Laundry Wash (available at iHerb). To dry it, I laid it flat on a towel, which I then rolled up and squeezed to remove excess water (just like if you're drying a woollen jumper). I then unrolled it and left it lying flat on the towel to air dry.

Surprisingly, it didn't take very long to dry, and looked and felt good as new. So, a little bit more faff is required than just shoving it in the washing machine with the rest of your sheets, but one day I might be brave enough to try (though I'd make sure to put it in a washing bag, like this one by Steamery, to protect it from getting tangled with the rest of my washing).

So, Is Cozy Earth's Silk Pillowcase Worth It?

So, is Cozy Earth's Silk Pillowcase worth it? £90 is certainly steep for one pillowcase, and there are definitely more affordable alternatives on the market. In saying that, one of Livingetc's former style editors swore by Blissy Silk Pillowcases, and they retail for £83 each, so in terms of quality options, it appears to be quite comparable.

And what about my skin and hair? While I haven't necessarily noticed a big change in my hair (I'm still early days), I have noticed that the few pesky zits that kept popping up along my jawline (coincidentally on the same side of my face that I sleep on) have been nowhere to be seen lately...

Stylistically speaking, I probably would have preferred a set over a single pillowcase, so that my bedding matches, but for this price point, I'd probably look at Cozy Earth's very popular Bamboo Pillowcases instead — they offer a lot of the same benefits, but only set you back £90 for a set of two. They also come in a few more colors and some of the brand's best-selling patterns.

That said, if you're serious about your beauty sleep or looking for a great gift for someone who is, I don't think you could go wrong with a Cozy Earth Silk Pillowcase. (Plus, it's currently 20% off in the brand's Black Friday sale, so now is the time to shop.)

I will preface, though, that, should you choose to look at cheaper options and different brands, it's important to ensure you're not getting satin rather than silk. They may look similar, but they're anything but.