During our waking hours, we spend a lot of time looking after our skin and hair—from consuming inner beauty formulas and lathering on skincare, to visiting the hairdresser or treating ourselves to an in-salon facial. But what are you doing to look after your hair and skin while you sleep? Given that we spend one third of our lives in bed, these hours really do count!
With the launch of our SUPERGENES™ range of Intensive Herbal Probiotics, which includes products like SLEEP SUPPORT and HEALTHY HAIR & NAILS, we've been researching evidence-based ways that we can further support our sleep quality, hair health and skin health.
We've long known the benefits of sleeping on silk, so we were excited to sit down with Fiona Stewart, Founder of slip®, to give you the scoop on what beauty benefits you can actually expect from sleeping on a silk pillowcase.
What was the catalyst behind launching slip®?
Slip® was born out of a genuine need in 2003 when I was prescribed acne medication which resulted in extremely sensitive skin and thinning hair. My dermatologist suggested sleeping on a silk pillowcase. Unable to find one, my partner Justin Dubois and I sourced the best silk we could find and wrapped it around my pillow. The results were dramatic and immediate. We had stumbled upon a long-forgotten beauty secret and slip® was born.
What benefits does a slip® pure silk pillowcase have for the skin?
Sleeping on silk is a long-time beauty secret. Slip® pure silk pillowcases are clinically shown* to visibly improve the appearance of fine lines, skin hydration, skin texture and smoothness, and skin radiance, luminosity or brightness in just 4 nights! Over 95% of users agreed sleep creases, sleep lines and sleep wrinkles were fewer and less noticeable.* Slipsilk™ fibres are significantly less absorbent than other fibres such as cotton, so they are less likely to steal your expensive face cream during the night. In laboratory testing, slipsilk™ was shown to absorb significantly less face cream and create 43% less friction on average, versus cotton pillowcases with a 220-360 thread count, helping your face glide along the pillowcase all night long. Slip® is also the #1 brand of silk pillowcases preferred by dermatologists for their patients, themselves and their families.** All this adds up to good news for beauty sleep, and considering we spend a third of our lives in bed I want to make it count!
*Based on a study (clinical grading and consumer perception) of over 100 women, aged 35-65, who were regular users of cotton or synthetic (non-silk) satin pillowcases. Clinical grading showed statistically significant improvement. Individual results may vary.
**In a survey of dermatologists in the United States conducted between 1-12 November 2021
What benefits do silk products have for hair?
Not only does a slip® pure silk pillowcase have anti aging and anti sleep crease benefits, it also has anti bed head benefits! Over 96% of users agreed that their hair had less tangles upon waking after making the switch to slip® from a cotton pillowcase.* Silk is also the #1 hair stylist recommended material of pillowcases in a survey of US hair stylists conducted between March and April 2022. The world’s most renowned hairstylists have long recommended sleeping on gentle, hair-friendly silk to help preserve your blow out.
*Based on a clinical consumer perception study of over 50 women, aged 35-65, who were regular users of cotton pillowcases and tried a slip® pure silk pillowcase for 4 nights.
Can you talk us through your morning and nighttime routine?
Mornings start very early with a 4:30/5AM espresso, while everyone else in my household is still asleep, followed by emails and a daily meditation. I greatly value this time to myself and embrace the quiet before the craziness of my two boys and a business starts. I like to keep my skincare routine very simple since I suffer from extremely sensitive skin and react to a lot of products.
Evenings are family time. My days are usually extremely full and busy so I try to remove all tech and distractions after 5PM so I can spend time with Justin and our boys. I also love cooking for my family and friends and enjoying a glass of wine to unwind.
How do you approach wellness and what does that look like to you?
I have been obsessed with infra-red saunas for over ten years now - I may like my sauna more than my children!! I am also a fan of regular NAD shots, daily meditations, and cryo facials.
Do you have any tips for a good night sleep?
Over time I have definitely become a better sleeper. I don't drink coffee late in the day, try not to be on my phone before bedtime, and I try not to talk about work at nighttime.
What is your go-to Beauty Chef product?
I have been a fan of GLOW® for many years. I am a fan of The Beauty Chef brand as a whole and love that they are a fellow Australian brand born from a genuine personal need.
