How To Choose The Perfect Bedding For Your Skin Type
For those who value healthy skin and a good night’s sleep, your bed isn’t just part of the backdrop — it’s part of the remedy. Here’s a helpful guide on how to choose skin-friendly fabrics to help you find non-irritating bed sheets, tailored to your skin’s specific needs.
Best Bedding For Sensitive or Reactive Skin
Sensitive skin reacts more easily. Whether it’s due to changing temperatures, the unwanted use of harsh detergents or the feeling of rough textures against the skin. We know all too well that the wrong bedding can trigger inflammation, dryness and itchiness throughout the night. The right bedding, meanwhile, will support the skin’s natural pH balance, offering comfort, breathability and peace of mind.
Our Homeware Specialist, (Lucy Guy) recommend 3 top bedding choices:
1. Organic Cotton: An Everyday Essential
At Rise & Fall, we use only extra-long staple cotton (the top 1% of cotton fibres globally) with organic cotton available in our Soft & Smooth and Crisp & Cool collections.
Why Is Organic Cotton Good For Sensitive Skin?
This beautiful fabric is naturally hypoallergenic as it’s grown and processed without synthetic pesticides, fertilisers or harsh chemical treatments. This reduces the chance of skin irritations which is ideal for those prone to allergies, eczema or contact dermatitis.
To ensure the cotton is truly organic it’s important to look out for the GOTS (Global Organic Textile Standard) certification. This means it adheres to global ecological, skin-friendly and sustainable production standards.
Similarly, when organic bedding carries the OEKO-TEX Standard 100 certification, it signals a high level of safety for sensitive skin. This label guarantees that all elements, from the threads to the dyes, have been tested and proven free from harmful substances. The combination of certified organic fibres and OEKO-TEX approval provides peace of mind, ensuring your bedding is both skin-friendly and unlikely to trigger irritation or allergic reactions.
At Rise & Fall our organic cotton bed linen is rigorously tested and independently verified so you can be rest assured it’s going to be kind to your skin. As a B Corp business, we live by these responsible practices.
When choosing the best weave for bedding, we always recommend percale cotton. Its structure allows air to circulate freely through the fibres, offering enhanced breathability and a naturally cooling effect against the skin. This makes percale especially beneficial for acne-prone skin, as it helps regulate body temperature and prevents heat and moisture from getting trapped - factors that can stress reactive skin and contribute to breakouts. For the ideal balance of softness and breathability, look for a thread count between 400 and 500. Lower thread counts may feel too rough, while higher ones tend to hold onto heat. They may also involve the use of chemical treatments which, unfortunately, many mainstream bedding brands use. to artificially enhance the feel of their products. Softeners and wrinkle-free treatments are commonplace. However, at Rise & Fall, we take a different approach. Our cotton bedding is completely free from harsh finishes. The softness you experience comes purely from the high-quality fibres we carefully select.
Sateen cotton, on the other hand, delivers a smooth, supple feel and is kind to compromised skin barriers. People find it to be super gentle on irritated skin, with no scratchy fibres while not having a drying effect, causing further discomfort.
2. Linen: Antibacterial and Softens Over Time
Yes, linen can be suitable for sensitive or reactive skin but there are some caveats to bear in mind. Here’s a clear breakdown of why, when and for whom linen bedding might work.
Why Is Linen Good For Sensitive Skin?
Where Linen May Fall Short And How to Address It
3. Mulberry Silk: Nature’s Calmest Touch
Silk’s reputation as a skin-lover isn’t hype. With less friction against the skin it is ideal for those who react to coarser fabrics. However, not all silks are created equal. We cover this in more detail in our comprehensive silk guide, but, for today, it’s worth noting that Grade-A mulberry silk bed linen is considered to be the best option for those with sensitive skin
Why Is Silk Good For Sensitive Skin?
Grade-A mulberry is revered because the fibres are consistent, smooth and exceptionally fine. With less abrasion your skin is less likely to be irritated or inflamed while you sleep.
Unlike synthetic fabrics, silk is a protein-rich fibre that allows skin to breathe. Without stripping away moisture, it leaves the skin feeling calm and rejuvenated in the morning.
Similarly, silk offers hypoallergenic bedding for sensitive skin. It resists dust mites, mould and the build up of bacteria. This makes it an excellent choice for allergy-prone sleepers, including those sensitive to conventional bedding materials.
For those with ongoing skin conditions, whether you’re battling with rosacea, eczema or psoriasis, silk offers a buffer. It is soft enough not to aggravate, yet it’s stable enough to stay cool and clean through the night. Used wisely, particularly in pillowcases and eye masks, silk can become a nightly act of gentle repair.
4. Bamboo: Breathable and Balanced
The global popularity of bamboo is increasing annually, riding on the growing demand for luxurious, skin-friendly and sustainable bedding. Bamboo sheets are often featured as a key eco-friendly innovation in the bedding space, known for its cool, silky touch. However, bamboo is more delicate and less durable than cotton bedding so extra care is needed when cleaning and storing bamboo bed sheets. Click here to read our bedding care guide.
Why Is Bamboo Good For Sensitive Skin?
Bamboo fibres help regulate heat and moisture far better than many other natural fabrics.
Bamboo fabrics can vary widely depending on how they are processed, so quality and finishing matter., helping to prevent clogged pores and breakouts. This is great for those who have reactive skin and keeping oil-prone skin dry and clean through the night.
For those navigating both sensitivity and regular night sweats, bamboo offers a rare balance between lightness and dryness. Its exceptional breathability and moisture-wicking properties help regulate temperature, keeping skin cool and calm through the night. Reducing the risk of irritation or fungal imbalance, bamboo can be a game-changer.
And, when done right, bamboo can be processed without the use of harsh dyes or finishing agents, resulting in clean, soft and smooth bed linen that’s kind and gentle on the skin.
One final thought: regardless of what bed linen you choose, it’s helpful to change your sheets more frequently than normal. Washing them every 3 - 4 days (especially your pillowcases) with fragrance-free detergent will support a compromised skin barrier. Skip harsh chemicals, whether that’s fabric softeners or bleach. They will only coat the fibres or trap unwanted bacteria. And, don't forget to ensure you dry your bedding thoroughly to avoid mildew and bacteria buildup.
In summary
There’s no such thing as a one-size-fits-all remedy. Temperature plays a direct role in how your skin regenerates overnight. Too hot, and your skin can become inflamed or sweat-prone. Too cold, and dryness flares. You may also react to the slightest friction, you might be managing hormonal breakouts, or you’re trying to soothe a chronic skin condition. Whatever your achilles is, your bed sheets can support or hinder your skin’s healing process.
So the best options are:
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Organic cotton: breathable, durable and widely used for sensitive skin.
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Bamboo: smooth and moisture-managing, with variable durability.
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Silk: very low friction, ideal for pillowcases.
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Linen: breathable and cooling, but best for those less texture-sensitive.
