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Vogue Singapore
a day ago
- Lifestyle
- Vogue Singapore
Why silk pillowcases are the ultimate sleep upgrade
There's something undeniably indulgent about a good night's rest. If you're looking to elevate your nightly routine, consider silk pillowcases your transformative upgrade—wrapping you in softness while also keeping your skin cool and your body at ease. Unlike cotton, which traps heat and absorbs moisture, silk naturally regulates temperature, helping you drift into a deeper, more restorative sleep. The benefits extend well beyond comfort. Thanks to its smooth, frictionless surface, silk reduces tangles, frizz, and breakage while helping hair retain its natural moisture. The result: strands that look more radiant, youthful, and polished by morning. This especially makes a difference for curly and textured hair, which requires more care against friction and moisture loss overnight. Your skin, too, reaps the rewards. Naturally hypoallergenic and gentle on sensitive skin, silk minimises irritation while preventing the tugging and creasing that cotton pillowcases can cause. And because silk absorbs less moisture, your skincare stays where it belongs—on your face—so your toner and moisturiser can do its job in the night. You, thus, wake up with a hydrated, refreshed glow. More than simply bedding, a silk pillowcase is an everyday luxury that supports better sleep, healthier hair, and smoother skin. Consider it your ticket to a truly sumptuous bedtime experience—though it is safe to say that not all silk pillows are made equal. Here are some points of consideration when it comes to buying your first-ever silk pillowcase: What is 'momme weight'? When shopping for pillowcases, it's important to check the momme weight. It measures the fabric's density, similar to thread count in cotton. A higher momme means thicker silk with a richer feel, while lower momme weights are lighter and less long-lasting. For pillowcases, 19-22 momme would be considered ideal. Mulberry silk vs. regular silk If you've been perusing the internet for silk pillowcases already, you might have seen the term ' Mulberry silk '. Hailed as the most luxurious of silk variations, it is spun from the cocoons of the Bombyx mori silkworm, which feeds exclusively on nutrient-rich mulberry leaves; its fibers are the longest, strongest, and most uniform of all silk varieties. This purity gives mulberry silk its signature smoothness and durability, making it the material of choice for luxurious pillowcases, sheets, and accessories. Containing natural proteins and amino acids, it's not only gentle on skin and hair but also 100% real silk—softer, more refined, and more indulgent than synthetic or blended alternatives. Below, Vogue Singapore's selection of silk pillowcases to make the search easier. Courtesy of Burr 1 / 4 Burr Pearl Ivory Pillowcase Burr pillowcases are made with pure mulberry silk of the highest 6A grade in non-toxic dye, measured in 22 momme. Additionally, every product is OEKO-TEX® Standard 100 certified, Class I. This confirms that it's free from harmful substances and completely safe. Burr also offers embroidery of up to 10 characters on each pillowcase done in-house in Singapore. Burrsilk Pearl Ivory Silk Pillowcase, $101, available at Burrsilk. Courtesy of Bells & Birds 2 / 4 Bells & Birds Mulberry Silk Pillowcase Bells & Birds is a local loungewear label, and they offer up to nine soft, pastel shades of their mulberry silk pillowcases. Each pillow is crafted from 100% natural, hypoallergenic silk enriched with sericin proteins to smooth skin and protect hair. Bells & Birds Mulberry Silk Pillowcase, $89, available at Bells & Birds Courtesy of Lilysilk 3 / 4 Lilysilk 22 Momme Terse Envelope Silk Pillowcase Lilysilk's 22 Momme Terse Envelope Silk Pillowcase offers a luxurious sleep experience. Crafted from charmeuse silk, it is glossy, smooth, and soft to the touch, striking the perfect balance between softness and durability. The pillowcase also features a practical envelope closure, which not only keeps your pillow securely in place but is more durable than standard zipper or button closures, ensuring long-lasting use. Lilysilk 22 Momme Terse Envelope Silk Pillowcase, $64, available at Lilysilk. Courtesy of Slip 4 / 4 Slip Sunshade Queen Zippered Pillowcase With Scalloped Edge Slip mentions that their pillowcases are 'designed to keep products on your face and not your (pillow)case', citing that Slipsilk™ pillowcases were shown to absorb significantly less face cream than widely available cotton pillowcases. Laboratory tests also show that Slipsilk™ maintains its softness and lustre even after repeated washes, ensuring long-lasting luxury and performance. Slip Sunshade Queen Zippered Pillowcase With Scalloped Edge, US$155, available at Slip.
Time of India
29-04-2025
- Science
- Time of India
12 animals with extraordinary senses including snakes, dolphins, bats, and others
Animals have developed extraordinary senses that allow them to master their environments in ways that seem almost otherworldly. These superpowered abilities, far surpassing human limitations, help them find food, evade predators, navigate complex terrains, and communicate across vast distances. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now From detecting electric fields to tasting the world through their skin, animals showcase a breathtaking variety of sensory adaptations. These heightened senses are not mere curiosities but powerful tools honed by millions of years of evolution. In this article, we explore twelve incredible animals whose sensory skills reveal the astonishing complexity and brilliance of life on Earth. Astonishing animals with exceptional sensory abilities 1. Star-Nosed Mole: The fastest forager Image credits: National Geographic The star-nosed mole possesses one of the most unique sensory tools in the animal kingdom. Its nose, fringed with twenty-two pink appendages, is covered with over 25,000 sensory receptors known as Eimer's organs. This hyper-sensitive structure allows the mole to detect and interpret the faintest tactile signals, enabling it to identify and devour prey in under a quarter of a second, making it one of the fastest foragers known. 2. Eagles: The ultimate eyesight Image credits: National Geographic Eagles are renowned for their exceptional vision. Equipped with a second fovea in each eye, they can spot prey from nearly two miles away. Their eyesight is so sharp that they can detect a rabbit moving on the ground from high altitudes, enabling them to hunt with extraordinary precision, even in challenging light conditions. 3. Bats: Masters of echolocation Image credits: National Geographic While bats do have functional eyes, many species primarily navigate and hunt using echolocation. By emitting high-frequency sound waves and listening to the returning echoes, bats can detect obstacles and prey with remarkable accuracy, even in complete darkness. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Their biological sonar is so refined that they can distinguish between different insect species mid-flight. 4. Snakes: thermal imaging predators Image: National Geographic Pit vipers and similar snake species possess heat-sensing pit organs located between their eyes and nostrils. These specialised organs detect infrared radiation, allowing snakes to "see" the body heat of their prey. This thermal detection enables them to hunt effectively in the dark, striking with lethal precision. 5. Dogs: olfactory champions Dogs boast one of the most powerful senses of smell in the animal kingdom, with up to 300 million olfactory receptors compared to a human's six million. They can track scents over vast distances and even detect medical conditions like diabetes and cancer, making them invaluable partners in search and rescue, detection, and therapy. 6. Moths: Extraordinary smellers Image: National Geographic The male silk moth (Bombyx mori) has a highly specialised sense of smell, capable of detecting a single molecule of a female's pheromone from miles away. This remarkable ability ensures the survival of their species by guiding males to mates over great distances. 7. Dolphins: Acoustic navigators Image: National Geographic Dolphins utilise echolocation to perceive their surroundings underwater. By emitting clicks and interpreting the echoes that bounce back, dolphins can locate objects and prey with astonishing precision. Their hearing range extends up to 150 kHz, vastly exceeding the human limit of 20 kHz, aiding them in hunting, communication, and navigation. 8. Catfish: The taste-all-over body Image: National Geographic Catfish have developed a unique adaptation where their entire body is covered with taste buds—around 100,000 of them. This extraordinary sensory feature allows catfish to "taste" their environment and locate food effectively, even in the murky, muddy waters they often inhabit. 9. Platypus: Electro-sensing hunter Image: National Geographic The platypus is one of the few mammals that can detect electric fields. Its bill is equipped with electroreceptors that sense the weak electrical signals produced by the muscle contractions of prey. This adaptation enables the platypus to forage successfully underwater with its eyes, ears, and nostrils closed. 10. Owls: Silent hunters of the night Image: National Geographic Owls have adapted to nocturnal life through a combination of acute hearing and silent flight. Their facial discs funnel sound to their asymmetrically placed ears, providing precise directional hearing. Special feather adaptations enable them to fly silently, allowing them to approach prey undetected. 11. Sharks: Masters of electroreception Image: National Geographic Sharks possess specialised electroreceptors called ampullae of Lorenzini, enabling them to detect the faint electrical fields generated by other organisms. This ability allows sharks to sense prey hidden under sand or swimming in total darkness, even detecting the heartbeat of their quarry. 12. Elephants: Seismic communicators Image: National Geographic Elephants are not just known for their powerful hearing but also their ability to detect seismic signals. They communicate over long distances through low-frequency sounds known as infrasound, which generate ground vibrations. Sensitive footpads allow them to pick up these vibrations, helping coordinate herd movements and signal danger.
