The best silk pillowcases

A closer look: Silk rewards a little care: wash it inside out on a cool delicate cycle in a mesh laundry bag, or by hand, with a gentle detergent, and dry it away from direct sun. Buying two means one can be in the wash while the other is on the pillow, which helps once it becomes the only one they want to sleep on.

A closer look: Check the pillow before ordering: it’s cut for a UK standard size of about 50 by 75cm, and a hidden zip at one end stops the pillow wriggling out overnight. The inside edges are stitched over for a neat finish, and as a present, a silk scrunchie tucked inside makes it feel like a proper set.

A closer look: Padded with light cotton and fitted with an adjustable strap, the eye mask helps on bright summer mornings, long flights or after a night shift. Both sides of the case are 19 momme silk with a hidden zip, and it’s worth keeping the paperwork, as the maker offers a 360-day guarantee against quality problems.

A closer look: Arriving in a gift box, it needs little more than a ribbon, though a second one is worth adding so there’s always a fresh case while the other is in the wash. Silk soaks up less than cotton, so night creams stay on the skin rather than in the pillow, and the hidden zip at one end holds the pillow snugly in place.

A closer look: Hand washing is the gentlest option, but the most delicate machine cycle in warm water works too; skip the bleach, let it air dry and use only a cool iron if it needs one. It arrives in a gift box, which makes it an easy birthday or Mother’s Day present for someone who never splashes out on themselves.