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There’s a reason we call it beauty sleep: a good night’s kip can erase dark circles and transform a tired complexion, leaving you looking and feeling as fresh as a daisy. It’s not always possible to get the recommended seven to nine hours of shut-eye a night, however, so could your choice of bedding enhance your skin – and prevent bedhead hair – while you snooze? Some beauty buffs won’t sleep on anything but silk, and now there are even copper and skincare-infused pillowcases promising to smooth your strands and decrease the signs of ageing. But do these fabrics really make a difference, or will catching enough Zs keep your hair and skin at their healthiest? What happens to skin while we sleep? “While we sleep, skin cells regenerate, and the production of collagen and elastin, two essential proteins for skin elasticity and youthfulness, increases,” says Dr Radmila Lukian, dermatologist at Lucia Clinic. “Moreover, the skin’s protective barrier strengthens, helping it retain moisture and shield against environmental stressors.” That’s why you can end up with a dull, lacklustre complexion if you’ve not been getting enough rest. “Increased blood flow to the skin during sleep delivers the necessary oxygen and nutrients for cell renewal,” says Dr. Johannes Uys, GP at Broadgate General Practice. “Adequate sleep will contribute towards a healthier complexion as a result, while poor sleep can lead to skin issues such as dryness and premature ageing.” How important is sleep for hair health? “Deep sleep is vital for hair as this is when the body repairs and regenerates hair cells,” says Mark Blake, globally recognised trichologist and Nioxin ambassador. If you’re suffering with stress, sleep gives your body a break and a chance to recover. “Stress can cause hair loss conditions such as telogen effluvium,” says Blake, meaning temporary shedding of hair. “Sleep is the time your body does a form of damage control, sending anti-inflammatory agents to areas of damage: repairing, replacing, and removing damaged cells in the body. ” Can your pillowcase fabric have a detrimental impact? “The fabric of your pillowcase can have a notable effect on your skin,” says Lukian. “Coarse or abrasive fabrics can lead to friction, potentially causing skin irritation and even tiny tears.” This can be particularly problematic for individuals with sensitive or acne-prone skin. Cotton could, Uys says: “Lead to frizz or hair tangles because of increased friction, and may also potentially dry out the skin because of its greater propensity to absorb moisture.” While there’s no evidence that friction during the night can cause hair loss, if you don’t wash your pillowcase frequently enough (ideally once a week), it could affect the condition of your hair. Blake says: “Bacteria, sebum and general dirt can be transferred from your pillowcase back on to clean hair leaving it dull, lank, and lifeless when you wake up.” What’s the best type of pillowcase for skin and hair? If you want the smoothest and least absorbent pillowcase, experts say silk is usually the best – but also the most expensive – option, unless you’re vegan, as it’s derived from insects. “Silk pillowcases reduce friction, which can help prevent wrinkles,” says Lukian. “Silk is also less likely to absorb moisture from your skin, aiding in maintaining skin hydration.” Satin, which is a silk-like textile woven from a variety of materials, is a cheaper alternative, she says: “Satin pillowcases have a smooth surface that reduces friction and can be a suitable choice for those concerned about skin health.” If you prefer a crisp cotton pillowcase, Lukian recommends: “Look for ones with a high thread count, as they tend to be smoother and gentler on the skin. Cotton is breathable and can help prevent overheating during sleep.” Blake agrees that silk is the top choice when it comes to looking after your hair. “The tight weave gives a smooth, slippery surface helping prevent bed head allowing you to wake up with the same hairstyle you went to bed with,” he says. “Silk pillowcases cannot hold bacteria, fungus or mould and so are not a breeding ground or health hazard.” Could the new generation of high-tech pillowcases supercharge your sleep? “These products often incorporate materials like copper-infused fabric, with the promise of promoting collagen production and reducing wrinkles,” Lukian explains. “Skincare-infused and ‘anti-ageing’ pillowcases may offer some benefits, but should not replace a holistic skincare routine and healthy lifestyle choices when aiming to maintain youthful and healthy skin.” Drowsy Damask Rose Standard Sized Silk Pillowcase, £67 (was £89)Damask Rose Silk Pillowcase John Lewis Organic Mulberry Silk Standard Pillowcase Natural Cream, £45 Dunelm Dorma Silver Silk Pillowcases, £30 each Jessica Russell Flint Silk Pillowcase De Fleurs, £65, Not On The High Street Bed Lab Skincare Infused Pillow Graphite Grey, £49 Read More As transphobic hate crimes rise by 11% in a year, how to be a better ally Impact of relationships with AI chatbot programmes ‘worrying’, psychologist says Pokemon’s Detective Pikachu Returns and more top games of the week How to talk to kids about cigarettes and vapes, following Rishi Sunak’s smoke-free generation plans 4 must-have denim trends for autumn, from wide-leg jeans to split skirts Doorscaping: How to create a fabulous front door display for autumn

At least 51 people, including a child, were killed in Thursday's Russian missile strike, Ukraine says.

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Ukrainian forces have advanced in the eastern part of the war-hit nation where officials said Vladimir Putin has deployed over 110,000 troops, but Kyiv officials reported pressure further north. The intensity of assaults have increased in the Lyman-Kupiansk sector, Ilia Yevlash, spokesperson for Ukraine’s eastern group of forces, said. Mr Yevlash called the two towns the “most difficult area” as Russian forces use both ground and air forces. Russian forces are actively using fighter jets, Su-35 and Su-25, and helicopters Ka-52 and Mi-8 in the region, he said. They were backed by Su-35 attack aircraft and started attacking along the frontline in the direction of Makiivka in the Luhansk region. Lyman and Kupiansk towns in Kharkiv oblast were recaptured by Ukrainian troops late last year and have witnessed continuous Russian assaults since then. “The enemy has chosen a new point – Makiivka – and is directing all its main efforts into this direction. Of course, we are also repulsing enemy attacks and inflicting damage on forces and equipment," Mr Yevlash said in a daily update. Kyiv’s battle to regain ground near the ghost city of Bakhmut, which has been reduced to rubble in a warfare lasting over a year, is also continuing in the eastern theatre. Two main theatres of war – in southern Ukraine and eastern Ukraine – have cropped up during Kyiv’s four-month old counteroffensive to push back Russian forces off its soil. In its evening report, the general staff of Ukraine’s Armed Forces claimed Kyiv’s troops had "achieved success" south of Andriivka. The village south of Bakhmut was captured by Ukrainian troops last month in the Donetsk region. The Ukrainian general staff said its forces were pressing on with their southward advance in the Zaporizhzhia region and had repelled a Russian attack near the village of Robotyne. The report said Russian forces had unsuccessfully tried to regain lost positions in an area further south. This was further corroborated by Russian accounts of the fighting which said Moscow’s forces had repelled two Ukrainian attacks west of the Russian-held city of Donetsk. In the southern theatre, Kyiv’s forces are pushing toward the Sea of Azov in an attempt to split Russian-occupied territory in two. Read More Ukraine-Russia war – live: Deadly Russian attack on memorial service was no blind strike, says Zelensky Putin says Wagner chief Prigozhin’s plane blown up by hand grenades on board Putin deliberately attacked Ukrainian civilians in Kharkiv missile strike, says Zelensky A look at Russia's deadliest missile attacks on Ukraine White House condemns ‘horrifying’ Russian attack on grocery store in Ukraine

A Russian missile attack has killed 51 people at a memorial service, including a six-year-old boy, in what Ukraine’s president Volodymyr Zelensky has called “no blind strike”. The Russian missile slammed into a cafe and shop in a village in northeastern Ukraine on Thursday, killing 51 people in Hroza village in the eastern Kharkiv region. The attack – thought to have been carried out using an Iskander ballistic missile – appears to have caused one of the biggest civilian death tolls in any single Russian strike. Mr Zelensky, who was attending a summit with European leaders, said: “Russian troops could not have been unaware of where they were hitting. This was no blind strike.” "The terrorists deliberately carried out the attack during lunchtime, to ensure a maximum number of casualties," said Defence Minister Rustem Umerov. "There were no military targets there. This is a heinous crime intended to scare Ukrainians." Meanwhile, Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday evening called the Canadian parliament's standing ovations to honour a Ukrainian war veteran who served in Nazi Waffen SS units "disgusting", and said it showed Moscow was right to "denazify" Ukraine. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau last month formally apologised after the speaker of the Canadian House of Commons, Anthony Rota, praised 98-year-old ex-soldier Yaroslav Hunka in the chamber while Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy was present. Rota said he had made a mistake and resigned. "He essentially lumped together Nazi collaborators, SS troops and the Ukrainian military of today who are fighting against Russia," Putin told an audience at the Valdai Discussion Club in Sochi in response to a question. "This only confirms our thesis that one of our goals in Ukraine is denazification." Read More Russian missile strike kills more than 50 Ukrainians gathered for wake – in deadliest such attack in months Former Russian state TV journalist gets 8 1/2-year sentence in absentia for Ukraine war criticism Russia facing ‘functional defeat’ in the Black Sea – but Kyiv allies warn they are running out of ammunition Russia may attack civilian ships with sea mines and blame Ukraine, UK warns

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The UK’s aviation regulator has appointed a chairman to lead a review into the air-traffic system outage that

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Kazakhstan cut rates for a second straight time, extending its first cycle of monetary easing since 2020 after