Unbelievable Beauty Innovations

Bedding That Improves Your Skin?

Six months ago we predicted that your sheets would one day be infused with skin-smoothing ingredients. Our prescience was impressive (if we say so ourselves) because souped-up bed linens have already arrived. SkinGlow bedding ($20 to $250; BedBathandBeyond.com) has copper ions woven into its pillow covers and comforters to supposedly smooth and reduce the appearance of wrinkles, fine lines, crow's feet and other skin imperfections. "The copper is released when it makes contact with the moisture on your skin as you sleep," says Anna Faktorovich, the manufacturer's director of strategic development. A study commissioned by two independent labs showed a "statistically significant reduction of the appearance of facial wrinkles and crow's-feet/fine lines" in subjects who slept on one of their pillowcases for four weeks. But while certain topical copper formulations have been shown to enhance collagen production, "without any independent research, these claims are very generous," warns Patricia Farris, MD, clinical assistant professor of dermatology at Tulane University. Farris believes a more effective line smoother would be a pillow that keeps you on your back all night, "because sleeping on your face can cause wrinkling." — Jenny Bailly