7 January 2020
Published by Eucalypso Staff
Meet Maggie Zhu (@magzzhu)
Fashion Influencer based out of NYC with an extraordinary taste for style, from clothing to decor. She is also the founder of Omnivores Cookbook, an online blog about modern Chinese cooking.
We recently caught up with Maggie to get a sense of what is inspiring her lately and also see how she's styling her Eucalypso products!
Magazines, Instagram, museums, and travel. Chatting and working on projects with friends also help a lot.
It connects me to interesting people and fun projects. Recently I was interviewed by Lucky Chow, a PBS show about Asian Americans. We mainly talked about my food business, but they found me through the fashion account. It was my first time working with TV people and it was fun.
Minimal
and
clean.
All images courtesy of Maggie Zhu
What you need to know for the best night of sleep
AUTHOR EUCALYPSO STAFF / CATEGORY BETTER SLEEP / PUBLISHED: JUL-18-2019
With so many choices of bedding materials out there, how do you decide which is the best fit for you?
Are you a hot sleeper or cold sleeper? Do you like your sheets soft or crisp?
This guide can help you decide whether TENCEL Eucalyptus, Bamboo, or Cotton is the perfect choice for you to get the best night of sleep!
|
|
Eucalyptus Tencel Lyocell |
Bamboo Rayon |
Cotton |
|
Chemicals |
1 Organic Solvent |
12 Toxic Chemicals |
Numerous toxic chemicals including Formaldehyde in ‘non wrinkle’ sheets |
|
Process |
Closed Loop (99.9% reused & recycled) |
Bamboo “Cooking” – the chemical process of stripping down bamboos |
Breaking down cotton fibers through various chemicals including preservatives, emulsifiers, stablizers, etc. |
|
Plant |
Eucalyptus – sustainable plant |
Bamboo – Sustainable plant |
Cotton – water and pesticide intensive planting process |
|
Feel |
Ultra soft |
Soft |
Crisp |
|
Wrinkling |
Least Wrinkle Prone |
Most Wrinkle Prone |
Less Wrinkle Prone |
|
Breathability |
Very Breathable |
Very Breathable |
Low (Traps Heat) |
|
Drying Time |
3x faster than cotton |
2x faster than cotton |
- |
|
Moisture Wicking |
70% better than cotton |
30% better than cotton |
- |
|
Wear time (longevity) |
Longest wear |
Medium |
Shortest |
|
Hypoallergenic |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
|
Antibacterial |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
|
Suitable for sensitive skin |
Yes |
|
|
|
Hot Sleeper |
Yes |
|
|
|
Cool to the touch |
Yes |
|
|
What is Tencel?
TENCEL™ lyocell is the fabric made from sustainably sourced eucalyptus. Eucalyptus is a type of tree that grows in abundance, so they are a very environmentally sustainable source of fiber.
TENCEL™ fibers are produced from the pulp of eucalyptus wood and made from sustainably sourced wood which are FSC & PEFC certified. TENCEL™ lyocell is considered to be one of the most sustainable fabrics of modern technology. Considerably more eco-friendly than both cotton and bamboo, TENCEL™ also far surpasses the standards of comfort for sheets.
Eucalypso products are made from 100% TENCEL™ lyocell from eucalyptus trees. We use authentic certified TENCEL™ manufactured by Lenzing Fibers milled from Austria, so we guarantee you the best in quality.
What is Bamboo (Rayon)?
The majority of bamboo sheets on the market are made of bamboo rayon, a type of textile made from cellulosic fibers. Bamboo plants are crushed into pulp and then through a chemical process, distilled into fibers to be spun into textile.
The benefit of bamboo is that, like eucalyptus, they grow in abundance. This makes them a great candidate for a sustainable type of fiber, since they rarely face the issue of over harvesting.
The chemical process of creating Bamboo Rayon is extremely harsh and can be very damaging to the environment. It involves using a caustic soda or lye to “cook” the bamboo in a complicated process. The chemical solvent used in this process has been listed as corrosive and harmful to the environment.
What is Cotton?
Cotton is the most widely produced natural fiber on the planet, and by far the most popular type of textile used for bed sheets. Cotton sheets can come in a variety of forms, like Pima cotton and Egyptian cotton, as well as cotton blends.
Cotton is one of the thirstiest and dirtiest crops in the world. It is an extremely water intensive crop, which can have a very damaging effect on surrounding areas. It is common to drain local reserves and over irrigate surrounding water ways in order to fuel the growth of cotton. Additionally, cotton planting requires a lot of pesticides (25% of the world’s supply of pesticides!), which can run off into local water supplies and leech into the soil, creating a damaging effect on the environment.
Since the rise of more environmentally friendly sheets, cotton sheets are slowly going out of style. Though they are still the popular choice, more and more consumers are starting to choose alternatives that are not so damaging to the environment.
TENCEL™ lyocell is the fabric made from sustainably sourced eucalyptus.
The majority of bamboo sheets on the market are made of bamboo rayon, a type of textile made from cellulosic fibers.
Cotton is the most widely produced natural fiber on the planet, and by far the most popular type of textile used for bed sheets.
Feel:
The first question that is asked about TENCEL eucalyptus sheets is – what does it feel like?? Luxuriously soft and silky in touch, TENCEL eucalyptus sheets feel like a cross-over between silk and cotton. They have the softness and fineness of silk, with an ever-so-slight sheen to the fabric; yet it is slightly crisper than silk, which makes it the perfect texture for sheets.
They’re also slightly cooling to the touch, so you can immediately feel the comfort of sleeping on TENCEL eucalyptus sheets. Our reviewers have said the following about TENCEL eucalyptus sheets:
“I truly am not kidding when I say I have had the best sleep of my adult life in these sheets. They are like what would happen if silk and Egyptian cotton had a baby. I love them.”
Similar to TENCEL eucalyptus, bamboo Rayon also feels soft and comfortable. The textures between the two are very similar and tends to drape well in bed. Neither TENCEL eucalyptus nor bamboo Rayon sheets are recommended for people who like crisp, stiff sheets
Cotton is preferable for people who like crisp sheets, especially since many cotton sheet brands offer non-wrinkle options. They are starchier in feel and stiffer when laid flat, and a great choice for people who prefer their sheets that way.
Wrinkling:
TENCEL™ eucalyptus sheets are the least likely to get wrinkly, compared to cotton* and bamboo (*unless you have bought non-wrinkle cotton sheets). TENCEL™ eucalyptus sheets are less prone to wrinkling and have a bit of a lustrous sheen. Compared to bamboo and cotton, TENCEL™ eucalyptus sheets are noticeably softer and gives a drapey look.
Bamboo bed sheets are generally more prone to wrinkling and lack the crisp feel that cotton sheets do.
Cotton sheets wrinkle more easily than TENCEL™, with the exception of wrinkle-free cotton sheets. However, you must be careful when buying wrinkle-free sheets because they are often times treated with formaldehyde to prevent the sheets from wrinkling.
Longevity & Washing:
TENCEL™ eucalyptus sheets are very easy to care for and are known to last for a long time. They also wash well - TENCEL™ sheets are less prone to shrinkage or becoming misshapen in the wash. In fact, TENCEL™ sheets get softer with every wash, so they are great sheets to sleep in for the long term.
Additionally, they are long lasting and preservers color well with every wash. However, it should be noted that it is important to wash your TENCEL™ sheets correctly in order for them to last a long time – if you have questions about taking care of your TENCEL™ sheet, you can check out our article on it here.
Cotton is the most durable of the three (it’s been said that Egyptian cotton sheets can last up to 50 years)! Because of the way the natural fibers are woven, it tends to hold up longer with time. This is also why cotton sheets tend to feel crisper as well.
Bamboo sheets need to be washed and treated similar to TENCEL™ eucalyptus sheets. However, bamboo sheets have included disclaimers that they cannot withstand rigorous washing or heated drying – that’s why it is important to always wash them on cold and dry on delicate. If they are treated to rigorous wash or heated drying, the fibers can break down and begin to deteriorate with time.
Breathability & Moisture Wicking:
Both TENCEL™ and bamboo sheets are recognized for their incredibly soft and smooth feel, unlike cotton. They are also known for being very breathable and ability to wick moisture away from the body, which make them ideal for hot sleepers. In fact, TENCEL™ sheets are 3x more breathable and wick moisture 70% better than cotton, so they’re a fantastic option for anyone suffering from night sweats.
On the other hand, cotton is not breathable and tends to trap heat, which causes sweating and overheating at night. The fibers also trap sweat and bacteria, creating the perfect situation for breakouts and acne.
Hypoallergenic:
Both TENCEL™ and bamboo sheets are both hypoallergenic with antifungal and antibacterial properties. This means they are less prone to mold, mildew, and odor. This makes this a great option for people with allergies and sensitivities. Cotton, on the other hand, does not have these properties.
"I truly am not kidding when I say I have had the best sleep of my adult life in these [eucalyptus] sheets. They are like what would happen if silk and Egyptian cotton had a baby. I love them."
Since there are so many similarities between TENCEL™ and bamboo sheets, what are the biggest differences between the two?
It is all in the creation of the fabrics
The process for creating TENCEL™ sheets involves using long fibers, which creates a smooth sleeping surface. Not only does it create a silky soft texture, it is especially great for people with sensitive skin. Coupled with its hypoallergenic properties, these sheets are ideal for sensitive or breakout prone skin.
TENCEL™ sheets also beat out bamboo sheets for people who are hot sleepers. While both types of sheets are breathable, TENCEL™ sheets feel cool to the touch, which is ideal for people who sweat as they sleep. Furthermore, TENCEL™ eucalyptus sheets are naturally temperature regulating, which means that they’re great for couples where one sleeps hot and the other sleeps cold.
Finally, TENCEL™ sheets are significantly more sustainable than both bamboo and cotton sheets. Bamboo sheets are frequently marketed as “green” and “sustainable”, however, that is not the reality.
TENCEL™ is created in a closed-loop process in which wood pulp is transformed into textile fibers with low environmental impact. This process reuses and recycles 99% of water and solvent that goes into the production process. This is one of the most sustainable way of production while reducing environmental degradation, making TENCEL™ one of the cleanest textiles in existence.
Bamboo, on the other hand, goes through a process in which the bamboo pulp is “cooked down” so much that the final produce has minimal trace of the original bamboo fiber. This is why bamboo cannot be listed as the name of the fabric, rather it is often called “Rayon”, since the chemical process of distilling the final product is so harsh.
“When sheets made of bamboo are placed under a microscope, there is no trace of the bamboo plant to be found. Twelve toxic chemicals are used to break down bamboo into a fiber. These chemicals are so harsh that it becomes something else, well, something not so “natural” to be exact. The harsh chemicals used during this process cannot be recycled, so they are then dumped into our environment.“
TENCEL™ is created in a closed-loop process in which wood pulp is transformed into textile fibers with low environmental impact. This process reuses and recycles 99% of water and solvent that goes into the production process. This is one of the most sustainable way of production while reducing environmental degradation, making TENCEL™ one of the cleanest textiles in existence.
Overall, it is clear that TENCEL™ is one of the best choices you can make if you are looking for ultra-soft sheets that are better for you and for the environment. Not only is the production process extremely environmentally conscious, but it also has significant benefits to your sleep. By choosing TENCEL™, you are making the better choice for your life, sleep, and the environment.
TENCEL Eucalyptus sheets from Eucalypso
It’s no secret that TENCEL™ lyocell sheets are pretty incredible – they’re silky soft, ultra breathable, super gentle on the skin and extremely sustainably made. However, you might have gotten your sheets and are now scratching your head – now how the heck do I wash my TENCEL™ sheets? Don’t worry, we will guide you through ever step.
Washing
First of all, unlike many other types of bedding that are made with toxic solvents and chemicals, there is no need to wash your Eucalypso sheets before use – unless that is your preference, of course. We mill and manufacture our sheets with no toxins or damaging chemicals, and only use the cleanest, highest quality materials.
We recommend you wash your sheets every 2-3 weeks. Since Eucalypso sheets are hypoallergenic, they don’t trap or breed bacteria, which means they stay clear for longer and require less frequent washes.
Drying
When possible, let your TENCEL™ sheets dry naturally in order to help preserve the fibers and color. However, if you don’t have the option of naturally line drying your sheets, you can use a dryer – be sure to choose the low heat and low tumble option.
To decrease chances of wrinkles, immediately take the sheets out and make the bed with it. The most optimal strategy is to take your sheets out while they’re still about 25% wet and make your bed with the sheets. This allows them to finish drying on the bed and lessen the look of wrinkles.
If you are looking for an even crisper look, you can use and iron on low temperature.
Storing
As an added gift to your order, all Eucalypso sheets come with a reusable stone-washed tote bag. You can store your sheets in this bag if you prefer!
Please store your sheets in a cool and dry place, away from sunlight.
How to banish “Bacne” - and why your bed sheets are important
Let’s talk about Bacne (Back-Acne).
It often happens like this – you step out of the shower, fresh and clean after a scrub down, and you catch a reflection of your back in the mirror. There is it, staring right back at you in the mirror – bacne.
A distant cousin of facial acne, back acne – or “bacne” as we so lovingly call it – is something a lot of people deal with on a regular basis. It is estimated that around 75% of people who suffer from facial acne also deal with bacne. Much like facial acne, the best way of addressing bacne is to directly confront the issue in order to move towards a preventative solution.
Next time you have a bacne breakout, don’t just throw a shirt over it and pretend like it doesn’t exist. We can start tackling the issue right away with a combination of good skincare, wellness, and sleep regimen. That way, by the time summer rolls around, you can have the softest, smoothest back for halter tops and bikinis.
Working out? Wash off!
We all know that feeling – after an intense workout, you sit down to recover for a bit and then the tiredness starts to settle in. You might put off showering for later or maybe even wait until the next day! However, as tempting as these habits are, they are a top contributor to bacne.
After a workout, make sure you are washing off the sweat right after! Sweaty workout clothes can irritate the skin, so try to minimize contact of wet clothes on the skin.
Also be sure to always wear clean clothes to a workout, since dirt and sweat from old clothes can further exacerbate acne. And another factor to consider – tight gym clothes can trap sweat and oils that clog pores and hair follicles. Try to work out in loose fitting, clean gym clothes as much as possible when working out to minimize potential breakouts.
Skincare is the key
When we think of skincare, we typically think about our face first foremost. However, our back and chest actually have more oil producing glands than the face, which creates the perfect condition for acne. That’s why we should pay special attention to skincare for our back and acne since these are such sensitive acne prone areas.
Exfoliate:
Pimples are created by bacteria and dead skin cells get trapped in a clogged pore. Because the pores on our back are larger than anywhere else on our body, we must be sure to exfoliate regularly and frequently to prevent breakouts.
Try to use a body scrub or exfoliant 2-3x a week to get rid of the dead skin cells and prevent clogged pores. Since your back isn’t as sensitive as your face, you can use a slightly more intense exfoliant on your back than you would as part of your facial skincare routine.
Moisturize:
When moisturizing, be weary of over-moisturizing your back and chest. There are more oil glands there than other parts of the skin, like the legs and arms. To prevent clogging your pores with heavy creams, use a light moisturizer for your back and chest.
Spot-treat:
Just as you would for your face, you can also spot-treat your bacne. You can use spot-treatment cream containing ingredients like salicylic acid and tea tree oil on your back to specifically target those tough to get rid of pimples. Leave it on overnight just as you would for your face.
Don’t let your showers be the culprit
We all know you should let your conditioner sit in your hair to fully take effect; however, don’t save rinsing the conditioner off your hair as the last step of our shower routine! Hair conditioner can trigger acne since the oils easily clog pores, especially if you let the conditioner sit on your skin.
Be sure to give your body and back another wash after you’ve rinsed your conditioner. While you’re at it, give your body a good exfoliation to get rid of deal skin cells.
Sheets are Important - Sleep Cleanly
Believe it or not, one of the biggest triggers of bacne is the type of sheets you are sleeping on! After all, you are spending about 8 hours a night (or least one can hope) lying in your sheeting. If your sheets are bacteria ridden, they can cause acne breakouts on your skin.
Normal cotton sheets are woven in a way where the fibers can trap sweat and bacteria. As your body expels heat when you are sleeping, the fibers catch the heat, which promotes your sweat glands’ activities and often produce more sebum. This is the reason why it’s important to look for sheets that are breathable and allows heat to pass through as you are sleeping.
Sleeping on cotton sheets that trap sweat is also problematic for the skin, because it creates the perfect breeding environment for bacteria. All this sweat and oil combine to act as the breeding ground for bacteria to grow and spread. If you don’t wash your sheets often enough, the bacteria can break you out.
So what should you look for in your sheets to prevent this?
Find sheets that are ultra-breathable and hypoallergenic, which can mitigate acne outbreak by prevent bacterial growth on the fabric. Eucalypso sheets are woven to be 3x more breathable than cotton and wick moisture from the body 70% better than cotton.
Eucalypso sheets are made with TENCEL™ Lyocell fibers that naturally manage the transportation of moisture, enhancing fabrics by keeping your skin feeling pleasantly comfortable. Composed of natural material, the microscopic fibrils of cellulosic fibers are structured to regulate the absorption and release of moisture. This contributes to breathable fabrics that support the body’s natural temperature regulating properties, creating a refreshingly cooling sensation on your skin.
Look for sheets that are also hypoallergenic in order to prevent bacterial growth. Bacteria do not stand a chance when it comes to our sheets. The moisture management properties are responsible for reduced bacteria growth. The moisture is completely transported to the inside of the fibers; thus, no moisture film is formed which does not allow the bacteria to grow.
With our innovative fabric technology, the fibers absorb moisture efficiently. In comparison to polyester and synthetics, there is less available moisture formed on the surface of the fiber for bacteria to grow. Consequently, TENCEL™ Lyocell fibers provide a less favorable environment for bacterial growth, offering better hygienic qualities to fabrics
So what are you waiting for? Take precautions to minimize the chances of bacne outbreaks through a combination of great skincare, regular cleaning, and comfortable sheets! As the temperature rises, it’s time to ditch the cover-ups and embrace the skin you are in.
Here at Eucalypso, we absolutely love podcasts. It's no secret that we are constantly listening to podcasts; whether we are commuting to work in the morning or doing the weekly grocery run at Whole Foods, we always have a good podcast on. It's a wonderful way of staying in tune with current events, learning more about your favorite topic, or getting deep into an interesting story.
We had a few people reach out about hearing about Eucalypso in their favorite podcasts over the past few weeks! Naturally, we were ecstatic and downloaded the episodes right away.
From wellness to mental health to murder, the variety on these podcasts were far ranging; however, the one thing they all had in common was their love for our silky soft eucalyptus Tencel sheets! The podcasts are interesting, insightful, and engaging - we enjoyed their depth in covering the subject matter. It truly made our days when we were listening along to the story, and we heard snippets of how much the hosts love Eucalypso!
Here's a weekly roundup of some of our favorite podcasts. Want to hear their personal thoughts on Eucalypso sheets? Give it a listen!
Let's talk self-care. Sarah James, a lifestyle blogger and self-help aficionado, is joined by bestie Kristen Howerton, a writer and psychotherapist, as they tackle the tricky and often elusive aspects of caring for ourselves. Their weekly conversations explore questions like: Why don’t I eat the way I should? How do I get enough sleep? What aspects of my personality make self-care tricky? And what’s the best way to deal with pubic hair? From the silly to the serious, Kristen and Sarah are taking a vulnerable and often humorous look at body, mind and spirit . . . and maybe a touch of the random, all while looking at the distractions and defenses that keep us from caring for ourselves like we should.
- We absolutely loved the Selfie podcast and hearing Sarah and Kristen talk about their daily struggles, from health to wellness to taking care of a new puppy. This podcast is hilarious, and listening to their banter makes us feel like we are best friends with them!
Moms and Murder is a true crime podcast hosted by Mandy and Melissa, two friends who deep dive into a new case each week. Conversational in tone and heavy on the levity, you’ll enjoy their original takes on both the well-known, and those lesser heard of true crime stories.
- We love a good crime story, and we seem to get enough of these Moms and Murder episodes with Mandy and Melissa! We ended up binge listening to an entire reason of these murder podcast, and are still eagerly anticipating the upcoming episodes. Mandy and Melissa are great to listen to - they are entertaining and hilarious, while providing a very detailed account of the murder cases. This is one of our favorite podcasts, and we can't wait to hear more!
On the Let’s Talk About It podcast, Taylor Nolan gets candid with various celebrity guests and experts. The podcast focuses on mental health, relationships, and personal development. Taylor's unique perspective comes from her studies in psychology and counseling, as well as her time spent on The Bachelor and Bachelor in Paradise reality TV shows. Join Taylor each week, and let's talk about it.
- We've been a big fan of Taylor Nolan since her Bachelor days, so we were super excited when we heard that Taylor was releasing a podcast talking about mental health. We knew that this Bachelor alum has a background in psychology and counseling, and it really comes through in her podcasts. She brings celebrities and other Bachelor alums on to the show, and interviews them in a way that is sincere and insightful.
The simple sophisticate is someone who prefers quality over quantity, sensible living over mindless consumption, personal style instead of trendy fashions, has an insatiable curiosity for life’s endless questions and a desire to live a truly fulfilling life rather than being led around by the nose. Inspired by her lifestyle blog The Simply Luxurious Life, Shannon Ables (the original Simple Sophisticate) shares with listeners tips on how to live a refined life on an everyday income. From achieving your goals, preparing a memorable meal, creating a capsule wardrobe, traveling the world (Francophiles tune in as Paris is a favorite destination), and living life to the fullest without breaking the bank, living well is really quite simple.
- From elegant home decor to living a more fulfilling life, we love listening to Shannon's tips and advice. She has great insights about living a more refined life, and shares very realistic goals. We found this podcast to be a very easy listen, whether you are doing the dishes or running errands. It's a quick and simple way to improve your life a little everyday.
Expensive skincare creams not helping your acne? Eucalyptus sheets can help.
“Getting a set of the organic eucalyptus sheets was the best thing that ever happened to my skin. My skin was able to breathe better and stay free of acne!”
My love for skincare
I’ll be the first to admit it: I’ve spent a LOT of money on skincare – probably hundreds if not thousands of dollars. I am no stranger to the skincare aisles at Sephora, and I’ve read probably an endless amount of skincare articles on Refinery29 and Allure. Like a lot of you, I care about what I put on my skin and want to make sure I’m making informed decisions about how to treat my skin well.
Like most people, acne was something that I struggled with a lot during my teenage years, when my young adolescent hormones were out of control and fueled the patches of pimples that grew like vines on my face. My rampant breakouts would often times lower my self-esteem, and I always felt like I was in a constant battle with my skin. Every once in a while, we would find tentative peace, but more often than not, I felt like I was in despair over my acne.
I’ve spent so much of my life pouring over reviews and advice blogs, so it should come as no surprise that I’ve also bought lots and lots of skincare products. It always seemed that having this incredible skin was only just one more product away! Yet even as I moved out of my teenage years, I was still constantly breaking out. I didn’t understand why it felt as if my skin was fighting me: I was spending so much money on skincare, but the state of my skin was in constant fluctuation. Some days, I would find my face smooth and radiant; other days, I would wake up and find the pimples back in their usual spots like a nightmare that never went away.
So I went to see a dermatologist. We had an in-depth conversation about things that might affect my skin condition like diet patterns, stress, family history, and skincare routine. Everything seemed fine, until she asked “have you considered changing your sheets?”
The Criminal
It all started making so much sense. My cotton bedding was breaking me out, from my face to my back, and my sheets were the one common denominator.
I went home and started doing a lot of research about cotton sheets. It was during my internet sleuthing that I discovered troves of information about the damages of cotton and how awful it could be for the skin, especially while you’re sleeping.
The nature of cotton fibers isn’t conducive to extensive wear for sleeping, as cotton can breed bacteria and trap sweat. These properties cause breakouts and night sweats. The way cotton is woven doesn’t allow for breathability, which is crucial for good skin and preventing breakouts. Cotton ranks low on the hypoallergenic and breathability scale, and that even includes the expensive ‘luxury’ cotton sheets like Organic and Supima cotton.
Because it’s so easy for cotton to trap all the sweat and bacteria while you sleep, you would essentially have to be washing the sheets constantly to make sure they stay clean. Not only is that incredibly hard to maintain, but it’s very difficult on the environment. I needed a better solution – for the environment and my skin.
If you’re like me and spending so much money on skincare products, why would you offset all that progress by sleeping in something that breeds bacteria on your skin every night?
Putting the beauty in “beauty sleep”
Eucalypso was the best decisions I ever made for my sleep and my skin - I switched from my cotton bedding to Eucalypso’s organic eucalyptus sheets last year, and I haven’t looked back. These sheets are so soft and gentle on my skin, it feels like I’m sleeping in a cloud made of silk. They’re a total game changer.
For starters, Eucalypso sheets are hypoallergenic. That means that these eucalyptus Tencel sheets are perfect for people with sensitive or acne-prone skin. They're ideal for preventing breakouts or inflammation of skin problems. They're very gentle on all skin types - even for babies.
Not only are Eucalypso sheets hypoallergenic, but they are 2x softer and 3x more breathable than cotton. This has been super helpful in helping clear my breakouts, because my skin can finally breathe while I sleep. They are super gentle on my sensitive skin, preventing breaking out from any irritants. They also wick moisture 70% better than cotton, allowing me to sleep comfortably all night long.
A close-up look at my skin texture now after having switched to sleeping on Eucalypso sheets.
In my year of sleeping on Eucalypso sheets, my skin was able to breath better and stay free of acne. I found that when paired with a good skincare routine, sleeping on my eucalyptus sheets helped minimize my breakouts. I feel so relieved knowing that my sleep routine is helping amplify the effects of my skincare products, rather than working against them. 
Oh and as an added bonus, if you’re lazy like me, not having to do laundry so frequently is a wonderful hidden benefits! Since eucalyptus sheets doesn’t trap heat and breed bacteria, you don’t have to put it through the wash as often as you do with cotton sheets. Not having to wash my sheets every week has really freed up my time for me to do things I actually find enjoyable.
Who wins in the war to the softest, most comfortable and ecofriendly sheets?
Not Your Grandma’s Bedding
For as long as I could remember, my mother would pull out her blue-and-white printed floral cotton bedding and preach to me about the benefits of cotton sheets with a high thread count. Much like almost everyone I know, I grew up sleeping on cotton bedding, indifferent to how it felt or its impact on the environment. Cotton bedding, I thought, was the only means to a good night of sleep.
Cotton had long been the popular crowd favorite for bedding, as it had been the only options available for a long time. However, early into my adulthood, the green movement took off, and people began to branch out from their stuffy cotton bedding in search of something that was softer, more versatile, and more eco-friendly.
It was around this time that bamboo bedding began making a splash as the new innovative and eco-friendly bedding material. People were keen to try these new environmentally sustainable, natural, silky-smooth sheets. These bedding sheets were flying off the shelfs, and people were enthused that they could actively support something that was helping the environment. As I would later come to discover, most of these words used to describe bamboo sheets-“eco-friendly, natural, organic”-were all a marketing gimmick.
In reality, bamboo sheets did not hold up to a lot of these eco-friendly qualities they boasted.
Bamboo: Wolf in Grandma’s Clothing
If you closely examine the fibers of bamboo made fabrics, you will find that there is virtually no trace of the bamboo plant in the sheets. The process of breaking down bamboos to the creation of bedding is so intensive that the final product is essentially stripped of all the benefits of the organic bamboo plants.
While the mechanical process of creating bamboo bedding is environmentally friendly, the chemical process adds so much toxic chemicals to the fibers that is could hardly be considered green. The process of creating bedding from bamboo is composed of using 12 toxic chemicals. These chemicals are incredibly harsh and harmful not only on the bamboo fibers but also on the environment.
These chemicals are just as damaging as they are hard to pronounce - are composed of multi-syllabic words that are classified as corrosive, and its chemical composition drastically alters the beneficial qualities of bamboos. Furthermore, there is no way for the chemicals to be recycled after usage, so they are dumped into the environment. About 50% of them find their way back into the environment, polluting the earth, dirtying the air, and contaminating the water.
Once the Federal Trade Commission caught on to this, they began mandating companies to list the product as made from Rayon rather than bamboo. Since the chemicals so harshly altered the bamboos fibers, they couldn’t list the product as bamboo but rather as Rayon.
Happily Ever After with Eucalyptus Bedding
I am a big proponent of making things in a more sustainable way - that is gentle to the earth and also better for you. After hearing about these detrimental qualities of bamboo bedding, I began seeking out alternatives for cleaner, greener linens.
All Eucalypso products are made from 100% Tencel from organic eucalyptus fibers, milled sustainably and produced in small batches to produce the growth of Eucalyptus trees.
The best thing about Tencel bedding that sets it apart from bamboo bedding is that it uses absolutely no (that’s right - 0) harsh chemicals, as opposed to the 12 toxics chemicals bamboo uses. Tencel lyocell uses simply one solvent in its creation, and it 100% organic and is not toxic. In fact, the process of creating Tencel allows the solvent to be recycled and reused. This is called a closed-loop process, in which the transformation process recovers and reuses 99% of the organic solvent and water used in this process.
On top of all of these great environmental benefits of eucalyptus bedding, the fibers are incredibly soft and durable. This meant that the fibers are less prone to wrinkling, so you don’t have to put as much time into caring for the sheets. The sheets are also super silky, cooling, and perfect for sensitive skin. To read more about the benefits of eucalyptus bedding, you can click here.
We live in a world where we are always striving to do better and be kinder to our Earth. So take a deep breath and dive into your comfortable eucalyptus sheets, knowing that you’re making the right choice for both you and the environment.
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