SLEEP AID
We don’t know anyone who sleeps like a baby, any more. (And hey, many babies wake up screaming several times a night, so we’re not sure how that became a benchmark for a perfect night’s kip!)
As a result, sleep (or rather, sleep deprivation) is a whole industry, nowadays, with everything from bath oils to pulse-point balms via room sprays designed to improve the quality of our slumber. Pillow mists are of course very well-known – and we have an entire PILLOW MIST category here, for you to check out – but for 2023 our testers were impressed by other types of product, all created with one goal in mind: more restful, extended sleep.
Add several – or all – to your ‘sleep arsenal’, is our recommendation, for sounder zzzzs…
GOLD (JOINT) AWARD Spacemasks
We worship and adore Spacemasks’ founder Harriet Inglis, whose Instagram honestly brightens even the darkest day (follow her @spacemasks – you won’t regret it!) These masks have repeatedly won Beauty Bible Awards since they launched: single-use sachets in a pack of five; you rest them over your eyes, via loops which are positioned over the ears, to tether the mask in place. As the mask gently warms up, it wafts a subtle yet beautiful scent of jasmine and relaxes the eye area, which in turn helps to relax the whole body.
£16.50 - click to buy
OUR TESTERS’ COMMENTS:
‘OMG this was unbelievable. I put on this mask with no expectations. It warmed up. I thought “Oh, this is nice.” I woke up 8 hours later with it still on! I must have fallen asleep really fast, and I didn't wake at all, in a super-deep sleep all night which was just so lovely and unexpected’ • ‘I have heard lots about Spacemasks and as someone who doesn’t sleep particularly well, can’t believe I have never tried them. But I am now a convert – they smell great, are comfortable to wear, heat up well and really do help me to drift off to sleep and have a good night’s sleep. I would happily use them every night’ • ‘I woke in the night less often and felt more refreshed in the morning’ • ‘10+++! They feel luxurious, and the warmth helps ease tension and you feel totally relaxed; good for sleep, meditation and traveling and also if you have had too much screen time’ • ‘I am not my usual sluggish self now – relaxed and rested’ • ‘I have a stressful job and my mind is always active, but these allowed me to shut off and concentrate on the nice things in life and relax’ • ‘Husband noticed I am less grumpy as am sleeping better’ • ‘Heaven in a mask, allowing the best sleep ever. When I need a little helping hand to calm down, or I’ve had a long day of screens and meetings, these are perfect to pop on at bedtime to calm me down with the warming sensation and gorgeous fragrance. I think they would also be fab if you had headaches or migraines. A mask a day keeps stress at bay!’
£16.50 - click to buy
GOLD (JOINT) AWARD and BEST NATURAL The London Sleep Company Sleep Signatures Bath & Shower Elixir
Amy Paris, then working in City law firms, found she was sacrificing sleep to squeeze everything into her life. Researching the subject, she realised how vital our zzzzs are to health and wellbeing, and went on to launch The London Sleep Company, offering this oil and a comprehensive range of teas.The Elixir tied with Spacemasks in this category – each scoring 9/10 across 10 testers, impressing them with its blend of calming ylang ylang, anxiety-easing frankincense and grounding vetiver. These swirls in a base of safflower oil, plus vitamin E, and can be applied to skin before showering, or added to bathwater.
£48 for 50ml - click to buy
OUR TESTERS’ COMMENTS:
‘An amazing shower/bath treat that you apply to your skin and has the most amazing smell. I absolutely love this product! I would happily have stayed in the shower all night just to keep inhaling the scent! ’ • ‘I am usually awake at 3 or 4 a.m. and awake for a while; I found I went back to sleep much quicker with these’ • ‘Out of all the products I tested this time around, this one was, surprisingly, my favourite; I honestly didn’t think I'd end up loving it as much as I did. It’s a truly decadent product and I looked forward to using this every night before my shower. It became almost ritualistic’ • ‘I loved how this felt on my skin, I almost didn't want to wash it off. I can't fault it. Frankincense is a great lifter for the mind, but everything in this bottle has been very cleverly crafted to create an over-all sense of well-being; you can't help but feel relaxed when you apply it’ • ‘The dropper makes it easy to apply and not be over-zealous with it’ • ‘A real joy. Just fabulous, definitely something everyone needs to use before getting in the shower/bath yes husband noticed I did not get up as much as usual beautiful fragrance and so easy to apply to skin or add to bath water, really helps to slow your mind and feels like an indulgent spa like product, perfect for some much needed "me" time away from stresses of life I would rate this product as 10/10 and would recommend to everyone, even if they did not have problems with the quality of their sleep
£48 for 50ml - click to buy
SILVER AWARD OSKIA Moon Salts
OSKIA entered these bath salts twice in the 2023 Awards, and impressively they’ve also won a Gold in the BATH TREAT - RELAXING category. Inside a hefty jar – refills are available, once you’ve invested in the dark glass container – is a blend of Himalayan salts, skin-softening coconut milk and betaine, plus magnesium to aid relaxation. Dissolved under running water, they waft scents of rose, lavender and oudh at the bather, with the aim of nudging the bather zzzz-wards. Founder Georgie Cleeve formulated these salts to deal with the emotional challenges of the pandemic, gifting them to customers at the time; now they’re available for all of us to enjoy. (And testers really did.)
£60 for 500g - click to buy
OUR TESTERS’ COMMENTS:
If you want a luxurious, divine smelling evening treat with a lit candle and a glass of something nice, then this ticks all the boxes. Think it helped with sleep and felt more rested, calmer and more peaceful’ • ‘The fragrance when you take the lid off the jar takes you to a place of instant relaxation and comfort. Everything about this is high class; even the beautiful weighty jar is a joy – it’s a perfect fragrance. It isn't over-powering, just wraps you in a soft scented cocoon’ • ‘I love that these salts leave a sheen to the skin and don’t dry it out like a lot of salts do. The formula is like soft, oiled granules of Himalayan salts which – as a hiker – is a holy grail ingredient for soothing tight tired muscles and joints. Probably the most perfect bath salt concoction out there’ • ‘I think it may have helped to get me back off to sleep more quickly; I always had a more restful sleep after a bath with the salts’ • ‘Good for anxiety sufferers, if you struggle to fall asleep, or for anyone feeling overwhelmed or stressed. It's the perfect self-care treat to add to your night-time routine’ • ‘I was able to fall asleep more quickly and felt more refreshed in the morning. Perfect when having some self-care time and a night in to yourself’ • ‘Woke up feeling well-rested – stressed beforehand, felt much lighter and more relaxed afterwards!’ • ‘As I suffer with aches & pains, I also found these salts really beneficial for loosening up my muscles.’
£60 for 500g - click to buy
BRONZE AWARD NEOM Organics Perfect Night’s Sleep Body Oil
This tall, slim, elegant bottle features NEOM’s Perfect Night’s Sleep fragrance, available across a very, very extensive range of products for face, body and home; in their own trials with 100 volunteers, 90% experienced a good night’s sleep after following NEOM’s Scent to Sleep Routine. The all-natural, sleep-beckoning scent common to all the products fuses no less than 19 different essential oils English lavender, jasmine and sweet basil, while the rich body oil offers nourishment from safflower and jojoba – and testers universally commented on the softness of their skin, never mind their improved sleep!
£38 for 100ml - click to buy
OUR TESTERS’ COMMENTS:
‘A definite sheen, and a luxurious, comforting smell that left me wanting to eat my arm! Plus, I enjoyed the most amazing night's sleep for weeks. I am hooked…. You owe me a lifetime supply of this oil! ’ • ‘Would I buy it? A BIG Fat YES, this is now a desert island product for me. I have actually never used a body oil before because I assumed that they would be too sticky. This isn’t, at all. I love using it after a bath or shower, just before bed as it helps calm the mind and soul ready for a blissful night's sleep’ • ‘You can tell it has moisturised your skin, as well as protecting it, because if you wet your skin the following day the particles of water sit on your skin, instead of soaking it’ • ‘A divine smelling body oil that helps to calm the mind and soul. My husband has commented on both the wonderful smell and the softness of my skin. I have already purchased the Perfect Night’s Sleep pillow spray, too, as I love this product so much!’ • ‘Hands noticeably less dry and décolleté much softer. My family commented on the lovely scent at bedtime!’ • ‘The fragrance is so relaxing and pleasant – not too strong, but enough that you can breathe the scent in with bedclothes and covers on. I think it helped with getting to sleep quicker and having a good night’s sleep’ • ‘It was a winner for me! It’s definitely a little bit of luxury to treat yourself to, to wrap yourself up in a delicious hug that nourishes your skin while calming your soul and mind.’
£38 for 100ml - click to buy