From Customizable Pillows to White Noise Machines, Here’s How to Get Better Sleep
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If there’s one thing we can all agree on, it’s that we could all use a little more sleep sometimes. But that’s easier said than done — whether it’s a busy schedule, annoying neighbors, or anxious thoughts that keep you up at night, finding time to really sink into our beds for undisturbed slumber is harder and harder to come by.
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But there’s hope. From apps that help you fall asleep to adaptogen powders for sleep, a number of companies are launching new ways to tackle insomnia. It’s not just products either — the Hotel Figueroa in Los Angeles recently introduced a “Rest & Recovery Suite,” decked out with everything from temperature-regulating mattresses from Eight Sleep and personalized Pluto Pillows, to noise-cancellation headphones and lavender room spray (more on that hotel later).
What Are the Best Products for Sleep?
There’s no need to take sketchy sleeping pills anymore these days — we’ve rounded up this list based on our editors’ own testing and researched, trusted brands that have hundreds of positive user reviews that can help you fall asleep faster — and stay asleep for longer too.
As someone who used to lie in bed for hours before falling asleep — only to toss and turn all night — I can confidently say that I sleep a lot better these days, and these items all have something to do with that. I settle into my bed faster, I feel less anxious when I sleep, and I wake up refreshed, rejuvenated and ready to face the day.
To find out more about the connection between taking melatonin and getting a better night’s sleep, along with the benefits and risks of melatonin supplements, read the Sleep Foundation’s expert-backed report here.
1. Cocoon by Sealy Chill Mattress
$399+ $619+ 36% off
If you spend hours tossing and turning in bed, it might not be you that’s the problem—it’s your mattress. Sealy is known for its “Chill” mattress, which is great if you find yourself getting achy from traditional mattresses, or tend to run hot in bed. The company says its super soft knit layer on top features a “proprietary phase change material.” It basically just means the material absorbs and dissipates heat, and the mattress is noticeably cooler, so you won’t feel stuffy or suffocated.
The medium-soft feel of the mattress is great for people who really want to sink into their bed rather than feel like they’re sleeping “on top” of the bed. If you’re a multi-position sleeper deals with back pain and neck pain, this has just the right level of plushness for a mattress, and its responsive memory foam really helps ease and cradle your joints in bed. Laying down on mattresses that force you into a certain sleeping style or position can leave you waking up feeling tense. With the Cocoon by Sealy Chill Mattress, you can relax right into the memory foam, which immediately adapts to my positioning.
A lot of trendy mattresses can feel cheap and flimsy, but this one is as comfortable as it is durable, and built to last. Everything ships in an easy-to-handle box, so you can get straight to that good night’s sleep you’ve been looking forward to.
2. Som Sleep
$54.99
If you’ve been tossing and turning like me, this supplement powder from Som Sleep is just the solution. It blends into into a delicious nighttime drink and combines ingredients like magnesium, L-theanine, GABA, melatonin, vitamins, and minerals. It’s also vegan, keto-friendly and gluten-free as well.
All you have to do is pour one scoop in 8 ounces of cold or hot water and mix it thoroughly. Drink it about 30 minutes before bedtime to enjoy a deep and restful sleep. This powder is best designed for individuals with irregular sleep patterns or those who consistently face sleep difficulties. That said, if you’re a busy parent with an unpredictable sleeping schedule or a work-from-home employee who’s always stressed, this powder could work wonders for you too.
We’ve been able to test the Sleep Powder out and it really does work — promoting restful, deep sleep when used correctly. If you don’t want the taste of chalky supplements before you pass out, Som Sleep’s powder has pleasant flavors like cherry that tastes more like a pre-bed treat than a medicinal tincture.
3. Herb Pharm Relaxing Sleep Herbal Formula
$15.01
Sometimes, melatonin alone just won’t cut it when it comes to a snooze supplement. Fans of tinctures will enjoyHerb Pharm’sRelaxing Sleep Herbal Formula, specifically tailored for night time use.
Feel total relaxation with this expertly formulated blend of Valerian, Passionflower and other rapidly absorbed liquid herb extracts, so you can forget about a restless night of sleep. These are particularly useful if you have a hard time getting yourself down for the night and falling asleep. Just place the desired amount of oil under your tongue before you head to bed, though the taste is particularly heavy on the herbal flavor, so if you have a sensitive palate you might be better off with the sleep chews further down on this list.
We also like that Herb Farm’s drops are free of preservatives, sweeteners and GMOs, and are USDA-certified organic, so you can get that quality night time comfort you deserve.
4. Pluto Pillow
$125
You’re going to need a pillow to use with your mattress, and for the past few months or so, I’ve been using the Pluto Pillow.
One of the more innovative sleep-related products we’ve seen, this is a memory foam pillow that’s actually customized to your body. The patented process allows the manufacturer to build your pillow with a CertiPUR-US foam core that’s the right thickness for you (from 1″ thick and up), with just the right amount of bounce and support — all based on your answers to a quick questionnaire.
Unlike memory foam pillows of the past, the Pluto Pillow have cores that are more weather/temperature resistant (meaning they feel firmer in cooler temperatures or softer in warmer temperature). They also recover faster and relieve temperature better than typical memory foam pillow. A bonus: your pillow comes with a 1-year guarantee.
5. LUNA Weighted Blanket
$94.99 $104.99 10% off
You’re either a “too cold” or “too hot” type of person in bed, and I’ve always run on the cooler side of the spectrum. That’s why you’ll always find me curled up in a good, all-season down comforter or cozy blanket. Last year though, I still found myself tossing and turning at night — that’s when I decided to give a Luna weighted blanket a try.
These blankets range in weight from five pounds to thirty pounds. I’ve found my most comfortable sleep somewhere in the middle, with a 15-pound blanket (brands recommend finding a blanket that’s around 10% of your body weight). It’s just heavy enough that I can’t get it loose in the middle of the night, but not so heavy that I feel suffocated. And that’s the other misconception about weighted blankets: they’re heavier than a normal comforter, but contrary to what you may think, they’re not stuffy or sweaty at all. In fact, the one we’ve chosen from Luna uses a natural cotton material that’s super breathable.
Another reason we like Luna: the company donates a percentage of all sales to mental health organizations across the country, to help those suffering from severe emotional and mental well-being, and anxiety.
6. Sweet Dreams Sleep Gummies
$29.99
Get the benefits of melatonin (think stress relief, better sleep and a more relaxed state of mind) in a tasty, berry-flavored gummy. These Sweet Dreams sleep chews contain a calming blend of Magnesium Glycinate and L-Theanine with the sleep aid melatonin. Each gummy delivers 5mg of melatonin, with 60 chews per tin.
Like any sleep practice, you have to be consistent about your use to get the maximum effectiveness from sleep products like these. Sweet Dreams recommends taking the gummies at the same time every night, keeping track of the quality of your sleep for the first week to find what works best for you.
What we love: reviews say you’ll wake up feeling refreshed and well-rested without the typical grogginess from sleeping pills.
7. Saga Starlight Sleep Aid Natural Wellness Shots
$14.99 $16.99 12% off
Prefer an even easier (and potentially tastier) way to incorporate nootropics into your sleep routine? We like Saga’s Starlight sleep shots, which combines the power of melatonin with the calming properties of organic reishi mushrooms, organically-grown kava, ashwagandha, valerian root, elderberry, and chamomile to help you ward off the nighttime jitters and help you doze off faster.
The drink itself tastes a little like a chamomile lavender tea; just drink it 30 minutes before you want to go to bed or use it as a replacement for your or your nighttime tea (see next item on the list).
8. Bigelow Sweet Dreams Herbal Tea
$19.46
Everyone loves a cup of tea before bed but are you drinking the right kind of tea? Green tea, chai tea or even jasmine tea all contain caffeine, so drinking a cup before bed could actually create the opposite effect and keep you awake.
Try this “Sweet Dreams” herbal tea instead, which features a blend of chamomile, hibiscus, real peppermint leaves, rose petals and orange blossoms. Bigelow is one of the largest tea providers in the world, and the company says this tea is designed to help calm and “soothe you for bed.”
Don’t take their word for it — the Bigelow Sweet Dreams Tea currently has a 4.7-star rating (out of five) from more than 24,000 reviewers online.
9. Loftie Clock
$149.00
Not all alarm clocks are created equal. For anyone who’s ever used their phone as a morning alarm, or for playing relaxing white noise, this all-in-one clock, white noise machine, and night light eliminates the need to use sleep-disrupting blue light products in your bedroom. Loftie’s smart clock will give you the gift of a screen-free bedtime routine, and you’ll wake up feeling all the more better for it.
The two-phase alarm mimics the way we naturally wake up, and you won’t need a separate app to access Loftie’s library of stress-relieving, soothing sound baths, meditations, breathwork guides, and more. Plus, the warm glow from the built-in night light signals your brain that it’s time to start thinking about drifting off.
Never worry about your alarm not going off again either, since this clock has a backup battery to make sure that your time is accurate and your alarm will still wake you up, even if you lose power.
10. LectroFan White Noise Sound Machine
$44.99 $54.95 18% off
White noise machines are a funny thing. The words “noise” and “machine” make this seem like a device that would keep you up, when in fact, this LectroFan Sound Machine does the exact opposite. By churning out different levels of white noise — essentially indistinguishable sounds that operate at different frequencies — you’re able to mask any everyday noise that’s around you. So if the birds or sirens are keeping you up at night, you can “block out” their sounds by sleeping next to a white noise machine.
The quiet humming of white noise also lulls you to sleep, keeping your mind from wandering and encouraging a gentle slumber.
I’ve kept a LectroFan device by my bed for years, and I’ve even picked up the palm-sized LectroFan Micro 2, to take with me on my trips. Now that I’m working from home, these white noise machines are also great to keep on in the background to help me focus, whether I’m reading, responding to emails or writing a new article.
11. Vitruvi Stone Diffuser
$98.40 $123.00 20% off
Let’s face it: those reed and oil diffuser sets you found online look great, but they serve more as decor than actual scent diffusers. To really get the most from your essential oils, you’ll want to upgrade to something like this Vitruvi Stone Diffuser.
Scent is one of our strongest senses, and many sleep experts recommend setting a calming scent to help you fall asleep. This diffuser works by dropping 20-25 drops of 100% essential oils and then scenting your whole living space with the touch of a button. You can choose between a 4-hour constant flow and an 8-hour intermittent setting, so you’ll be surrounded by peaceful scents all night long.
The Vitruvi diffuser automatically turns off when time is up or water runs out, so you won’t have to worry about setting it at night and leaving it on. The diffuser has an impressive range for its compact size and can cover a room up to 500 square feet.
12. DubsLabs Bedphones
$89+
Headphones aren’t just for listening to music or taking conference calls anymore — these days, a number of manufacturers are making headphones to help you sleep.
We like this pair from DubsLabs, which are designed to lie flat against your ears and practically disappear into the pillow for side sleepers without messing up your hair. The infinitely adjustable ear hooks also mean they’ll stay secure as you toss and turn without having to be worried about something uncomfortable being jammed in your ear all night. On their own, they do a solid job of blocking out background noise like TV and snoring, but with music playing it increases significantly.
Pair the headphones with your phone to set your favorite nighttime playlist, or use it to run white noise through the speakers. The battery lasts up to 13 hours on a single charge, and we can confidently say these headphones are inconspicuous and long-lasting enough to get you through a whole night’s sleep.
A bonus: these headphones could come in handy if you’re sleeping next to a snorer.
13. Anker Soundcore Sleep A10
Earplugs are always a good option when you want to drown out the noise (and we’ve rounded up some our favorites), but you can also get a set that’s specifically designed for sleeping. Anker’s Soundcore Sleep A10 might look like earbuds, but they’re made from a soft silicone so they’ll be comfortably secure, even if you toss and turn or sleep. They’re slightly smaller than regular wireless earbuds, for example, to ensure a better fit. The durable earbuds hold up to all-night wear, and the material won’t irritate your skin.
They’re designed to nuzzle into your ear, and stay nuzzled in, their flexible ear wings and sealed tips provide a secure but comfortable fit — even for side sleepers. You can listen to your favorite soothing sounds, and, once you’ve drifted off, these can ingeniously switch modes to cut the sound and help you catch some uninterrupted Zzz’s. They’ve got you covered on battery life too — you’ll get up to 10 hours per charge, enough for a full night’s rest.
14. ThisWorks Deep Sleep Pillow Spray
$30.00
Confession: I stole a bottle of this sleep spray once from a bougie hotel I was staying at. The blend of botanicals and essential oils (think: lavender, vetiver and camomile) did wonders for my nightly routine, helping me relax and calm down before bed.
Just a few spritzes on your pillow will help deliver a more soothing, rejuvenating experience, with the natural, aromatherapeutic blend and a subtle scent helping to lull you to sleep.
The good news: you don’t have to check into a pricey hotel — or risk arrest — to score a bottle of this stuff now. Now that it’s gone viral on TikTok, it’s available for purchase online.
15. Brooklinen Luxe Sateen Core Sheet Set
$127.20 $159 20% off
Chances are you’ve seen an ad for Brooklinen’s massively successful sheets around, but they’re our overall pick for the best bed sheets for a reason. These Luxe sateen sheets offer a silky step-up from regular percale cotton, and their breathable feel is a great, natural way to help you catch more z’s.
The Luxe sheets are made of long-staple, 480 thread count sateen cotton. What that means: the sheets and pillow cases have a buttery-smooth feel that’s made to last, and a slight sheen too. They also come with handy “long” and “short” side labels for making the bed easily, plus they’re OEKO-TEX certified to be free from chemicals. Brooklinen’s sheets are a breathable and cozy enough for any kind of sleeper, whether you run too hot or too cold.
16. Everlywell Sleep and Stress Test
$199
If you really want to find out why you’re tossing and turning at night, consider taking one of these at-home tests from Everlywell. The easy-to-take test measures three vital hormones that are needed for a restful night’s sleep, and the results could help you determine why you’ve been struggling with sleep lately — and how to fix the problem. The test also measures your cortisol levels, the hormone associated with stress, and comes with personalized reports and action items based on your specific results.
17. Hotel Figueroa Rest & Recovery Suite
The aforementioned Hotel Figueroa’s Rest & Recovery Suite is a true hidden gem when it comes to finding some R&R in the midst of your busy lifestyle. Located in downtown LA, the hotel is right in the middle of the action yet the Rest & Recovery Suite is surprisingly serene. The high floor and well-insulated rooms keep out much of the street noise below, giving you plenty of time to enjoy the suite’s amenities.
Speaking of amenities, one side of the room is dedicated to “rest,” with a super comfy Eight Sleep mattress that adjusts for temperature on both sides of the bed throughout the night; fluffy Pluto Pillows (that can be customized for your sleeping style and preferred loft); noise-cancelling headphones and a sound machine to play your favorite sleep playlists or white noise track; and cozy sheets and blankets that had us drifting into dreamland as soon as we touched the bed.
We also appreciated the FORME fitness mirror-style system in the room, which was perfect for a post-nap stretch in the afternoon and then a full-body workout in the morning.
The other side of the room features products designed to help with recovery — think the popular Hyperice massage gun and compression system; tasty sleep supplement drinks from Beam; and everything from bottled water to green juice. The “rest” room was a perfect place to unwind and de-stress in the sanctuary of a large, open-concept space with bright windows and high-beamed ceilings.
The takeaway from our stay at the Hotel Figueroa: the best sleep products only work as well as the space in which they’re being used in. And when it comes to getting a good night of sleep, this is a bedroom we can really get into.
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