We may be reaching the end of Sleeptember, but the importance of relaxing and making the most of a good slumber should be practised year-round. However, with so many products on offer, it can be hard to know what the best home and beauty products for sleep are. Fortunately, we’ve consulted our expert buying team on their go-to products for a relaxing evening and slumber
Buyers’ Top Home and Beauty Picks
Kate Andrews, Home & Beauty Buying Manager
With a busy working calendar, most of my day is spent on back to calls with our brand partners and my team. This means my evenings are exclusively reserved for down time,and some much needed self-care- especially now the weather is getting colder and evenings darker!
One of my favourite things to do is enjoy a nice relaxing bath with all of the trimmings. I swear by the Philip Kingsley Elasticizer, it gives my hair a salon-level conditioning treatment from the comfort of my own home. Once I’ve finished, I cosy up in my Christy towels and bath robe, as I’m quite tall the jumbo bath towel fits best.
When it comes to bed time, I’m never without silk accessories from Cocoonzzz. As a light sleeper my eye mask stops me waking up at the crack of dawn, whilst the silk pillowcase keeps my hair healthy and frizz-free which is a real lifesaver.
Clare Wolfe, Beauty & Home Fragrance Senior Buyer
As a new mum, I can find juggling work and a baby tough. So, having time to relax and reset is so important. My personal go-to? A hot bath with some relaxing lavender bath salts from Bahoma, accompanied by a lovely smelling candle from Parks to really melt away whatever the day has thrown at me. If the day has felt particularly long, I like to use an Elemis oil straight after the bath – my favourites are the Musclease and Cellutox.
Even though time to myself is limited, the importance of looking after your skin is still so key, so, in return it can look after you (especially when you need to look your best on Zoom calls!) so I turn to my This Works eye cream to do its magic overnight. That way even if I do only get 3-4 hours of sleep it still looks like I’ve had my full 8 hours.
Also, mums – another top tip, if there really is no hiding those eye bags, simply throw on a slick of bright lipstick to brighten up your face. My favourite is from L’Occitane, it hydrates my lips while still adding colour.
Laura Carter, Furniture & Lighting Buyer
Sleep is a vital component of health and wellbeing for restorative rest, and, like my colleagues have already reiterated I too love my uninterrupted slumber in order to set me up for the day ahead so creating the right peaceful environment is key.
Investing in a new mattress may seem like an obvious purchase, but it really does come recommended. According to the Sleep Council, in the UK, 40% of people suffer with sleep issues, and by swapping your old bed for a new one you gain an extra 42 minutes. After all, the foundation of a great night’s sleep is a comfortable bed, and the right mattress can make a huge difference between a restful and restless night, saving you from fatigue and irritability for the rest of the day. An unsupportive mattress will encourage a poor sleeping posture, which prevents you from good sleep. Plus, if you regularly wake up with aches and pains, it’s probably time to change your mattress.
Here’s a few of my recommendations:
For the budget conscious, Catherine Lansfield has some great mattress options to select from:
Or for the dreamiest nights sleep, you can select an option from our exclusive Hotel Living Range:
Juliette Dumouchel, Beauty & Home Fragrance Buyer’s Admin Assistant
After a day of staring at my computer I love to switch off everything around me, and start a relaxing evening with my Woodwick Crackling Candle – all of us on the beauty team are obsessed with it! The candle has a luxe fragrance which isn’t overpowering and soothingly crackles as it burns. Plus, the gorgeous ellipse shape is seriously stylish!
Investing in a good skincare routine is something that helps me feel fresh before a lazy evening in and is so simple to do. The first product I use is the Cleanse and Polish Hot Cloth from Liz Earle, instantly removing any dirt or make up. After cleansing I apply a revitalising toner, (currently, Liz Earle’s Skin Tonic) to prep the skin. I follow this with my Bee Venom Serum from Rodial which hydrates and smooths the skin, finally finishing off with a Pro-Collagen Moisturiser from Elemis. If I feel like really indulging, I use my Foreo UFO – it’s the ultimate at-home facial tool, utilising LED lighting to warm up the face mask, providing professional results.
Jade Wright, Bed & Bath Buyer
I know it seems cliched given my job as a Bedding Buyer, but I really do love my sleep and pretty much any of my friends or family will tell you how much I value my eight hours – I don’t know how people can function on just a few hours per night!
I believe investing in making your bedroom a quiet, relaxing and comfortable space is so key. My choice for bed linen normally tends to be plain white or something with a little bit of subtle detail – my favourite at the moment is The Lyndon Company’s Pom Pom set. Not only does it look stylish, it is also made from percale cotton which gives that cool, crisp feel you get when staying at luxury hotels!
My top tip would also be to invest in an all-seasons duvet so you can swap this as we move through the seasons to keep you cool in summer and cosy in winter. I have the Hungarian goose down one from Snuggledown, which is made from 80% down, making it super soft and lightweight, yet still warm. Finally, don’t underestimate the importance of a great pillow. If you sleep on your front then choose a soft, shallow pillow, whereas if you sleep on your back you want a medium pillow that’s filled to the edges to support your neck properly. I sleep on my side so I need a plumper, firmer pillow like the Goose Feather & Down pillow from Snuggledown.
