Sweet Dreams Are Made of Beautiful ZZZ’s

A comforting ‘waft of softness’ engulfs, floating you towards a deep and blissful journey into the world of sleep. Do you remember those teenage years when drifting into this blissful state was done with ease, partying until 3 am, then bed, arising later fresh as a newborn? Sleep helps with brain development, physical growth, and managing emotions. Something so beautiful can also be torture if you can get there with ease or even can but never quite deep enough. So what helps with a good night’s rest? Find out more in Sweet Dreams Are Made of ZZZ’s

Image on lefthand side Image Samantha Inman @rememberingtobreathe

It may be easy to say, but it can be quite hard for some to do. A good night’s sleep is one of life’s golden treats. If you are lucky enough to be able to fall into a deep sleep when, or wherever you are, consider yourself lucky. But what if you can’t and why may that be?

Bamford Sleep Reed Diffuser. Part of the B-Sleep range. Housed in a recyclable apothecary bottle and using natural ingredients, they are an elegant and low-maintenance way to scent your home. B Silent diffuser contains 100% natural blend of spiritual Krankincense, calming Lavender, and Marjoram to soothe and relax the mind. From the Bamford calming range, which is for both mind and body. From nighttime body cream to organic bath oil, each product is scented with a natural blend of Frankincense, Lavender, and Marjoram essential oils, supporting rest and recuperation from within. Votary Lavender and Chamomile Pillow Spray. Lavender, Chamomile and Rose oils capture the fragrance of a country garden at dusk. Formulated to help you calm down and unwind, VOTARY Pillow Spray helps bring tranquillity to the bedroom. This plays a crucial role in the VOTARY Intense Night range which includes five other items.

You might remember a time when you could drift off to sleep in an instant and remain in a state of blissful slumber well past lunchtime the next day. Now, your sleep is more likely to be lighter and more fitful, and when you wake up in the morning, you might not always feel refreshed.

Many conditions can disrupt your rest, and some can be treated or at least eased. A lack of sleep does more than make you drowsy; it’s problematic. However, chronic insomnia has been linked to a variety of health problems, including obesity, high blood pressure, heart disease, diabetes, and depression.

It’s always good to check any medication you take; some really should be taken only in the day, as some do disrupt sleep.

Maybe you do feel tired and ready to sleep, but the moment your head hits the pillow, your mind suddenly wakes up and reminds you of all the things you need to do, now, the next week, month? It doesn’t matter what thoughts are ‘fizzing’; the point is that your mind is active.

Chronic pain is another issue when it comes to getting a good night’s sleep. Pain can stop you from getting to sleep, or it might wake you up in the middle of the night. It can also make the quality of the sleep you do have quite poor. Even excess travel can act as a barrier to good rest.

It’s fair to say we are all aware that sleep plays a vital role in good health and well-being throughout your life. The way you feel while you are awake most probably depends, in part, on what happens while you are sleeping. During sleep, your body is working to support healthy brain function and maintain your physical health.

For those with dire problems, sleep clinics can be useful, but maybe you don’t stuff all the time, maybe a stressful time in your life is causing sleep issues or illness even depression then tempoaray of mid term solution bought from stores can be a great aid. Think homoeopathic tablets, sleep pillow sprays, room infusers or even silk pillows can all play their part. Never forget that exercise is very helpful in relaxing the mind, so Yoga, Pilates and T’chi are great activities for those who are troubled with sleeplessness.

The first brand to tap into sleep aids was This Works. Thier original pillow spray, a carefully-balanced blend of Lavender, Camomile and Vetiver, was bottled in 2007 for a Hotel group as a turn-down gift. With so much positive feedback, they launched the deep sleep pillow spray in 2011.

Wanting to understand more of how these sprays work, the company supported an independent functional MRI (fMRI) brain-scan study, led by world-leading neuroscientist and medical doctor, Professor Gaby Badre.

During the study, two fragrances were tested, and both were found to activate the regions of the brain linked to smell. However, the Deep Sleep fragrance also activated specific areas of the brain associated with pleasure and calmness, enabling the research team to propose that the fragrance could evoke feelings of social comfort, trust and calmness -and therefore conceivably impacting sleep.

This Works deep sleep beauty oil With Bakuchiol, Sesquiterpenes & Deep Sleep Functional Fragrance. A Superblend of high-performance botanical oils and skincare actives to help support skin barrier integrity and improve skin elasticity. Plant-derived Bakuchiol, helps reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles and is expertly blended with Sesquiterpenes and Deep Sleep Functional Fragrance for better sleep. This Works deep sleep beauty soak With Lavender, Camomile & Vetiver. Enjoy a relaxing bath-time ritual to ease away end-of-day anxieties with deep sleep bath soak. This works deep sleep body whip, a 99% natural, calming body whip infused with Hemp Seed Extract and Magnesium to rest your mind and renew your skin as you sleep. And finally, This Works sleep plus pillow spray. A fast-acting, motion-activated sleep spray for restless sleepers. Includes a Superblend of Lavender, Camomile and Vetiver essential oils, naturally encapsulated in a new vegan-friendly format to gradually release a soothing aroma throughout the night, resulting in a longer, less interrupted sleep.

Another brand that can help you drift off more soundly is by Annee de Mamiel, a skincare and wellness expert and founder of de Mamiel, suggests that small, yet mighty rituals can have a profound impact, aiding up those all-important zzz’s.

In her skincare collection, find Altitude Oil. Combining a blend of luxurious plant oils, including Eucalyptus to help create mental space and Fragonia to help release emotional baggage, this little glass bottle of wonder counteracts a multitude of modern-day stresses. Think of it as a do-it-all tonic to simultaneously soothe, revive and thrive.

“The quickest way to feel calm and grounded is to engage the parasympathetic nervous system by simply using your breath. It controls the body’s state of rest and creates that feeling of calm, it’s the best ‘off’ switch to that daily, constant ‘on’“.

Annee de Mamiel

Simply inhale the aroma from your oils for a count of three and exhale for a count of five to regulate the nervous system. This combination instantly calms the mind, releases stress from the body and sets you up perfectly for a peaceful, restful night’s sleep.”

She also has Soothe Bath Soak in her collection. Magnesium Salts soothe mind and body and support the production of Melatonin, the sleep hormone, whilst Himalayan and Dead Sea Salts smooth and soften skin and Amethyst helps ease stress and strain and reduce irritability and negativity.

Alsongside is calming Lavender and warming Ginger bring comfort and restore emotional equilibrium. Sweet Orange, Neroli and Monarda combine to lighten anxiety while Petitgrain and Sandalwood reduce nervous tension, and Mandarin uplifts the spirits and can inspire a sense of contentment. Soothe Bath Soak allows the mind and body to dispel the tensions of the day and promotes a sense of serenity. Set is available here

Templespa has a wonderful sleep solution collection. Starting out with Quietude Calming Aromatherapy Spray is a body and room fragrance, crafted from a blend of the most cocooning Mediterranean essential oils of Cedarwood, Cypress, Lavender, Clove, Vetiver, Orange, Patchouli, Frankincense and Chamomile. This wonderful soothing aroma leaves your skin, body and soul wrapped in a blanket of serenity. Next up is Duvet Comforting Body Cream designed to wrap the body with hydrating goodness and to leave the skin feeling smooth, toned and deliciously fragranced. Rich in omega oils, Olive, Guarana and Fig, Liquorice, vitamin E and relaxing Mediterranean essential oils of Lavender, Frankincense, Myrrh and Chamomile. With added Aquaxyl™, an anti-dehydration saviour that will keep your skin looking and feeling deeply moisturised, firmer and glowing.

Finally in the picture is Templespa Repose Relaxing Night Cream, helps you rest easy while it nourishes your skin by replacing lost moisture. The cashmere texture sinks in immediately, leaving your complexion feeling ultra-smooth and hydrated. With essential oils including Frankincense, Lavender, Patchouli, Geranium, Chamomile & Vetiver combined with hops all renowned for aiding rest and known for their soothing and relaxing aromas. The sleep collection contains nine products altogether.

When we do sleep well, we go through stages often, many times per night. In the initial stage, our eyes are closed, but it’s easy to wake up, and lasts for 5 to 10 minutes.

In 1993, Farida Irani started a clinic of natural therapies. Subtle Energies’ Spa Concept provides treatment programs that combine the optimum methods and knowledge found in ancient sciences alongside holistic modern techniques. The Subtle Energies collection is one of the first to work with rare aromatic oils. The Sleep Support Wellness Program Kit created to quiet the mind, reset the circadian rhythms, and relax into a deep restful sleep. This specialised wellness program contains everything to get you started on a sleep programme. Shown here is the Enhance Yoga Practice Kit. This kit allows everyone to get the most out of yoga practice. The set contains Aura Protection Body Mist 50ml, Pure Rose Hydrosol 50ml, Muscle Ease Massage Blend 50ml, and Rasayana Inhalation Patches x 2.

The second part is a light sleep, deeper than stage 1. The heart rate and breathing slow down, and the body temperature drops as if preparing for deep sleep. This can last for 10-25 minutes.

By stage three, the body and mind are in a deep sleep stage. It’s harder to arouse during this stage. In adults, stage three makes up about 25% of total sleep time.

From the Jo Malone Welcome The Night collection. At the end of the day’s light comes magical possibilities. Drift into the night and let the reverie begin. A collection of scents to inspire the night, in Lavender & Moonflower and Moonlit Camomile. The Lavender & Moonflower Pillow Mist, contains aromatic English lavender nestling among a cocooning note of white musk and night-blooming Moonflowers. Mist over bedding and soft fabrics to enhance a nighttime ritual. Restful Sleep Pillow Mist Olverum restores calm with an aromatic mist blended of carefully selected essential oils to lift your spirits, clear your mind, calm your senses, and ease stress. Just two pumps create a blissfully soothing and balanced space to foster meditation, rest, and sleep.

During the deep stages of NREM sleep, the body repairs and regrows tissues, builds bone and muscle, and strengthens the immune system.

With age, people sleep more lightly and get less deep sleep. Aging is also linked to shorter periods of sleep, although studies show all, still need as much sleep as they did as when younger.

Slip White Queen Zippered Pillowcase with initials in a set with White Skinny Scrunchies. These one hundred percent silk pillowcases are anti-aging, anti-sleep crease and anti-bed head. Silk, being a natural material, is no surprise it aids in a restful night’s sleep as the fabric is breathable, unlike many pillowcases of mixed fibres. The Slip pillowcase shown here has clinically been proven to visibly improve the appearance of fine lines, with skin hydration, texture and smoothness whilst leaving skin radiant, luminous and bright. The pack of four skinny Scrunchies are designed to be anti crease, anti breakage.  Made with slipsilk™, the same silk used in the award-winning slip® pure silk pillowcase.

One last thing to bare in mind when preparing for a good night’s sleep. Natural fibres are best. They are highly breathable, allowing air to circulate freely and preventing heat buildup, meaning they can regulate body temperature, keeping cool in the summer and warm in the winter.

Peachaus Yew striped ethical-cotton pyjama shirt and trousers in
Oceanic Blue. The oversized fit and lightweight, ultra-soft, ethical cotton fabric of the Yew shirt make it the perfect, versatile choice to wear from bed to beach to bar. 30-degree machine wash using laundry bag.

Also they effectively keep away moisture from your skin, leading to a more comfortable sleep environment compared to synthetic fibres that tend to trap heat and moisture. 

Peachaus Lomandra striped ethical-cotton pyjama shorts
Oceanic Blue. Made from ethical cotton with a soft, elasticised waistband for extra comfort. Not just for bed time, you can style with the co-ordinating Yew shirt or Teasel vest for a day through to night-time look. 30-degree machine wash using laundry bag.

After NREM sleep, the body and mind move into the REM stage. After REM sleep, the body starts the cycle again. Within an eight-hour sleep, both the body and mind may go through four or five cycles.

Search insomnia on the internet and see how many sleep issues show up. Studies show that very few of us are actually achieving a decent, let alone good, restful night’s sleep. Here’s to any little helpers along the way.

If you enjoyed reading Sweet Dreams Are Made of ZZZ’s, then why not read Trust Your Inner Sense For Your Outside Beauty Here

thisworks.com www.bamford.com votary.co.uk demamiel.com. templespa.com peachaus.com www.subtleenergies.com.au Jomalone.co.uk olverum.com slipsilkpillowcase.co.uk