Lush's Bath/Shower Sets for $8-$40, I tested several products from Lush aimed at sleep – they have a wide range of sleepy products for showering, bathing and getting ready for bed. Like spray and dust, shower gelbath bombs (wrapped in muslin and in cubic form, massage barAnd body lotion All have top notes of rich, calming lavender. (I especially like Lush's Sleepy scents because they don't have that artificial, overly sweet lavender scent and they're balanced with other subtle, essential oil-esque scents like tonka and chamomile). I really liked massage barWhich was cut in a grooved pattern that made the bar feel like a mini massage when rubbed against the skin. The bar smells of lavender essential oil and also contains chamomile and magnesium to promote healthy sleep. It covered my skin with a waxy, oily hydrating shine. lavender-scented lotion Made with oat milk and cocoa butter, and infused with essential oils like almond, jojoba, and lavender. Because of the oils, the lotion has a slightly oily sheen when applied to the skin, but feels like a creamy body butter.
Moonbrew Hot Cocoa for $43, like mushroom based Alice Chocolate On this list, Moonbrew Hot Cocoa uses a blend of superfoods like reishi fungus to gently nourish your body's natural sleep cycles, rather than an additive like melatonin that instantly helps with insomnia. In addition to sage, cocoa contains other familiar heavy sleep-inducing inhibitors, like L-theanine; a magnesium mixture; and chamomile, lavender and zinc to promote relaxation and deep sleep. It's vegan and sugar- and gluten-free, and can be mixed with cold or hot water or milk. The cocoa is very tasty, but it definitely has a more natural flavor and crisper texture than the super-sweet hot cocoa you get from a big name like Nestle (I think this is mostly due to the sage). I find it best when mixed with warm oat milk to make a sweet bedtime drink. As mentioned, this is a slow burn designed for long-term use, so I didn't feel an immediate hyper-sleepy effect, but I slept through the night after drinking it and woke up without groggy. I still like our other drink mix, MonBetter, but it's a more effective sleep aid than a cup of herbal tea.
Celestial Seasonings Sleepytime Extra for $5: Sleepytime Extra Tea is a variation of the classic Sleepytime Tea, which has been a leading household name in commercial tea for over 50 years. Sleepytime Extra Tea is Celestial Seasonings' classic blend of chamomile and spearmint, with soothing herbs like lemongrass, hawthorn berry, and tilia flower. It also contains valerian root, which has historically been used as an all-natural supplement for insomnia and anxiety relief (although the claim has not been tested by the FDA). The tea has a pleasant, mild mint flavor with a slight aroma of citrus. However, I'm not sure whether it really helped me or not – I think just drinking a nice hot cup of tea automatically makes you feel comfortable and sleepy. It didn't put me to sleep right away, but it was helpful for relaxing before bed, and just looking at that napping bear on the box puts me to sleep.
Numi Sweet Slumber Tea for $10, This delicious organic herbal tea uses familiar natural ingredients with an herbal blend of chamomile, lavender, lemon balm leaf and licorice root that helps with relaxation. It also contains valerian root, which has historically been used as an all-natural supplement for insomnia and anxiety relief (although the claim has not been tested by the FDA). Passionflower and hop flowers (the same family as the hops in beer) promote drowsiness. The tea has a nice, mild herbal flavor that is given a slightly citrus flavor from the lemon balm and a very mild, anise-like flavor from the licorice root. It didn't put me to sleep as instantly as others on this list, but it was helpful for relaxing before bed – that nice warm cup of tea brought a relaxing atmosphere.
Emergen-Zzz Nightly Sleep Aid for $14, Emergen-Zzz Nighttime Sleep Aid is a snooze version of the popular Emergen-C vitamin C supplement drink. Emergen-Zzz contains melatonin to help promote sleepiness, as well as vitamin C and antioxidants like zinc and vitamin D to help the immune system. (Melatonin is generally considered safe for pregnant people, but a doctor should be consulted.) You dissolve the powder in a glass of water and fizz until it dissolves. The berry flavor is very artificial and not my favorite. The product says it takes about 30 minutes to take effect and contains 3 mg of melatonin. I felt more relaxed and a little sleepy after taking it, but it wasn't as powerful as some of the others on this list. My problem with it is that it seems like it won't let me sleep, as I wake up several times during the night. However, I think it will help the average person without major sleep problems fall asleep faster.
OLLY Sleep Gummies for $20: OLLY is a super trendy brand whose gummy supplements constantly go viral on social media like TikTok and sell out fast. These are delicious: blackberry with mint flavor, and contain 3 mg of melatonin; L-theanine, which reduces anxiety and promotes healthy sleep cycles; and botanicals such as chamomile, passionflower, and lemon balm extracts. (Melatonin is generally considered safe for pregnant people, but a doctor should be consulted.) The first time I took these gummies, I felt the effects and fell asleep easily. I woke up around 2am and ate two more and eventually came back to bed. The next night, after taking two gummies, I did not feel any significant sleep effect and I doubled the dose to four gummies (6 mg) and fell asleep after an hour or so, but woke up again in the middle of the night and took another dose. Took. Every time I took more, I started to feel sleepy, so it was effective that way, but with so many people (on the internet and in my real life) swearing by these Olly Sleep Gummies, I needed more. Was expected. For someone who struggles with sleep just like me, they didn't put me to sleep as effectively as some of the other products on this list.