Bedtime Routine with Nourish London | Probiotic Multi-Mineral Repair Mask & Sleepy Pillow Mist review

These two additions to my bedtime beauty routine from Nourish London make an excellent team for getting a good night's sleep and gorgeous glowing skin come the morning. Now if only they could stop the alarm clock from going off so early...

Regular readers will know how much of a fan I am of Nourish, and guess what? These two featured products are actually a re-discovery of old favourities from the brand. For those who are new to these parts, Nourish is a particularly lovely natural and organic skincare brand based in London with vegan and cruelty-free accreditations.  There's a lot to love from this company so feel free to check out my previous reviews and feature on Nourish here. 

For now, though, let's take a closer look at two of their bestsellers that you can add to your bedtime beauty routine; the Probiotic Multi-Mineral Repair Mask and Sleepy Pillow Mist.

Nourish London Probiotic Multi-Mineral Repair Mask* (30ml, £26, link)

When I'm winding down for the evening and have some spare time on my hands, I love to indulge in a proper pampering skincare session. Think of a deep cleanse, a good facial massage, and of course, a luxury treatment to really get those relaxing spa-at-home vibes going. 

Nourish's Probiotic Multi-Mineral Repair Mask is a nutrient-rich, anti-aging face mask that delivers all the probiotic minerals that your skin needs to help repair itself and to support a healthy skin barrier against the elements. This award-winning treatment boasts ingredients such as Magnesium to calm down any inflammation and redness, whilst Zinc, Copper, and Iron helps to further repair and protect. Damask Rose and Lavender are also included to boost collagen, restore firmness and reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.

The inbuilt pump makes applying this mask super easy and I like to apply a generous layer all over, avoiding the eye area. This mask gets to work in just five minutes before it's rinsed off with a warm flannel and it doubles up as an intensive overnight treatment that you can leave on while you sleep if your skin requires more TLC.

 

Nourish London Sleepy Pillow Mist* (100ml, £20, link)

As a chronic insomniac, I'm a bit addicted to pillow sprays and always have to use one to help me to drift off to sleep. I've tried pretty much every one out there on the market and often come back to Nourish's Sleepy Pillow Mist as it's very effective. 

This is a beautiful aromatherapy blend of nine carefully chosen essential oils, all famed for their calming and soothing properties such as Frankincense, Sweet Orange, Patchouli, Rose, Geranium, and of course, the most famous sleepy essential oil of them all, Lavender. There's also the addition of Epsom Salts which are rich in Magnesium; great for reducing stress, all wrapped up in an alcohol-free mist.

To use, simply spritz a few times over your pillow and bedding before going to sleep and breathe in the relaxing scent to help you to unwind.

Discover more at nourishskinrange.com

What products are in your bedtime beauty routine?

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Health & Lifestyle: The Fine Bedding Co - De-Stress Biocrystal Bedding for a Better Night's Sleep - One Month Trial Review

 

Searching for a new solution to help you to get that good night's sleep that you desperately need? Why not try the De-Stress Biocrystal range from The Fine Bedding Co?

Insomnia has plagued my life since I was about 11 or 12 years old. I've always been a poor sleeper and have found that it's unfortunately gotten worse the older that I get due to the stresses and worries of modern-day life. This perhaps explains why I'm willing to try literally anything to get a good night's sleep! 

In addition to a consistent sleep hygiene routine, I've had some good successes with a number of different products and techniques; from taking specialist supplements, using natural aromatherapy products, to interviewing wellbeing experts for their best-ever sleep tips. 

However, trying out bedding that has been designed to help you de-stress, is a first for me and as I'm always keen to try something new, I couldn't wait to try out these two products from The Fine Bedding Co.

What is the De-Stress Biocrystal range?

This specialist sleep range combines 16 different crystals to bring about an innovation of nature, science, and technology to help promote good quality sleep. A mixture of crystal powder is immersed into the actual fabric of this bedding via the geometric printed pattern that you can see above - how cool is that?! 

These sleep crystals are carefully chosen for their unique benefits to calm your heartbeat, slow down rapid breathing, relax muscle tensions and reduce stress, thus helping you to get a good night's sleep. 

Does it work with my usual bedding?

Yes. Radiating up to a distance of 50cm, the patented Biocrystal technology works through bedding so there's no need to purchase anything else.

Do Crystals Work?

It's not an area that has had much scientific evidence backing it, however, The Fine Bedding Co report the following stats on their website which will be of interest to any prospective customers:-

• 45% of users experienced decreased pain
• 53% reported better body circulation
• 76% of users had an overall improved night’s sleep

I tested out the De-Stress Biocrystal Sustainable Cotton Pillow* (£35) and the De-Stress Biocrystal Sustainable Mattress Protector* (double size, £77.50) over the course of a month to note down my findings. First up, the high quality of both of these items is fantastic. The materials used are luxurious and the cotton is sustainably sourced, so if you're simply looking for a new pillow and a mattress protector, I would recommend them purely based on that aspect alone.

My Thoughts

I opted for the double-sized Mattress Protector which fitted perfectly and has a lovely, softly padded protective layer. The matching Pillow utilises the same materials with plump Smartfil Microfibres and a soft cotton cover. I particularly loved the Pillow as it was described as 'medium', which meant it was both comfortable and supportive. As normal, I used my usual bedding over the top of both of these and noticed that it didn't 'feel' any different - the geometric pattern that you see above is completely flat and not raised as it may appear.

As I snuggled into bed that first night, I was feeling pretty good after having a relatively relaxed day, and I slept well and woke up feeling refreshed. As the month progressed, I had a number of particularly stressful situations to deal with, and I have to admit that on some nights, I tossed and turned for hours as insomnia reared its ugly head. However, I did experience a higher number of good sleep nights in my sleep journal than the previous month, so I have been wondering whether it's due to the crystals or the softer and cozier feel of my bed? What do you think?

Shop the De-Stress Biocrystal range at finebedding.co.uk

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Health & Lifestyle: 3 Supplements To Try This Autumn/Winter

 

Give your health a boost this Autumn and Winter with a range of new supplements that you may not have come across before. This edit includes a natural sleeping beauty blend, a herbal tincture for clear skin, and a CBD Oil to help with creativity.

Try For Better Sleep: Complete Me Sleeping Beauty Relaxing Blend* (60 capsules, £14.99, link)

A good night's sleep is not only essential for your physical health so you are well rested to get the most out of your new day, but it's also vital for your mental health as well. Complete Me's Sleeping Beauty Relaxing Blend combines carefully selected vitamins and minerals such as Magnesium, Zinc, Vitamins B3 and B6, with 5HTP, Lemon Balm and Chamomile, to promote a healthy, good night's sleep. It achieves this by helping the body to naturally relax and unwind, and balances your hormones so you're in the right frame of mind to catch up on those all-important ZZZs. 

How To Use: take two capsules with a glass of water before going to bed. Suitable for vegans, gluten-free, non-GMO and contains no artificial colours or preservatives. 

Try For Clearer Skin: Herbfarmacy Botanicals Dandelion & Burdock Extract* (100ml, £13.50, link)

As many of my regular readers will know, I've been a big fan of Herbfarmacy's skincare for many years now, yet it's only been recently that I discovered that they also sell a range of herbal botanical tinctures so I thought I would check out their organic Dandelion & Burdock Extract. Used for centuries as an internal skin purifier to support the healthy function of the liver and kidneys, extracts of Dandelion and Burdock root have been widely researched as a tonic to help with digestion, and there's been growing evidence that they're beneficial as a way to internally treat common skin conditions such as eczema, acne, and psoriasis. 

How to use: add half a teaspoon to a glass of water or fruit juice and drink two-three times a day. This tincture has a strong earthy and herbal flavour and is suitable for vegans.

Try For Increased Creativity: Amphora Inspire CBD Oil Drops* (30ml, £99.99, link)

New from Amphora is a premium range of high-strength CBD Oil Drops which have been specially formulated to support different aspects of daily life. Each product boasts an impressive high strength of 6000mg CBD Oil; the equivalent of a full dropper's worth of 200mg pure CBD extract, plant-based terpenes, and MCT oil for quick absorption. Unlike cheaper brands, Amphora's CBD is sourced from 100% organically grown hemp and contains no harmful additives. I've been testing out the Inspire CBD Oil Drops that help to promote increased concentration and creativity. It's early days yet, but I'm hopeful it can aid my mind out of its procrastinating ways - we shall see!

How to use: squeeze a dropper full under the tongue, hold for 30 seconds and swallow. Inspire has a slightly citrusy, earthy flavour.

Have you tried any supplements this season?

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Health & Lifestyle: 5 Products To Help You Fall Asleep Faster #BestSleepEver

Following on from last month's sleep-focussed post (read here) where three wellness experts shared their top tips for getting a better night's sleep, I've decided to round up some of my go-to bedside products that I use when I'm struggling to count those elusive sheep.

Disclaimer: Please see a GP if you're having sleep problems - below are just the products that I have been using to help my own sleep issues, but they may not all work for you.

 Spritz On Bedlinen - Neal's Yard Remedies Goodnight Pillow Mist* (45ml, £15, link)

Pillow mists are something that used to be quite obscure many years ago but thankfully they are readily available these days thanks to growing consumer demand for natural sleep aids. I've tried a lot of different brands and one of my favourites that I frequently go back to when I'm having sleep problems is Neal's Yard Remedies Goodnight Pillow Mist. Packaged in their signature dark blue glass bottle, the mist is composed of a relaxing blend of Organic Lavender, Vetiver and Mandarin essential oils - all well known for their soothing properties. Simply spritz over pillows and bedlinen before you want to sleep and let the tranquil fragrance work its magic as you nod off.

Take A Bath - MOA Fortifying Green Bath Potion* (100ml, £25, link)

Taking a warm bath is often mentioned in many sleep hygiene routines, and I have personally always found baths to be wonderfully relaxing, especially if you've had a particularly busy or stressful day. Baths can significantly help you to unwind and they're great for relieving aches and pains such as sore muscles from exercise. Try MOA Fortifying Green Bath Potion which is a bath oil that I often recommend to anyone who isn't keen on the traditional lavender scents. Instead, this Bath Potion is more of a herbal blend with Peppermint, Fennel, Sweet Birch and Yarrow that's both invigorating (it helps to clear and refresh the mind) and calming at the same time thanks to the physical benefits that it brings to the body. It's also ideal to use when you're feeling run down as it clears up blocked sinuses a treat - just make sure to not use too much - it's strong stuff!

Treat Your Hands - Balm Balm Lavender Hand Balm* (60ml, £12.50, link)

Hands feeling dry due to frequent washing and using hand sanitiser all day? Give them some TLC with this ultra-rich Balm Balm Lavender Hand Balm. The perfect pot of hydrating goodness to keep on your bedside table, it has a seriously nourishing formula thanks to a blend of Shea Butter, Sunflower, Beeswax, Jojoba and Calendula oils. With added Lavender essential oil, it fits in neatly as an extra pampering step that you can do before bedtime to get you in the right frame of mind for sleep.

Try A Rollerball - Seascape Island Apothecary Soothe Oil* (8ml, £10, link)

Temple balms and oils are another handy product to have nearby when you're struggling to sleep and I sometimes re-apply them to my pulse points if I wake up in the middle of the night to help me to get back to sleep. Lots of different brands offer them and Seascape Island Apothecary Soothe Oil is definitely one to try if you want something that's instantly comforting and relaxing as it has Lavender, Bitter Orange and Mandarin Orange essential oils in a convenient rollerball. Swipe it on, breathe it in and relax.

Unwind With CBD - Naturopathica CBD+ Unwind* (30 capsules, £39.99, link)

CBD is fast becoming the go-to supplement for those who are feeling stressed and anxious, and I've written about my personal experiences with the positive benefits of taking CBD Oil in previous features on this blog. If you're not a fan of the taste of pure CBD Oil, there are lots of other ways to try it including teas, lozenges and more traditional capsules. The CBD+ Unwind capsules from wellness brand Naturopathica have been particularly useful to me, and I've been taking them for the past month to help with the heightened sense of anxiety I've been having due to the current pandemic situation. This range has been formulated to work with the body's endocannabinoid system so it contains 5mg of full-spectrum CBD to be the most effective, and the Unwind blend also includes B1, Magnesium, L-Theanine and Chamomile to further support healthy sleeping patterns.

Do you have problems sleeping?

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Health & Lifestyle: How To Get A Good Night's Sleep - 3 Wellness Experts Share Their Top Tips #BestSleepEver

Getting a good night's sleep seems like an impossible task for many people and it's something that I've struggled with for years - I'm so envious of anyone who can just instantly fall asleep as soon as their head touches their pillow! To help those in the same boat, I decided to pick the brains of three wellness experts to see if they could share some words of wisdom so that we can all try to enjoy a good night's sleep at last.

My experience with poor sleep

For as long as I can remember, I've always been a terrible sleeper, especially since hitting puberty. After that, my early 20s were particularly stressful in many ways, and I fell into a lot of bad habits such as eating too much junk food, staying up too late, drinking too much alcohol before going to bed - all the standard hallmarks of early adult life some might say! The problem was that my sleep didn't improve that much when I began to clean up my lifestyle later on - I was still plagued with crippling insomnia that was causing me to fall asleep during the day as I was completely exhausted. 

I visited my GP who diagnosed insomnia and prescribed sleeping tablets which gave me horrific nightmares, so I sought a second opinion and was sent on a CBT (Cognitive Behaviour Therapy) course which helped a lot with my stress management, but it still didn't solve all of my sleeping problems. Frustrated by years of poor sleep, I've been going down the self-help route recently which has led me to contact some wellness experts via social media to see if they could share their knowledge on this tricky issue which affects nearly two-thirds of UK adults on a regular basis.

Meet AJ - The Health & Human Performance Expert

Aurimas Juodka is a Health and Human Performance Expert (Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist, Nutrition Coach, High-Performance Coach - wellwithaj.com). In his career as an educator, speaker and coach, AJ has helped hundreds of his clients excel in life physically and mentally, after personally struggling with a range of health issues himself including insomnia, digestion problems, mental fog, low energy and a compromised immune system.

One of the key aspects of attaining good sleep comes through understanding the basics of the body's natural circadian rhythm. AJ explains that the circadian rhythm, "is an internal body clock that regulates sleep-wake cycles. Humans are ultimately still animals that thrive with the cycles of nature." This is why his top tip for better sleep is, "rising with the sun and blocking all artificial blue light". He recommends wearing blue light blocking glasses, installing f.lux or Iris app on your computer, using the night shift mode on your phone and having warm lighting in the house. AJ also advises that it's important to create a bedtime routine based on whatever helps you to wind down such as drinking tea, taking a bath before bed, turning your WiFi off, putting your phone onto aeroplane mode or his personal favourite, which is using an acupressure mat. 

The timing of your evening meal is another key factor as well - AJ recommends not eating within at least 3hrs before bedtime because "an overloaded digestive system makes your body focus on digestion rather than producing necessary sleep hormones. Pre-bedtime snack really isn't a great idea."

Meet Professor Ursula James - Visiting Professor of Clinical Hypnosis at Robert Gordon University and a Visiting Teaching Fellow at Oxford University Medical School

Ursula James is a Hypnotherapist and Professor of Clinical Hypnosis (her company, Thames Medical Lectures, has lectured at most of the UK's medical schools including Oxford and Cambridge, and she is a Patron of Anxiety UK and the National Centre for Domestic Violence (NCDV). She is also a Foundation Member of the Academy of Medical Educators and a member of the Women of the Future Network - ursulajames.com). Ursula treats people with sleep problems and has a hypnotherapy mp3 called Better Sleep which you can listen to in bed to help you to fall asleep. To further aid those who are experiencing poor sleep due to the Coronavirus pandemic, she has created a weekly Covid Calmer session which is conducted over Zoom every Wednesday - you can check out previous sessions on her YouTube channel here.

With hypnotherapy being Ursula's area of expertise, I asked her how it can help my fellow readers with their sleep. She replied, "Sleep is more than physical rest, it is mental housekeeping, without which we can go crazy. Using hypnotherapy helps you to prioritise, compartmentalise and discard information so you optimise your sleep. It also helps you with creativity and letting go of the things which stress you.

Hypnotherapy is a brilliant process for improving your sleep, whether it is to get to sleep, get better quality sleep, or to eradicate disturbed sleep. It does this by keeping your mind occupied with a simple process which moves in tandem with your natural sleep processes. It helps you leave out the upsetting thoughts, so you don’t dwell on them as you sleep, and focus on the positives from the previous day, as well as creating something to look forward to in the next day."

Aside from hypnotherapy, Ursula also recommends trying these top tips for better sleep; "a warm bath, an orgasm (partner not required), and a warm milky drink. Do not attempt all at the same time, you will probably spill your drink."

Meet Joel Jolen from Reset Breathing and Fellow of Buteyko Professionals Intl institute

Joel Jolen is a Fellow of Buteyko Professionals Intl institute (FBPI). (He holds a BA Hons in Health Econ and his area of specialism is focussed on breathing techniques - resetbreathing.com).

The benefits of improving breathing to someone who is struggling to sleep takes many forms, as Joel explains below, "the key is how you breathe during the day. That’s whilst eating, working, exercising and relaxing. The causes of poor sleep from a breathing education perspective include:

• Mouth breathing by day – this has become common place and you might be surprised by how many people think it’s correct to mouth breathe. This puts you on fight or flight and can create a cascade of stress throughout your body without you being aware.

• Your breathing being audible at rest – this basically means you are breathing a volume of air far bigger than required. It’s often out of habit following a change to your breathing pattern after a sustained period of stress.

• Sighing, sniffing, and yawning with big breaths also creates over breathing and impairs sleep when you finally get your head on the pillow.

• Large breaths prior to talking along with lots of visible upper chest movement have a similar effect."

Joel warns that those who have jobs which involve excessive talking, such as teachers and sales executives, should be particularly mindful as they can be at risk of fatigue due to a loss of CO2 and oxygen. He advises that drinking carbonated water can help if you have a lot of talkative days. Other things to watch out for which can upset your sleeping patterns include eating processed foods - Joel recommends to "stay away from beige food and don't overeat as both increase breathing rate beyond that of fresh food. Eat light to breathe right", and make sure the temperature in your house isn't too warm as, "high temperatures can impair breathing too".

My favourite piece of advice from Joel is when he says the following which I think anyone who struggles to sleep will appreciate; "The benefits are life-changing and the techniques and accompanying lifestyle advice are simple. Admittedly, they are not easy to commit to but all you need do is focus on those life-changing benefits and they act as a huge incentive...especially as drastic improvements in health/sleep can be experienced in 4-6 weeks."

Thank you to all of the experts who shared their knowledge for this feature!

Do you struggle with sleep?

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Health & Lifestyle: Getting A Good Night's Sleep with Utmost Me - Neuro Rest Supplements review

Struggling to get a good night's sleep can be annoying when it happens once or twice, but when it's a regular occurrence, it can have truly debilitating consequences for many aspects of your daily life. 

I've been a notoriously bad sleeper for as long as I can remember. It takes me a long time to be able to relax and actually fall asleep, and when I am asleep, I find it difficult to stay asleep, often getting up numerous times in the night. Needless to say, these poor sleep patterns leave me feeling tired for much of the next day, and come night time again, the vicious cycle repeats.

Before anyone asks, I've seen my GP about this problem many times and I've been referred to a specialist Sleep Clinic in the past, as well as enduring countless sessions of CBT (Cognitive Behavioural Therapy) and regular counselling to try to get to the bottom of it. I've been put onto various prescription medications, nearly all of which had horrible side effects, so I currently don't take anything. What's the root cause of my sleep problem? For me, it all seems to be linked to Stress and Anxiety, which is something that I've been dealing with since I was a teenager. I'm a terrible worrier and have had a particularly difficult past couple of years trying to deal with too many problems all at once; it's no surprise that I find it hard to get to sleep.

When Utmost Rest contacted me to ask if I'd like to try out their Neuro Rest supplements, I was hesitant at first. I've used a lot of similar natural products in the past with varying degrees of success, but after reading the info on their website, I was curious to try them to see if they would work for me. 

Utmost Me is an entrepreneurial start-up which focuses on improving sleep, and reducing stress and anxiety. It was founded by Richard Turnbull back in 2016, a father and stressed out city worker who was becoming frustrated by the number of sleepless nights that he was enduring which left him exhausted. He began to research brain energy and after working with a wide range of health experts for over 12 months, Utmost Rest came to life.

The brand currently has two natural supplement products available; Neuro Focus Plus and Neuro Rest. Both have been developed by a team of bio-scientists, doctors and expert nutritionists for a fully science-evidenced approach which has seen positive results from customers. Since the launch of Neuro Rest, over 100,000 bottles have been sold and the brand enjoys a 75% customer retention rate - something is clearly working here!

What's in Neuro Rest?

Neuro Rest is a food supplement and two capsules contain 112mg of Magnesium, 90.9mg of Griffonia Seed Extract (providing 5-HTP 90mg), 70mg of L-Tryptophan, 72mg of Montmorency Cherry, 25mg of Grape Skin Extract, 17mg of Watermelon Extract, 70mg of Chamomile Extract, 10mg of L'Taurine, and 50ug of Biotin. 

What Does It Do?
The brand's unique MagneRest® blend is made up of three different types of Magnesium which helps to relax the mind and contributes to a reduction in tiredness and fatigue. 5-HTP has been proven to increase the production of serotonin (often referred to as the 'feel good' hormone), which also helps to reduce symptoms of anxiety and insomnia. The addition of the natural sources of melatonin (found in the fruit extracts) aids the body in regulating itself for natural sleep, whilst the remaining ingredients work in synergy to help you switch off for a good night's rest.

Who Can Use It & Who Shouldn't?

This supplement can be used by adults who are looking for a natural way to reduce anxiety and help them to sleep. However, it's not suitable for children, pregnant or nursing women, and anyone who is currently taking any type of medication or has a medical condition should consult their GP first. Neuro Rest is vegan-friendly.

How Do I Take It?
Take 1 capsule per night with a glass of water for the first 4 nights, 30 minutes before you to go to bed. After that, you can increase to 2 capsules per night for as long as you need it.

Did It Work For Me?

Like many supplements, I didn't see any immediate differences and found that it took at least three weeks of nightly use before I began to notice any changes. I did, however, find that they helped my mind to switch off a lot better than before (I'm one of those people that constantly has a million 'to-do' thoughts in my head before I go to sleep!) and I was able to fall asleep faster than I previously did. That said, I still struggled to stay asleep and this aspect hasn't changed much for me, although I certainly appreciate the extra helping hand in reducing some of my anxiety/anxious thoughts before bedtime. I would still be interested in taking Neuro Rest on a regular basis for the positive effects that it has had on my anxiety alone, and I imagine that if your sleep is mostly affected by stressful periods, and not a longstanding issue like mine is, you would likely see a much better result in your sleep improving by taking these.

Utmost Neuro Rest* (60 capsules) retails for £24 and is available utmostme.com

Do you take any natural sleep aids for insomnia or anxiety?

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Green Beauty: Tisserand's Sweet Dreams / Sleep range review

Getting a full eight hours of sleep every night is something that I've always struggled with, even if I'm feeling completely exhausted. If you're feeling the struggle too, check out these all-natural sleep aids from Tisserand.

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