The Best Sleep Products and Tips Inspired by the World’s Dreamiest Hollywood-Loved Retreats
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If you’re still adjusting to Daylight Savings Time, you’re not alone. In fact, March 15 marks World Sleep Day, while the National Health Foundation-founded Sleep Awareness Week (March 10-16) was created to shine a light on the benefits of a good night’s rest — and many companies are offering big discounts all month to encourage people to snooze better.
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A good night of shut-eye helps to boost our energy, mood, productivity and creative thinking, according to the Sleep Foundation. The organization also points to studies that have found that better self-control is another benefit of good sleep.
“Sleep has been low on our collective consciousness for so long, and we are now, collectively, waking up to its importance,” Harvard Medical School instructor Dr. Rebecca Robbins, Ph.D, tells The Hollywood Reporter. “Restarting or ‘re-wiring’ sleep habits after years of neglect can take some time and patience, but the good news is small changes can start to take effect very quickly.”
With sleep tourism on the rise, resorts are also attracting rest-deprived vacationers by offering getaways specifically focused on slumber. (Something that’s surely, and often sorely, needed right now in hard-working Hollywood and beyond.)
Robbins leads the three-night Sleep Retreat (from $2,125 per night) at Arizona’s luxurious and historic Castle Hot Springs — nestled about an hour north of Phoenix in the picturesque Hieroglyphic Mountains — where guests can soak in lectures on circadian rhythm, sleep disorders and optimizing their slumber. The next snooze-focused getaway is June 6-9.
Closer to Hollywood, the Peninsula Beverly Hills hotel is rolling out a Sleep Spa Suite package (from $12,000 per night) and features a H?stens signature 2000T King Sleep System mattress, Rolls-Royce transportation to H?stens’s LA flagship for a private sleep spa consultation, luxe relaxation accessories (such as satin sleep masks, aromatherapy sachets and candles, a 60-minute signature message, a Margy’s Monte Carlo Botolift iMask, Laurent Perrier Blanc de Blanc champagne, a five-course plant-based dining experience and more.
Los Angeles’ Hotel Figueroa (where Haim shot their Elle Women of the Year cover) recently launched the Slumber in Style Package that treats guests to an Osea Vagus Nerve travel set to prep for the most restorative sleep. They also offer the Rest, Relax, Recover and Reset package (contact the hotel directly for rates; more booking options at Expedia) that features the Eight Sleep mattress with a dual-zoned Pod that can be adjusted per your body temperature and preferences, a snooze-friendly Loftie alarm clock, a custom Pluto Pillow, an in-room Forme fitness mirror and Peloton exercise bike, Hyperice’s Hypervolt massage device and Normatec 3 compression therapy system, and more.
Also on the West Coast, Big Sur’s picturesque Post Ranch Inn boasts the wellness-focused Sleep Program offering two 60-minute Sleep Menu spa treatments, a gift bag, a Sleep Serenity dinner menu at Sierra Mar and access to sleep expert Dr. Michael Breus’ video series.
One of New York’s coolest — and most luxurious — hangouts, the Aman hotel offers its guests free 30-minute wellness consultations that include personalized sleep recommendations with the Brain Gauge Pro cognitive performance test. Not far in Washington, D.C., Hilton-owned Morrow Hotel (from $430 nightly) offers a self-care menu that lets guests select their preferred pillow types (from feather, buckwheat, memory foam, satin and body pillows) and amenities such as pampering kits, aromatherapy, facial masks and more.
At Six Senses’ Ibiza resort, guests can choose from a three-, five- or seven-night stay as part of a sleep program that includes a wellness screening, personalized consultations, yoga, cryotherapy and other activities. In South America, the Westin Lima Hotel & Convention Center‘s Sleep Well program offers a curated menu to promote restful sleep, a bathroom stocked with relaxing bath bombs and calming lavender balms and the signature pillow-top Heavenly Bed mattress.
But you don’t need to splurge on a big-budget respite for better sleep. Robbins explains that easy fixes can be done at home, such as replacing old pillows, upgrading from your old uncomfortable or sagging mattress, creating a more relaxing bedroom or even simply setting the thermostat to a comfortable level between 60 to 70 degrees Fahrenheit (the ideal temperature for sleep). Our core body temperature needs to drop during sleep in order to conserve energy, so maintaining a cool setting can help facilitate better sleep and reduce the number of times we wake up at night.
To help us all transition from groggy mornings to well-rested risings (whether from traveling or otherwise), we sat down with Robbins to get her expert suggestions on how to get better sleep. Inspired by her tips, we rounded up some of our own favorite snooze-friendly products ranging from the best mattresses and bedding to supplements and high-tech gadgets.
Shop some of our go-to sleep accessories below, followed by Robbins’ advice for more effective slumber.
Clevr Sleeptime SuperLatte
We’re fans of Clevr’s delicious SleepTime SuperLatte, which is helpful for those who like a melatonin-free nightcap. Just add hot water to the caffeine-free mix, which contains valerian, L-theanine, hops and passionflower (and no dairy or refined sugars) to support relaxation before bedtime. (Meghan Markle is an investor in the brand that has also made Oprah Winfrey’s Favorite Things list.)
Homedics SoundSpa
$19.98 $23.99 17% off
Recently seen in True Detective season four, Homedics’ SoundSpa ambient sound machine is an affordable and easy way to fill your room with white noise and nature sounds. The portable device also has an auto-off timer, making it a great option for parents and traveling.
Casper Hybrid Dream Mattress
$1,195 and up $1,495 and up 20% off
Casper’s new lineup of sleep accessories includes the Hybrid Dream memory foam mattress, which is “designed with a gooey-medium feel that’s perfect for any sleep style, especially side sleepers,” says the brand. It boasts a top layer of breathable and responsive Breathe Flex foam, a zoned support layer to keep your spine ergonomically aligned and individually-pocketed flex coils for even more support.
If you prefer a medium-firm feel, opt for the Casper One 11-inch foam mattress ($875 and up); for those who prefer a medium-soft mattress or temperature-regulating options, the company’s hybrid 14-inch Dream Max ($2,495 and up) and the 12-inch cooling Snow Max ($3,125).
Sleep Number True Temp Sheet Set
Sleep Number’s temperature-balancing True Temp bedding is made with special fabric embedded with volcanic minerals known to help to manage body heat and moisture. (The company calls it their 37.5 Technology, based on the ideal body temperature in Celsius for comfortable sleeping).
Dr Teal's Melatonin Sleep Soak Epsom Salt Solution and Foaming Bath Gift Set
$12.26 $13.99 12% off
Sleep expert Dr. Rebecca Robbins is a fan of winding down with aromatherapy. “Every night I take a warm bath or shower and use bath salts or body scrubs with soothing scents like sandalwood and lavender,” she says.
Take Robbins’ advice and treat yourself to this Dr. Teal’s Sleep Bath gift set, which contains melatonin- and essential oil-infused epsom salts and bath foam that help to prep your mind and body for shut-eye and relaxation.
Lunya Washable Silk Sleep Mask
Snooze in style (and send a firm message) with Lunya’s plush sleep mask, which is made of washable mulberry silk that helps regulate temperature. We like that it completely wraps around the head to help reduce noise and keep your hair in place.
Fresh Lotus Youth Preserve Dream Face Cream
Make the most of your sleep and work your skincare routine into your Zzzz’s. Clean beauty brand Fresh’s lightweight Lotus Youth Preserve Dream Face Cream works while you snooze to strengthen your skin barrier, reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, hydrate dry and dull skin and leave your visage feeling refreshed and de-stressed.
Lusso Cloud Pelli Slippers
Getting out of bed doesn’t have to be a drag, and these cozy slippers from Lusso Cloud will make tired feet feel like they’re walking on fluffy comfort. The company was co-founded by luxury footwear industry veterans Jon Buscemi (of celebrity-beloved label Buscemi) and Chris Noyes, entrepreneurial pro skateboarder Rob Dyrdek, and nightlife impresario Brock Korsan — so they all know a thing or two about caring for sore steppers.
These lounge slippers feature the brand’s Triple Stock Technology that includes a foot-hugging IPEVA outsole, a breathable waffle knit upper with a memory foam lining, and a recycled EVA top sheet for an extra-plush layer. The company also uses sustainable materials such as partially recycled bamboo and upcycled coffee grounds in its shoes.
Loftie Lamp
$200 $250 20% off
For those who want a screen-free way to float off to dreamland or wake up alarm-free, then add Loftie’s circadian rhythm-friendly lamp to your bedside table. Mimicking natural sunrise and sunset (which helps to trigger the body’s melatonin production), the light turns on gradually and gently from the base up in the morning and slowly turns down in the evening, helping to signal to your body when it’s time to wake up or wind down.
Hatch Restore 2 Smart Speaker and Clock
Some people sleep like a baby with a sound machine — and if that sounds like you, Hatch’s Restore smart speaker clock has a gentle sunrise alarm and app-free sleep content such as white noise, soundscapes, bedtime stories and guided meditations help you wind down and snooze. It also doubles as a nightlight and you can create programs with light hues, sounds and routines.
ZAMAT Adjustable Cervical Memory Foam Pillow
Back, side and stomach sleepers with chronic neck pain (like us) may find Zamad’s cervical memory foam pillow more comfortable than standard ones. It has an ergonomic butterfly shape that we’ve found easier to sleep on, and we’ve noticed a decrease in neck and shoulder stiffness after a few nights of use.
Healthycell REM Sleep Liquid Gel Extra Strength Sleep Aid Supplement
One of our favorite pre-bedtime supplements, Healthycell’s REM Sleep liquid gel sleep aid helped us drift off to sleep within 30 minutes without grogginess the next morning. It contains a blend of melatonin, lemon balm extract, GABA, L-theanine, vitamins D3 and B6, glycine, magnesium, calcium and 5HTP, which all combine to support the four stages of sleep. The company says the product helps you feel relaxed and regulates body temperature and hormones for optimal sleep.
Brooklinen Super-Plush Bath Robe
This plush unisex bathrobe by Brooklinen is made of 100 percent Oeko-Tex-certified long-staple Turkish cotton. It features a shawl collar, two pockets and turn-back cuffs to give the feeling that you’re at a luxe spa while at home.
Oura Ring Gen3 Horizon Smart Ring
Miranda Kerr is among the regular wearers of Oura’s smart ring, which is equipped with sensors that track your breathing, heart rate, body temperature, sleep and activity. The wearable combines all of your statistics into actionable insight and advice on its accompanying smartphone app (compatible with Google Fit and Apple Health), which computes all of your numbers into a “Readiness” score that shows how well you slept, your ideal resting heart rate, and more. The latest version of the device also offers possible early pregnancy detection among women.
We like that the app also lets you know your optimal bedtime for the most effective sleep and when it’s time to get up and move — two healthy habits that are often easier to get done with a helpful nudge.
Ettitude Signature Sateen Sheet Set
Ettitude’s sustainable bamboo sheets work well for people who run hot at night or like the feel of a silky-smooth bed. The breathable and hypoallergenic fabric helps to keep you cool, and the set comes with one fitted sheet, one flat sheet and one or two pillowcases, depending on the mattress size you choose. The material meets the Oeko-Tex Standard 100, and compared to cotton it uses 500 times less water during production and produces 52 percent less carbon emissions.
Bearaby Tree Napper Weighted Blanket
Studies suggest that weighted blankets can help reduce anxiety and relieve pain through deep pressure stimulation, which helps to relax the nervous system. The weight helps to boost the production of serotonin and melatonin while reducing the stress hormone cortisol. Bearaby’s therapeutic blankets allow people to wrap themselves in comfort, and they’re knitted from super-soft organic cotton or Tencel. The chunky Tree Napper is available in 15-, 20- and 25-pound options (choices are made based on body weight) and helps keep you cool at night.
Mella Appealing to the Cleanses
Melatonin isn’t just helpful in tablet form — it’s also a key ingredient in Mella’s three-in-one cleanser formulated to “reveal smooth, glowy skin while reducing the look of pores, dullness and discoloration” and maintain the skin’s microbiome. A survey of product testers found that middle-of-the-night wakings reduced by 50 percent.
Rest Evercool Cooling Comforter
$129.35 $199.00 35% off
Our favorite new blanket is Rest’s Evercool comforter, which has helped this writer (and hot sleeper) stay cool and snooze more comfortably year-round. The company’s proprietary Evercool fabric “rapidly absorbs and disperses heat (10 times faster than cotton), making it one of the coolest and most efficient Qmax fabrics available.” The material is made of an “ultra-fine yarn that emulates a silk protein structure” (it’s what’s responsible for the buttery-soft feel), and the fibers create “capillary-like structures that efficiently absorb and eliminate moisture,” which helps to keep the body temperature balance.
It’s also on sale for a limited time on Amazon and at Rest’s website for 35 percent off during Sleep Week.
Headspace Meditation App
Meditation can help to calm your mind before bed, and we like Headspace’s app for its variety of content for managing anxiety, anger, stress and other concerns. Let sleepcast narrators John Legend or Eric Bana guide you to sleep, or enjoy soundscapes, sleep music and guided wind-downs for grown-ups and kids (including from Star Wars and Sesame Street).
The app is offering two weeks free when you sign up for an annual plan ($70 per year) or seven days free with a monthly subscription ($13 per month).
Rae Sleep Dietary Supplement Capsules
If you prefer to take your snooze-supporting supplements in pill form, we like taking Rae’s sleep capsules 30 minutes before hitting the hay to sleep easier and wake up without grogginess the following morning. The vegan and non-GMO dietary supplements contain melatonin, L-Theanine (which helps reduce stress and promote relaxation), and 5-HTP (known to help boost the body’s melatonin production), a combination that we’ve found to help us drift off quickly.
Alo Mindful Magnesium Bath Soak
Dial down tension and soreness and dip yourself into Alo’s Mindful Magnesium bath soak containing amla superberries and natural citrus fragrances. Magnesium helps to soothe tired muscles, while avocado and coconut oils nourish the skin.
Dyson Purifier Humidify + Cool
Allergens, odors and dry air are among the things that can be bothersome at night, which is why Dyson’s three-in-one air purifier, humidifier and fan is ideal for sensitive sleepers. (Star-beloved esthetician Shani Darden is a fan.) The unit catches 99.97 percent of bacteria and particles as small as 0.3 microns, and the 3D Air mesh evaporator hygienically humidifies the clean air.
The device’s two air jets allow you to control the cooling and oscillation levels and airflow. The humidifier is equipped with a UV-C light that kills any potential bacteria buildup, and the device also has a self-cleaning mode that makes maintenance easy.
Parachute Organic Cotton Bedroom Bundle
Parachute’s organic cotton bed sheets are GOTS- and Oeko-Tex Standard 100-certified, and are great for anyone with sensitive skin or allergies who wants more sustainable bedding. This bundle includes a fitted sheet, two pillowcases in side open or back envelope styles, a lightweight or all-season duvet insert (filled with your choice of either European white down or hypoallergenic microfiber), a duvet cover, and two supportive pillows (choose your fill and density). The set comes in all mattress sizes and an array of neutral colors.
Eight Sleep Pod 3 Mattress Cover
With Eight Sleep’s smart thermoregulating Pod 3 cover (similar to the one offered at Hotel Figueroa’s relaxation package), overheated snoozers can stay at optimal sleep temperature. It automatically cools down or warms up between 55 to 110 degrees Fahrenheit to help you sleep better. The mattress tracks body temperature, resting heart rate, respiratory rate and heart rate variability to deliver personalized health reports, and the Temperature Autopilot feature learns to optimize settings based on your data. For those who share a bed, the mattress cover allows sleepers set the temperature on each side.
Avocado Green Organic Mattress
Has all your tossing and turning convinced you to finally upgrade your uncomfortable bed setup? Avocado’s non-toxic and organic mattress is an eco-friendly option that you won’t lose sleep over. The Greenguard Gold-certified mattress is 11 inches thick and features 1,414 pocketed support coils in five zones to create a “pressure-point support system for proper back support,” so it’s great for all types of people, including back and side sleepers.
Eco-conscious slumberers can rest easy knowing that the mattress is made of sustainable materials. It’s topped with three inches of organic latex, and the rest is made from organic wool and cotton.
How to Get Better Slumber, According to a Harvard Sleep Expert
What are the most common hurdles people face when they try to get back to a regular sleep routine?
Some of the common hurdles when it comes to sleep generally fall into two buckets. The first bucket is the low-hanging fruit, and small tweaks and tune-ups to either one’s behavior and routine or their environment. For instance, a mattress that is too old, pillows that are worn out, or other elements of our bed itself really go a long way toward our healthy sleep. Simply refreshing your mattress and pillows could be the simple solution in that case.
On the other hand, if someone finds themselves not conscious about their bedtime, the time at night flies by and suddenly they routinely find themselves without enough time for sleep before their morning alarm. In this case, the easy tune-up is more awareness about bedtime and relaxing and unwinding to slip into sleep that will allow them to wake up refreshed. All of the above are small tips and tune-ups when someone simply has not been focused on their sleep but is interested in changing.
The second type of hurdle is a bit more challenging and could include difficulties falling asleep or maintaining sleep. If you experience these issues from time to time, first, realize that you are not alone! Sleep difficulties can be common for all of us from time to time. When you experience issues falling asleep, try to focus on relaxing and unwinding before bedtime and setting aside time to write down anything that is on your mind.
You might also consider relaxation strategies, such as meditation, when you are experiencing difficulties. Similarly, if you struggle to fall back asleep after waking, you might also consider a relaxation exercise, gentle yoga poses, or reading with dim light in an armchair. The important thing if you’re struggling to fall back to sleep is you do not want to stay in bed and toss and turn. If these issues falling or staying asleep happen chronically, it might be time to speak to your healthcare provider.
For those who are feeling anxious about what seems like a monumental schedule overhaul, what are some easy baby steps for those who want to start small?
Human beings are creatures of habit. It is hard to change our routines drastically and expect to settle right into this new routine. Consider the case of international travel across multiple time zones. We refer to the painful physiological and cognitive consequences of such a drastic change jet lag because our bodies have jetted forward into a new time zone, but our rhythms lag behind. We experience, subsequently, brain fog, excessive sleepiness, sluggishness, and underperform physically and cognitively.
This in large part has to do with our circadian rhythm. Our circadian rhythm is housed in a region in the brain that acts as the central pacemaker for our internal biological clock, a clock that governs almost every process in our brains and bodies, from body temperature fluctuations to hormone secretion, to our sense of sleepiness, and more! This system cannot move on a dime. Therefore, the best way to change your sleep routine is to do so carefully.
Consider the case of someone wanting to go to bed earlier. A common mistake is to pick a night and crawl in bed two to three hours earlier than normal, thinking this is a positive behavior. Unfortunately, your brain has not caught up with you and this new routine. In this case, the best recommendation is moving your bedtime 15 minutes earlier each night for one to two weeks until you have hit your target bedtime and try to keep that night in and night out.
Fortunately, so many other healthy sleep changes other than our sleep times are easy to implement. For instance, if you are having a hard time unplugging from social media, move your charger to the other side of the room from your bed. Commit to plugging your phone in 60 minutes before bed and shifting to relaxing activities in the moments before you want to be falling asleep. Small changes go a long way when it comes to sleep!
What are your top tips for staying on the good sleep wagon?
Good sleep is all about routine! My bedtime routine is very important to me. I do my best to unplug 30 minutes before sleep, turn off electronics and start my bedtime routine, which includes a warm shower or bath, followed by meditation and reading in bed before turning the lights out and falling asleep. Whatever relaxes you, commit to practicing those night in and night out. Your brain will start to learn that what follows is sleep. Keeping a religious bedtime routine at a predetermined time that you can keep most nights of the week is one small change that can go a long way toward maintaining a good sleep routine.
I commit to not tossing and turning in my bed. If I get up from sleep — we all do from time to time! — and I struggle to fall back asleep, I will go back to my wind-down activities, such as relaxation strategies or reading in an armchair, and crawl back in bed when I am tired.
Resist sleeping in! It can sound decadent, and like a positive sleep behavior, but this can throw your internal clock out of sync. Avoid sleeping in for more than 1 hour on the weekends to avoid throwing your internal clock out of whack.
Hop off screens close to bedtime. Do your best to avoid screen exposure in the 40-plus minutes before bedtime. These devices can be stressful due to the activities we do on them, but they also emit bright light that can hinder our ability to fall asleep.
We are obsessed with our Oura Ring and all of our biometric tracking gadgets. What are your thoughts on sleep trackers?
Sleep trackers can be extremely powerful and provide us with guidance on how we are doing with our sleep. Tracking can be beneficial particularly when you are experimenting with a new sleep routine, like avoiding caffeine late in the day, eating an earlier dinner further away from bedtime, or moving your exercise routine to an earlier time. Tracking allows you to consider yourself an “n=1 experiment,” monitoring the impact of these changes on your sleep. For a small number of people, however, tracking can be stressful. If that is you, consider taking a break from tracking and coming back when it serves you and your sleep goals.
I sense that we spend more money and attention to virtually every other purchase decision in our homes other than our bedroom environments. However, we spend, or should spend, one-third of our lives sleeping! Why not making your bedroom the most cozy, wonderful, relaxing part of your home? I believe firmly in investing in products you love — whatever your budget — for your bedroom.
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