NEal’s Yard’s EssENtial Oils fOr EssENtial slEEP
Forty-five percent of the world’s population suffers from sleep deprivation. That’s a lot of people who start their days grumpy, sluggish, unfocused and tired, and most of them don’t even know it since the majority of sleep problems are not severe, but may lead to accrued stress. We’ve even learned to work around lack of sleep without getting any actual sleep, which can’t be a good thing. To raise awareness on the importance of getting enough zzz’s, the World Sleep Society has created World Sleep Day, held every year on the Friday before the Spring Vernal Equinox. This year, it’s on March 16. In astrology, the Spring Equinox is the time to break free from things that hinder growth and pursue new goals — why not make one of them getting enough sleep? London-based wellness brand Neal’s Yard comes to the rescue with new products to aid the sleep deprived. I have personally tried them all and have been sleeping better.
My sleep problems are mild but chronic. I often have toovivid dreams that wake me up in the middle of the night, or have trouble falling asleep to start with. Maybe I’m still getting acquainted with the angle of the bed (which faces a huge window and gets too much moonlight). Maybe I’ve been watching too much television or writing too late in the night. I’ve managed to stop using my phone at least an hour before bedtime, and started investing more time in a nightly skincare regimen that includes a relaxing face massage. But I still needed an extra push.
Neal’s Yard’s Goodnight Pillow Mist was that missing piece. A few minutes before bedtime, spray it on your pillow, sheets and blanket to wrap you in a scent that will get you feeling sleepy before you even hit the bed. It contains essential oils such as lavender (soothes the mind), chamomile (eases tension), vetiver (known for sleep-inducing qualities), balsam (a mood lifter), geranium (balances emotions) and mandarin (warms and soothes).
If you’re the type to feel a little precious about their products, alternate the Goodnight Pillow Mist with Neal’s Yard Organic Aromatherapy Room Spray, which comes in Balancing, Uplifting and Calming to match your mood. If it always happens to be a turn-my-home-into-a-spa mood, this is a product you should have.
Another product is Neal’s Yard’s Beauty Sleep Concentrate, a relaxing serum that’s skincare and knockout potion in one. It contains ylang-ylang (soothes the skin), patchouli (rejuvenates dry skin), orange (revitalizing) and clary sage (soothes nerves and prepares the mind for rest). Using just one pump, warm the serum on your hand and cup your nose and mouth. Inhale deeply and exhale with mindfulness, then massage all over the face. On my skin, I noticed a poreminimizing effect as well. For your full-body needs, there’s the Beauty Sleep Butter, which comes in a nice texture that feels like it’s coating the skin in nourishing oils.
Finally, candles. Candlelight makes people sleepy, which can be good or bad. If you fall asleep with a candle lighted — bad. Neal’s Yard’s Aromatherapy Candles are made of organic wax that you can safely keep burning through the night, as well as more essential oils that help calm the mind and balance emotions. Neal’s Yard’s resident chemist who handles international retail support/ training and education, Gloria Yuan, shared a particularly scary story about a friend who forgot to put out a regular wax scented candle before going to bed, and it ended up in flames; so don’t do that. She also showed us how safe Neal’s Yard’s organic waxes are — they won’t actually burn you if you accidentally get some of the hot wax on your skin.
Just one of these will help, but use them together and you’ll sleep like a rock and wake up feeling refreshed. Some other notes on getting more sleep: monitor your caffeine and sugar intake, don’t look at bright lights before going to bed (a.k.a. stop watching Instagram Stories late at night!), drink water before bedtime but not right before or you’ll have to pee at 3 a.m., practice mindful breathing and meditation for five minutes, and finally, never sleep with your makeup on or in your outside clothes even if you’re really tired.
By the way, World Sleep Day is not a holiday, so don’t sleep in, but, hopefully, sleep well. Good luck and good night!
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Neal’s Yard is available at Rustan’s Makati, Rustan’s Shangri-La and Adora at Greenbelt 5.