Improve Your Sleep With These Snooze-Worthy Products

We’ve sung its praises for months now, and we won’t be stopping anytime soon: This Cushion Lab Deep Sleep Pillow is a Katie Couric Media favorite. The dense memory foam cradles your head and neck, offering optimal support, and the silky pillowcase keeps you cool throughout the night, no flipping required. Right now, it’s on sale for 34 percent off, so snag it before it goes back up to full price. 

Instead of staring at the ceiling and wondering when your joints will ever stop aching, consider adding a relief cream to your nightly routine. This one from Penetrex has over 50,000 five-star reviews on Amazon, and people rave about its abilities to soothe everything from chronic nerve pain to sore muscles after a workout, allowing them to sleep painlessly through the night.

If you often wake up drenched in sweat, you’re not alone. Switching to cooling sheets can help you get a better night’s rest without overheating. (Not only is it pretty uncomfortable to be sleeping in a damp nightshirt, it’s probably a sign that you aren’t able to sleep soundly because you’re not comfy.) Cozy Earth’s bamboo sheets wick away heat and moisture while you snooze, ensuring that your body temperature is regulated all night long. Unsure about investing in a set of sheets? Cozy Earth offers a 100-night trial for free, and we secured you 35 percent off with the code KATIECOURIC to use anytime between March 10 and April 12. 

Candles can set the mood for a lot of things, including bedtime. Let the grounding scents of jasmine, eucalyptus, and musk encourage you to unwind after a long day by lighting this an hour or so before bed. Just be sure to blow it out before you go to sleep, or opt for a candle warming lamp that lets you enjoy the scent sans flame.

Don’t let visions of frizzy, unkempt hair keep you up at night. Know that you’ll wake up with smooth, happy strands in the morning by donning a satin-lined cap to bed. Those with curly or coily hair likely already know the magic of a satin- or silk-lined cap (for sleep or during the colder months), but for those who don’t, it works like this: When you put this on before going to sleep, it not only keeps your hair from being crimped in an odd way between your head and pillow, but it decreases the static between your hair and pillowcase, which can reduce frizz and breakage, too.

Similar to how a weighted blanket can help ease nerves, weighted eye masks harness the same powers while also blocking out excess light. Made from 100 percent washable silk and filled with tiny glass beads, this one from Lunya won’t rub or irritate the sensitive skin around your eyes, and the mask itself isn’t so heavy that it feels oppressive. Pro tip: If you tend to struggle with puffy eyes, pop this mask in the freezer for a few minutes before wearing it for a cooling, de-puffing effect.

If you tend to dislike the feeling of synthetic fabrics like satin or polyester on your skin (which also trap heat), then wearing soft linen is the next best thing to sleeping naked. Because they’re made from natural fibers, they’re more breathable than most fabrics, regulating your body temperature all night long. This set from Quince is cute enough to wear out on a summer day — we won’t tell anyone they’re technically pajamas.

The sweet sound of silence isn’t for everyone, and, depending on where you live, outside noise can be a rest-disruptor. (The sound of garbage trucks doesn’t really relax us.) A noise machine can help in both of those scenarios. This tiny quiet boombox plays calming white noise, which helps cancel out background sounds, fills too-quiet rooms, and aids in falling and staying asleep. Not your type? Comb through our selection of the best white noise machines for sleep.

We know that blue light from phones and computer screens can damage our eyes, but it also throws off our sleep schedules. Blue light tricks your body into thinking it’s still daytime, throwing off your circadian rhythm. Using an actual alarm clock (instead of your phone) is a great way to decrease the blue light near your bed and wake up more gently. The Hatch Restore 2 is an alarm clock, reading light, sound machine, and meditation helper wrapped into one device. At night, you can use it to listen to white noise or a sleep meditation, and in the morning, it’ll gently wake you with a glowing light that mimics the sun rising. Or, if you prefer to read before nodding off, you can use it as a reading light before turning it off to catch some ZZZs.

For those who have trouble falling or staying asleep, taking the occasional supplement may take the edge off. These capsules from OLLY have melatonin (which helps with your body’s circadian rhythm), L-theanine (which has been shown to calm the body’s central nervous system), and magnesium (which can promote overall relaxation, especially for muscles). It shouldn’t be something you rely on every single night, but taking two capsules 30 minutes before bed can help you drift off to sleep easily.

Silk pillowcases are great for reducing static and friction that may damage your hair and skin, but did you know that they’re also temperature-regulating? If you tend to sleep hot, using a silk pillowcase may help: It works by wicking heat away from your body, keeping you perfectly chill throughout the night. Waking up to a good hair day is just a bonus. 

Hot sleepers know that having a cool bedroom is key to falling and staying asleep (or at least not waking up in a pool of sweat in the middle of the night). Instead of a heavy down-filled comforter, some may prefer this lightweight one from Buffy. The breathable filling is made from recycled water bottles, and while it’s just as fluffy as a regular comforter, it won’t hold an excessive amount of heat. 

You love your partner, but their snoring? Not so much. If a sleep divorce is too much of a jump right now, ear plugs may be your best bet. This set from Loop is more stylish than your average styrofoam pair, and they’re infinitely reusable. They’re made from a soft, smooth silicone that can be cleaned easily, and they even come with a convenient case for storage.

Believe it or not, humidity also plays a role in how well you sleep. According to The Sleep Foundation, sleeping in a room with 40 to 60 percent humidity is the sweet spot for optimal snoozing, and you may need the help of a humidifier to get there. This one from Canopy hydrates the air around you quietly (so it won’t disrupt your slumber), and it can easily be taken apart for regular cleaning. It also doubles as a scent diffuser, so you can add some of your favorite essential oils to set the mood before you snooze. 

Even the tiniest details can make a big difference. Try misting your pillow with this lavender-scented spray a few minutes before bed to upgrade your nighttime routine. Not only does it smell amazing, but lavender has been shown to help your body relax so you can drift off to dreamland in no time. 

Deep pressure therapy can signal to your body that it’s time to relax, which is why weighted blankets work well for some people who have trouble calming down before bed. This one is made from weighted cotton rather than fabric and glass beads, so it doesn’t make any noise when you shift it, and it’s completely machine washable, too. If you’d like to peruse more options, we’ve collected the best weighted blankets.

Polyester sheets tend to hold in heat and sweat, making for an unpleasantly swampy siesta. These natural linen sheets are extremely breathable, keeping you cool on hot nights — and they only get softer after each wash. 

Some people find sleeping in the nude to be the most comfortable (and some doctors argue it can help you fall asleep faster), but there’s nothing wrong with rocking a full set of PJs. Cozy Earth has a whole line of comfy loungewear and pajamas made from bamboo, but this set is one of our favorites. It’s buttery soft and cool to the touch, so you may find yourself wanting to wear them long after you’re out of bed in the morning. 

Waking up with the sun is an admirable goal, but you can easily recreate the sensation without having to rise at the crack of dawn. This genius lamp omits gentle light in the morning to wake you up gradually at whatever time you set it to come on. At night, it uses warm red light to signal to your body that it’s time to snooze. When you’re not using it as part of your sleep routine, you can change the color of the light to fit your mood or bedroom aesthetic.

Catching ZZZs on the go is important, too. It’s especially difficult to catch some sleep on an airplane, though. Ostrichpillow’s ergonomic neck pillow is entirely adjustable to your neck, and the higher cushioning on the sides keeps your head from tilting (or knocking you into your seatmate). It even rolls up into a compact ball for easy storage while traveling. 

Ever get ready for bed, draw the curtains, turn out the lights, and snuggle into the covers only to realize that it’s still too bright in the room for you to fall asleep? We’ve been there, both at home and in hotel rooms. The solution that doesn’t involve overhauling all your window dressings? A sleep mask. While silky ones are soft against your skin and pretty to look at, they don’t always block out 100 percent of the light. This one is made from a somewhat rigid material that holds its shape and contours around your eyes, which means it won’t place any uncomfortable pressure on your eyelids at night.

It can be hard to find ways to wind down after a long day, but drawing a hot bath is something that always seems to help. Warm water can ease tension in your muscles, and adding something like a bath soak can not only help moisturize your skin, but it can also act as aromatherapy. Calming chamomile will help ease your mind, while restorative oat kernel extract and coconut water will moisturize your skin. If you’re sensitive to scent and bath additives, Kindra made this formula without any preservatives or synthetic fragrances.

It’s no secret that it’s harder to sleep when your bedroom is filled with light, be it artificial or natural. Adding blackout curtains won’t only add to the cozy feeling of your room, they’ll help reduce any light pollution you may encounter as you wind down. They have an extra layer of fabric on the inside that’s entirely opaque, meaning no light can peek through. 

Side, stomach, and back sleepers rejoice: Avocado’s Green Pillow comes with adjustable filing that you can add to or remove, depending on your preference. Having a supportive pillow is key to a good night’s sleep — and for preventing a stiff neck every morning. The filling in this one is made from organic latex and kapok (a plant fiber that feels similar to cotton) that’s not only non-toxic, but upcycled from the brand’s mattresses. Both materials reduce waste and allow you to steer clear of potentially harmful synthetic materials (which can lead to off-gassing, or releasing gas trapped in synthetic, petroleum-based materials).

Essential oil diffusers are great for replacing candles in any room in the house, but especially in the bedroom. Plus, this one is cute enough for a permanent spot on your nightstand. While you’re trying to go to sleep, you can diffuse relaxing lavender or chamomile essential oils, which have been shown to help calm the nervous system, allowing you to fall asleep more quickly. Which means that adding a couple of drops of chamomile essential oil to your diffuser is not only a great aromatherapy moment, but could also be key to drifting off more easily.