The Beauty Diary: Skincare ingredients helping people sleep
Millions struggle with bad, disrupted sleep – but a simple trick to longer, better quality Zzz’s lies in tweaking a daily skincare habit research shows.
I’m no fun to be around when I’ve had a bad night’s sleep.
I wake up moody and irritable, often spending the entire day dreaming about getting back into bed at the earliest opportunity rather than engaging in the moment.
Which is why I’ve created several sleep habits to set me up for the best possible night’s sleep – including putting my phone away or in another room an hour before I get into bed and listening to a meditation podcast to help my brain turn off.
But I also like to use my skincare as one of my good sleep habits.
While there’s no beauty product that can send you straight to sleep, you can use items containing ingredients that have been proven to help relax and soothe, aiding a better night’s sleep.
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Two popular ingredients being hailed as sleep heroes in skincare right now are magnesium and lavender. Studies show oral magnesium supplements can help improve sleep disorder symptoms but research on its effectiveness when applied to skin is still in the early stages.
Lavender however has a long-running history of being used to help aid sleep, with studies showing it can help improve disturbed sleep and alleviate stress and anxiety.
Because of this, some skincare brands are providing products that treat skin issues, while doubling up as a tool to help users nod off.
It’s a combo consumers appear to be enjoying, judging from the number of products that are now available with sleep-easing ingredients in.
But also, as Courtney Poutney from Australian skincare brand The Base Collective, told news.com.au’s The Beauty Diary: “Good sleep supports good skin.”
“The anecdotal feedback from our customers on how they’ve found the combination of magnesium and lavender to positively impact their sleep has been exciting,” she said.
“We have had multiple customers suggests they have had some of their best nights sleep by including magnesium and lavender.”
In my case, I find the simple act of completing my skincare routine helps get me into the frame of mind for sleep – especially when I’m hit with a soothing whiff of lavender.
Here are the products I love to help set me up for the best night’s kip possible.
LUSH SLEEPY SHOWER GEL
Available at Lush stores and au.lush.com
Price $21.95
Packed with snooze-inducing lavender, this shower gel is a tired body’s BFF. The fragrant flower has been proven to treat insomnia and improve sleep quality, which is why whenever I’ve had a long day or I’m feeling particularly knackered, I’ll use this to help aid my sleep. I find the scent of these bubbles super relaxing, a welcome effect of the lavender oil. The oat milk formula is also super hydrating and soothing on skin. A friend of mine introduced me to it just before lockdown, saying she swore by it for a good night’s sleep and I have to agree it’s pretty amazing. The price is also pretty reasonable.
INDIE LEE SLEEP BODY OIL
Available at Sephora
Price: $70
This beautiful body oil always helps me relax and unwind when I use it before bed, get in the mood for all those extra Zzz’s I’m craving. The bottle has a spray nozzle for application, something I wouldn’t expect with an oil-based product, but it sprays out evenly and you’re instantly hit with a relaxing aroma of lavender and camomile. If you’re worried about being greasy on skin or leaving grubby marks on your bed linen, don’t be. I often apply it just before getting into bed and my sheets never have suspicious stains on them. Skin wise, it leaves me feeling baby soft all over, and I find it massages in really easily.
THE BASE COLLECTIVE BEAUTY SLEEP SPRAY WITH MAGNESIUM & LAVENDER
Available at Priceline and thebasecollective.com.au
Price: $19
I’ve had this bottle on my bedside table for around a year now and I always turn to it when I need something to help me settle. I spray it onto my stomach and the soles of my feet – both of which I rarely take time to massage normally, so I find the simple act of rubbing my tummy really soothing. The lavender smell is noticeable but it doesn’t hit you in the face aggressively like other lavender products can do. On those days after a terrible night’s sleep I always turn to this spray to help calm down anxiety about not sleeping I might be having and I find it always does the trick. Plus, the oil-based formula is super hydrating on skin and doesn’t leave any marks on your bedding.
SLIP SILK SLEEP MASK
Available at Mecca, Sephora, The Iconic and slip.com.au
Price: $55
OK, so this doesn’t have any ingredients in it to soothe you into a restful slumber – but since I’ve been using one of these silk masks I have been sleeping like a baby so I had to share it with you. Once I pull it over my eyes I find I’m not tempted to pick up my phone if I don’t fall asleep within the first 10 minutes, it acts as a barrier to avoid temptation from things around me. According to some experts, wearing an eye mask to sleep is a “game changer” and I definitely agree. Using a silk one will prevent your skin from being left with creases and that helps banish wrinkles for longer. Word of advice though as I’ve gone through a few of these – get a dark one. I’ve had a pink one in the past and one with words stitched and both became gross and out of shape quickly. Recently I purchased a plain black one and it’s hands down the best I’ve ever had as it hides marks such as mascara remnants. I can’t sleep without it now.
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