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  • These supplements are my secret to an uninterrupted eight hours

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    What are the benefits of taking a sleep supplement?

    Hopefully, a better night’s sleep. For context, there are two different types of sleep: rapid eye movement (REM) sleep and non-REM sleep. While deep sleep (the latter) is vital for physical restoration, REM sleep is linked to cognitive functions and emotional processing, so you need cycles of both for different aspects of your physical and mental health.

    “I believe that good sleep is the foundation of overall wellbeing — it’s when the body restores, repairs and rebalances,” says Jessica Sepel, expert nutritionist and founder of JSHealth Vitamins. “For those who need a little extra support to switch off, the right nutrients and herbs at therapeutic doses can make all the difference.”

    “They aren’t a magic fix, but they can absolutely help to calm the nervous system and support melatonin production for sleep,” adds Amy Clarke, in-house Qualified Nutrition Coach at Bettervits. ”With only 37% of Brits getting the recommended 7 hours sleep per night, sleep supplements, along with a mindful bedtime routine, could help you get longer, more restful sleep”.

    But what are the wider benefits of a good night’s sleep? The Mental Health Foundation cites various physical and mental benefits, including better heart health, a strengthened immune system, as well as improved focus, memory and mood. Unfortunately, one in five people in the UK isn’t getting enough sleep, while another 66% of adolescents say poor sleep negatively impacts their mental health.

    What should I look for in a sleep supplement?

    “5-HTP is a natural precursor to melatonin, while calming herbs like chamomile and lemon balm have soothed for centuries,” advises Clarke. “I always recommend looking for science-backed and traditionally used ingredients that are known to support sleep, relaxation and nervous system health,” adds Sepel.

    Magnesium for sleep is another key ingredient to look out for in a supplement. “My go-tos are quality forms of magnesium (especially magnesium glycinate), lavender and passionflower. I also advise seeking out supplements created by a qualified wellness expert with clean, purposeful formulas that follow the research.” Preach.

    How should I be taking a sleep supplement?

    The number one rule with natural sleep aid supplements — after checking with your GP or a healthcare professional that your chosen dose won’t interact with any other medication or allergies — is that you’ve got to be consistent. This is because some nutrients (AKA water-soluble vitamins), consistent intake is crucial as the body doesn’t store them and needs a regular supply.

    “I suggest taking a sleep supplement about 30-60 minutes before bed, paired with a calming evening routine — think switching off devices, dimming the lights and practising deep breathing,” suggests Sepel. “Good sleep hygiene is also key, such as keeping the room cool and dark while aiming to go to bed and rise at about the same time each day. It’s not just about taking the supplement; it’s about creating a sleep-supportive environment and lifestyle practices to maximise its benefits.”

    Are there any side effects to taking sleep supplements?

    “When used as directed, quality, natural sleep supplements are generally very well tolerated,” assures Sepel. “However, everyone is different. Always take the recommended dose and speak to a healthcare professional for guidance — especially if you’re pregnant, breastfeeding or taking other medications.”

    Meet the experts:

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    Sophie Donovan, Cat Hufton

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  • I’ve slept with this sleep mask every night for the past six months, and I’ve never felt better

    I’ve slept with this sleep mask every night for the past six months, and I’ve never felt better

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    For that reason – as well as the pressure over my eyes and the fact that it loosely covered my ears to dull background noise – I fell asleep within minutes. In fairness, it has never taken me an age to drop off, but this speed was impressive.

    Overnight, I can safely assume the mask didn’t budge an inch, as when I finally woke up to the sound of my alarm in the morning (not the light streaming through my windows), it was still perfectly in place. I think the fact that I stayed asleep for ~so much longer~ in the morning was the biggest benefit of them all for me. This thing’s light-blocking abilities are impressive.

    Another huge benefit was that when I woke up, I wasn’t left with a single mark on my face – and after a week of use, I felt my skin looked glowier when I woke up in the mornings. An eye mask improving your skin? Really? I’ve not lost it – trust – there’s a legitimate reason as to why (and how) this is possible.

    The Drowsy sleep mask is made from 22 Momme mulberry silk, where the Momme count refers to the density of the silk – and indicates the quality of the material. A bit like thread count. Most quality silk products – like silk pillowcases – run between 19 Momme to 22 Momme, so Drowsy’s sleep masks are up there with the most luxurious. Outside of Momme count, Mulberry silk, also, is a great silk choice. The fibres are longer and more uniform than you might get with cheaper silk variations, which makes the fabric super smooth and durable.

    Not only is sleeping on a silk pillowcase – or with a silk eye mask instead of a cotton one – good for your hair (the reduced friction reduces frizz, tugs, static, breakage and split ends), but the reduced friction means that your skincare products won’t rub off, instead being given the chance to really soak into the skin and work their magic. My eye cream suddenly seemed endlessly more effective, and my skin, plump.

    That plays into another benefit of silk: it helps our skin to retain its natural moisture while we snooze, keeping it soft and supple – and in turn reducing fine lines, wrinkles and breakouts. Magic.

    I’ve scratched my head for a Drowsy silk mask “con” over the course of the past week – surely nothing is perfect – and honestly? It was a struggle. The only thing I could think of was the fact that my paler-coloured Drowsy eye masks (cream or light pink, for example) became a little discoloured when I wore fake tan on my face overnight. Perhaps slightly obvious, but to keep your eye mask in tip-top condition – and make the £69 price tag worthwhile – I’d go for something darker. The burgundy is new new fave.

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    Sophie Cockett

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  • I’m an insomniac and I’ll never regret investing in a quality sleep tracker – these are the best options to try

    I’m an insomniac and I’ll never regret investing in a quality sleep tracker – these are the best options to try

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    Treating yourself to one of the best sleep trackers is one of the best decisions you can make. Trust me: as someone who has struggled with insomnia and tried practically every known remedy in the book (I’m talking chamomile tea, magnesium supplements, CBD oils and even the military sleep method), nothing has helped me quite as much as investing in a quality sleep tracker.

    If you’re reading this, you probably don’t need me to tell you just how important getting enough beauty sleep is for your general wellbeing. But I get it: keeping tabs on your zzz’s isn’t easy when you’ve had a busy week and have accidentally overbooked yourself with multiple socials with your friends. That’s where sleep trackers come in.

    You won’t have to guess as to why you’re getting dark circles or why you’re feeling groggier than usual in the morning – sleep trackers leave no stone unturned, arming you with stats, data and results. They’re one of the most useful wellness gadgets on the market.

    What do sleep trackers do?

    Sleep trackers are designed to capture all sorts of handy metrics and data points such as wake times, sleep duration, sleep quality and how long you’ve spent in every stage of sleep such as REM sleep, light sleep and deep sleep.

    Think of a sleep tracker as your own personal sleep coach – in fact, many of them come with their own dedicated sleep tracking apps, which use algorithms to process your data and produce a whole collection of graphs based on your heart rate variability, respiratory rate, skin temperature and body movement.

    All-in-all, sleep trackers are a valuable way of staying on top of your wellness routine and understanding whether you’re sleeping enough, whether you’re waking up too much in the middle of the night or if you have a tendency to go to bed waaay later than planned (guilty as charged…).

    Best sleep trackers at a glance – our top picks:

    1. Best Sleep Tracker Overall: Oura Ring (Gen3, Silver), £238, Oura
    2. Best Apple Sleep Tracker: Apple Watch Series 9, £399, Amazon
    3. Best Affordable Sleep Tracker: Fitbit Inspire 2 Health & Fitness Tracker, £44, Amazon
    4. Best Samsung Sleep Tracker: Samsung Galaxy Watch6, £289, Amazon

    Fitbit Inspire 2 Health & Fitness Tracker

    As has been the case with many other tech products, sleep trackers (and just fitness trackers in general) have become more more affordable and accessible in the past few years. And no, you’re not limited to choosing from wearable smartwatches from Apple and Samsung either – there are plenty of sleep trackers out there for everyone, whether they come in the form of an under-mattress tracker, a headband or even a ring that you’ll only need to worry about charging about once a week (yes, really).

    To help you make the right choice, we’ve put together a full edit of all the best sleep trackers, which includes some of the newest releases, some budget options and even some good all-rounders that are equally good as a fitness tracking device as they are when it comes to collecting accurate sleep data. So scroll down and enjoy.

    After more health and wellness content? Shop the best multivitamins, best probiotics for women, best iron supplements, best vitamin D supplements and the best at-home keratin products. For more beauty content from Glamour UK Commerce Writer Denise Primbet, follow her on Twitter @deniseprimbet and Instagram @deniseprimbet.

    Looking to improve the quality of your sleep? Scroll down to check out our list of the best sleep trackers to add to checkout.

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    Denise Primbet

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