Gone are the days when I’d get my freak on till 3:00 a.m. at the club.
These days, 3:00 a.m. is when I’d like to be getting my SLEEP on, but some nights I don’t get what I want, and I lay awake in bed, fretting about family, the future, Tabs and bills.
According to the National Sleep Foundation, I’m not the only girl who goes through bouts of insomnia. Seventy-six percent of Americans experience symptoms of sleep disorders on a regular basis, and something tells me it’s not a strictly American problem.
When the zzz’s elude me, I reach for certain fragrances, like lavender, to help me relax.
Here are a couple new scented items from Origins and Crabtree & Evelyn that caught my nose and my dark-circled eye. 🙂
Origins Night Health Bedtime Spray ($25) and Bedtime Balm ($25). Origins used organic lavender, mandarin and chamomile essential oils in their new Night Health Collection of face and body products, blended together to encourage a more restful night’s sleep.
Sometimes, before I go to bed, I’ll spray a light mist of Night Health Bedtime Spray all over my body and massage some Bedtime Balm onto the back of my neck and on my shoulders, wrists and feet.
Besides the scent, which I love, the few minutes it takes to apply helps to quiet my mind before I lay down to sleep.
Crabtree & Evelyn Relaxing Soothing Body Lotion ($20) and Relaxing Gentle Cream Body Wash ($18). Part of Crabtree & Evelyn’s new Aromatherapy Distillations line of bath, body and home scents, the Relaxing Line mixes lavender with rosewood oils to help soothe the savage beast.
After a long day, when I’m physically tired but still mentally wound up, I look forward to a relaxing shower with this body wash and moisturizer. They smell divine, are highly moisturizing (but not greasy), and right now they’re both on sale for $25 online (regular $37).
Lavender is just one of many fragrances some people find relaxing. Do you have a different favorite one?
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
I’ve had some poor sleep recently. I fall asleep OK, but then wake up a few times in the night. I think I may try some lavender and see if it helps. Thanks for the timely tip!
I’ve been on a lavender kick this past year. I have some lavender linen spray that I love to spray all over my bed before I get washed up and by the time I’m done getting ready for bed, our bedroom smells delightful.
I think I’m going to pick up a lavender candle too!
Hope you’re having a happy Tuesday, Karen! 🙂
When I was pregnant with my son I had insomnia bad! I bought a lavendar sheet spray from Bath & Body to spray on my sheets before going to bed – it was fabulous! I don’t know if they still have it.? Sleep Time Tea works for me too! If I am having trouble sleeping I take a nice hot bath and drink a mug of Sleepy Time Tea and that helps too!
Hi! As you said it, not only americans have trouble sleeping, I´m a mexican girl who sometimes is not able to sleep a full night.
Thank you for the wonderful tip, I will be trying some of this products.
Have a nice day!!
Hi Karen,
Thymes has their Sleep Well collection, and the linen and body spray really helps me… but I’m almost out! Looks like I’ll be trying the Origins one, this is the 2nd time I’ve seen it this week!
I feel so lucky I’m one of those people who can just fall asleep like nobody’s business. For me, I have trouble staying awake. Once I feel remotely tired or bored [finance homework blehc] I close my eyes for a few seconds then I’m down for the count for the rest of the night 😛
Snoring however is my worst enemy. My bf snores so it really sucks the romanticism of cuddling up to your hubby when I have to constantly give him a ‘gentle slap’ to make him stop snornig.
Btw, I’m not really a horoscope person but I checked out susan miller since you mentioned it. MAN is she detailed. Usually in magazines its dead wrong, but we will see..
I use Bath and Body Works Honey and Chamomile pillow spray before bed. I LOOOOVE IT!! It helps me relax and fall asleep faster. It’s $10 for a big bottle.
Nessa´s last blog post..Redken Color Extend Giveaway @ Girl-Woman-Beauty-Brains-Blog
Oooh, I will have to check out the Crabtree & Evelyn body lotion. I love their hand therapy. I’ve actually been meaning to make some sachets out of my lavender buds for a while. I should get around to it – I’ve definitely had trouble falling asleep lately. Lavender milk tea is really really great for relaxing too. You can find dried lavender buds at Asian supermarkets (I haven’t seen it anywhere else, but I imagine you could find it at other places as well), and I like to steep about a tablespoon in hot water for ~5 minutes and then add a bit of milk and sugar. It’s amazing for when I get 1/2 an hour before bed to just chill with a book or something.
I use the Temple balm from Lush, but a spray should be easier! Love to try it, Im not sure if its available in the Netherlands, but Im going to find that out! Thanx Karen!
Lavender definitely helps!! I love Crabtree and Evelyn’s line…the spray is fabulous 🙂
tanya´s last blog post..wistful
I like L’occitane Lavender hand cream for night time – its thick so better as a night time moisturiser than hand cream during the day and because of how I end up curled up, my hands are near enough to my face that I can smell the lavender, which is really calming.
I didn’t know about the Origins bedtime skincare range so I may have to have a look into that. I’ve been having a bit of a hard time sleeping lately, lots of work stress happening.
Thanks for the tip!
Bx
Beth´s last blog post..Moving Up (a bit…)
I love lavender. Like Lush’s Waving not Drowning ballistic, heaven!
Thanks for the tip. I’m having trouble sleeping lately so hopefully this will help.
gio´s last blog post..Product Review: Bourjois Little Round Pot Blush
I may have to try this.. aside from playing solitaire on my iphone nothing else could put me to sleep at night. Insomniac and light sleeper.. that’s me.
Hey Karen! I went right away to check out the Origins stuff, it smells really nice, I’ll try it out and let you know….I also have trouble sleeping like 60% of the time, ugh!
Lavender rocks to help me fall asleep. So soothing.
Marisol´s last blog post..Resolutions update: February
Hi Laura B.,
Sorry to hear that you haven’t been sleeping well. I guess we’re both in the same boat!
I go through phases when I’ll wake up at like 3 and then can’t fall back asleep again. It really sucks. Thank goodness for concealer, right? 🙂
Hi Tuprnut,
A lavender candle sounds like a lovely idea! I will have to put that on my shopping list.
I had a really great Tuesday. How was yours?
Hi Jodee,
Thanks for the suggestions! I bought a box of Sleepy Time Tea at the store today (they had a two for one special, yay). I’m
looking forward to having a cup before I hit the bed tonight.
How old is your lil’ one? I don’t have any kids, but would love to have a few someday.
Hi Lorena,
I wish we could all just get a good nights rest!
Have you tried drinking chamomile tea? It’s supposed to help.
Have a good one!
Hi Amber,
I really like Thymes’ packaging… I just haven’t gotten around to trying their products. I remember smelling a eucalyptus lotion of theirs and liking it. I bet the Sleep Well collection smells divine.
If you end up getting the Origins one let me know what you think!
Hi Stephie,
LOL! I do the same with El Hub when he goes into sonic boom snoring mode. I will actually wake his ass up to let him know that he’s being noisy, ha! Usually he’ll turn over and then it’ll stop, thank goodness.
A friend of mine turned me onto Astrology Zone a few years back. In the beginning I started by checking my reading at the end of the month. I noticed that a lot of stuff that she talked about would actually happen! I don’t follow it to the T but I do keep it in mind these days.
I hope your sign has some good stuff this month! What are you? I’m a Gemini.
Hi Catherine,
Thank you for this idea. When I go home to see my parents I’ll see if I can find the lavender buds at an Asian store near their house (there’s one Asian store in Marin county and it’s pretty small). The tea sounds delicious. I bet it smells good too, huh?
Hi Wendy,
Sure, hon! I hope it helps you get some good sleep.
Sweet dreams. 🙂
Hi Tanya,
Oh! I haven’t tried the spray yet. That’s now on my list, too.
Hi Beth,
Great minds think alike — I love that cream, too. I slather it on every night before bed. It’s so soothing and smells great.
The Origins line smells a little less sweeter than the L’Occitane cream. It’s still pretty, though. If you try it please let me know what you think of it!
I hope that things get less stressful at work for you. What’s been going on? Do you have a big project due?
Hi Karen B.,
LOL! I will have to get that just because it’s such a clever literary reference. 🙂
Hi Gio,
You’re welcome. Sweet dreams, hon!
Hi Luv J.,
I am guilty of playing games in the wee hours on my iPhone, too. Do you have Bejeweled? I love and hate that game at the same time! GAHH!
Hi Adriana,
I’m glad you like it! It smells heavenly, huh? Do you think you might get the spray?
I’ll keep my fingers crossed and hope that we all sleep well tonight.
Gotta go make some chamomile tea. 🙂
Hi Karen. I used to suffer from insomnia but it is better these two years. I think if I am stressed or depressed about work/school, insomnia always strikes. I am a very light-sleeper and since young, I suffer from insomnia. I am using L’Occitane Lavender Eau de la Recolte Bleue EDT. I will look out for Origins. 🙂
It is, and it was the best bath (and best night of sleep) of my life, for real!