Holland And Barrett 'Seven Day Sleep Challenge'

I used to think I had a regular sleeping pattern, turns out I actually don't and having done a sleep study through the local hospital, instead of getting what I assumed was 7-8 hours sleep a night, I actually get 4-5 hours of what is called 'good sleep'. Having turned down copious amounts of medication to help me sleep, I prefer to use natural remedies, many of which include lavender, as I find it helps.

This week is the start of National Sleep Awareness Week and the lovely people over at Holland and Barrett sent me a selection of their newest sleep products and some expert tips to see if it would help me get a better nights sleep. Always up for a challenge, my package arrived and I dived right in. 

Miaroma Pure Essentials Lavender Bath Oil is just a delight to use. You only need a few drops into your bath water for the aroma to come to life. Lavender is commonly used to calm an active mind and it can also be good for nervous feelings. I always find that something with Lavender in does help with calming and it does stop my mind racing and adding it to my bath water, left me feeling calm and ready for bed. Miaroma Relaxing Lavender Temple Balm, which combines a soothing blend of Lavender, Sandalwood, Chamomile and Patchouli, not only smells incredible, but is perfect for promoting restfulness. With these two products, I found both of them really helpful in promoting relaxation.

Tisserand Sweet Dreams Body Oil is fragranced with calming Lavender, comforting Sandalwood and relaxing Jasmine. In a skin-pampering base of Jojoba and Moringa, this luxurious body oil is rich in nourishing vitamins, antioxidants and Omega 6 & 9 fatty acids. Sleep guru, Dr Ramlakhan suggests creating a special pre-bed routine that helps you feel relaxed. So again, Lavender comes into play with this body oil which is a delight to use and once I have completed my double face cleanse and added my night creams, I now use this body oil, which is soothing and moisturising.

Moving to supplements which are not something I have ever considered using, even though I have always shunned medication.  In my package there was a choice of four different ones to try - 5-HTP, Lemon Balm, Passionflower Stress Relief and B6.  Each one of these supplements have different ways of working, depending on your sleeping issue.

Valerian Plus is a traditional herbal remedy that calms the brain and body to soothe stress and anxiety so that sleep can occur naturally.  I know that if I have got a lot on with work (I have a full time job as well as blogging) with a to-do list that is never-ending, my mind works overtime with the things I have still got to do. Over the past week, I have tried these tablets twice and with success, I didn't fall asleep immediately, but I did feel relaxed enough to fall asleep.

5 HTP (the HTP standing for Hydroxytryptophan) is designed to ensure that the quality of your sleep is improved and it does so by increasing the amount of time people spend in both deep and rapid-eye-movement sleep. I am yet to give these a try but having read a lot of reviews, they come highly rated and will be perfect for when the Insomnia kicks in.

Lemon Balm is a traditional herbal medicinal product used for the temporary relief of symptoms of mild anxiety, to aid sleep and for mild digestive complaints such as bloating and flatulence.  Stress and anxiety keep 47% of us awake at night and again the advice from Dr Ramlakhan is to write a worry list, that list should include everything that is bothering you enough to keep you awake with a hope that once it is written down, it is then out of your head.

If Lemon Balm doesn't sound quite right for you, then Stress Relief Passionflower tablets are again a traditional herbal medicinal product used for the temporary relief of symptoms associated with stress, such as mild anxiety all of which should help make it easier for you to sleep.

B6 is said to help replenish your B6 levels because a deficiency in it can lead to sleep problems. So for me, when I next get my bout of insomnia, I intent to try the Bedtime B6 capsules to see if it helps make a difference.

Caffeine is also said to be an ingredient that has long since been associated with irregular sleep patterns or the preventing sleep in some cases.  I cut caffeine out of my life almost 2 years ago now, more because I became a little too reliant on it.  So now, if I want a treat, I might go to Starbucks, otherwise it is decaf or fruit teas.

In my little package I have three different drinks that I have tried. The first is Creamy Chamomile with Cocoa.  As a child if I couldn't sleep, I would be given Horlicks or warm milk, both of which I still drink occasionally. This drink uses Chamomile which is traditionally valued for its soothing abilities and when drunk it promotes relaxation and reduces stress.  Adding the Cocoa and Lemon Balm, makes for a really tasty drink and one that is perfect for bedtime.

Dr Stuart's Virtuous Valerian is a product that you will either love or hate, it takes a bit of getting used to because I found it to be quite bitter tasting but again with the added Valerian, it does help you wind down and relax and is perfect for drinking as your last drink before bed.

The final item is Higher Living Chamomile and Vanilla, as a brand I am a fan of Higher Living teas, especially the green tea coconut.  Chamomile and Vanilla is quite fragrant but perfect for drinking at any time of the day, the vanilla just adds a bit of sweetness to the Chamomile, which can again be quite bitter.

Knowing that I am not alone in not getting enough sleep, infact 70% of Britons are said to be in the same statistic, is quite reassuring and knowing that I can pull my head out of the stand and try products that are of a herbal nature to help reduce stress, anxiety and worry to help me sleep better is comforting. Holland and Barrett have given me food for thought when it comes to my own sleeping pattern and with a number of products still to make my way through, I know that Lavender is something I associate with calming and restfulness, so it is something I need to ensure I have when sleep doesn't come.

Over the past 7 days, I have slept better than I have done in a long long time. The regular use of Lavender, the Creamy Chamomile with Cocoa and the Valerian Plus, have all ensured that I feel rested and raring to go when my alarm rudely awakens me the following morning.  If you are trying to decide what works best, it is simply a case of trying what you think might help, working out what it is that is making you restless and taking it from there.

All of the products mentioned within this post can be found in Holland & Barrett stores and online.

The Power of Power Naps

We’ve all heard about the importance of so-called "beauty sleep”, the idea being that the more sleep you get, the better you’ll look. Is it true that getting more sleep could be the secret to looking and feeling better?

All signs point to yes. Though it’s certainly not a magical catch-all solution, making sure that you get plenty of rest is just as important for your appearance as eating well, exercising and drinking plenty of water. Lack of sleep leads to bags under the eyes and dull, dry skin, but in the long term it can also have a negative effect on a person’s health, including impairment of vision.

We all know that we’re supposed to get around 8 hours of sleep a day to be at our best. But let’s face it, sometimes that’s just not on the cards. We have busy lives to live, and it’s not always practical or even feasible to get all the sleep we need in one night; anyone with children can attest to this fact!

A great way to get more beauty sleep is to take power naps. We’re not talking about taking an hour or two to sleep off that huge Sunday lunch, but by taking a short amount of time out of your day to get some rest and give your body and beauty what it needs. It’s the ideal way to catch up on your sleep and refresh yourself for the afternoon, especially if your daily routine is particularly high pressure, busy of stressful.

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A good amount of time for a power nap is anywhere between fifteen and thirty minutes. If you’ve ever felt groggy after a long nap, it’s because the longer you sleep, the deeper that sleep is. If you sleep between fifteen minutes and half an hour, your body will have had enough time to feel refreshed but not enough that it’s settled in for what it thinks is a full night’s sleep.

The quality of your sleep is important too. A peaceful and restful sleep will be much better for your skin and hair than a shallow and fitful one. The best way to ensure that your power nap really does the trick is to make sure you have a comfortable place to sleep. This applies to your normal sleep patterns too, so investing in a high quality bed may be the thing to do.

Your bed is more important than you think, and there are so many bed companies that promise you a great night’s sleep that it can be hard to make the best choice for you. Using an online resource like Bedstar, which stocks a wide range of beds and mattresses from several big name suppliers at competitive prices. If you want to ensure a great night’s sleep each and every night, starting with your bed is one of the best ways to do it.

Studies have shown that an afternoon power nap isn’t just beneficial to our looks, it’s also good for our minds and bodies, with people feeling more alert and productive for the afternoon ahead after a quick power nap than those that went without. Why not give it a try and feel more beautiful?