March 19 is World Sleep Day, an annual celebration of sleep and reminder of how important good rest truly is. It also marks just over a year since we first went into lockdown, kicking off a period of stress and anxiety that undoubtedly caused many sleepless nights. To help combat any bouts of insomnia, consider trying a sleep aid that can help you unwind and calm your mind for a peaceful night of slumber. From the most effective CBD oils, to natural supplements and aromatherapeutic pillow sprays that create a luxurious sleep environment, there’s plenty of options to try. Here, we’ve compiled a tried and tested edit of the best sleep aids to help you drift off.
For a real focus on helping you quiet your mind and get relaxed, a supplement is a good choice. Most over the counter brands will use some combination of magnesium, Valerian root and melatonin. The latter is the most popular, as it’s the hormone that your body produces naturally when it’s time to sleep, while magnesium and Valerian root both tackle anxiety and racing thoughts.
30ml, £45
This potent oil is a combination of Valerian root, passionflower, catnip and chamomile that you can drop directly onto your tongue or mix into a glass of water.
90 capsules, £28
A magnesium, amino acids and minerals supplement designed to relax tense muscles and calm your mind.
60 capsules, £60
The supplement includes St. John’s Wort and 5-HTP to naturally increase your body’s levels of serotonin and dopamine, Valerian root to support sleep quality and vitamin B to help relax muscles.
30 capsules, £20
The natural supplement combines 5-HTP to help increase brain serotonin levels and calming amino acids, magnesium and zinc.
While scientific research into CBD is still ongoing, there is strong evidence that the cannabis-derived compound can help ease anxiety and combat insomnia without a high. In our experience, using a high quality CBD oil reduces the amount of time it takes to fall asleep and helps conjure a deeper, more restful sleep, too.
1000mg, 15ml, £49.99
The vegan blend of premium CBD, MCT oil, natural adaptogens and soothing chamomile has a pleasant orange flavour that makes it one of the best tasting oils on the market.
30ml, £160
With a high dose of 2400mg broad spectrum CBD combined with the brand’s enhanced Super Terpene Blend, the peppermint-flavoured oil promises to induce a sleepy state within 30 minutes.
10ml, £75
High quality CBD is combined with soothing L-Theanine, chamomile and 5-HTP botanicals in this vanilla and caramel-flavoured CBD oil.
2 x 2ml, £16
Best for those who are new to CBD, this kit includes two of the brand’s most popular oil strengths that can be tried over seven days to find the oil that’s most effective for you.
Scent is a powerful tool when it comes to inducing a deep sleep. Using aromatherapeutic combinations of essential oils and natural ingredients, the formulas are designed to help calm your mind, fall into a deep sleep a little quicker and, at the very least, make your bedroom smell great. Simply spritz onto your bedding, breathe deep and drift off.
75ml, £19.50
The cult favourite cruelty free, vegan spray of lavender, chamomile and vetiver reports that 97 per cent of testers reported a better night’s sleep and 89 per cent said they fell asleep quicker.
75ml, £19
The soothing blend of lavender, hops and frankincense is designed to help you relax and soothe your body and mind.
30ml, £20
This spray contains a blend of 11 pure essential oils, including cedarwood, ylang ylang and chamomile.
50ml, £22.40
The aromatherapy experts have concocted a rich blend of vetiver, sandalwood and chamomile to help ease anxieties and send you drift off to sleep.
