#SleepMatters with Feather & Down

For me a good night’s sleep is a dream, a distant memory. Having spent years battling with anxiety and my sleep becoming a casualty I am always looking for ways to help my mind relax and allow my body to do the same. It means I spend many of my day’s counting down the minutes until bedtime to yet again be faced with hours of staring at the ceiling. It seems I’m not alone with 1 in 5 people admitting it takes them longer than an hour to fall asleep and a massive 90 % saying they still feel tired when they wake up*.

March is National Bed Month, an awareness campaign run by the Sleep Council with the aim of highlighting how important a good night’s sleep is for your health and wellbeing. Understanding that ‘Sleep Matters’ Feather & Down kindly sent me a package of their products specially designed to encourage relaxation and aid restful sleep. I couldn’t wait to try them out!

Pillow Spray 100ml RRP £7

Nicknamed ‘sleep in a bottle’ this spray combines lavender and chamomile essential oils to aid a restful sleep by helping to calm an anxious mind. To use simply spray a generous amount onto your pillow before settling down for the night!

An independent study undertaken by 103 people over a four-week period saw a staggering 83% fall asleep quicker than usual when using this pillow spray.  Feather & Down’s pillow spray has also recently won “Best New Health & Wellbeing Product” at the Beauty Awards with OK! Magazine as voted by readers.

SLEEP FACT: Research shows that lavender increases the type of brain waves associated with relaxation.

 All Purpose Balm 16g RRP £7

Using a combination of moisturising Vitamin E with lavender and chamomile essential oils this balm is designed to encourage a restful night’s sleep by easing your mind. To use a small amount is applied to your pulse points – wrists, temples and neck – before bed.

SLEEP FACT: Placing fragrance onto your pulse points makes it last longer due to the beat of your heart.

Melting Shower Cream 250ml RRP £6

With the same combination of lavender and chamomile essential oils this shower cream is designed to melt onto your skin creating a calming oil to wash away the stresses of the day. Simply massage onto wet skin under a beautifully warm shower.

SLEEP FACT: Taking a quick shower before bed will help to prepare you for sleep. The feeling of warm running water on your skin relaxes your body and eases tension after a long day.

Feather & Down products are made in England and are all cruelty free, containing no mineral oils, parabens or sulphates.

My verdict…….

Before I tell you about my experience with the products themselves I must point out their stunning packaging. In deep blue and gold they give a real feeling of being a high end luxury product despite their ‘high street’ price tag.

Prior to testing the products, I was slightly worried as I’m not a massive fan of lavender however I needn’t have been concerned. All three products smell AMAZING and not overpowering in the slightest, as I feared they may be. I used the spray and balm religiously every night and used the shower cream more sporadically as I kept forgetting to take it in the shower with me! Despite having sensitive skin I experienced no problems whilst using the balm or shower cream.

Between the wonderful scent and the creamy texture of the shower cream it has a real luxurious feel which left my skin feeling smooth and soft. The balm is absorbed easily into the skin leaving it soft without any residue. I find the rubbing of the balm into the pulse points very calming in itself, starting the relaxation immediately.

The products are all decent sizes and with only a small amount needed at a time will be sure to last a good while, in my opinion making them excellent value for money.

From the very first evening I noticed a difference in how quickly I fell asleep. Whilst not instantly it was significantly quicker than usual, and I slept all night- a rare occurrence for me. Upon waking I felt refreshed, however for me the real difference was that I didn’t get the tired lull I usually experience during the day. This tiredness usually sees me reaching for something caffeine based to get me through the day, but I just haven’t felt the need. I feel that using Feather & Down has helped me to achieve a better quality of sleep, allowing me to unwind and relax, achieving the rest that my body often lacks. Mr F has also been using the products alongside me and has reported the same lack of tiredness throughout the day which is fantastic for him as he has three very busy, active jobs to get through!

I would recommend Feather & Down products to anyone who struggles to achieve a restful sleep as it has worked wonders for us! Simple yet effective these products can easily be incorporated into your nighttime routine so why not give them a go.

Feather & Down products can be purchased from their website and exclusively at Boots and Boots.com

We were gifted these products in return for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions expressed are our own.

*Feather & Down ‘sleeping habits’ survey of 329 people aged 18yrs+