Beauty Gifts 103: Fancy AF Beauty Sleep
With the uprising of 1001 luxury lifestyle brands, the idea of "elevating" random aspects of life triggers a level of eye rolls that would put Liz Lemon to shame. I'm not on board with spending several hundred dollars on shiny stones to shove up my "yoni" but I admit there are some aspects of the "elevated" lifestyle that appeal to a plebe like me. Today I'll be chatting about two gift sets that feature some indulgent lifestyle treat-yo-self items that I would like to think are much more practical than vagina rocks.
And if you're still on the hunt for Christmas presents, these are pretty much universal gifts for any adult. A parent, a best friend, a really, really nice mailman, or my personal favorite: a gift for you from you π
Both the sets featured in this post are PR gifts from Dermstore, but I've also purchased the items featured in the sets-- the Slip pillowcase for myself and a mini of the This Works duo as a present π
Slip Beauty Sleep Collection
$109.00 available via Dermstore,
Also available via Sephora, Neiman Marcus, Bloomingdales, Urban Outfitters, & Net-A-Porter
Slip is a brand that I've admired from afar for a really long time. Their products were so shiny and pretty... but also expensive. I finally bit the bullet and bought their pillowcase in October and have 0 regrets.
If you're not familiar with the brand, they make 100% mulberry silk products. They claim to be the creme de la creme of pillowcases! This set features one Slip silk pillowcase and one Slip silk sleep mask. The set I got from Dermstore includes white and pink products but I've also seen the set come in other colors at Bloomingdales.
Also available via Sephora, Urban Outfitters, Skinstore, Shopbop, Net-A-Porter, Nordstrom, Bloomingdales, & Anthropologie
Sometimes I'll spend stupid amounts of money on something I don't need and hem and haw over spending the same amount on something that's more worthy of the splurge. Like this pillowcase. Considering the time and energy and money I invest in taking care of my skin, it should have been a no-brainer for me to purchase this pillowcase earlier.
First, let's talk about Slip's claims on why their silk pillowcase is the way to go. According to them, a silk pillowcase is supposed to keep your skin more moisturized (they claim cotton draws moisture away from your skin since it's an absorbent material) and prevent "sleep creases" which eventually lead to wrinkles. It also not only benefits your skin but your hair as well! Because the material is supposedly smoother and gentler than cotton, it doesn't tug at your roots and ultimately damage/ thin our your hair. Lastly, they claim it helps prevent bed-head.
The pillowcase is noticeably cool to the touch not only when I go to sleep, but when I wake up as well! Now you may be thinking, bitch, it's winter, everything is freakin' cold this time of year. But this is even cooler than the rest of my bedding! This doesn't mean much in the winter but I'm sure it will be a godsend in the summer. I usually wake up with a hot, sweaty face in the warmer months and I'm keeping my fingers crossed that the silk pillowcase helps with that.
My skin has also been clearer lately but I'm hesitant to say that's thanks to the silk pillowcase. Perhaps it's helping, perhaps it's doing nothing, but it's definitely not making things worse which is something. I also can't say much about the "sleep creases" since I never got them in the first place. I would like to think that the pillowcase is helping in my anti-aging efforts to prevent wrinkles but there's no way to tell if it's actually working or not.
The biggest thing I HAVE noticed with the pillowcase is the effect on my hair! I move around a lot in my sleep plus I have long, curly hair that's prone to drying out on the ends. If I sleep with my hair out or my hair in a bun or ponytail, I would wake up with a knot at the back of my neck half the time. The only way to prevent this with my old pillowcases was to sleep with my hair in braids but I wasn't such a big fan of that because I don't the faux waves it created. When I use the slip pillowcase, I don't get that knot on the back of my head!
My hair is also a lot less frizzy and static-y in the mornings. I can even go to sleep with my hair wet without any styling products, and wake up with perfectly fine hair. With my old pillowcase that was an instant recipe for a frizzy knot. My hair also doesn't seem as dry lately. I can't say it's solely attributed to the pillowcase but I do think it's helping.
I will admit that I think the brand's marketing is a bit much, but then again what marketing isn't? Cotton pillowcases aren't the devil but I do think that the Slip silk pillowcases are better.
Oh! And they're machine washable! I've washed mine a few times so far and have left them out to air dry on a chair. Because of the momme (aka thickness) of the silk that they use, it's supposed to last a reasonably long time.
Also available via Nordstrom, Urban Outfitters, Bloomingdales, Anthropologie, Sephora, & Net-A-Porter
While I was all aboard the slip silk pillowcase hype train, I wasn't ready to splurge on a sleeping mask. I think the last sleeping mask I regularly used was cheetah printed and bedazzled with the word "SASSY" or something equally as cla$$y (although tbh I would still own something with the word 'sassy' cause clearly I am full of sass.) As an "adult" I've had a few sleeping masks gifted to me but they were all forgotten within a week because they never stay on my head. I would go to sleep with them on and wake up with them lost in my sheets Β―\_(γ)_/Β― It's probably partially my fault because I toss and turn a lot throughout the night.
By some miracle, this sleeping mask stays on my head all. night. long.
I feel the need to mention that I have a literal big-ass head. Shopping for hats, especially in the women's section, is a struggle. The other day at H&M I was trying on newsboy caps. A fellow shopper asked if I liked it and I replied it didn't fit since I have a big head. She took a look at me and said, "yeah, you DO have a big head."I then drowned my tears in a $1 icee from Burger King.
Anyways, back to this review. This sleeping mask fits comfortably on my head without feeling like someone is trying to squeeze my brain through my ears. My mom is my opposite in the head size department and this also comfortably fits her teeny head.
Like the pillowcase, it's also incredibly soft and smooth and silky. It also has a plushness to it. Best of all, it really does block out all light. I have wooden blinds on my window that morning light always seems to seep through. Now I no longer have to worry about that thanks to this mask!
Is this is something I would spend $45.00 on individually? I'm not sure yet. All the sleeping masks I've tried in the past loosen after 2 or 3 months of consistent use, rendering them useless. If this is able to stay in shape for at a year, I would say it's worth the price tag.
This Works Sleep Together Duo
$46.00 available via Dermstore
I love sleep but don't get nearly enough of it. Even on days when I'm ready to hop into bed at 8 PM, I usually still have trouble falling asleep once I finally get in bed. As I'm hesitant it trying any OTC sleeping aids, I thought about trying a pillow spray instead. And because I'm a procrastinator extraordinaire it took me until now (or rather a few weeks before now) to try one.
This set features This Works cult classic deep sleep pillow spray as well as their deep sleep breathe in roll on oil.
If you're not keen on picking up the full bottle of the spray, they also have a ton of mini gift sets at a more affordable price point! For $19 you can get minis of the two product in this set (I bought this to give as a present). They also have a $16 set featuring an eye sleeping mask and a mini of the pillow spray and a $25 set that includes two minis of the pillow spray and two minis of an anti-stress roll-on aromatherapy scent.
Also available via This Works, Blue Mercury, Net-A-Porter, & Anthropologie
This this works spray works. I like to spray a few spritzes on my comforter before I wrap myself up like a burrito and attempt to fall asleep. And without fail, it works every time. Like I said earlier in the post, I have trouble shutting off my mind when I try to fall asleep. For some reason, I like to torture myself by thinking of the worst possible scenarios and stressing myself out.
But there's something instantly soothing about the scent combo. Instead of thinking of failure, I think of happily accomplishing my goals.
According to the site, it features lavender, vetivert and wild chamomile oil. While it isn't touted in the description, I noticed there's also patchouli oil listed on the ingredient list. Personally, I think the two strongest scents I smell in the spray is lavender and patchouli. It's an absolutely divine combination π
I've never tried essential oils before, but I do think this spray is 10x easier to use. The spray on it is nice and fine. I haven't had any issue with it leaving stains on my dark comforter or light sheets.
While the scent is very strong when I first spray it, it fades away through the night and I can barely smell it in the morning. So if you wanted to use a different scent the next day, that could easily be done.
Also available via Blue Mercury, Net-A-Porter, Anthropologie, & This Works
Out of everything in this post, this is the item I've used for the shortest period of time. While the pillow spray helps you fall asleep more quickly, this roll-on oil is supposed to help you stay asleep as well as help with disrupted sleeping patterns.
It has a similar scent to the pillow spray and also features lavender and patchouli. I usually roll it onto my pulse points on my wrists as well as behind my ears. I like that it doesn't deposit a lot of product so I don't have to worry about grease spots or headaches.
While I do find this scent soothing, the product isn't really necessary for me. I seldom wake up in the middle of the night and when I do, I can usually fall asleep pretty quickly. Once I'm out, I'm out! I have yet to wake up in the middle of the night when using this spray, but that may just be because of my usual sleeping patterns.
As I'm writing this post I think it would be interesting to use a sleeping tracker (like on the Fitbit or apple watch) to see if using this oil has a trackable effect on my sleeping patterns. But seeing as I can't find my Fitbit and don't own an Apple watch, I don't think this experiment will be happening anytime soon.
Night, Night
And that's all, folks!
If there were one thing in this post that I would recommend as my top splurge pick it would definitely be the Slip pillowcase! But really every item in the post would make a fabulous gift π
P.s. at the moment Dermstore is offering free 2-day rush shipping on orders over $100 if you're looking to make any last minute orders. Anthropologie has also been offering free rush shipping.
And if you're still on the hunt for Christmas presents, these are pretty much universal gifts for any adult. A parent, a best friend, a really, really nice mailman, or my personal favorite: a gift for you from you π
Both the sets featured in this post are PR gifts from Dermstore, but I've also purchased the items featured in the sets-- the Slip pillowcase for myself and a mini of the This Works duo as a present π
Slip Beauty Sleep Collection
$109.00 available via Dermstore,
Also available via Sephora, Neiman Marcus, Bloomingdales, Urban Outfitters, & Net-A-Porter
Slip is a brand that I've admired from afar for a really long time. Their products were so shiny and pretty... but also expensive. I finally bit the bullet and bought their pillowcase in October and have 0 regrets.
If you're not familiar with the brand, they make 100% mulberry silk products. They claim to be the creme de la creme of pillowcases! This set features one Slip silk pillowcase and one Slip silk sleep mask. The set I got from Dermstore includes white and pink products but I've also seen the set come in other colors at Bloomingdales.
Slip Queen Pure Silk Pillowcase
$79.00 available via DermstoreAlso available via Sephora, Urban Outfitters, Skinstore, Shopbop, Net-A-Porter, Nordstrom, Bloomingdales, & Anthropologie
Sometimes I'll spend stupid amounts of money on something I don't need and hem and haw over spending the same amount on something that's more worthy of the splurge. Like this pillowcase. Considering the time and energy and money I invest in taking care of my skin, it should have been a no-brainer for me to purchase this pillowcase earlier.
First, let's talk about Slip's claims on why their silk pillowcase is the way to go. According to them, a silk pillowcase is supposed to keep your skin more moisturized (they claim cotton draws moisture away from your skin since it's an absorbent material) and prevent "sleep creases" which eventually lead to wrinkles. It also not only benefits your skin but your hair as well! Because the material is supposedly smoother and gentler than cotton, it doesn't tug at your roots and ultimately damage/ thin our your hair. Lastly, they claim it helps prevent bed-head.
The pillowcase is noticeably cool to the touch not only when I go to sleep, but when I wake up as well! Now you may be thinking, bitch, it's winter, everything is freakin' cold this time of year. But this is even cooler than the rest of my bedding! This doesn't mean much in the winter but I'm sure it will be a godsend in the summer. I usually wake up with a hot, sweaty face in the warmer months and I'm keeping my fingers crossed that the silk pillowcase helps with that.
My skin has also been clearer lately but I'm hesitant to say that's thanks to the silk pillowcase. Perhaps it's helping, perhaps it's doing nothing, but it's definitely not making things worse which is something. I also can't say much about the "sleep creases" since I never got them in the first place. I would like to think that the pillowcase is helping in my anti-aging efforts to prevent wrinkles but there's no way to tell if it's actually working or not.
The biggest thing I HAVE noticed with the pillowcase is the effect on my hair! I move around a lot in my sleep plus I have long, curly hair that's prone to drying out on the ends. If I sleep with my hair out or my hair in a bun or ponytail, I would wake up with a knot at the back of my neck half the time. The only way to prevent this with my old pillowcases was to sleep with my hair in braids but I wasn't such a big fan of that because I don't the faux waves it created. When I use the slip pillowcase, I don't get that knot on the back of my head!
My hair is also a lot less frizzy and static-y in the mornings. I can even go to sleep with my hair wet without any styling products, and wake up with perfectly fine hair. With my old pillowcase that was an instant recipe for a frizzy knot. My hair also doesn't seem as dry lately. I can't say it's solely attributed to the pillowcase but I do think it's helping.
I will admit that I think the brand's marketing is a bit much, but then again what marketing isn't? Cotton pillowcases aren't the devil but I do think that the Slip silk pillowcases are better.
Oh! And they're machine washable! I've washed mine a few times so far and have left them out to air dry on a chair. Because of the momme (aka thickness) of the silk that they use, it's supposed to last a reasonably long time.
Slip Pure Silk Sleep Mask
$45.00 available via DermstoreAlso available via Nordstrom, Urban Outfitters, Bloomingdales, Anthropologie, Sephora, & Net-A-Porter
While I was all aboard the slip silk pillowcase hype train, I wasn't ready to splurge on a sleeping mask. I think the last sleeping mask I regularly used was cheetah printed and bedazzled with the word "SASSY" or something equally as cla$$y (although tbh I would still own something with the word 'sassy' cause clearly I am full of sass.) As an "adult" I've had a few sleeping masks gifted to me but they were all forgotten within a week because they never stay on my head. I would go to sleep with them on and wake up with them lost in my sheets Β―\_(γ)_/Β― It's probably partially my fault because I toss and turn a lot throughout the night.
By some miracle, this sleeping mask stays on my head all. night. long.
I feel the need to mention that I have a literal big-ass head. Shopping for hats, especially in the women's section, is a struggle. The other day at H&M I was trying on newsboy caps. A fellow shopper asked if I liked it and I replied it didn't fit since I have a big head. She took a look at me and said, "yeah, you DO have a big head."
Anyways, back to this review. This sleeping mask fits comfortably on my head without feeling like someone is trying to squeeze my brain through my ears. My mom is my opposite in the head size department and this also comfortably fits her teeny head.
Like the pillowcase, it's also incredibly soft and smooth and silky. It also has a plushness to it. Best of all, it really does block out all light. I have wooden blinds on my window that morning light always seems to seep through. Now I no longer have to worry about that thanks to this mask!
Is this is something I would spend $45.00 on individually? I'm not sure yet. All the sleeping masks I've tried in the past loosen after 2 or 3 months of consistent use, rendering them useless. If this is able to stay in shape for at a year, I would say it's worth the price tag.
This Works Sleep Together Duo
$46.00 available via Dermstore
I love sleep but don't get nearly enough of it. Even on days when I'm ready to hop into bed at 8 PM, I usually still have trouble falling asleep once I finally get in bed. As I'm hesitant it trying any OTC sleeping aids, I thought about trying a pillow spray instead. And because I'm a procrastinator extraordinaire it took me until now (or rather a few weeks before now) to try one.
This set features This Works cult classic deep sleep pillow spray as well as their deep sleep breathe in roll on oil.
If you're not keen on picking up the full bottle of the spray, they also have a ton of mini gift sets at a more affordable price point! For $19 you can get minis of the two product in this set (I bought this to give as a present). They also have a $16 set featuring an eye sleeping mask and a mini of the pillow spray and a $25 set that includes two minis of the pillow spray and two minis of an anti-stress roll-on aromatherapy scent.
This Works Deep Sleep Pillow Spray
$29.00 available via DermstoreAlso available via This Works, Blue Mercury, Net-A-Porter, & Anthropologie
This this works spray works. I like to spray a few spritzes on my comforter before I wrap myself up like a burrito and attempt to fall asleep. And without fail, it works every time. Like I said earlier in the post, I have trouble shutting off my mind when I try to fall asleep. For some reason, I like to torture myself by thinking of the worst possible scenarios and stressing myself out.
But there's something instantly soothing about the scent combo. Instead of thinking of failure, I think of happily accomplishing my goals.
According to the site, it features lavender, vetivert and wild chamomile oil. While it isn't touted in the description, I noticed there's also patchouli oil listed on the ingredient list. Personally, I think the two strongest scents I smell in the spray is lavender and patchouli. It's an absolutely divine combination π
I've never tried essential oils before, but I do think this spray is 10x easier to use. The spray on it is nice and fine. I haven't had any issue with it leaving stains on my dark comforter or light sheets.
While the scent is very strong when I first spray it, it fades away through the night and I can barely smell it in the morning. So if you wanted to use a different scent the next day, that could easily be done.
This Works Deep Sleep Breathe In
Also available via Blue Mercury, Net-A-Porter, Anthropologie, & This WorksOut of everything in this post, this is the item I've used for the shortest period of time. While the pillow spray helps you fall asleep more quickly, this roll-on oil is supposed to help you stay asleep as well as help with disrupted sleeping patterns.
It has a similar scent to the pillow spray and also features lavender and patchouli. I usually roll it onto my pulse points on my wrists as well as behind my ears. I like that it doesn't deposit a lot of product so I don't have to worry about grease spots or headaches.
While I do find this scent soothing, the product isn't really necessary for me. I seldom wake up in the middle of the night and when I do, I can usually fall asleep pretty quickly. Once I'm out, I'm out! I have yet to wake up in the middle of the night when using this spray, but that may just be because of my usual sleeping patterns.
As I'm writing this post I think it would be interesting to use a sleeping tracker (like on the Fitbit or apple watch) to see if using this oil has a trackable effect on my sleeping patterns. But seeing as I can't find my Fitbit and don't own an Apple watch, I don't think this experiment will be happening anytime soon.
Night, Night
And that's all, folks!
If there were one thing in this post that I would recommend as my top splurge pick it would definitely be the Slip pillowcase! But really every item in the post would make a fabulous gift π
P.s. at the moment Dermstore is offering free 2-day rush shipping on orders over $100 if you're looking to make any last minute orders. Anthropologie has also been offering free rush shipping.
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