Welcome to Restival Season , Apartment Therapy’s series about slowing down, sleeping more, and relaxing however you can — no fancy wristbands needed.
Ah, to be relaxed: something that has been quite a challenge to achieve in a year of, well, chaos. If you’re already thinking to yourself, “relaxation, who is she?” you’ve come to the right place — because there’s not one single answer on how to do it. You have to find what works best for you . Sometimes, you might need assistance with the whole unwinding thing , and a range of products out there can help with that. Maybe you feel most comfortable when you’re covered in something that makes you feel protected, which could translate to a fleece or weighted blanket . Or, maybe the scent of lavender reminds you of home, or that trip to France you took years ago, so a nice candle could mentally transport you to a happy place. To help spark some ideas of what might work for you, here are the products that Apartment staffers swear by when they want to relax.
Rose Lavender Moisturizing Body Wash
“If you’re a shower before bed kind of person, add this sudsy body wash to your nighttime ritual. The soft lavender and rose notes help me wind down (instead of perking me up), while the coconut oil, cocoa butter, and shea butter ingredients mean you can skip lotion or leave that step until the morning.” — Danielle Blundell, Home Director
Marpac Dohm Classic White Noise Machine
“I have been addicted to sleeping with a white noise machine since middle school, probably. (My freshman year college roommate was skeptical at first, but I ended up getting her hooked, too!) I also switch it on if I want to take a nap or just zone out.” — Madeline Bilis, Real Estate and Finance Editor
Lavender and Eucalyptus Essential Oil Spray
“I love this room spray from Target! I spray it around my bedroom when I’m getting into sleep mode.” — Sam O’Brochta, Social Media Editor
Heyedrate Heated Mask
“I LOVE this heated eye mask. I’ll pop it in the microwave before bed, put it on and turn on a podcast — I fall asleep so quickly.” — Hollis Miller, Email & Acquisition Manager
Purewave Massager
“I ordered the Purewave massager during lockdown when I had a pinched sciatic nerve and walking any length was super painful. Thankfully, the percussive motion (plus a lot of rest) had me on the mend without having to see a professional during the pandemic. The variety of attachments and the range of pressure mean I can enjoy anything from a relaxing massage to targeted muscle relief, and the long handle makes it great for reaching every spot on my back.” — Tara Bellucci, News & Culture Director
Brookstone Heated Mattress Pad (Queen)
“My fiancé likes to keep our room cool at night, but I always have a hard time falling asleep when I’m cold — and that’s where Brookstone’s Heated Mattress Pad comes to the rescue. You can control how hot you want the pad to go on a scale of 1 to 10, and there’s a timer feature (so you don’t wake up in the middle of the night sweating). It’s basically a large heating pad, and I love it.” — Nicoletta Richardson, Entertainment Editor
Calm Sleep Mist Pillow Spray
“I SWEAR by this gorgeous pillow spray from Calm (the same people behind the app)! It’s a repeat purchase for me. A couple spritzes and I can feel my muscles relaxing. I also love to gift it! I gave it to my best friend when she was pregnant and having trouble sleeping. She adored it (and so did her husband).” — Sarah Vasquez, Commerce Writer
Sleepy Jones + Purple Pajamas
“I tried out these stretchy jersey-like sheets and couldn’t get enough so I went for pjs in the same fabric. They’re a bit of a splurge but soft, breathable, comfy, and cute!” — Danielle Blundell, Home Director
What’s your favorite product to help you relax? Let us know in the comments below!
Nicoletta Richardson
Entertainment Editor
In her spare time, Nicoletta loves marathoning the latest Netflix show, doing at-home workouts, and nurturing her plant babies. Her work has appeared in Women’s Health, AFAR, Tasting Table, and Travel + Leisure, among others. A graduate from Fairfield University, Nicoletta majored in English and minored in Art History and Anthropology, and she not-so-secretly dreams of exploring her family lineage in Greece one day.
