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Check out the Luxury Pillowcase, Scrunchie and Satin Sleep Mask set in grey, by visiting here (also available in pink here).

Christmas is celebrated by many different people in many different ways. For some, it offers a chance to embrace dearly missed loved ones with arms open wide, whilst for others, the festive season will coincide with their busiest period at work. Yet we’re all unified together in using the holiday period as an opportunity to catch up on our sleep; at the end of what has admittedly been a sleepless year for everyone.

If you’re looking to discover more ways to deck out your Christmas cheer this December, and join in our belief that the merriment shouldn’t just be limited to when your eyes are open, count your holiday dreams made, as we’ve just unwrapped our sparkling new Christmas collection!

Whether it’s a gift for under the tree, or an early well-deserved treat for yourself, our merry collection has everything you could ever need to enjoy those all important perfect winter winks. And who could, or would want to, fall asleep without a cute companion by their side? That’s why we’d love to introduce the newest star of our jolly collection - the #SMUGPug! He’s lending a paw to our very limited-edition Pug Print Contoured 3D Blackout Sleep Mask, and will be sure to make your stocking that little bit more adorable this year.

And with the spirit of giving in mind, we’ve also put together a range of dreamy gift sets just for this collection. Our favourite amongst the designs has to be our statement Christmas Gift Box, where the #SMUGPug Contoured Sleep Mask will be joined by everything the lucky receiver could ever possibly need for a perfect night’s sleep; including our super sleek Luxury Sleep Mask, noise cancelling Memory Foam Ear Plugs, a snag-free Luxury Hair Scrunchie, and our recently released Lavender Pillow Spray.

Or if you’re on the hunt for something a little more specific, especially if it’s for someone who’s quite difficult to buy for, you’ll be overjoyed to discover that our Christmas collection also extends the merrymaking to our range of Luxury Pillowcases, Natural Clay Bead Therapy Eye Masks, and our monochrome Face Mask Gift Set too.

We’re super excited to finally be able to share this collection with our fanbase; it’s a project that’s been a couple of months in the making. And because we strongly believe that Christmas should be anything but hard on your finances, we’ve made the entire collection available via monthly Klarna payments; so that we can offer our customers not just a peaceful sleep, but peace of mind too.

This year, give the much needed gift of sleep, with products that could warm even Jack Frost’s icy heart, by visiting our brand new Christmas collection here.

In light of the current climate, you’re probably waking up to find your news feed piled high with headline after headline detailing the various benefits posed by wearing a face covering. However today, we offer a much needed breath of air away from the highly saturated topic, as we discover the wider benefits face coverings provide; aside from reducing the transmission of Coronavirus.

Cast your mind back to happier times, to when urban areas were alive and restless places. Maybe a handful of face coverings could occasionally be spotted in and around popular hotspots. The likes of congested public transport, enclosed spaces, and bustling street scenes offered the best sightings of these once mysterious masked dwellers; but what benefits were they enjoying by covering their nose and mouth?

One of the most refreshing answers to this question is to avoid pollution; especially within high density areas. This lingering, invisible killer is commonly formed from a variety of particles and gases; including carbon monoxide, sulphur and nitrogen oxides, lead and ozone pollution. An estimated 3 million people worldwide succumb to the long term exposure of these pollutants every year. Attributes such as decreased lung function, low blood pressure and heart beat irregularity have all been documented for their close ties with pollution; and it remains a considerable driving factor in current policies aimed at reducing the presence of harmful gases in the air of major cities around the world.

And this is just to evaluate the atmosphere of a typical street. If you’re working in an environment with a large amount of dust and physical debris floating about - in a nail bar, or at a construction site for example - the microscopic particles of common-case pollution are the least of your worries. Long term exposure to their larger counterparts will wreak havoc on the health of your lungs, and it’s within your best interest to wear a face covering if this is a familiar environment.

However, your health is most susceptible to downfall when you find yourself in a new environment; whilst on holiday or a business trip for example. This is because you’re exposing yourself to fresh, unaccustomed illnesses, most of which are transmitted via infectious airborne droplets. A simple solution to better protect yourself from the dreadful clutches of overseas illnesses can be found in the use of face coverings. Although this may seem clear in hindsight, as a responsible society, we mustn’t forget, or underestimate, what they’re really capable of blocking out. Face coverings are highly effective forms of protection, and can prevent a whole variety of pathogens and viruses from entering your system.

But in order for any of this to be applicable, a face covering must be worn correctly, and you should take great care in covering both your nose and your mouth. Many wearers have found discomfort in the ill fit of their mask, causing many to go out without. But a product is only as good as its maker, which is why we designed our range of SMUG Face Coverings with adjustable straps, complete with full front tailoring, to allow wearers to not only wear face coverings comfortably, but to enjoy many of their wider benefits with ease.

If you’re due an upgrade on your current mask, you'll find a great selection in our shop, here. 

If your insomnia has you dreading your daily approach to sleep, you’re probably more than familiar with the range of readily available antidotes that claim to fight against such an awful experience. Sure, some may be found behind a counter, and some may be of your own making, but if there’s one that has repeatedly stood the test of time, it has to be lavender.

This evergreen plant grows in regular abundance throughout gardens around the world, most notably in those of North Africa, the Mediterranean, the United States and the UK. Though its purple flowers are unmistakable in their beauty, few are fully aware of the otherworldly benefits lavender holds in store for your slumber. And it doesn’t just stop there, which is why we would like to use this opportunity to fully digest the perks of this powerful plant:

1. Feeling Anxious? - The number one catalyst of a sleepless night is inarguably anxiety, so it comes greatly welcomed to learn that lavender has been routinely documented for its strong anxiolytic properties. When standing side by side with its medical anxiety-reducing counterpart, known commonly as Diazepam, lavender has demonstrated its equal, if not superior, ability in reducing not only the likes of anxiety, but the symptoms of depression too. As natures kindest sedative, you’ll experience the calming, relaxing benefits of lavender in their prime if you submit to the process of scented aromatherapy; especially if you’re on the gentle cusp of falling asleep.

2. Quiet Thoughts - Lavender doesn’t just look pretty, it smells great too. And this wonderful attribute can be accredited to the fact that the plant is packed full with a type of terpene alcohol called Linalool. Despite its amusing name, Linalool boasts a full range of incredible benefits, chief amongst them being in its amazing ability to interact with the neurotransmitters in our brain called gamma aminobutyric acid - or GABA for short! This meeting has been famously documented for being able to effortlessly, almost instantly, place the mind at ease. But this is the important part, this interaction is best made via the olfactory neurone transmitters found only in the nose, so for peace of mind, you’re far better off inhaling Linalool than you ever would be by just ingesting it.

3. No Time For Pain - For as long as lavender has been a native feature in our landscapes, there has been an eager interest in the analgesic properties of the plant. And for just as long, there has remained an all too strong correlation between the physical manifestation of pain and sleep - or lack there of - so a combination of the two could only be an inevitable occurrence. As Mother Nature’s favourite anodyne, lavender helps to relieve the symptoms of pain in very much the same way as it helps to calm the mind; with the help of the beloved terpene alcohol, Linalool. See, this wonderful ingredient doesn’t just help to lift the dark clouds of the mind, it’s also extremely capable of soothing the sensation of pain through the temporary sedation of the nervous system.

4. Regulates Inflammation - Inflammation and sleep are two of the most complicated, yet closely interlinked, processes of the human body. You see, inflammation is part of the body’s natural protective protocol to prevent harmful foreign pathogens from entering your immune system. The likes of bacteria, viruses and toxins have all met their match when brought face to face with the healing benefits of inflammation, and the body will present signs of this process accordingly, through the manifestation of physical symptoms such as redness, fever, pain, stiffness and fatigue. But occasionally, our trusted immune system is capable of misfiring, triggering a misguided fighting response, despite the fact that no foreign pathogens may be present. The result of this is commonly known as Autoimmune Disease, and although it can garner the likes of sleep-depriving illnesses such as Lupus, Arthritis and Sclerosis, it can also harbour an environment for potentially life-threatening diseases to flourish; including Heart Disease, Diabetes and Cancer. But the causes of chronic inflammation run much deeper, and it is within its own regulation that it comes to a crossroads with our sleep. Our sleeping pattern owes much of its biological success to our circadian rhythms, which regulates the levels of hormones and physiological chemicals within our system that help us to sleep. But who else shares the pathways of our treasured circadian rhythms? The immune system of course. So naturally, when that’s disrupted and causes excessive inflammation, our sleeping pattern is disrupted too. But like a knight in shining armour, lavender and its extraordinary benefits are here to save the day! And from its sheathe it draws life-affirming Linalool, which battles with excessive inflammation by lowering the heart rate, reducing blood pressure, and setting the immune system back on a healthy, regulated track. And when your inflammation is back in check, it’s likely that your sleeping pattern will head very much the same way too!

5. Success by Association - Just as we associate our bed with our slumber, so too can a bridge be formed between deep sleep, and the regular aroma of lavender. If you were, for example, to spray your nighttime neighbours with a soothing lavender scent, not only would you be placing your entire body at ease at just the right time, but regular exposure to the smell would cultivate a strong correlation between itself, and your own highly delicate preparations for a night of fully undisturbed rest. And this phenomenon of the brain is by no means limited to when the sun goes down, as in fact, you can exploit such benefits whenever and wherever your sleep demands. Of course, lavender is just one in an entire library of natural scents that are capable of aiding your sleep, but as studies strongly suggest, our purple-flowered deity is by far the most powerful in this respect.

We do hope that our investigation into lavender has helped arouse your interest into this amazing aroma; and how exactly it works wonders for your sleep. It certainly did for us, which is why we flew up from our beds and ran directly to our design table, to put together a product that could yield such benefits. We’d very much like to introduce the latest member of our sleep-inducing family of products: SMUG’s Lavender Pillow Spray! Creating an ideal sleep oasis is our speciality after all, and we’re so happy to finally be able to bring such benefits to our happy customers; for whom lavender’s luscious scent has never felt so soothing!

Never rest the same way again; head on over to our online shop to get your lucky hands on your very own Lavender Pillow Spray.

If you hold the importance of your sleep close, you’re probably more than familiar with the various different types of eye masks. Whether they’re contoured, or smooth as silk, the structure of your mask contributes greatly to your nighttime experience. But sometimes, blocking out the bright world outside isn’t quite enough, and nobody would blame you for seeking out something with a little more push. Released just in time to coincide with our annual October Sleep Month, we’d love to introduce the newest member of our Eye Mask family - SMUG’s Natural Clay Bead Hot & Cold Therapy Eye Mask.

Indeed, our latest release is far more therapy-focussed than its highly popular predecessors, and as a form of weighted Eye Mask, this product will offer the wearer far more tangible benefits upon awakening. Filled with beads of natural clay, the mask can be either heated or cooled, but thanks to clay’s relatively usual thermal conductivity and retention levels, the experience will never prove too unbearable, but rather being, as our beloved Goldilocks would put it, just right!

The applied weight of these clay balls within the mask itself is where the magic happens; and if you suffer from terrible sinusitis, tension headaches or puffy eyes, you’re going to love the fact that these weighted masks are entirely capable of offering a remedy towards this. Heat has been well documented for its capabilities of relieving excess pressure and improving lymphatic drainage, whilst the chilly touch of cold is bound to sweep away inflammation; soothing tired, worn out eyes.

Aside from these brilliant benefits, a Clay Bead Eye Mask is extremely capable in many other ways too. Known simply as Deep Pressure Stimulation, the evenly distributed weight of the beads upon the face and eye area offers a similar sensation to a hug, and has been proven to induce immediate relaxation. This push against the skin reduces the wearer’s flight or fight response, by sending signals to the brain that relieves alertness and anxiety; just what you need when on the verge of a good night’s sleep! On top of this, the weight of the mask alone will block out any unwanted streaks of light when worn, stimulating the production of Melatonin; the all important hormone that’s responsible for inducing deep and healthy sleep. This hormone only comes out in the dark, which is why it goes hand in hand with a mask that offers total darkness.

But when you’ve finally got your lucky hands on your very own SMUG Natural Clay Bead Eye Mask, how can you reap such amazing benefits for yourself? Well if you’re feeling in need of a warm embrace, just place the mask in a microwave for 30 seconds at a time, until your desired temperature is reached; but definitely for no longer than 2 minutes. However, if you’re looking for a more icy experience to soothe the likes of inflammation and puffy eyes, place your mask in a freezer until required. And the great thing about this process is that it doesn’t have to wait until bedtime, but that you can actually implement the many benefits at any time of day, whenever and wherever needed.

However, if you’ve come to the end of this blog and still find yourself without SMUG’s Natural Clay Bead Eye Mask, fear not! There’s no time like the present to head on over to our online shop to claim one as your own. And to celebrate the launch of our annual October Sleep Month, we’re giving our customers an extra 20% off; just be sure to use the code “LAUNCH20” at the checkout. Achieving good sleep well doesn’t need to be difficult, it just needs to be SMUG!

Sleep is important at every stage of life; there won’t be a single day that goes by where you won’t feel the consequences of it. But perhaps the most important stage of life where good sleep is paramount to good functioning and growth is during the youngest years.

In recognition of this, and as part of our annual October Sleep Month celebrations, we’ve invited a range of bloggers and lifestyle coaches to collaborate on some very exciting projects. And this week, we enjoyed the fantastic opportunity to sit down with none other than blogger, former dancer and Mummy of two Chloe Gill.

Chloe and her husband JB Gill have two beautiful children together, a boy aged 6, and a girl aged 2, and having cultivated a highly detailed online platform which documents her journey as a mother, we couldn’t have asked anyone better to share sleep advice for young children. And if there’s one thing that Chloe swears by for a positive nighttime experience for her children, it’s a routine.

“Children love to have structure” Chloe tell us. To put this into practice, her children follow a cookie-cutter timetable every night in the run-up to their bedtime. This starts with absolutely no screen time from 5:30pm onwards, as the blue light from digital displays acts as a known catalyst towards insomnia. This is also usually the time that she’ll sit down with her husband and their children as a family to eat dinner; setting the peaceful precedent for the rest of the evening ahead.

Once the plates are cleared from the table, the water usually starts flowing into the bathtub upstairs. “Although they’re four years apart, my children really like to carry out their nighttime routine together, it helps them to understand and acknowledge the routine itself” Chloe continues. A bath is usually followed by a reading from one of their favourite books which, no matter what age you are, always helps to calm the mind in the run-up to sleep.

And this is one aspect that Chloe holds above all else - mental health. “Just before it’s lights out, I like to sit with my children for a moment, just to reassure them that it’s ok to feel tired; that it’s ok to go to sleep. I like to give them the opportunity to open up to me, so that there’s nothing on their mind that might keep them awake.” A positive mindset is something that Chloe and her husband have instilled in their children from a young age, as it will likely manifest itself at every level of their life, including during their sleep.

The very last thing that Chloe and her children do before lights out at 7:30pm is pray, so that they can be thankful for the day, whilst building their personal relationship with God.

Chloe admits that once those lights are out, and everyone is tightly tucked in, that her children are rarely disturbed during their sleep, and she accredits their strong nighttime routine to this.

But whilst what happens during the final hours of their day is important for how they sleep, so too are their activities throughout the entire day. Luckily, Chloe and her husband run a farm, so her children are naturally exposed to an abundance of fresh air during the day. And although it’s important to make your children physically tired and in need of rest, it’s equally important to make them mentally tired too. It comes back to the idea that our mental health and our sleep are more closely linked than we realise; and that understanding this relationship is the key to benefitting from good rest.

If you’re currently guiding two young children through the first stages of their life, you’ll probably be more than aware that sometimes children can’t make it to bedtime, and that sometimes their bodies demand sleep during the day. To accommodate the need for napping, Chloe recommends reading your child’s body, and understanding what’s best for them at that time. “When he was younger, my son needed to be rocked to sleep if he needed to nap during the day, however, my little girl will often settle herself if left alone. It’s all in understanding what exactly their needs are, and I recommend always having a dark and quiet space to hand to allow for a peaceful napping period.” However, Chloe also stressed the importance of regulating daytime naps, as too often will only cause further disruption.

If your child is struggling with a bedtime routine, please don’t let your worries get the better of you. There’s no how-to guide when trying to get your child to sleep at night; and because no two children are the same, everyone’s experience is bound to be different. With two children by her side, if there’s one thing that Chloe would like our readers to remember, it’s that patience is worth every penny towards your child’s sleep. “However you approach the situation, just be sure that you leave any negativity at the bedroom door, otherwise your children will absorb your bad mood like a sponge” Chloe continues, “and this will only further contribute towards disrupted sleep”.

So keep calm, recognise what your child’s needs are, try to set out a nighttime routine, and try to stick to it as much as possible, and we promise that the process will get easier with each passing night.

Thank you so much to Chloe Gill for agreeing to sit down with us, and for sharing your expert sleeping tips for children. And don’t forget to stay tuned for the rest of our October Sleep Month celebrations; we’ve got lots of exciting offers, products and stories to share with you!

The precarious nature of sleep balances between our surroundings and our inner intuition. But when an aspect of this relationship changes, with the emergence of a new season for example, our time in the clouds can begin to lose its footing; sending both our physical and mental health into a free-fall. And so, to solemnise the shift this time of year brings to our dreams, snooze- specialists SMUG have dedicated October as their new annual Sleep Month; remembering the importance of sleep, and how the experience of it can be greatly improved. Here’s some things you can do to make sure your sleep remains uninterrupted during the changing season:

1. Snooze You Lose - When the clock strikes 2am on the 25th of October, the world will enjoy perhaps our favourite odd quirk of BST; being that we’ll be granted a valuable extra hour! But as most are quick to spend their winnings on more time in bed,
   we’d like to advise against this practice. This is because there

   is a strong correlation between receiving excessive amounts of sleep, and the development of medical problems such as Heart Disease, Diabetes, Depression and prolonged fatigue.

2. Out with the Old - Since the environment outside is due to drastically evolve over the coming weeks, so too should your environment inside. As the weather becomes colder, allow an opportunity for your surroundings to accommodate such a change. This could come in the form of a new pair of bedsheets, a fresh throw, or a thicker nighttime attire to keep warm. Allow yourself to change with the season, rather than fighting against it.

3. Bathe in Sunlight - To maintain optimal mental health, and in most cases of physical health too, it’s within your best interest to make the most of the sunlight hours. Whether this productivity takes on the form of exercise, a meeting with friends, or just a simple brisk walk around the neighbourhood, exposure to fresh air whilst the sun is high in the sky will whisk away many of those unwanted cobwebs; clearing your mind and mood in the process.

4. Keep a Bedtime - With each night becoming longer than the last, it becomes increasingly difficult to pinpoint a bedtime. Naturally, when the sun goes down, the human body is miraculously programmed to expect sleep with the onset of darkness; but when this happens at 3 o’clock in the afternoon, following the rhythm of nature becomes a little more difficult. However, it’s of paramount importance that you keep your sleeping routine to military timing; even if you’re falling asleep and waking up in total darkness. Your sleep loves a routine, and if properly followed, it will love you right back.

5. Revise Bad Habits - We might be indoors for a lot of this month, but maybe it’s time to really hit home. By this, we’re referring to the bad habits that everyone has hiding under their pillow; the habits you know are exhausting both your mental and physical wellbeing. Whether they’re keeping you awake at night, or dead on your feet during the day, there’s no time like October to see your unwanted habits become oct-over. Remember, it’s never too late to start again.

SMUG couldn’t be happier to share these 5 top tips with their army of well-slept fans, as the perfect kick-start to their annual October Sleep Month celebrations.

But stay tuned, as the brand also have tons of guest bloggers, new product launches, exclusive offers and giveaways lined up as part of the party. More is to be announced in due course across their social platforms - @sleepsmug - and be sure to sign up to their mailing list so you are the first to hear about all Sleep Month related product launches and offers.

So many exciting things to share in the coming weeks, but for now, sleep well, be happy and stay SMUG!

From Elizabeth Taylor’s famously wild wardrobe of Hollywood’s Golden Age, to Claudia Schiffer gracing the pages of US Vogue back in 1992, up to the very recent auctioning of Kate Moss’s iconic coat, one thing is clear: a leopard never changes its spots.

It’s rare for fabrics to speak for themselves, yet throughout its unrivalled appearance in the wardrobes of history, nothing has spoken louder than the leopard print. The singular ability to match any skin tone, outfit, or occasion has elevated this playful pattern to a legendary status. And it’s exactly why SMUG are such big fans of the look!

Standing shoulder to shoulder with some of fashion’s biggest names - recently partnering up with distribution giant PrettyLittleThing - sleepwear company SMUG have propelled themselves into the lives of many with their highly-acclaimed Contoured 3D Blackout Sleep Mask. But they could never settle for just making dream after dream come true, as the ever-expanding brand proved by combining practicality, durability and iconic style in the making of their highly sought-after Animal Print Accessory Bag.

Secured by a word-of-mouth reputation for highly developed, and boldly executed products, SMUG’s new addition will allow their customers to truly submerge themselves in the exotic spots of the jungle cat. The Accessory Bag offers the ideal storage solution for make-up brushes and fitness gear, or as a matching thrill for your other leopard-print adorning SMUG products! SMUG are strong, and correct,

in the belief that you can never, ever have too make organisational helpers in your life!

The popularity of the eagerly-anticipated release only further cements leopard print at the forefront of public desire. This latest addition has allowed SMUG to reinstate the notion that sleepwear doesn’t need to be, nor should it ever be, boring or dull. What we wear is a reflexion of our personality. And just because your eyes are shut, and your body is at rest, it shouldn’t mean that your wild side isn’t ready to roar!

Shop our NEW animal print range here. 

The relationship between our mind and our sleep is one that very rarely settles. The nurturing powers of sleep itself are underestimated all too often by a rapidly evolving world. And when we deprive ourselves of rest, it’s not just our physical energy that takes a blow, but our mental wellbeing too. In times when daily life already balances on the edge, the loss of sleep could prove truly detrimental.

So, in light of Suicide Awareness Month this year, we’d like to remember the paramount role the primordial need for sleep plays in how we feel, how we operate, and how we recover. A key link has been observed amongst cases of sleep disorders, such as insomnia and CFS, between the disruption of the sleep cycle and an increase in mental health illnesses. However, on the opposite side of the coin, preexisting illnesses, such as anxiety or depression, are often found to be the culprit behind sleep deprivation. It’s this spiralling cycle that we’ll be examining today.

The majority of adults are recommended to receive between 6 and 8 hours of sleep a night. During this time, our bodies go through alternating patterns of REM (rapid eye movement) and NREM (non-rapid eye movement); with each cycle typically lasting around 90 minutes. It is in this cycle that the body remarkably completes phases of muscle repair, memory restoration and hormone regulation.

However, when we prematurely cut this cycle, the phases of deep and light sleep are disturbed at irregular stages of completion. Physically, our energy levels and reaction times will be far depleted. Our arbitrary blood pressure and hormones lend themselves to tiredness, and the physical symptoms of anxiety. Mentally however, the effects are considerably more abhorrent. Expect to see spikes in irritability and anxiety amongst the shattered remains of cognitive function. Such a state will also cultivate low mood levels and erratic, irrational behaviour. Ultimately, the body will be unable to meet the demands of every day life.

An inability to sleep is also an all too common by-product of preexisting mental health conditions. Due to their wicked ability in manifesting themselves at various levels of sleep, it’s difficult to pinpoint any individual aspect; thus too making the symptoms even more difficult to combat. For example, anxiety may make it tricky to shut off the mind when it’s required, whilst depression often causes either cases of oversleeping or insomnia. Others however, such as the remembering of traumatic experiences, psychosis and PTSD, may exhibit themselves in the form of night terrors; it too being extremely capable of disrupting the sleep cycle.

Whatever shape your sleep demons inhabit, there are a range of remedies that can improve both the quality of your sleep and the state of your mental health; with our first point of call always being to impose regulation. When you regulate your sleeping pattern in the long term, your body will begin to fall into a pattern of rest, and you’ll be more naturally capable of falling asleep and waking up at consistent times. We’d also like to suggest that you avoid visual and physical stimulants an hour before bedtime. This includes the likes of caffeine, and any form of digital display. Not only will their presence stimulate the brain, but they’re also likely to induce anxiety or unhappy thoughts in an environment of mental isolation.

It’s also highly important that you prepare to sleep in a dark, comfortable environment, as this will trigger the production of the sleep hormone Melatonin. But this could be difficult in an increasingly glowing world, especially if you live in a densely populated area. That’s why we created our 3D Contoured Blackout Sleep Mask, which is able to shut out every light glimmer of light during your sleep; whilst also being comfortable to wear. Fortunately, this mask is amongst many other SMUG sleeping helpers in our shop.

Please sleep happy, and never forget to reach out for help if you ever feel like you need to. Samaritans - Call 116 123

Your Sleep Mask is perhaps your most intimate piece of nightwear. It hugs your face and delicate eye area night after night, keeping the outside light away from your sweetest dreams. In fact, some may struggle to remember their last slumber without it. But our sole question here today is this: is it clean?

Of course, when they’re fresh out of the packaging, our Sleep Masks are as clean as a whistle. But after long periods of repetitive use, even this remarkable, life-saving wonder collects a little dust. And although this accumulation builds up on a microscopic level, it’s no small problem!

But why should you clean your Sleep Mask? The exhausting truth of it all is that, no matter what your mask is made from - memory foam, Rayon Silk, and polyester are all in use here at SMUG - there’s no escaping the dreaded natural oils, sweat and bacteria we’re bound to encounter during the night. Your skin is at the top of dirt’s Hit List, and will experience irritation and even break out’s if the fabric is left unkept.

So to keep both your sleep consciousness and your skin clear, we strongly recommend following our fool-proof guide to washing your SMUG Sleep Mask; whatever type you’ve fallen in love with.

Fortunately, washing machines aren’t invited to this cleansing party. Just to reiterate, please keep your mask away from your washing machine! The fibres really won’t thank you, and the iconic domes of our Contoured Sleep Masks won’t fare much better either.

It all starts with a rinse. We recommend running your mask under a lukewarm tap rather than rinsing it in a bowl of water. This will whisk the dirt away, rather than moving it around to another area on the fabric. Turn the tap off, and add a small amount of Non-Bio detergent, no more than a table spoon’s worth, to the fabric. It’s super important that the detergent you apply caters to sensitive skin, as this will limit the amount of future irritation.

Massage this detergent gently into the soaked mask with clean hands; nothing too vigorous as it’ll likely disturb the structure of the mask otherwise. After 5 minutes have passed, and your mask is lathered in fragrant skin-friendly detergent, turn the water back on, but make sure the temperature is cool and fresh this time. Rinse the mask again, until the detergent is fully dissolved.

Next, you’re going to want to gently squeeze out the excess water, but no wringing! This entire process is about preserving the shape and structure of your mask. Using the palms of both your hands, press outwards into the domes of the mask, and the surrounding fabric, until it’s mildly damp. Set the newly cleansed mask out on fresh towel to air-dry, and then you’re all set to go!

Because this process takes a couple of hours for the fabric to dry, we recommend cleaning it in the morning, after you wake up. That’ll give your mask enough time to air-dry before you’re next due to hit the hay.

And that’s it! We recommend following these steps up to twice a month in order to keep your mask fresh, your skin clear, and your sleep ever so undisturbed.