The following post contains affiliate links, which sends me a small percentage of any sales at no cost to you.
I’ve tried so many sleep aids over the years I decided it was time I put all of my thoughts on them into one place.
Of course, I’m not a doctor or a medical professional of any kind. I’m simply sharing what I’ve tried, how it made me feel, and whether or not it helped me sleep. Here goes:
Soul CBD drops
Strength: 1000 mg CBD
Taking CBD drops has helped me in several different ways over the last few years. I started trying the 500 mg strength and used it for sleep at night, and for anxiety during the day. The more I used it, the better I learned different ways to use it and how much to take. I quickly understood that I needed something stronger for sleeping, so I bought the 1000 mg strength and haven’t turned back.
I take a full dropper before bed, and that’s that! I like the peppermint and watermelon mint flavors. It’s organic, vegan, and there’s no THC. I never feel groggy afterward, either.
Price: $95 for 30 servings (get $20 off)
Liquid IV Sleep Multiplier
Strength: 3 mg melatonin
I love Liquid IV during the day to help keep me hydrated, and the Sleep Multiplier was one of the first Liquid IV products I tried. It’s the same drink-mix-in-a-stick you’re used to, but it’s just for bedtime. The Sleep Multiplier has 3mg of melatonin, plus L-Theanine (amino acid) and Valerian root (relieves tension).
It only comes in one flavor — blueberry lavender — which I can’t say I love, but it’s ok. One thing you may not know about Liquid IV is that you can drink them hot. So, I always mix the Sleep Multiplier with hot water, and it’s kind of like a bedtime tea. This does help me get to sleep fast, and I don’t feel groggy in the morning. The only thing I don’t like about it is having to drink it before bed and deal with brushing my teeth after and possibly having a full bladder as I drift to sleep.
Price: $24 for 10 servings
SugarBear Sleep Vitamins
Strength: 4 mg melatonin
These are something I tried recently, and the ingredients threw me a little. They’ve got melatonin, magnesium (aids in melatonin production), theanine, and B6 (enhances melatonin production). I was only confused because these are vegan gummies, and I thought melatonin was an animal product. Turns out melatonin can come from plants.
One dose of the vitamins is two gummies (shaped like little bears), but there’s no way I could take 6 mg of melatonin. I have regularly been taking half of one bear, which is 1.5 mg of melatonin, and it puts me to sleep. The first time I took these, I had wildly colorful dreams that were almost sickening. However, I haven’t experienced it since.
Price: $35 for 60 vitamins
Soul CBD Sleepi Gummies | Camomile Honey
Strength: 25 mg CBD + 3 mg melatonin
These gummies are another recent item I’ve tried, and I like the mix of CBD and melatonin. However, if you’re noticing a pattern, it’s because I’ve learned that too much melatonin makes me feel super groggy the next day. So, since 1 gummy is 3 mg of melatonin, I cut them all in half!
In addition to the melatonin, these gummies have 25 mg of CBD, CBN (improves sleep quality), myrcene (creates a calming feeling), and chamomile tea (natural sedative). The flavor I have is the Chamomile Honey; but there are others — Blueberry Lemonade, Raspberry Lemonade — and those have different ingredients, such as blueberry extract or raspberry extract, instead of the tea.
Price: $70 for 30 gummies (get $20 off)
Sleepytime Tea
Strength: N/A
I’m not above the classic remedy of Sleepytime tea. In fact, I think enjoying any type of non-caffeinated warm beverage before bed is a nice way to wind down. I keep Sleepytime tea (or something similar) on hand for nights when I need something more natural (or not so strong) to help me sleep. This is also an option I appreciate if I’m feeling under the weather — I never mix sleep aids with meds no matter what the FDA says. Call me paranoid!
Price: $5 for 20 tea bags
Olly Immunity Sleep + Elderberry Gummies
Strength: 3 mg melatonin
I tried these years ago and will never forget how groggy these made me feel for nearly two days after taking them! Of course, this was earlier in my “sleep aid” journey, and I didn’t even think to just take a smaller dose, but yikes. If I tried them again, I’m sure one gummy (half a dose = 1.5 mg melatonin) would be alright.
These gummies also have Echinacea (antibiotic properties), Zinc (for immunity) and Vitamin C (antioxidant). I remember these being wildly popular during the pandemic lockdown, and I can understand why!
Price: $14 for 36 gummies
Nature Garden Sleep Remedy
Strength: 1.5 mg melatonin
This was the first ever sleep aid I bought. I remember having awful sleep issues after college, and a coworker asked me why I didn’t just take melatonin before bed? The truth was, I didn’t know it was an option! So, I bought these at the grocery. They did help me fall asleep, but I would always wake up 2-3 hours after taking them. Looking at the dosage now, though, they seem like they’d work fine for me…
Price: $5 for 8 tablets
LUSH Sleepy Body Lotion
Strength: N/A
I’m well aware that sleep aids don’t always have to be gummies, tablets, or teas. I’ve been a longtime LUSH customer, and their line of Sleepy products has also helped me calm down at the end of the day. The entire line has a rich scent of lavender and tonka that’s a treat to the senses!
The Sleepy Body Lotion is my favorite item in the lineup, but there’s also a candle, shower gel, body spray, bath bomb, bubble bar, and dusting powder (see the entire collection here).
Price: $4.50-$18
Weighted Blankets
Strength: 20lbs
I bought myself a 20lb weighted blanket in 2020, and always have it within arms’ reach. I use mine when I sleep, for yoga via Zoom, and sometimes while reading or watching TV. I wrote an entire post on the blanket I got and linked several options.
Price: $50-$250
Pillow Sprays + Essential Oils
Strength: N/A
Prior to ever trying any oral sleep aids, I used my fair share of essential oils and lavender sprays (and still do). Does anyone remember the spray from Bath & Body Works? It came in a clear spray bottle and had purple beads inside — it smelled so good! But did it help me sleep? I don’t know…
Just like the LUSH products, I think they make a good addition to a bedtime ritual. Scent is powerful, and I do think there’s something to reminding your brain that it’s time to relax. However, I don’t think they’ve helped me get a better night of sleep by themselves.
I’m currently working on developing a better nighttime routine, and it includes taking the time to wind down via a regular skincare regimen, a cup of peppermint tea, reading, and a spritz of bedtime perfume — I’m using the Philosophy Amazing Grace Lavender.
While this concludes my list on sleep aids, I do want to say that, as much as I hate to admit it, developing good habits is likely what affects sleep the most. Scrolling on our phones before bed isn’t going to result in high-quality sleep, even if you think it does. Science has shown that blue light disturbs us, and it confuses our brain in regard to what time of day it is.
Drinking alcohol is also not the way to a sound sleep — and I’ve learned it the hard way. I’m far from the perfect sleeper, and I’m the first to admit that I hate setting a bedtime or turning off the TV when all I want to do is stay up! But I know none of these sleep aids I’ve listed is solely going to resolve anyone’s sleep issues.
Here’s to hoping we all find the rest we need.
This sleep aid guide is not sponsored — nor are any of the reviews on this blog. I am a beauty and skincare junkie and enjoy sharing the products I love right here! For more reviews and similar posts, please subscribe to the blog by clicking subscribe on the right side of your screen. Cheers!
The Bitter Lemon 
One Comment