In yesterday’s Squalor, I kicked off my March bed-making challenge, LAMOB. The idea is super simple: Make your bed every day in March. That’s all! But also: One of the things I suggest people do is build in a little (or big!) reward at the mid- and end-point of the challenge. For the mid-point, especially, something small is probably the right thing, so I’ve rounded up five items that cost less than $25 to inspire some self-gifting for those of you who are trying you hands at this whole make-your-bed-for-a-month thing.
Lavender Linen Spray
Linen spray serves a few purposes; primarily, a linen spray will add a light layer of fragrance to sheets that can keep them smelling fresher and more just-out-of-the-wash after several days of sleeping on them. But secondarily, and sort of surprisingly, using a linen spray in the morning after making the bed will eliminate the wrinkles that naturally occur on pillowcases and duvet covers, so your bed won’t look as rumpled. The trick is to make the bed, lightly spritz the sheets with linen spray and then pull them taut — wrinkles will ease right out. Linen sprays come in all kinds of scents, but lavender is a great choice because it’s got soothing properties that will help you to relax when it’s time for bed.
Silk Pillowcases
Silk pillowcases are ultra glam, sure. But, much like linen spray, there’s also a practical reason to invest in a set — they’re easier on hair than their cotton counterparts, so if you have hair that’s prone to breaking, splitting or frizzing, a silk pillowcase can help to protect it while you sleep. Silk pillowcases are also great for your skin because they’re less drying than cotton; they also won’t absorb moisturizers and serums and ampoules and etc. in the way that cotton will, so those things will stay on your skin instead of on your pillowcase. The Ravmix silk pillowcases are machine washable (use cold water and the delicate cycle, and put the cases inside a mesh wash bag) and come in 18 different colors.
A Heating/Cooling Pillow
It’s winter and, if you’re anything like me, getting into bed at night is an exercise in shivering. Heating pads are one option for quickly warming up a bed before getting into it, but there are cords to deal with, and then you’ve got to remember to turn the thing off, and also they just don’t look that nice. But this microwavable cherry seed-stuffed pillow solves the problem of the cords and the turning off, and it looks nice to boot! Leave it on your pillow to warm things up, or slide it under the covers while you head off to brush your fangs and wash your face before bed to give your tootsies a little treat.
Heavy Duty Hand Cream
Hand cream is a wily beast, in that there are different thicknesses and if you use the wrong one at the wrong time everything in your world will fall entirely apart. For daytime, you want something light that absorbs quickly so you don’t stick to everything/leave fingerprints all over the scene of the crime. For nighttime, you want something that’s going to make your paws moisturized AF. Flexitol is that thing. (There’s also a heel cream that is honestly a damned miracle worker.) But also, you might like something a little more luxe, in which case check out this Bath & Body Works Aromatherapy Sleep Body Lotion, which gets rave reviews for it’s very lovely scent.
Fussy Bedtime Gloves
The other day, a friend emailed me and was like “HEY JOLIE YOU KNOW HOW YOU’RE SUPPOSED TO SLATHER YOUR HANDS WITH VASELINE AND PUT ON GLOVES BEFORE YOU SLEEP??” and I was like, “Yeah I know but also I could never, too too claustrophobic, why do you ask?”
Okay so the reason he asked was because he wanted to know if he’s supposed to wash those gloves (yes). But also I’m cribbing right off his nighttime ritual and suggesting to you that if you’re not like me, i.e. nuts and also prone to claustrophobia (do not even TALK to me about what a paraffin treatment does to my anxiety), you should get a set of these nighttime gloves to go with your heavy duty moisturizer.