What’s On My Nightstand


nightstand

I love bedtime. For me it means taking some quiet moments for myself before drifting off to sleep to read a few pages in a favorite cookbook or aromatherapy text, jot down thoughts about the day or simply unwind. Ritual is a big part of bedtime for me, and it begins in the bathroom where I cleanse, tone and moisturize among other less interesting tasks (where’s the delight in flossing?).

Once I’m done with my evening cleansing ritual, I typically brew a small cup of herbal tea and mosey up to the bedroom. I try to keep it tidy because there’s nothing like getting into a well-made bed in a clean bedroom at the end of a long day. Setting a peaceful tone in the room does wonders, and I love the small dim lamps on either side of my bed for their cozy light. I also keep plants and usually a vase of flowers or fresh eucalyptus and other herbs in my bedroom. They help keep the air fresh and make me happy in general.

There are always a handful of products within reach on my nightstand that help prepare me for sleep and are fun to use. These vary with the seasons as well as what I need at the time to keep my body and mind in balance. Right now, with the dry indoor heat going and the cold winter temps outside, I have extra protective and healing products in the mix as well as therapeutic products to help me relax.

Here’s what’s on my nightstand this winter…

One of the very first things I reach for on my nightstand is a small lavender linen spray that I made from lavender essential oil and distilled water. I spritz this on the bed, pillows and around the room before turning back the blankets. I also keep a jar of Osmia Organics Rosemary Body Mousse on hand to massage into my feet and legs. Self-massage is an incredible wellness tool! Try giving yourself a quick rub down using your favorite botanical moisturizer, and if it has an aromatherapy component to it like the Osmia Body Mousse does, all the better.

The mini Lotus Wei Quiet Mind Energy Mist, which came with the Lotus Wei Mini Mist Collection, is another bedtime treat I love. This cooling spray will add hydration to your face and has a geranium, lemon and coriander aroma that dispels tension, endless mind chatter and promotes sound sleep. I love spraying this on my face and neck.

For the lips, de Mamiel’s precious black pot of Rosey Lip Balm is what I’ve been carrying to bed each night (I also keep it on hand during the day, so it just visits my nightstand). Kahina Lip and Face Balm is also on hand (more geranium, neroli and blue tansy, too!). It’s super healing and I love to massage it into my cuticles in addition to lips while I’m reading.

Other knickknacks on my nightstand include a sleep mask I’ve never actually used, bobby pins, and a handful of aromatherapy treatments I’ve made for myself. Books on my nightstand include Eat Pretty by Jolene Hart, Skin Cleanse by Adina Grigore and Essence and Alchemy by Mandy Aftel. These are books I like to dig through for little jewels of inspiration.

What’s on your nightstand this winter?

5 thoughts on “What’s On My Nightstand

  1. This was fun to read about Susannah! I also love to keep little self-care treasures on my nightstand as well. Right now my rotation includes Osmia Vanilla Shea hand cream to slather on before bed, a tube of Zoe Organics’s Everything Balm for a patch of eczema on my hands and eyelid – it is amazing for stopping itching and soothing relief. It also smells so nice of lavender & vanilla that I massage it into my cuticles as well. I also have my little black jar of Kari Gran Lip Whip in the naked version with cinnamon as well as her Hydrating Tonic mist in rose that I mist over my face while I read. I use Lotus Wei Quiet Mind as well but I use in the elixir form in a cup of tulsi tea that I have as part of my bedtime ritual too 🙂

  2. I’m just curious if you have a way to keep the lotion and oils from staining your book when you read in bed. That is what has always prevented me from moisturizing my finger-tips at night.

  3. Hi Michelle—I know what you mean! If I am adding a lot of moisture to my hands/fingertips I’ll do it right before I fall asleep or while I’m watching something on Netflix rather than reading, but it can still be an issue even if I’m just moisturizing my legs/feet, so I usually just wait a few minutes for everything to soak in before handling my books.

  4. Hi Carol—YUM! Your nightstand goodies sound divine! I love that Osmia hand cream and the Kari Gran treats, too. Thanks for reading and sharing!

Leave a Reply to Susannah Compton Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

About Susannah Compton

Susannah Compton is the founder and formulator behind Florescent, a line of 100% botanical perfumes she blends in small batches from organic and wild crafted aromatics. Plant-based skincare and cosmetics are a way of life for Susannah, who writes about clean beauty and the benefits of botanical ingredients for No More Dirty Looks, Thoughtfully Magazine and Integrity Botanicals. Florescent, however, is Susannah’s personal expression of healthy beauty. Susannah has been working with botanical aromatics for years, blending first for therapeutic purposes before delving into the art of perfumery. Having rarely experienced the depth and complexity of true botanicals in conventional perfume, she learned the art of blending and created what her heart desired — a scent that would move her the way perfume should. In search of those elevating, ethereal bouquets of scent, Susannah honed her skills behind the perfume bench. She launched Florescent in the spring of 2015 to share the lush experience and pleasing ritual of real perfume.