In 1972, Harvey Milk opened a small camera shop on Castro street in the heart of San Francisco. Upset by what he considered an unfair tax on small businesses in the city, Milk decided to run for a small local office. Within 5 years, Milk would make history as the country’s first openly gay elected official. 

As the month of June nears its close, the trailblazers of the Pride movement should be commended. In the fields of politics, entertainment, music, and sports, there are the firsts: those who took the risk of unfair judgement and hate to come out to the world with #pride. Here are just a few of them:

1. Harvey Milk 

In November of 1978, Milk was assassinated in his office. Though his tenure in government was short-lived, he introduced the possibility of powerful officials being gay to the table.

2. Ellen 

Ellen, oh, Ellen. How we love you. In 1997, she was one of the first women to come out as gay in entertainment. Ellen’s personal coming out was timed perfectly with that of the character she played at the time, Ellen Morgan — who also came out on the popular sitcom Ellen. She would late front a historic Times cover and an interview with Oprah. Though she was outed by Hollywood for a time after, Ellen was one of the first to make being gay, really ok. Two decades later, Ellen said: “I’m Ellen, and I’m gay. 20 years ago, I said that; it was a much bigger deal then.”

3. Jason Collins

Basketball is a guy’s guy kind of deal. Collins was the first openly gay player on a major American team sport. “I'm a 34 year-old NBA Player. I’m black. And I’m gay” Collins said in an op-ed for Sports Illustrated. "No one wants to live in fear. I've always been scared of saying the wrong thing. I don't sleep well. I never have. But each time I tell another person, I feel stronger and sleep a little more soundly,” Collins wrote, inspiring many to follow his footsteps. 

4. Anderson Cooper

Though he was the sixth, Cooper was by far the most high-profile journalist to come out in the cable news industry. While the topic of his sexuality was speculated for years, Cooper came out in an open letter, saying: "while as a society we are moving toward greater inclusion and equality for all people, the tide of history only advances when people make themselves fully visible,” changing the tide himself.

5. Chely Wright

While country music singer Chely Wright decided to come out in 2007, it took her three years to release her the song “Like Me” through which she came out to the world in conjunction with a spot on The Today Show. Still today, Wright is one of the only openly gay country music singers. 

At NIGHT, we’re pretty committed to doing everything a little different. And we firmly believe that beauty is multi-dimensional. That’s why we make products made to work on your skin and hair while maximizing the hours you can catch some Zz’s; our new Dual Sided Pillowcase is no different. We took a look at our product line and wondered why we didn’t have something that was customizable to the user’s needs. So we went out, like we do, and developed this double-sided-magi-refiffic pillowcase to help create balance for your skin and hair, whether you lean to the dry or oily side of life.

How it works: 

Side One is made of our classic mulberry silk to help maintain optimal moisture levels of dry skin and hair. It provides that one-of-a-kind smooth, NIGHT surface that won’t absorb moisture, or face creams from your best beauty assets. Wake up bedhead, breakout, and sleep crease free. 

Side Two is made from bamboo, which naturally wicks excess oil, moisture, and sweat away from your skin and hair, giving it a balancing boost so your skin and hair can get back to normal. Bamboo fibers are less abrasive than traditional pillowcase materials like cotton or jersey, so it won’t tug on your skin+hair, preserving the signature NIGHT benefits like eliminated bedhead, hair damage, and sleep creases. #YAS

We might be crazy, but we think we’re onto something. Here’s three reasons why two sides are better than one:

1. The seasons change, so should your beauty routine  

Pretty much no one’s talking about how skin and hair needs change with the seasons, but we are. Dry in the winter, and oily in the summer? Vice versa? All you’ve got to do is flip this baby over halfway through the year.

2.  Life ain’t consistent, so get something flexible

Hormones, diet, a broken AC, there’s no predicting what’s going to come up in the middle of the night. So even if you tend to be a little dry, some nights might call for something different — to avoid waking up with a bad hair day, or a #fresh blemish.

So, be prepared to look your best every morning, no matter what with the NIGHT Dual Sided pillowcase.

3. No two skin + hair types are the same, so get something that works for you

At some point along the way, beauty companies began to catch on to the fact that not everyone’s beauty needs are the same. Your moisturizer or shampoo specifies dry or oily skin/hair types, so why should your nighttime beauty routine be any different? The NIGHT Dual Sided Pillowcase was born from of this question, and was designed to ensure no matter what your skin and hair type is, you’ll wake up on the bright side.

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Real talk: not one of us on the NIGHT squad loved memory foam when we started working on this brand. We joke about how skeptical we were that the hero product, the sleep-enhancing and beauty-boosting NIGHT Pillow features a memory foam base.

As we talk to more and more consumers, we have realized that we were not alone; a good percentage of the population has a negative opinion on memory foam. Sad.

Flash forward to today: we are memory foam > filled pillows all the way. It is NIGHT’s unique, high quality, air light memory foam that has converted us. We have so many interesting memory foam convos via phone and email, we decided to share some insights here on the blog.

Below are the top questions we receive on memory foam, straight from our customers. In fact, a memory foam conversation can go a little something like this:

“Seriously tho, why are you guys so obsessed with your memory foam?”

Not going to lie, we are pretty obsessed with our memory foam. Memory foam (done right) provides the perfect balance between comfort and support. Check out this YouTube video of our egg test comparing memory foam to filled pillows in their ability to achieve this delicate balance.

Also, memory foam is naturally hypoallergenic, so dust mites, allergens and pollutants won’t build up inside your pillow. Considering that other pillows can be bacterially indistinguishable from a toilet seat (yes, science says), this is a pretty important point to consider.

“Ok that’s legit. But my experience with memory foam is that it [insert: is as heavy as a brick, sleeps hot, holds its shape too rigidly, etc etc]. How is yours different?”

Love that you are asking this because ours IS different. Our unique memory foam is oxygenated, making it the lightest, airiest and fluffiest memory foam on the market. It is specially designed to “recover” i.e. regain its shape quickly, so that as you move in your sleep, it does the work to self-adjust and keep your neck and head aligned and supported. The light nature of our foam allows for ideal air flow for a cool, comfortable sleep experience.

“Wow, good stuff. But I’ve heard memory foam can have a funny smell. What’s the deal?”

Yes, this is a process called off-gassing. As part of the production of memory foam, there is a short period where compounds can break apart and produce a gas, hence the term off-gassing. No studies have shown that the off-gassing process is toxic or dangerous, but if you are sensitive to smell, it may be unpleasant for a few days. On our end, we do our very best to complete any off-gassing at our production facility (located here in the USA in Detroit) so that by the time the pillow arrives at your door, you will not experience any odor whatsoever. If by chance you do, we hope you will holler at us right away because we maintain top notch customer service and you can be rest assured we will take care of any issue.

“Word. I’ve seen pictures of your foam- what’s up with the craters in the foam?”

Craters in foam = high quality foam. All higher quality memory foam has craters because of individual air bubbles that form during the custom molding and manufacturing process. Here’s a quick video to show how our foam is individually hand-poured into a custom mold and then trimmed and inspected for top quality assurance right here in the USA.

“Ok, last question. I want to get my money’s worth. Do memory foam pillows last as long as filled pillows?”

General rule of thumb is that you should replace filled pillows every 18 months, unless you are extremely dedicated to washing it on a regular basis. Then you may be able to hold onto it a little longer…but remember what science says about that pillow and a toilet seat. Gross.

For memory foam pillows, it is recommended that you replace them every three years. No maintenance necessary because of the naturally hypoallergenic nature of the foam.

 “Well damn…I think I need to try this memory foam for myself. Can I place an order right now?”

Yes, yes you can.

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As a small but mighty team, we spend our days very focused and embrace caffeine in many forms to keep the momentum going. But want to know how to distract us? Bring a dog to the office. Everyone who works at NIGHT loves dogs and it’s something we bond over.

But the fact is—the love goes both ways. Dogs LOVE NIGHT.  Labs, Goldens, Bulldogs, Pomeranians, Mutts…we could go on and on. We receive pictures via text, email and on social media of dogs, peacefully resting their heads on NIGHT Pillows, with and without their owners.

You may be asking yourself: Why? Well, besides the obvious: dogs are extremely smart creatures and have great taste…here are three reasons:

1. Smooth and gentle sleep surface: The top-quality mulberry silk used in the TriSilk Pillowcase allows hair to glide effortlessly across without pulling or tugging. Goodbye bedhead (and hello less shedding in this case). It is also custom-fit and expertly designed with a hint of spandex to produce a wrinkle-free, perfectly smooth environment. Our canine friends can appreciate this top-notch engineering for a most enjoyable experience.
2. Sleeps cool, no sweat: No one and no dog wants to deal with non-breathable bedding that produces sweat and general discomfort. The NIGHT Pillow provides a cool sleep experience thanks to the oxygenated foam and the mulberry silk.
3. Deeper sleep = better dreams: Ok, we may be stretching here…but the dogs just look so happy when they sleep on NIGHT Pillows! We do know that NIGHT Pillows support deeper, more restorative sleep thanks to the self-adjusting memory foam and the signature black hue, so why can’t we assume that better dreams come along with it?? We like to believe the pups are thinking about peanut butter, long runs in the park and cuddles with their owners.

Final conclusion: Dogs know best and they love NIGHT Pillows for good reason. Follow their lead and invest in a NIGHT Pillow.

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2017 was an absolute mic drop year for NIGHT. We crushed our retail launches: think Bloomingdales, Anthropologie, QVC. We extended our product line as well as launched a sister brand – SHINE by NIGHT. And, was shown love by some big names– cough:  World News Tonight, People Mag, The View etc.

The secret to our success?? ….we have some awesome fcking people on our side. 

These people come in different forms, positions, and relationships to us..but, they have one thing in common: They are believers in NIGHT and go the extra mile to move us forward. No amount of money or other asset on our balance sheet can compensate for what these legit AF humans bring to the table.

One day we will shower these people with jewels and adventures on yachts..but, in the interim, we show our love to these rock stars with a gift that doesn’t piss off our accountant– fresh sneaks. Because what better way to recognize the forward ‘steps’ that they help make happen? And, not just any sneaks – but, always, the Nike Cortez…

Why the Cortez? Nike’s first ever shoe was originally called the ‘Aztec’ until Adidas threaten suit over a similar named shoe.  So, in response, Nike named their groundbreaking shoe ‘The Cortez’ in reference to Hernán Cortés (insert history lesson on the unfortunate fate of the Aztecs due to Cortés). To us, this shoe represents a bold an audacious spirit that turns challenges into opportunities. Perfect for the people who have stuck their neck out to push NIGHT forward.

Who are these people you ask? Well, check out the ‘Cortez files’ where in 2018 we start profiling them. The first 5 are found below.

To the other NIGHT believers, big and small, I sincerely thank you. Thank you for every like, every review (good or bad), every dollar spent, every chance and effort that is given to make us better and push us forward. (insert prayer hand emoji).

Warmest Regards,

Kalle Simpson

The Cortez Files:

Mollie Riegger Keppler – nickname Big Rig

Satin this and silk that; you hear the two materials thrown around and often used as synonyms. But the truth is that these materials are different and it is important to understand how as you make the right bedding decision for you and your beauty game.

Let’s start with the how they are similar when used in bedding. Both satin and silk support healthy skin and hair while you sleep. Either of these materials is going to boost your beauty game more than more traditional bedding materials (ahem, cotton). Why? Because while other materials may tug at your hair follicles and strip your skin of natural, important oils, satin and silk provide a smooth sleep surface. Skin and hair gently glide across as you catch z’s, reducing friction and leaving your skin and hair hydrated. This is key in helping to reduce bedhead, hair breakage, fine lines and wrinkles and dull, dry skin.

Now for the key difference. Silk is a natural material produced by the silk worm. Satin was originally produced as a weave using silk fibers to enhance the look and feel of the material (think: extra shiny and smooth). Slowly over time, this same effect could be achieved incorporating sophisticated manmade fibers, leading to today's ability to produce satin as a solely synthetic fiber. This alone immediately presents a difference in price for the consumer. Satin is a more affordable material than silk. So as we like to say here at NIGHT headquarters, if you have champagne taste but are on a budget, satin is your best beauty sleep solution. If you are looking for the ultimate luxury experience, silk is for you.

As silk is a natural fiber, it does offer an important additional benefit. Silk is naturally hypoallergenic, which keeps your sleep surface clear of allergens, dust mites and mold aka skin irritants that can cause breakouts. For acne prone skin, this is key to consider, and something that we hear many dermatologists call out.

Net net- making the switch to satin OR silk is a no brainer. You’ll wake up fresher and be out the door faster with less time messing with your hair and skin. Choosing between satin and silk is a personal choice, depending on your budget and skin concerns.

Have follow up questions? The NIGHT team is always happy to help! Email info@discovernight.com.

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“Traveling does wonders for my skin and hair,” said no one ever. But perhaps you’ve seen people stepping off a plane looking flawless? Well of course they have secrets. No one puts in zero beauty effort while traveling and gets away with it! So bring on the tips, tricks and insider secrets!

To celebrate the launch of the NIGHT Pillow compression case, we spoke with some of our favorite beauty experts to get the scoop on upping your beauty game in tough travel conditions. Between being able to easily take your NIGHT Pillow with you wherever you go and their game-changing advice, consider yourself celebrity jetsetter status. 

Here’s what they had to say…

“Packing my beauty products used to stress me out but now I collect samples and minis of my favorite brands and store them in a pouch that’s actually made to store a wet bathing suit (ha!). It sounds weird, but it’s lined with a wipeable material so if my moisturizer explodes during a flight, the clean-up is easy. I always keep the pouch filled with baby toothpaste, razor, face wash, SPF, moisturizer, face oil, self-tanner wipes, etc. so I have everything I need in one spot. I literally grab it and go. It’s a fun way to try out new products that I don’t use on a daily basis. If/whenever possible, I fly without wearing makeup (just skincare) and I love to use undereye patches while en route. Upon arrival, I pull them off and instantly feel refreshed. I also use a facial self-tanner (I love the Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare Alpha Beta Glow Pads) the night before I travel so I look glowy when I get to my destination.”

 -Heather Muir Maffei, Beauty Director at Real Simple and Health Magazine

"Dry plane air can suck the moisture right out of your skin, so I always make sure to BYO hydration! I bring my own empty water bottle to refill at the airport, en route, and when I land. I pack my favorite tea bags (usually spearmint since the spice is a known skin-enhancer) to dip in hot water for extra nourishment, and I bring a face spritz to use throughout a long trip as needed." 

-Alexis Farah, Freelance Writer and Founder of Random Acts of Lipstick

“When I travel I always bring makeup products that are in cushion form. Now everything from foundation to blush and highlighter come in a cushion compact, and I love it because it's leak free, easy to throw into your bag, comes with a built-in mirror and the formulas usually give your skin a really beautiful, dewy glow that you can't always get from stick products (the other easy-to-travel-with makeup form). Plus I've found that cushion compact foundations and blushes really give your skin a nice youthful finish that photographs really well!”

-Carolyn Hsu, Site Director at New Beauty

“I love clothes that are still chic but comfy.  I’m not that person that can travel in 6-inch stilettos and tight outfits, so I try to go for cute coordinates that are still tasteful.  My eye mask and Barefoot Dreams shawl are a must because I’m always freezing on planes!  I also try to stay extremely hydrated by drinking tons of water (planes dry me out!) and love to spritz my Kiehl’s Cactus Flower & Tibetan Ginseng Hydrating Mist in the middle of the flight, especially on redeyes.”

-Brittney Levine, On-Air Style & Trend Expert and Host of Marie Claire’s “The Fix”

Let us guess...

Your weekend was amazing and now you are dreading that early Monday morning alarm clock because it means a long work week ahead. #SAME. We get it.

But we are all about staying positive here at NIGHT HQ, so here are four reasons to look forward to waking up on Monday morning after sleeping on a NIGHT pillow.

1. Deep Sleep = High Functioning Brain

#Fact: The signature black hue of the NIGHT pillow is engineered to help boost melatonin production so you sleep deeply. You’ll wake up as 100% productive as your colleague who says she, “stayed at home and did laundry this weekend.”

2. No Morning Shame

Still had some residual makeup on from the wild weekend? Avoid the sad reminder of nights past as the black silk will work to hide any sign of it. Judgment-free wake up guaranteed. 

3. Hair On Point

We want you to snooze that alarm clock and catch extra Z's, which means your Sunday blow out needs to stay fresh to death for your Monday work day. Preserve your locks with the finest silk pillowcase on the market, that doesn’t cause frizz. The NIGHT pillow ensures you’re ready to be #flawless come 8am.

4. Signs of Exhaustion? Not here.

Maintain hydrated, youthful skin and hair with the NIGHT pillow, leaving you looking like you spent the weekend at the spa, drinking green tea and meditating. No dark circles, sleep creases, or split ends here.

#Sundayscaries are for people who don’t sleep with NIGHT. Beat them forever.

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It is always exciting here at NIGHT HQ when we launch a new product, and the Tri-Silk Pillowcase, specially designed to fit any pillow, is certainly no exception. But if you are new to our brand, you may be wondering – what is best for me? The TriSilk Pillowcase OR the NIGHT Pillow? Well don’t fret, as usual, we have your back. Take a moment to answer these two questions and then you’ll be ready to get in bed with the best NIGHT product for you.

1. Do you want to effortlessly add beauty benefits to your nightly shut eye?

ANSWER: YES

Added benefits when all you have to do is close your eyes and go to sleep? YES PLEASE. The first thing we have confirmed is that you do make solid life choices…and are in fact in the market for either the TriSilk Pillowcase or the NIGHT Pillow.

ANSWER: NO

Seriously? Go ahead and think about that one again.

2. Do you think the pillow you currently sleep on is absolutely amazing and providing you with the best sleep possible?

ANSWER: YES

Damn, let us know what pillow you are sleeping on! But seriously, that’s awesome. Now consider covering that pillow with our TriSilk Pillowcase, a proprietary spandex silk formula designed to moisturize and protect you precious skin and hair. Our signature midnight black hue negates light, acting like a built-in sleep mask and providing you with that deep, restorative sleep that keeps you looking and feeling youthful.

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ANSWER: NO

You aren’t alone. In fact, this is the answer we hear far more often. Consider trying something new: the NIGHT Pillow aka full NIGHT experience.  The NIGHT Pillow is a lightweight memory foam pillow combined with a custom-fit TriSilk pillowcase to fully maximize your shut eye. The advanced engineered memory foam sleeps cool and provides comfort and support in every sleep position while the custom-fit TriSilk Pillowcase moisturizes and protects your skin and hair. As mentioned above, our signature black hue negates light, acting like a built-in sleep mask. This is the real deal and the total package.

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We know sleep is the first step to getting on your A-Game, but don’t just take it from us. Here are five sleeping beauty celebs who believe in the power of shut eye and why we love them. 

1. GWYNETH PALTROW 

GP is not only a drop-dead gorg mama, but she chocks up her success to something she calls “clean sleeping.” In a recent interview, she coined the term to mean getting consistent, quality sleep. “Sleep plays such a powerful role in determining your appetite and energy levels that I believe it should be your first priority—even before you think about your diet,” Paltrow says. We <3 this no-nonsense approach to sleep.

2. CAMERON DIAZ

CD is America’s sweetest health guru, having published The Body Book back in 2013. She probably knew that we were all dying to look like her in Charlie’s Angels. And guess what? She attributes it to a sleep routine. Diaz stresses the benefits for your entire metabolic system when you implement a sleep routine. Sounds like something we should all try.

3. ARIANNA HUFFINGTON

Arianna Huffington is quickly becoming the crowned goddess of sleep. Her book Sleep Revolution paved the way for women and companies to re-think the importance of sleep. We love a girlboss who prioritizes her Z’s.

4. JENNIFER LOPEZ 

J-LO chocks up her killer bod to a solid night of shut-eye. “Sleep is my weapon,” she boasts. She swears 8 hours a night as her A1 beauty secret. And there’s no denying Jenny from the block stays fine.

5. BEYONCÉ

BEYONCÉ. That’s right, you heard it. Beyoncé loves sleep, attributing her version of beauty to it. “Having happiness and healthiness is my version of beauty. And you can’t have any of that without sleep,” she says. Sleep is the way, y’all. Take it from Queen Bey herself.

So go ahead, get your beauty sleep on. Start by making sure your pillow supports clear skin and healthy hair.  

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We know you wouldn’t intentionally sleep on a toilet seat, but a 2015 study from North Carolina State University found that you already do. As a part of their Wild Life of Our Homes project, Professor Rob Dunn and his team swabbed thousands of American homes for microbe sampling. I.E. Thousands of people sent these science guys the germs from their toilets, beds, refrigerators, couches, door handles, and more.

Diagram visualizing the nine surfaces tested during this study. Image courtesy of Rob Dunn Lab. Designed by Neil McCroy 

But one of the most shocking findings? "There is so much overlap between the bacterial strains [found on the toilet seat and pillowcase] that it can be difficult to tell where a particular sample came from,” the project’s public science director Holly Menninger reveals. In layman’s terms: your current pillowcase is bacterially indistinguishable from a toilet seat.   

Presumably because of a pillowcase’s proximity to your mouth, and the obvious relationship between your toilet seat and gut bacteria, both places suffer from what scientists might term fecal contamination.

And what does that mean? That your 8-hours of beauty sleep actually means a VIP poo-teria party turning up in your pores. Now we’ve solved the mystery of why mysterious zits pop up come morning time. Not to toot our own horn, but maybe you should consider switching to that NIGHT game.  

And how does a NIGHT pillow work to stop the spread of bacteria? Just like you can't eat memory foam, bacteria can't either. Our unique air-light memory foam isn't a food source for icky creatures, so they can't survive on the surface. And the lush silk pillowcase? Silk is naturally hypo-allergenic, meaning that it won't propagate the multiplication of harmful microbes. That's science.  

It is time to clean up your beauty game. 

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Did you notice that we just dropped a hot addition to your NIGHT game? The NIGHT travel case features compression technology allowing you to take your life-changing NIGHT pillow wherever you go. Here’s 5 reasons why we think you should never leave home without your NIGHT pillow.

1. Other pillows are bacterially indistinguishable from a toilet seat...

You wouldn’t sleep on your hotel toilet (at least on purpose) so why would you sleep on a hotel pillow? Research shows that if you were to take a medical swab of a toilet seat, and a medical swab from your average bed pillow, the two would be virtually impossible to tell apart. The NIGHT pillow is made from anti-microbial and hypoallergenic materials, which keeps all that bacteria far, far away.

2. 1/3 of the weight of other pillows comes from dirt and debris 

Research shows that a big chunk of your pillow's weight comes from disturbing sources. So if you’re sleeping on a hotel pillow, you’re sleeping on what probably amounts to pounds of other people’s… stuff. Yuck.

3. Traveling is rough on your skin & hair

Dehydration, improper diet, and crappy hotel pillows can wreak havoc on your skin and hair. And, insta filters can only do so much. The NIGHT pillow features a TriSilk pillowcase designed to moisturize your skin and hair so you look fresh as you’ll feel from sleeping on it.

4.  Ain’t no one have time for jet lag struggles

Aggressive travel itinerary? Whether it’s all day meetings followed by late night entertainment. Or, squeezing two weeks of sightseeing into two days – it’s important you’re firing on all cylinders as you crush your travels.The NIGHT pillow is advanced engineered to negate light, which is critical to making sure your circadian rhythms adjust with the time zones. 

5. Because we made it easy AF

Traveling with your pillow isn’t always practical. That’s why we developed the NIGHT travel case. It not only keeps your NIGHT pillow hygienically protected, but compresses to 1/5 the size, attaches easily to your suitcase, and is TSA approved! Making traveling with your NIGHT pillow an absolute no brainer.