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. 

Whether you love it or not, Valentine's Day is quickly approaching. And, finding the perfect way to show you care can be daunting.

Rest easy because as always NIGHT has your back (and neck). Here are 4 reasons the NIGHT Pillow™ is your solution no matter your V-Day sitch.

1. Fits in Any Diet:

Many of us are still trying to keep up with our New Year’s health goals. And, who knows if that box of chocolate offers gluten free, diary free, vegan, kosher, or nut free options. The NIGHT Pillow™ is all of the above and it’s calorie free allowing more time in bed and less time at the gym.

2. Always the Right Size:

We get it, you want your bae to feel sexy, but buying something like lingerie is risky. Go too big = dog house. Go too small = dog house. The  NIGHT Pillow's TriSilk™ pillowcase not only promotes healthier skin and hair so you look sexier, but its supple, luxurious texture will make you feel sexy as well. And, the air light memory foam self-adjusts to each individual’s anatomy for an easy one size fits all choice.

3. Love is Love:

Maybe you are buying for your boyfriend, girlfriend, mama, pop, grandma, grandpap, daughter, son, sis, bro, bestie, or gayestie –it doesn't matter because NIGHT is appropriate for all! Designed with both women's and men's needs in mind it works for either sex, it can be doubled up for a perfect couple gift, and is the best way to comfort that single friend so they never spend another NIGHT alone.

4. Helps you Get Laid:

 Let’s face it, we all want the same thing. And, the NIGHT Pillow™ is designed to help get yo sexy back in more ways than one. First, it promotes a deeper and more restorative rest, which according to a recent study at Kent State University, is critical to your libido. The study showed each additional hour of sleep is correlated with a 14% rise in the likelihood of having some type of sexual activity with a partner. Meaning, if you love them, help them sleep! Furthermore, the NIGHT Pillow™ was designed to make you look and feel your best making you #irresistible.

Have you ever not been able to fall asleep because your mind is racing? Or maybe you’ve fallen sound asleep after a long day…only to wake up 20 minutes later with eyes wide open? At NIGHT, we talk about sleep pretty much 24-7 and we hear this kind of feedback all the time, especially with our home base in NYC, the city that never sleeps.

We caught up with Alexandra Janelli, one of New York City’s premier hypnotherapists and fellow believer in the power of restorative sleep, to shed some light on how she helps her celebrity clients catch better zzz’s.

Here are her ten tips to boost your sleep game, because we believe sleep should be at the top of everyone’s priority list:

1. Don’t try so hard. “Stop trying to turn off your mind. Your mind never turns off even when you are sleeping.” Alexandra recommended listening to the thoughts and letting them flow, versus trying to control them.
2. Catalogue your day. Alexandra explained that digestion of the day is the first step to letting go. “Start from the beginning of your day and go step by step, noting each thing you did that day from getting up and brushing your teeth to going to bed.”
3. Consider using a journal. Clear your mind by writing your thoughts down. Alexandra told us this is a great way to consciously and subconsciously dump all the thoughts in your head out on paper.
4. Get out of your head and into your body. “Sleep is about relaxation. Relaxation and stress cannot coexist.” Alexandra recommended thinking about sending a message to each muscle in your body to relax. Go slow and see how heavy and loose you can make each muscle feel.
5. Forgive yourself. We need a reminder sometimes that we are not perfect! “There may be many things you didn’t accomplish today. Beating yourself up can only cause more anxiety.” Alexandra said to create a plan by making a to do list for tomorrow and then leave today to be yesterday. 
6. Accept that not every night will be a "good night sleep". “What happens in your day can be directly correlated to how well you sleep or don’t sleep. By holding a high sleep quality bar for every night, despite what happened in your day, the more you are setting yourself up for failure.” Alexandra explained that sometimes acceptance can alleviate the fear.
7. Think positive. Alexandra said that by thinking "what if I don't sleep tonight?" you are already planting a subconscious suggestion and influencing a behavior of not sleeping well. “Reframe your thinking to positive ego boosting suggestions, telling yourself that tonight you will sleep.”
8. Embrace the night. “Frustration increases stress.” Alexandra encouraged thinking of ways in which you can embrace the night when you are awake. Beating yourself up only leads to more stress and less possibility for falling back asleep.
9. Make your bed a comfortable, relaxing environment. Alexandra explained that it is important to take your time finding the right bedding and build a comfortable, dark environment, conducive to quiet, restful sleep.
10. Use guided hypnosis recordings. “There are many apps and recordings on YouTube that can help filter your thoughts and redirect your mind to a state of calm. These recordings can help bring you through the different brainwave lengths to a state of deep sleep.” Alexandra suggested trying her Theta Springs Sleep Better Hypnotherapy Program.

Pretty sure we can all agree that it would be a dream come true to cut down the time it takes to get ready in the morning without compromising on the glam factor. Whether that allows time to actually sit down and enjoy a cup of coffee at home or to catch some extra zzz’s, every minute counts and is appreciated!

Rockstar hairstylist (and NIGHT Pillow lover!) Matt Fugate let us in on a few secrets he shares with his celebrity clients on little measures to take in the evening before bed that support waking up with hair on point.

1. Embrace your inner unicorn.

You may have heard this one before, but don’t miss Matt’s take. Matt explained that sleeping in a top knot is best for those of us without bangs and normal to long hair. “Form the top knot as high as possible, closer to your face than you may wear during the day, like a unicorn horn just above your forehead”. Matt went on to advise that as you pull the top knot up, keep the hair at the base of the neck tight using a brush. Once the back is tight, loosely secure the rest of the hair with your hands so that there isn’t stretching around the hairline. Matt explained that the top knot keeps the hair out of your sleep surface for less friction and static throughout the night plus with the hair in the back pulled tightly, you’re less likely to create heat and sweat.

2. Flashback to the 80s.

Matt divulged that although he can’t vouch for the scrunchie look during the day, he is all about it at night. He said that a tight elastic causes too much tension, whereas a scrunchie or coil elastic will provide the hold without the kinks and tension headache.

3. Show your hair some love.

A little product can go a long way. Matt said that he swears by a light dust of dry shampoo right around the hair line, especially by the nape of the neck. “Applying this before bed can be a great preventative measure to help a good blow out last longer.”

Matt also said that the night is a great time for treatment and repair. “Apply a few drops of Kerastase Initialiste to your roots before getting into bed.” He explained that this practice serves multiple purposes because giving yourself a little scalp massage is a great way to relax and unwind. Add to it that this product cleanses the hair follicles and supports healthy hair growth = #winning. The best part? He said that letting the product soak into the roots overnight will not leave the hair greasy at all.

So there you have it—follow these steps and then rest your head on the NIGHT Pillow to prevent split ends and hair loss from the inside and out! 

Looking for a strong New Year's resolution? Something that will 100% make this year better than the last?

We've got your answer: better sleep. And here are the top three reasons why.

1. Turbo Charges Other Resolutions:

Typically, the 3 most popular New Year’s Resolutions are:

1. Get Healthy
2. Get Organized
3. Live Life to the Fullest

Great goals America, but did you know sleep will help you with all the above?

Let’s start with Get Healthy: The health benefits are endless - from controlling stress levels, managing weight, lessening the effects of depression, and negating the impact of aging -  upping your sleep game is a key to any health goal.  

Get Organized: Asana and calendar apps are great, but if you really want to get on top of life then make sure you are getting sufficient Zzzs. A good snooze will help with improving memory, aiding in cognition and overall productivity.

Live Life to the Fullest: It takes a lot of energy to carpe diem and think of sleep as Popeye's can of spinach - your secret vigor boosting weapon. It provides critical restoration to both your mind and body giving you the necessary energy to go sky diving or rocky mountain climbing.

2. Couldn't be Easier

Only 8% of Americans are successful at achieving their New Year's resolutions. The most effective way to achieve a goal? Make it attainable! First, unlike that trip around the world, sleep fits into any budget. Furthermore, there's no learning curve like that new instrument that you've been meaning to get into. You can do it solo or with another person so accommodates any relationship status. And, unlike 6am workouts, your body instinctively wants it.

3. Trend Right

Did we mention how many celebs and visionaries are behind the cause? Let's take boss lady Arianna Huffington for example. She feels so strongly about the importance of slumber that she resigned from Huffington Post to launch Thrive Global, a worldwide initiative pushing it. She's given a platform to other big timers who are believers in the cause including Sheryl Sandberg, Rebecca Minkoff and Selena Gomez. And, if that wasn't enough there's some divinity at play. Big Papi, Pope Francis himself, declared his support for the cause by recently sharing it's how he crushes his holy life.

So, if you want to be sure this year isn't just another exhausting year...be resolute to sleep.

Our mission at Discover NIGHT is simple: we want to help stand out people crush life by maximizing the night time. We draw our inspiration from these stand out individuals; those who refuse to accept mediocrity; those who wake up on a mission; those who want to be the best at whatever it is they do. It is the people who rise and shine that we work for and in this column, we hear from them.

Alexandra Janelli is a certified hypnotherapist and life coach and owner of the luxury wellness center Modrn Sanctuary. Considered one of New York City’s premier hypnotherapists, Alexandra has been featured in various publications and worked with clients ranging from Academy Award Nominee Actors to famous photographers and high level executives. She is an advocate for deep, restorative sleep and rests her head on a NIGHT Pillow every night!

1. Average hours of sleep per night? 7-9
2. Night owl or early riser? MORNING ALL THE WAY
3. Matching pajama sets or anything goes? Cute nightgown or soft t-shirt
4. Latest you’ve ever slept in? This year???...10:30am...
5. What can you not sleep without? Duvet comforter and Chapstick with a glass of seltzer on the side table
6. Vivid dreams or no dream memory? Dream enthusiast.
7. What gets you out of bed every morning? My dog and a walk in the park with coffee
8. Number of times you snooze the alarm? ..snoozing makes you fall deeper asleep!
9. First thing you do when you wake up? Get licked by my dog
10. What keeps you going all day? Feeling proud of what I am accomplishing.  

Other Risers and Shiners:

Meaghan Murphy, The Editor Extraordinaire 
Kristen Taekman, The Fashionista and Model Mom
Lauren Berlingeri, The Wellness Guru

Our mission at Discover NIGHT is simple: we want to help stand out people crush life by maximizing the night time. We draw our inspiration from these stand out individuals; those who refuse to accept mediocrity; those who wake up on a mission; those who want to be the best at whatever it is they do. It is the people who rise and shine that we work for and in this column, we hear from them.

Kristen Taekman is a model, a dedicated wife and mother of two, a former Real Housewife of New York and a fashion and beauty influencer. Beyond giving us total outfit envy on her blog Last Night’s Look, Kristen is also the founder of Pop of Color Beauty. Talk about balancing it all! She is all about good sleep and a huge fan of NIGHT…who could blame her? ; ) 

1. Average hours of sleep per night? At least 7 a night. Less than that and I am a mess.
2. Night owl or early riser? Uggh…neither. I could / would sleep all day if I could. It’s hard to get to bed before 11pm and it’s so hard to wake up at 6:30 am with the kids!
3. Matching pajama sets or anything goes? Matching PJ set. I love a jammie set! My mother-in-law turned me on to them years ago. I have a hard time going to bed in anything else. I have my summer sets and my winters ones. I’m also a bath robe girl!
4. Latest you’ve ever slept in? NOON! But way pre-kids!
5. What can you not sleep without? MY EYE MASK! If I am traveling and forget to bring it I put a clean sock over my eyes!  And of course my NIGHT Pillow!
6. Vivid dreams or no dream memory? My most vivid dream was Elvis kissing me at a baseball game!
7. What gets you out of bed every morning? My kids…without fail every morning between 6 and 7 AM!
8. Number of times you snooze the alarm? 3 to 5 ;/
9. First thing you do when you wake up? PEE.
10. What keeps you going all day? EBOOST! I have one after breakfast and one at 3pm every day. I am a creature of habit! 

Other Risers and Shiners:

Meaghan Murphy, The Editor Extraordinaire 
Lauren Berlingeri, The Wellness Guru
Alexandra Janelli, The Hypnotherapist and Expert in Relaxation

Our mission at Discover NIGHT is simple: we want to help stand out people crush life by maximizing the night time. We draw our inspiration from these stand out individuals; those who refuse to accept mediocrity; those who wake up on a mission; those who want to be the best at whatever it is they do. It is the people who rise and shine that we work for and in this column, we hear from them.

 Lauren Berlingeri is the ultimate guru of all things health and wellness. Beyond her work as a model, fitness expert, and certified holistic nutritionist and health coach, Lauren is the co-founder of HigherDOSE in NYC. The NIGHT team recently experienced the natural high of HigherDOSE’s infrared saunas and it’s safe to say we are addicted.

1. Average hours of sleep per night? 7-8 hours (I'm super happy when I get 8)
2. Night owl or early riser? Early riser for sure. I’m actually useless past 9 PM!!!
3. Matching pajama sets or anything goes? Anything goes…by that time I’m so tired I really could care less what I sleep in!
4. Latest you’ve ever slept in? In the last few years, probably 10:30 AM max!!! I’m not great at sleeping in.
5. What can you not sleep without? My boyfriend!!!
6. Vivid dreams or no dream memory? No memory. Even when I wake up from a dream and I want to explain it to my boyfriend, I can’t because there is more of a feeling than a memory.
7. What gets you out of bed every morning? Coffee!!! I make my own version of Bulletproof. It’s my favorite part of the day!
8. Number of times you snooze the alarm? Never!! I can’t wait to get up. I often wake before my alarm goes off.
9. First thing you do when you wake up? Drink water!
10. What keeps you going all day? Passion for what I do at work. I’m an entrepreneur that lives in NYC which means I live to work. What I do for work is so gratifying and rewarding.

Other Risers and Shiners:

Meaghan Murphy, The Editor Extraordinaire 
Kristen Taekman, The Fashionista and Model Mom
Alexandra Janelli, The Hypnotherapist and Expert in Relaxation

So you are attending an upcoming wedding (or 12 if you are mid 20s-early 30s) and it’s time to buy your darling friends a gift a.k.a. check it off your to do list. If NIGHT Pillows™ are on the couple’s registry, they know what’s up and you should be the legit AF friend who makes their #sleepwithbenefits dream come true. If NIGHT Pillows™ are not on the couple’s registry, you have the opportunity to surprise them and crush your gift giving duties. Here’s why NIGHT Pillows™ make the perfect wedding gift.

HIS AND HERS

The best part about buying NIGHT Pillows™ for two is that you can mix and match three border designs. Consider opting for the stripe border for that classic, sophisticated bride and the woodgrain border for her rugged, handsome groom.  Rest assured the couple will never confuse whose pillow is whose, which means more pillow talk and less pillow fight.

BLACK FOR THE WIN

No matter what bedding style the couple chooses, NIGHT Pillows™ will be the perfect accent. The signature hue is always in style, looks good with everything and is advanced engineered to negate light promoting a deeper, more restorative sleep.

PICTURE PERFECT

Engagement. Shower. Rehearsal dinner. Wedding. Honeymoon. The photo opportunities never seem to end and the paparazzi situation is real. They both want to look their best because these pictures are keepers for-ev-er. Give them the gift of clear skin, healthy hair and deep beauty sleep.

THAT HONEYMOON PHASE THO

Most of us don’t wake up looking our best. In fact, 11% of women admit to regularly putting on makeup before their sleeping mate or significant other wakes up*. Maybe this is the case because their pillows suck. Newlyweds should blissfully wake up on NIGHT Pillows™ that support better skin and hair instead of worrying about morning shame, bed head and skin irritation.

NO REGRETS

With the purchase of NIGHT Pillows™ comes a 101 night no strings attached policy with free returns. With all of the deadlines and rushed decisions associated with wedding planning, it’s nice to know this is one gift they can ease into before committing.  

EVERY DAY THEY WILL THINK OF YOU

Because a china sugar bowl gets pulled out of the cabinet once every blue moon. Don’t be #basic -- give the gift that is used every single NIGHT : )

*Poshly, 2016

What size? Will she even use this? Does he like this color? We get it. There’s a lot to consider when shopping for that perfect gift. But this year you can kick back and enjoy the (spiked) eggnog because we have the answer all of your shopping struggles. The NIGHT Pillow™! Here’s why it is the perfect gift for every single person on your list:

ONE SIZE FITS ALL

People change sizes constantly, especially as the office cookie swaps start up around November 1^st. So don’t burden yourself trying to guess someone’s size (let alone insult him/her). Not only does the NIGHT Pillow™ always fit just right, but the foam is advanced engineered to self-adjust accommodating all sleep positions and providing universal comfort.

GENDER NEUTRAL

Men, women, extremely spoiled dogs…the NIGHT Pillow™’s incredible benefits work for everyone. We also have three tonal design options for the border of the pillow, so if you gift two pillows to a couple, they will be able to tell them apart…and you won’t be held responsible for a pillow fight.

ALWAYS APPROPRIATE

Whether you are looking for a gift for sweet grandma or a tinder date with future potential, a game-changing sleep product is a definite win. The NIGHT Pillow™ is a classic…but also keeps it real with a little flava. There’s a bedding angle, a beauty angle, and an all-around #treatyoself angle to be played here.

BLACK MATCHES EVERYTHING

“I don’t like the color black” – said no one ever. You don’t need to be Anna Wintour to understand the power of black to match absolutely everything. And the signature black hue not only looks super fresh, but negates light for a deeper, more restorative sleep.  

ALWAYS NEEDED

Besides your wedding registry and moving, how often do you update, or even think about, your bedding? Chances are you and everyone you know have neglected the average 2-3 year life span of a pillow and should be in the market for an upgrade. Gifting someone the NIGHT Pillow™ achieves that “you read my mind, I’ve been meaning to get a new pillow” status.

THE GIFT THAT KEEPS ON GIVING

By gifting someone a NIGHT Pillow™, you are essentially providing them with a better night’s sleep and hydrated and healthy skin and hair. Hands down it cannot get better than that.

So get your gifting on! A NIGHT Pillow™ for YOU and YOU and YOU…