10 best products for a good night's sleep: mattresses to eye masks

Close your eyes and start dreaming of your ideal bedroom

This is the aim (iStockphoto)

We refuse to let anything get in the way of a good night's sleep at IndyBest. Our team of reviewers are constantly testing out products – from mattresses to eye masks, pillows to herbal teas – to find the best ones. Here, we've rounded up the best of the best.

The ultimate mattress

Casper Mattress: from £350, Casper

This American-made foam-core mattress, with memory foam layer, has support from designer Steven Alan and actors Tobey Maguire and Leonardo DiCaprio, and has recently launched in the UK as a bed-in-a-box option.

A particular hit with our testers, it’s marginally softer than the Simba, one of its closest rivals, and great for all types of sleepers, including people who sleep on their backs – and if you treat it well, it should last you a decade or more. It’s stable and breathable, but there aren't any handles on the side, just the bottom, so rotating or turning this mattress (which should be done every three to six months) is no mean feat.

Available in sizes single, double, king or super king.
Kate Hilpern

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The ultimate air bed

Outwell Flock Classic Two Chamber: £40, Outwell

You won’t have to argue over whether to go for a soft or firmer tension mattress anymore as this airbed allows each sleeper to fine tune the firmness on their side.

The handy side effect of this is greater stability, with less chance of the edges lifting off the floor when two people lie on it – an annoying feature of many double air beds. Made of robust PVC, with a soft velour top – it’s comfy and quick to inflate, as well as deflate.
Kate Hilpern

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The ultimate mattress topper

Eve The Mattress Topper: £179, Eve

This topper ticked all the boxes. Most importantly, the foam layer combined with the 2cm cooling layer made for a supportive and extremely comfortable night’s sleep - you don’t sink into it like with some foam products as this one is fairly firm.

We also found that the cooling layer helped increase breathability, as we didn’t experience overheating in the night. It also features an anti-slip bottom layer so we didn’t have to remake the bed each morning. It was surprising to see just how much toppers can move in the night while you toss and turn but this product defiantly stayed put.

Add to this the fact it’s hypoallergenic and comes with a three-year guarantee, if your budget allows, it’s worth investing in.
Isobel Bryant

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The ultimate anti-allergy pillow

Soak & Sleep Luxury Anti-Allergy Pillow: £14 for one, £26.50 for a pair, Soak & Sleep

This pillow’s 250 thread-count cotton case is fine enough to block bugs (the higher the thread count, the softer the material and the harder for dust mites to penetrate) and has been treated with Sanitised – an anti-bacterial chemical that protects it from sweat, limiting the damp conditions that dust mites enjoy.

It’s filled with springy hollow fibre – a type of polyester that traps air – and bounces back well after use, minimising the need for plumping and the disappointment of a flat pillow a few weeks later.

Its medium-firm feel gives good support to side sleepers without being too rigid if you turn onto your front sometimes too. It fits well into a standard rectangular pillowcase and comes in a storage bag, great for hygiene if you need to keep it in a dank loft for a while.
Jess Denham

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The ultimate winter duvet

The White Company Hungarian Goose Down: from £125, The White Company

This is the king of winter duvets, offering whipped-cream softness. The down of Hungarian geese has long been known for its warmth and lightness and The White Company has added feather (20 per cent) to give it a dash of weight. We also like the internal box construction that avoids any cold spots.

We recommend the 13.5 tog for ultimate toastiness – or buy the 4.5 and 10.5 for other seasons, then join them together for frostier nights.
Kate Hilpern

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The ultimate linen bedding set

Eve The Linen Sheets: from £138, Eve

Sizes: Double, king, super king
Set includes: Fitted sheet, two pillow cases, duvet cover
Machine wash: 40°

Stonewashing takes the stiffness out of linen, so this comfortable set was ready to sleep on straight out of the pack. Each piece is printed with two colours – one each side – which creates that mix-and-match look without you having to buy multiple sets.

You currently only have a choice of three Scandi-inspired colour combos in shades of grey, white and an Ikea yellow option, but we’re told the brand is adding six colours to the range shortly. You’ll find that each duvet cover is finished with a single yellow button, a nod to the eve branding, but it isn’t overbearing. We did find the fitted sheet quite large for our UK double mattress, however, once tucked in properly it didn’t budge and it would allow for a generous mattress topper.

You can buy the components of the set separately, too – ideal if you’ve spilt a mug of tea on one pillow, for example.
Stacey Smith

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The ultimate pair of women's pyjamas

The White Company Brushed Hearts Pyjama Set: £80, The White Company

The White Company has an excellent selection of nightwear, ranging from silk PJs to cashmere robes.

Our pick is this classic-looking pair in a grey heart print on soft brushed cotton flannel. The top is long and doesn't ride up your back while sleeping (there really is nothing worse than grappling with a thick wedge of pyjama mid-sleep) and will keep you warm and snuggly under the duvet and the bottoms are more flattering than some.

Available in sizes XS-XL, fitting from size 6 up to 18.
Linda Taylor

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The ultimate pair of women's slippers

Fitflop House Slipper: £80, FitFlop​

A fifth of all proceeds from these chunky, ‘rocking’ slippers go to the charity Habitat for Humanity. In navy and grey or this teddy-brown, with big Rudolph-red pom-poms, they’re the perfect Christmas gift that’ll contribute to the fight to provide safe, warm homes for vulnerable families worldwide.
Lesley Jones

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The ultimate sleep mask

Soak & Sleep Luxury Mulberry Silk Eye Mask in Zinc: £7.50, Soak & Sleep

Go full Marilyn Monroe with this vintage-style mask made solely from the finest, allergy-friendly mulberry silk. The decadent, lightweight material feels cool and delicate against your skin, letting the eye area breathe to prevent puffiness the next day. There is a thin flap of fabric that covers the nose to keep all light out.

The strap is not adjustable, but the mask does fit larger heads. It comes in three other neutral colours, including baby pink.
Jess Denham

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The ultimate relaxing tea

Kanuka Orange Blossom & Mint Rooibos: £4.95 for 80g, Kanuka

If it’s real depth of aroma you are after, this gorgeous loose leaf blend from new tea emporium Kanuka will blow you away. The classic citrus flavours of orange and grapefruit are mingled with a mild hint of spearmint for a wonderfully fresh edge, while its base comes from the leaves of the calcium-rich rooibos plant, grown under the South African sun and known for helping to ease hypertension.

Heap two teaspoons into 250ml of nearly boiling water and allow it to infuse for four minutes before straining. Opening the easily resealable pouch is a sensory delight, with the added joy of finding whole chunks of fragrant orange in the mix.

Kanuka has a tea house in St Albans, just north of London, as well as an online store, so dig and delve for original gift ideas.
Jess Denham

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