The winners of the GLAMOUR Wellness Power List 2023 are here! We reveal the 56 best products and brands across health, fitness and self-care
The world of wellness is vast, so our mission at GLAMOUR is always to take you straight to the products that work. The GLAMOUR Wellness Power List 2023 is packed with standout gems that lift your mood and cleverly crank your confidence up a notch.
You know the ones. The exercise class that gives you such a buzz that you book another session while getting changed. The mental health app that genuinely feels like a close friend calming you down (and which you know you can turn to at 4am). The sleep range that gave you the best night of your life.
And for that other kind of bedroom fun? Oh yeah, we’ve got your failsafe spot-hitter there, too.
As always, we start our search by speaking to leading names across the entire spectrum of wellness: neuroscientists, psychologists, personal trainers, immunologists and sleep experts. This year, among our expert panel of 17 esteemed women, we spoke to medical doctor Dr Hazel Wallace, picked the brains of clinical psychologist Dr Michaela Dunbar, chatted sexual pleasure with Oloni and got the picks of inclusivity champion Sophie Butler.
But the deciding voice was yours. In your thousands, you named the 56 products that have permanently earned a place in your wellness routine.
Here are the results of the GLAMOUR Wellness Power List 2023 – the buys that elevate self-care, add moments of joy into your day, make working out feel less like work, and empower you to feel better equipped to live life at full pelt.
Best fitness equipment
Eros Fitness Latex Free Resistance Band, £8.99
Used by personal trainers all over the country, including GLAMOUR panellist Aimee Victoria Long, adding Eros Fitness’s resistance band into your workout is like adding an extra shot to your flat white. It might not look fierce, but – oh yeah – you feel it! With every band, you get access to an eBook with over 40 band-based exercises, such as bicep curls, step-out squats and deadlifts. The more you pull the band, the heavier it feels – which is what makes it effective, though some call it evil. It’s also latex-free, durable, and genuinely handbag-portable.
Nomination shortlist:
Best exercise mat
Mirafit 15mm Thick Exercise Floor Mat, £18.95
The reason Mirafit’s exercise mat wipes the floor with the competition is its thickness – 15mm of squishy foam that protects your bony bits and makes rock-hard floors feel cushioned. Loved by you and GLAMOUR panellist Michelle Elman and her sensitive knees, this mat is the perfect ally for Pilates, yoga, stretching and, well, having a rest. It’s your favourite combo of being soft, supportive and easy on the spine, without sacrificing a mid-asana grip.
Nomination shortlist:
Best running shoes
Adidas Ultraboost 5.0 DNA Shoes, £160
Adidas Ultraboost is a classic on the running-shoe scene; like a Netflix show that continues to make amazing subsequent seasons (are we calling it The White Lotus of sports shoes? Heck, maybe). To keep you on your toes – in the fastest, grippiest, best-supported way – the DNA model brings sharp new features. The upper part is made from yarn that contains at least 50% recycled ocean waste. While the action-movie-sounding Torsion System stabilises your step, giving you enough oomph and comfort to run in them – and run around in them all day. So, they’re approved for 5ks and errands, and by the feet of GLAMOUR panellist Dr Hazel Wallace.
Nomination shortlist:
Best wireless headphones
These second-generation Pro buds cancel twice as much unwanted racket as their predecessors, which is great when you want to exercise with focus and zen. But sometimes safety dictates that you have to know what’s going on around you. Transparency Mode brings useful outside noise in (think: traffic sounds while running), while Adaptive Transparency mutes annoyingly loud noises. Then there’s all the usual smart stuff that Apple nails – six hours of battery life, swipe-adjustable volume, four sizes of silicone buds to find your dream ear fit, and they’re sweat and water resistant. And the sound quality? On song, of course.
Nomination shortlist:
Best fitness app
You voted for this app in your thousands, and we get why – Nike Training Club is like having a PT, but without actually paying for a PT. Yep, it’s all for free. Thanks Nike! What sets it apart is how much you can personalise the 200+ classes. Choose one by how pumped or how sleepy you’re feeling, whether you’re at home without any kit or in a gym, and your schedule (some days you only have time for five minutes’ movement, others you can bash out a solid hour). Diarise a training schedule, follow a multi-week programme, and get motivational feedback. See, we said it was like a real trainer.
Nomination shortlist:
Centr, by Chris Hemsworth, from £15.49 per month
Best wearable fitness tracker
“Affordable, sleek, and it has great features, such as monitoring sleep,” praises GP and GLAMOUR panellist, Dr Aziza Sesay. This smart wristwear keeps tabs on your heart rate (flagging up when you enter peak, cardio and fat-burn zones), counts steps and calorie burn, alerts you to your stress level, and tots up how much you moved the previous day – so you know whether to rest today, or to step away from that sofa indentation. Cool stats: it can handle getting wet up to 50m, and the battery lasts an impressive 10 days.
Nomination shortlist:
Best activewear brand
The Notting Hill-born brand has turned over one million plastic bottles into leggings – in sizes that span six to 20, with six different leg lengths. Did anyone else hear a hallelujah? GLAMOUR panellists Sophie Butler and Dr Jenna Macciochi rate the products’ comfort, performance and industry-leading design. Technical fabrics have a love affair with pattern and poppy colours, as well as being great mates with your washing machine. With ranges to get you through ski season, barre class, a marathon and look the part in a bougie café, your favourite activewear icon sells a pair of Power Leggings every 60 seconds.
Nomination shortlist:
Best affordable activewear brand
Great products at a fraction of the price. That’s the GLAMOUR consensus on H&M’s budget-friendly sportswear, which got even better with the launch of its Move collection in 2022. With an ethos to do fast athleisure as responsibly as possible, Move products use almost 85% sustainable fabrics; however, 2023 collabs with Fairbrics (a synthetic polyester made from trapped CO2) and LanzaTech (carbon recycling tech) aim to improve that. Back to your workout: expect seamless leggings and jumpsuits, bras that have your back (and front), tracksuits, and lightweight jackets that send the elements packing. Sizes vary by item, but, at their most inclusive and praiseworthy, encompass XS to 4XL.
Nomination shortlist:
Best yogawear brand
Top downward dog for the third year, Lululemon’s yogawear is the “ultimate comfort” says GLAMOUR panellist Sophie Butler. Anyone who has worn the leggings will know that feeling – it’s like dipping your legs into a silky cream rather than trying to wriggle into a swim cap for your thighs. There’s science behind Lululemon’s lovely feel: technical fabrics that boast quick-drying yarns, minimal seams (so minimal digging-in), and a four-way stretch for unrestricted movement. It sculpts without forcing it, which we like – in sizes four to 24.
Nomination shortlist:
Best affordable yogawear brand
Knowing a thing or two about good bras, as well as what makes fabric last for aeons, it made sense that M&S segued from making chocolate puddings to making clothes you could wear to burn those puddings off in. Its Goodmove activewear launched in 2020, had a pop-up store in Covent Garden in 2022, and is now M&S’s biggest own-label – selling over 1.6 million items a year to yogis like you. Top picks? Go Balance leggings, which use a soft and reassuringly non-see-through fabric, and cosy sweatshirts for shavasana. Plus, great accessories – cropped vest tops, grippy yoga socks, even exercise blocks. Sizes run from six to 24.
Nomination shortlist:
Best sports bra
Sweaty Betty Stamina Sports Bra, £40
Gone are the days when a supportive sports bra looked as alluring as a piece of industrial machinery. In true Sweaty Betty style, its Stamina bra comes in 11 zesty colours, such as Sherbet Yellow and Glow Pink (note: not a beige in sight), and has a sleek racer back. The design is intentionally seam-free – because seams could chafe, and no breast needs that. Material is stretchy but keeps everyone where they need to be, it’s sweat-wicking, and it’s versatile enough to be your support act while running, in the gym, practising yoga, or simply doing daily chores. Even better: no pesky straps falling down or pinching. Sizes XXS to XXXL.
Nomination shortlist:
Best massage equipment
“MyoMaster has a great price point for all products, and they really last,” enthuses celebrity PT and GLAMOUR panellist Aimee Victoria Long. What you get from the iPhone-sized MyoLite (which you don’t get when attempting to rub your own shoulders) is a really deep tension release. Called percussive therapy, it sends ripples of vibration through tissues and, used pre-exercise, it increases blood flow to warm muscles up. Applied afterwards, the massager provides a stimulus that can actually override pain signals, which means you can exercise without experiencing day-after-HIIT agony.
Nomination shortlist:
Best home-workout equipment
The Chanel 19 bag of the fitness world, the Peloton Bike is unquestionably an investment… but an amazing one. Few bits of kit trigger feelings of legit love like Peloton. You’re obsessed, and so is GLAMOUR’s panel of wellness pros. For starters, it’s fad-proof – Dr Jenna Macciochi has used hers consistently for three years. Neuroscientist Dr Tara Swart Bieber loves the scenic rides and finds them beneficial when it’s not easy to get into nature. GP Dr Tosin Ajayi-Sotubo praises the choice, “from the type of exercise to the instructors and music”. While the debate over your favourite teacher rumbles on, one thing’s for certain: you’re sweating.
Nomination shortlist:
Best gym membership
PureGym, from £15.99 per month (+ joining fee)
You know exactly what you want from a gym: lots of them (over 330, to be precise), locations not just in London postcodes, prices that are manageable even when the economy looks as ropey as your houseplants, and no contract tying you down. Cue: PureGym. “This gym is probably the most affordable yet decent one available,” agrees GLAMOUR panellist Dr Tosin Ajayi-Sotubo. “The membership is reasonably priced, it can be found in most areas of the UK, and the classes [which are unlimited] and variety of equipment are useful.” PureGym is open 24/7, with an additional 600 workouts available on the app. Which means the excuses not to go are on very borrowed time.
Nomination shortlist:
Best protein brand
Of all the protein brands out there, GLAMOUR panellist and PT Aimee Victoria Long picks PhD Nutrition as her top choice for affordability. The gym-lifestyle brand boasts three vegan proteins, but Diet Plant is the one for building lean muscle. There’s 18g of protein per serving, it’s low in sugar, and it contains CLA (a fatty acid that some studies suggest preserves muscle mass), L-Carnitine (an amino acid derivative that transports fatty acids into cells to become energy), and green tea extract (one hell of a source of antioxidants). Science class over, find great flavours (hi, salted caramel) without a powdery mouth-feel.
Nomination shortlist:
My Vegan Clear Vegan Protein, £24.99
Best deodorant
Dove Go Fresh Passion Fruit & Lemongrass Anti-Perspirant, £1
A deodorant that sounds like a cocktail, feels like skincare, and promises 48 hours of antiperspirant protection from sweat, odour or having to waft the armpits of your top. There’s a lot to (safely) raise your arm for – and that’s without mentioning the absolute steal of a price. The formula swerves alcohol to reduce skin irritation and packs in Dove’s trademark one quarter moisturising cream. As ever, the brand is certified Cruelty-Free by PETA. In other words, it’s the very opposite of being the pits.
Nomination shortlist:
Best fertility tracker
Flo Period Tracker, free; Flo Premium, £29.49 per year
“By far my favourite fertility tracker,” says NHS GP Dr Aziza Sesay, who is part of GLAMOUR’s wellness panel. “I have a lot of patients, friends and family who use Flo tracker because it’s easy, quick and pretty accurate. I love that Flo empowers so many about menstrual-health education (my cup of tea!) and it has a team of medical experts.” Globally, 250 million people agree – including you. The app tracks your cycle – finding patterns in mood, energy levels and sex drive – and flags your most fertile windows. The new Anonymous Mode allows you to sign up without entering your name or other identifiers.
Nomination shortlist:
Bellabeat Period Diary Ovulation Tracker, free or £5.99 per month
Best pregnancy supplement
Vitabiotics Pregnacare Max, £19.45
Now a three-time Power List winner, it’s easy to see why Pregnacare is the UK’s No.1 pregnancy supplement brand. GLAMOUR panellist Dr Hazel Wallace is a fan, as is Dr Aziza Sesay, who used the supplements during and after her own pregnancy. “They are great: they contain all the vitamins necessary during pregnancy, are smooth to swallow and are easily available from pharmacies and supermarkets,” Dr Sesay describes. The vitamin and mineral hit-list ticks off L-methylfolate (an advanced form of folic acid), vitamin D, omega-3 DHA (which aids foetal brain and eye development), calcium and iron. If you’re vegan, try Pregnacare Gummies.
Nomination shortlist:
Boots Pregnancy Essential Vitamins, £3.80
Best menstrual supplement
Health & Her Premenstrual Multi-Nutrient Supplement, £19.99
Health & Her is a female-founded company that is using expert nutritionists to make our cycles feel better and more balanced. Consider us on board! The vegan Premenstrual Multi-Nutrient Supplement uses vitamin B6, magnesium, iron, ashwagandha and ginger to bring about a package of benefits, spanning hormone regulation, reduced fatigue, and healthy cognitive and nervous system function. In ‘being you’ terms, that means less chance of having an emotional breakdown while viewing a puppy Reel. Irritability that’s under control. More energy (some devotees claim even in the morning). And generally feeling better about life when PMT is trying to make you view everything through a filter of poop.
Nomination shortlist:
Wild Nutrition Food-Grown Premenstrual Complex, £29
Best period-underwear brand
“The leakproof technology is amazing,” raves GLAMOUR panellist Sophie Butler. PT Aimee Victoria Long is impressed by how they handle heavy flows, while GP Dr Tosin Ajayi-Sotubo loves the different styles. Granny pants, these ain’t – bright colours, thongs, bikinis, seam-free styles and sexy-cute sleep sets. The days when your period would ruin knickers and dictate the entire bottom half of your outfit are gone. There are seven absorbency levels: the lightest level guards against sweat patches in high-stress meetings, while the top tier isn’t fazed by bladder leaks. A Puma x Modibodi collab means there are even leggings with the absorbent tech built in. Sizes range from six to 26.
Nomination shortlist:
Best menstrual-health brand
“Cool” might not be the first adjective that springs to mind when you think of your menstrual cycle, but if there’s one brand that can elevate periods to a hip lifestyle phenomenon, it’s Ohne. Most famous for its Yin & Tonic PMS drops, which soothe you to a less wild-eyed place, Ohne’s online platform also stocks a curated edit of genuinely covetable menstrual merch. You’ll find Faace’s rebalancing mask for hormonal skin and Emanui’s portable menstrual cup steriliser, as well as cult US and EU brands including Playground lube (adaptogenic ingredients increase blood flow and libido) and Maude.
Nomination shortlist:
Best sexual-pleasure device
Vush Muse Rabbit Vibrator, £85
GLAMOUR panellist Dr Hazel Wallace rates Vush – the Aussie brand whose ethos isn’t just about great times for your bits, but using self-pleasure to increase body acceptance. Essentially, it’s self-care that starts down there. The Muse vibrator is soft and gentle, so it feels like the kind of partner you want in your life. But it’s also capable: with eight patterns and five intensity levels. A roving internal arm does a come-hither motion to stimulate the G-spot, while a flexible outer arm says hi to your clitoris – with a tap, a wave, you pick. Muse is also 100% waterproof, so it can join you in the shower or bath for some good clean fun.
Nomination shortlist:
Womanizer Premium 2 The Luxurious Clitoral Stimulator, £179
Best lubricant
Durex Naturals Extra Sensitive Lube, £9.99
Lube that does exactly what it says on the tube, this sensitive-skin staple is made from 100% natural ingredients, including soothing aloe vera, and skips artificial fragrances, colourants or parabens. Texture-wise, it’s on the watery side. That means a little goes a long way, and there’s none of the stickiness that can leave your bedsheets feeling like someone rolled on a glue stick. Perfect for a natural wet feel that gives good glide and is kind to the skin.
Nomination shortlist:
Sylk Intimate Natural Intimate Moisturiser, £9.99
Best sexual-wellness app
The Headspace Women’s Collection, £9.99 per month
Compiled by psychosexual therapist Kate Moyle, you’ll find mindfulness techniques to bring you back into your body, as well as interesting discussions on sexual wellbeing. That could include how to approach sex after miscarriage, being undecided about your sexual orientation, working through complex emotions connected to health conditions such as endometriosis, or learning to accept that it’s normal if the sex that worked for you 10 years ago doesn’t hit the spot today.
Nomination shortlist:
Best gut-health supplement
The favourite sachet for you and your gut, it crams in a hefty 25 billion live cultures of the Bifidobacterium lactis BB-12 strain – and what that lacks in a catchy name, it makes up for in clinical trial results. There’s also 4g of fibre. Tests have proven that the bacteria can survive stomach acidity to reach the gut alive, meaning it works. It’s also vegan, soy-free, doesn’t use dairy, and there’s a team of nutritionists, microbiologists and nutritional therapists on call to chat through your questions. Good support all round then.
Nomination shortlist:
Symprove Live & Active Bacteria, £49.99
Best wellness beauty supplement
Beauty Pie Collagen Super Powder, £100
“I’ve personally seen the benefits,” praises GLAMOUR panellist Dr Tosin Ajayi-Sotubo. “Formulated by Kay Ali, a great clinical nutritionist, my hair feels stronger and my skin has improved.” Made from marine collagen (so suitable for pescatarians), biotin and vitamin C, it helps to create the structure needed for healthy skin, teeth, gums, bones, blood vessels and cartilage. Particularly suited to anyone with dry, dehydrated or sensitive skin, results include faster-growing nails and hair, less nail flaking, and (we don’t like to brag but…) more compliments on your skin. Use consistently over a period of months for best results.
Nomination shortlist:
Vida Glow Radiance Capsules, £49
BetterYou X Madeleine Shaw Hair, Skin & Nails Daily Oral Spray, £19.95
Best health drink
Trip CBD Infused, £14 for pack of six
Your pick to sip yourself out of a stress hole, Trip’s grown-up soft drink mixes calming chamomile, focus-aiding ginseng, and lemon balm – a herb thought to aid relaxation and lift mood. But perhaps the flagship anxiety-nixer is 15mg of CBD. Some like their Trip in the morning to take the edge off inbox fear. Others slurp one to unwind at the end of the day, with some reviewers claiming that a can gave them their best night’s sleep in months. It’s also a sophisticated booze stand-in, thanks to a low-cal formula and flavours that are refreshing (elderflower mint, peach ginger and lemon basil), not sickly .
Nomination shortlist:
Remedy Kombucha, £18.49 for pack of 12
Best food-delivery kit
Now a double Power List winner, GLAMOUR panellist (and Gousto regular) Michelle Elman applauds the “diverse options and interesting recipes”. It got almost 48% of your vote, too. Because a private chef is only likely to happen in your dreams, Gousto goes some way to plugging the catering gap – providing over 75 recipes a week (of which 28 are veggie and at least 10 are vegan), gluten-free options, 10-minute cooking times, and a price-per-serving that starts at £2.99 (cheaper than a McPlant). The lack of food waste is also a big sell, as is finally breaking the cycle of going to the supermarket every day.
Nomination shortlist:
Mindful Chef, from £36.50 per box
Best women's general-health supplement
Vitabiotics Wellwoman Max, £21
A multivitamin and an omega 3-6-9 capsule in one means less faffing with multiple supplement pots, and you get complete support for key health areas such as energy, immunity, hormone levels and bone health. Key names involved in the cast? Vitamins B6 and B12 for energy release, zinc and iron for cognitive function, calcium, folic acid, selenium and lots of lovely vitamin D. Essential for when the British weather misbehaves.
Nomination shortlist:
Wild Nutrition Bespoke Woman Food-Grown Daily Multi Nutrient, £33.50
Best mindful drinking brand
Oddbird Liberated From Alcohol Rosé, £12
For a relaxed wine-drinking feeling – minus next-day angst – GLAMOUR panellist and sober-lifestyle advocate Emily Syphas loves Oddbird as much as you do. There's something for everyone: a fruity rosé, Chardonnay or Emily's favourite Low Intervention Organic Red Nº 1 . Rather than trying to make a wine-like product from scratch, Oddbird products follow the same wine-making process as the hangover-inducing stuff (fermentation, barrel ageing) – but then remove all the alcohol. Which means it tastes like wine, not a phoney. The backstory is poignant, too. Founder Moa Gürbüzer spent two decades as a family therapist, seeing first-hand how alcohol caused trauma within families. Oddbird was her way of liberating people from the root of those issues.
Nomination shortlist:
Best meditation aid
A favourite of GLAMOUR panellist and clinical psychologist Dr Michaela Dunbar, as well as GP Dr Tosin Ajayi-Sotubo – who signposts patients to Calm, and uses it herself for meditation. In a nutshell, it works: 84% of people who use Calm five times a week reported improved mental health. Find user-friendly meditation exercises, relaxing soundscapes and the much-loved Sleep Stories, where famously soporific voices (Harry Styles, Matthew McConaughey, Idris Elba, Kate Winslet and, newly added, the Outlander actor Sam Heughan) challenge you to stay awake for more than five minutes. Whether you want to calm down, feel more secure or gain hope, Calm is your smartphone’s smoothest-talking meditation guru.
Nomination shortlist:
Best stress-relief aid
BetterYou Magnesium Flakes, £10.95
If a soak in a hot tub can solve all manner of ills, adding BetterYou’s Magnesium Flakes will supercharge your stress recovery. “Stress depletes magnesium and it’s not possible to eat enough leafy greens, nuts and seeds to replenish this,” explains GLAMOUR panellist and neuroscientist Dr Tara Swart Bieber. “Magnesium is best taken through the skin, so bath soaks are relaxing and rejuvenating.” The bath flakes will soothe achy and tired muscles, while also being gentle on sensitive skin. Expect mind-whirring to be put on mute as the magnesium gets your nervous system back to a healthy, balanced place.
Nomination shortlist:
Best mental-health app
“It’s like having a friend who constantly reminds you that things will get better,” praises GLAMOUR panellist and GP Dr Aziza Sesay. Your winner for the second year, this NHS-approved app takes proven CBT (cognitive behavioural therapy) techniques and customises them for digital use. The app’s activities are designed to make daily life easier: from identifying unhealthy habits and anxiety triggers to learning how to reframe negative thoughts into kinder ones. One in four of us experiences mental health issues each year; My Possible Self has the toolkit to unpick your mind’s self-destruct settings so you can get back to doing the things you love.
Nomination shortlist:
Best CBD drops
Mindful Extracts CBD Oil, from £36.99
“This range beats significantly pricier options every time,” says GLAMOUR panellist and CBD expert Ruby Deevoy. “I’ve tested it on migraines, period pain, stress, grief, depression, PTSD and anxiety, and users found relief that consistently improved with use. I recommend this go-to oil to all my friends and family.” Lab-tested for quality and purity (and there’s complete transparency, with all lab reports published online), Mindful Extracts offers three CBD strengths: a getting-started 5%, a mid-range 10%, and 20% for experienced CBD users. The range is vegan, with no animal testing, and a tree is planted in Indonesia for every bottle sold.
Nomination shortlist:
Best CBD range
It’s the smell that hooks you. Even the packaging is spritzed with essential-oil blends that cover three moods – Balance (lemongrass and eucalyptus), Boost (orange and ginger) and Bed (lavender and ylang ylang). The London Dispensary then pairs these aromatherapy botanicals with CBD and nootropic mushrooms to create a range of body balms, pillow sprays, wax melts and gummies that work magic on mind and body. “It was the tasty gummies loaded with high-dose CBD and functional mushrooms that won me over,” says CBD writer Ruby Deevoy. “The sleep oil is also great, and the natural scents infused into the candles and bath melts are to die for.”
Nomination shortlist:
Best aromatherapy range
Now your three-time winner, Neom is a favourite because it feels like a treat for you – and your mind. The brand is the brainchild of ex-GLAMOUR journalist Nicola Elliott, who wanted to create a care toolkit for friends and family who were struggling with stress, a slump in energy, or who felt tired of being tired. Relatable, right? So, she re-trained as an aromatherapist and Neom was born. The products tap into your sensory wellness routine and the scents whisk wayward thoughts into the here-and-now. Pick a blend based on the effect you would love – more reliable sleep, less stress or panic, a perkier mood, more get-up-and-go. Then breathe in, and out, to a happier mindset.
Nomination shortlist:
Best ayurvedic range
Lifelong Ayurvedic devotee, Sheilesh Shah, took inspiration from traditional herbal remedies to create a vegan range to bring Ayurveda mainstream. Over 200 botanical extracts are poured into the blends, which aim to keep skin in harmony despite environmental fiends such as pollution. Purify, soothe, revive and radiance are Urban Veda’s key pillars and will help you relax. To go one better, apply its hero botanical Soothing Body Oil – a skin- and mind-balancing cocktail of adaptogenic Shatavari, sandalwood and lavender – using a massage called Abhyanga. Warm the oil in your palms, then start at your extremities and use long, circular strokes along limbs towards your heart.
Nomination shortlist:
Best bathtime ritual
Westlab Reviving Epsom Bath Salt, £5.50
This triple winner does wonders for your tub. Magnesium sulphate soothes tetchy muscles, reducing the effects of DOMS (delayed onset muscle stiffness). But there’s even more science to it than that. In order to fall asleep, your body naturally cools down. Getting out of a hot bath speeds up the temperature drop needed to initiate good sleep, explains GLAMOUR panellist and sleep expert Dr Lindsay Browning. “An Epsom salt bath may therefore improve sleep, since the warm bath will increase your body temperature, before it falls as you get out. The minerals, including magnesium, also help you to feel relaxed, which aids sleep.” When it comes to shuteye, these salts make a splash.
Nomination shortlist:
Soak Sunday Rose Utopia Bath & Body Oil, £14
Best relaxation aid
For swift relaxation, the Shakti Acupressure Mat is on point. Very, very literally. It uses acupressure – that’s acupuncture’s kinder, non-skin-piercing sibling – to apply pressure to acupuncture points. Once stimulated, a nerve response triggers the brain to produce endorphins and serotonin. And when those guys are let loose, they keep the stress-hormone cortisol in check – so you feel less tense, and ready to nod off. Hop on the mat (by which we mean, veeeery gently lower yourself on) for 20 minutes before bed. The feeling of rolling in brambles soon eases into a warm, full-body tingle that’s surprisingly soothing. Relaxation? You nailed it.
Nomination shortlist:
Best wellness perfume
Clinique My Happy Cocoa & Cashmere, £23 for 15ml EDT
Chocolate cookies straight out of the oven. Being wrapped in a blanket on a blustery day. Holding a mug of hot chocolate. All scrummy, soul-warming moments that Clinique has cleverly embodied in spritz form here. When it wanted to update its iconic Happy fragrance, Clinique went straight to the source and asked customers what scents made them feel happy. Unsurprisingly, baked goods came up time and time again. So, its perfumiers channelled their inner GBBO and created a blend of cocoa, vanilla and musk that transports you to devouring an oven-warm dessert. Imagine a cashmere hug in perfume form.
Nomination shortlist:
The Nue Co Mind Energy, £85 for 50ml
Best pillow spray
This Works Sleep Plus Pillow Spray, £28
There’s only one thing that could make you enjoy spending time with your pillow more, and that’s This Works’ three-time-winning pillow spray. A long-standing favourite of GLAMOUR panellists Dr Tosin Ajayi-Sotubo and sleep expert Dr Lindsay Browning, who praises the lavender fragrance for aiding relaxation (a precursor to drifting off). Chamomile and vetivert essential oils complete the 99% natural, vegan formula. Mist it over your pillow and bed linen as you get into bed, or during periods of tossing and turning – 94% of users reported less disturbed sleep and 91% felt less tired during the day. That’s our kind of pillow talk.
Nomination shortlist:
Neom Bedtime Hero Pillow Mist, £22
Best sleep range
Like you, GLAMOUR panellist Dr Hazel Wallace rates Neom’s Scent To Sleep range, which has garnered cult status when it comes to users successfully hitting the hay. Because it’s Neom we’re talking about, it naturally smells divine. But the best part is that the range has two sleep-inducing scents. Perfect Night’s Sleep is based on lavender. While Bedtime Hero is for everyone who – whisper it – doesn’t actually like lavender. (It’s OK, it’s allowed – you’re not a bee). Instead, it uses chamomile for a sweet, fresher scent. Whichever one you want to go to bed with, the sleep range spans candles, pillow mists, diffusers, body butters, facial oils and even a cleansing balm. A complete SOS package for those short of shut-eye.
Nomination shortlist:
©Frasershot Studios 2016Best sleep tech
Lumie Bodyclock Luxe 750DAB, £229
The antidote to being woken up by the cruel jolt of your alarm, Lumie’s sunrise and sunset settings let you drift off (or wake up) in a way that’s actually enjoyable. Proof? It’s your Sleep Tech champ for the third year. Let’s start with the meanest part – waking up. A gradually brightening light pairs with 33 soothing sounds (birdsong, café chatter, a storm) to ease you into facing the world. Which means you’re more likely to be cheerful than hating humankind. To nod off, its steadily darkening light keeps blue-spectrum tones to a minimum, as they’re the culprits that keep you alert. Basically, it’s one of the few devices you own that has a purely beneficial effect on your life.
Nomination shortlist:
Sleep by Headspace, £9.99 per month
Best mattress
Emma Original Mattress, from £499
“I actually need to get one for myself!” raves GLAMOUR panellist Dr Aziza Sesay. “I’ve slept on the Emma mattress and had a great night’s sleep. Soft but firm, you’re left feeling refreshed; I completely understand why it’s reviewed as one of the best.” You agree – crowning it your ultimate mattress for the second year. It has three layers of body-hugging foam, temperature-regulating tech that evaporates moisture so you don’t wake up a hot mess, and a 200-night trial. Emma even created a sleep wellness app with Oxford University, Emma Up, to offer tips on sleeping better. 86% of users improved their sleep in eight weeks.
Nomination shortlist:
The Simba Hybrid Mattress, from £799
Best bed kit
Slip Queen Envelope Pillowcase, £89
For pillowcases truly a-head of the rest, Slip’s silk envelopes are loved by you and your hairstyle. In tests versus cotton counterparts, Slip’s mulberry silk created 43% less friction on average – which translates into 43% less chance of bedhead, frizz, tangles, and all those other hair mishaps that make you gasp in the mirror and wonder what on earth happened in bed last night. Slip is also a favourite among dermatologists for its ability to keep face cream on your face (not your sheets) and reduce the appearance of pillow-induced face creases. It helps you put your best face forward in the morning, and that makes it a winner with us.
Nomination shortlist:
Blissy Silk Pillowcase, from £76
Best eye mask
M&S Pure Silk Eye Mask, £12.50
As well as aiding your sleep by keeping out annoying external light sources, a silk eye mask does great things for your skin. “Silk is an excellent material as it’s gentle on skin and cooling because it wicks away moisture,” describes GLAMOUR panellist and sleep expert Dr Lindsay Browning, who praises M&S’s “budget friendly” version. It’s super-soft, which swerves any snagging on the delicate eye area, and it stays in place. For a wake-up-free night, we definitely see eye to eye on this.
Nomination shortlist:
Best manual toothbrush
Oral-B Pro-Expert All-In-One Toothbrush, £4
Oral-B’s manual marvel creates a clean feel that’s as close to a dentist-grade result as anything we’ve tried at home. The CrissCross bristles use a 16-degree angle to pick away at plaque, even in those awk-to-reach mouth nooks. The bristles polish away surface teeth stains while still respecting your enamel. And there’s even a textured tongue cleaner on the back of the head to blitz germs, meaning fresh breath is one less thing to worry about. In short: it’s analogue, but it aces the job.
Nomination shortlist:
Truthbrush Bamboo Brush, £4.50
Best electric toothbrush
Oral-B iO10 Electric Toothbrush,
£800£400We get it: the retail price is enough to set your teeth on edge. But online offers frequently see the price cut in two. And here’s the thing: “It’s the best brush ever!” enthuses GLAMOUR panellist and dental hygienist Lottie Manahan. “It’s excellent at plaque removal; I can see the health benefits of those using it.” Dentist Dr Uchenna Okoye also recommends Oral-B’s electric ranges, which are endorsed by the Oral Health Foundation. What’s in it to make you smile? AI tracking, which guides you on exactly where to clean. Seven brushing modes, including Intense Clean, Whitening and Super Sensitive. And a pressure sensor to alert you when your brushing has gone into overkill.
Nomination shortlist:
Spotlight Oral Care Sonic Toothbrush, £110
Philips Sonicare 9900 Prestige Power Toothbrush With SenseIQ, £299.99
Best toothpaste
Oral-B Sensitivity & Gum Calm Original Toothpaste, £5
If you’ve ever craved a cup of tea or an ice cream but backed away because of the fallout that could happen in your mouth, this is the toothpaste for you. Clinically proven to relieve pain from sensitivity and soothe delicate gums, GLAMOUR panellist Lottie Manahan is a fan. “It has an excellent amount of fluoride and a fantastic mild bubblegum-mint flavour.” The secret to its success with sensitivity is tooth tech called ActivCalm – which creates a layer of protection between your teeth and anything likely to rile them up. Essentially, it’s like a bodyguard for your pearly whites.
Nomination shortlist:
MySmile By Dr Uchenna Whitening Toothpaste, £17.99
Best toothpaste tablets
Hello Goodbye Plaque, Hello Whitening Toothpaste Tablets, £7.99
Your best-loved toothpaste tablet for the second year, Hello makes you smile – sustainably. Here, tablets are the new toothpaste tube: simply chew one tablet until it forms a paste, wet your toothbrush and brush as usual. There’s everything you need for bright, healthy teeth, minus the planet-clogging stuff. The tin is recyclable. The formula is vegan, with no artificial flavours, and it’s SLS/sulphate and fluoride free. Worried the flavour won’t cut it? No need. Natural peppermint and tea tree oil give a punchy fresh taste that reaches every part of your mouth. One less thing for you to keep tabs on.
Nomination shortlist:
Pärla Original Toothpaste Tabs With Fluoride, £7
Best floss
Oral-B Pro-Expert Premium Floss, £5.50
If you’re going to the effort of flossing, you want the top dog in between-the-teeth cleaning. Oral-B’s Pro-Expert is the one – just ask GLAMOUR panellist and TV dentist, Dr Uchenna Okoye. What elevates its cleaning game is how easily it slides, so you’re not fighting the thread or risking a finger injury. It’s equally gentle on gums and clinically proven to reduce gingivitis. And, after you’ve finished, it leaves a minty-cool flavour to thank you for your efforts. Just in case you were thinking of not bothering to floss tomorrow. Which obviously you wouldn’t.
Nomination shortlist:
Oral-B Glide Gum Care Floss Picks, £6.89
Best teeth whitener
Polished London Teeth Whitening Strips, £24.99
Your go-to for effective stain-removal without slathering on hydrogen peroxide – a major culprit for the sensitivity that often goes hand-in-hand with a whitened smile. Instead, Polished London’s dentist-designed formula is enamel-friendly and gives results in 14 days. Wear a strip for 30 minutes a day to fade light stains, or for up to an hour to tackle stubborn discoloration that may or may not have something to do with your love of caffeine, red wine and other delicious-but-conspicuous habits. Vegan and cruelty-free, this is an easy at-home solution to get a Snow-White-esque smile.
Nomination shortlist:
MySmile By Dr Uchenna Whitening Pen, £23.99
Enlighten Evolution3 6 Patient In-Office Kit, from around £500
Best eco-friendly cleaning product
Dr Beckmann Re-usable Colour Collector Cloth, £2.99
This ingenious colour-absorbing cloth solves the Breton-top problem: should you wash it with whites, coloured clothes, or do a separate load just for patterns? To cut your load down to one, whack everything in together and add a Dr Beckmann Re-Usable cloth. Sure, you feel like you’re living dangerously. But the cloth is ridiculously absorbent; trapping all the stray colour and dirt that’s released during a wash, thereby avoiding colour transfer and grey knickers. “I’ve significantly reduced the amount of washloads I’ve put on since using them,” praises GLAMOUR panellist and home care expert Laura Mountford. Each cloth can be used up to 30 times, saving waste and water.
Nomination shortlist:
Composty Compostable ‘Pop-Up’ Sponges, £9.99 for 12
Spruce Multipurpose Starter Kit, £8
Miniml Eco Washing Up Liquid Apple Orchard Starter Kit, £7.45
Best air purifier / humidifier
Dyson Purifier Humidify+Cool Autoreact, £649.99
If you live and breathe wellness, Dyson is your most-trusted air device for the third year. The price might take your breath away, but this is investment tech – loved by panellists Dr Hazel Wallace and Dr Tara Swart Bieber (who also uses it for white noise at night). How does it work? Sensors constantly analyse your home’s air, looking for nasties to capture, such as pollutants, allergens, dust and pollen. It then removes an impressive 99.95% of those particles, while the humidifier counteracts dryness caused by central heating. If you’ve had humidifiers before, you’ll know the downside is cleaning them. Dyson being Dyson, a new deep-clean function eliminates mineral build-up from hard water – saving you a job there, too.
Nomination shortlist:
HoMedics 5 In 1 TotalClean Air Purifier, £99.99
Best candle
Neom Real Luxury Scented Candle, £35
Light this and you will feel less stressed – even when faced with your unread email tally or a floor-drobe. Neom’s genius for calming your mind is down to 24 essential oils, including lavender, jasmine and Brazilian rosewood. “The scents are perfect for creating a cosy, mindful sanctuary in your home. Lighting a Neom candle always makes me feel so much calmer,” credits GLAMOUR panellist Laura Mountford. Dr Aziza Sesay agrees: “Just brilliant overall. They really do create the ambiance they promise.” Yes, they are a treat, but the candle burns for 35 hours and makes your whole house smell as lush as a boutique hotel.
Nomination shortlist:
Best diffuser
Neom Wellbeing Pod Essential Oil Diffuser, £95
Another category, another Neom victory – though the Wellbeing Pod is something of a legend in the wellness world. New and improved as of September 2022, the diffuser now holds enough water for seven hours of scented-vapour release, and it has a sustainable base that is made from upcycled wood. Simply fill the tank and add up to 5-10 drops of your favourite essential oil blend. For maximum unwind, follow the guided breathing function: a light brightens for seven seconds (as you breathe in through your nose) and then dims for 11 seconds (as you exhale through your mouth). So you can find lasting calm, right under your nose.
Nomination shortlist:
Rio Zoey Aroma Diffuser, Humidifier & Night-Light, £19.99
