11 best sleep supplements for 2026, recommended by a former insomniac
If you struggle to get up in the mornings due to poor sleep or even insomnia, you may benefit from the best sleep supplements. A more natural sleep aid than medication, these supplements utilise ingredients such as magnesium, ashwagandha, passionflower, valerian root, and CBD oil to help you unwind and enjoy better quality rest.
While counting sheep at 3 am can feel very lonely, poor-quality sleep is actually quite common. New research reported by the Mental Health Foundation shows that the average British adult only has three days of good quality sleep a week. 38% of those surveyed said that poor sleep negatively affects their mental health at least once a week. Cue raised anxiety, irritability and low mood.
A reminder that if sleep issues are messing up your sleep schedule, it's best to chat with your GP or a trusted healthcare provider about potential causes. But sadly, there is no ‘one size fits all’ formula for achieving the perfect night's sleep. Most of us have tried blackout sleep masks, electric diffusers, silk pillowcases and the like to upgrade our slumber, yet the struggle continues. Enter: sleep supplements.
“A quality sleep supplement can support the body’s natural ability to unwind, promoting a sense of calm and helping you ease into deeper, more restorative sleep,” explains Jessica Sepel, expert nutritionist and founder of JSHealth Vitamins.
Unlike sleeping pills, sleep supplements are usually plant-based pills, gummies, vegan capsules or tinctures made from a cocktail of vitamins, minerals, amino acids and botanicals with sedative effects. So if, like us, you're just desperate for a restful sleep, then make space on your bedside table for GLAMOUR editor-approved sleep supplements. We've also answered some common FAQs on potential benefits and side effects so you're fully informed.
Disclaimer: Keep in mind that this article isn't a substitute for professional medical advice, and our recommendations won't replace a healthy lifestyle and balanced diet.
Ahead, the best sleep supplements for 20256, approved by Glamour's shopping editors:
The ultimate calming and sleep-promoting combination, this set includes Wild Nutrition's Food-Grown Magnesium and Food-Grown KSM-66 Ashwagandha Plus, designed to work in tandem to relax tense muscles, soothe your nerves, quieten the mind and relieve worries that may get in the way of you nodding off. Even better news: while 95% of supplements are artificially derived, the brand exclusively offers food-grown options. This means that our bodies recognise them as food, absorbing the nutrients more easily and earning this our best sleep supplement award.
Pros & ConsPros- On average, it offered users an extra 42 minutes of sleep a night.
- The brand's subscription service offers you free delivery every 30 days and two 30-minute consultations every year.
Cons- Requires you to take four capsules a night.
Vida Glow Women's Health Sleep
We'd buy it for the name and colour palette alone, but this natural sleep supplement has been proven to work too, with 37% of users saying they noticed a reduction in fatigue after four weeks of daily dosing. Ingredients include maizinol, passionflower and vitamin B6, the latter a co-factor involved in melatonin production, which helps to maintain normal sleep duration and sleep quality.
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Pros & ConsPros- Includes maizinol — clinically-proven natural sleep aid with melatonin-like effects.
- 35% of users saw an improvement in sleep quality in four weeks, while another 27% saw a drop in their cortisol levels.
Cons- Packed inside pretty packaging we're proud to leave to display.
An innovative blend of eight active ingredients, including Chromium — aids the maintenance of normal blood glucose levels — Zinc, Magnesium (counters tiredness and fatigue) and L-Tryptophan, which contributes to optimal relaxation, Sleep Deep should help to calm your mind and aid a better night’s sleep. Simply take two capsules, 30 minutes before bed — and yes, this one's suitable for both vegetarians and vegans.
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Pros & ConsPros- Infused with eight active ingredients, including L-Tryptophan.
- Easy-to-swallow capsule.
Cons- That double dose (two capsules per night) demands regular restocks.
JSHealth PM+ Lavender + Chamomile Formula
JSHealth's natural sleep supplement involves a blend of herbs and vitamins — passionflowers, chamomile, lavender oil and triple-form magnesium — to help calm your nerves and aid relaxation, hopefully supercharging your sleep.
Our Senior Commerce Writer, Sophie Donovan's verdict: “After swallowing one capsule a night for more than a month, I found it easier to drift off and noted a reduction in the number of dreams I remembered, suggesting I was sleeping more deeply. Thankfully, I didn't note any overhanging grogginess the morning after, either.”
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Pros & ConsPros- Infused with three types of magnesium — citrate, glycinate and amino acid chelate.
- Easy and convenient, requiring just one tablet a night.
Cons- A slightly more expensive option.
My boyfriend knows that if I ever won the lottery, I'd invest 90% in Grace Beverley — the millennial entrepreneur running three successful businesses simultaneously. But I made sure I overlooked that when properly testing Shreddy's latest innovation, inspired by the sleepy girl mocktail trend on TikTok.
SUPERSNOOZE is a drinkable supplement, the magnesium, adaptogen and herbal blend (with a refreshing cherry flavour) designed to reduce fatigue. The consensus among our testers? That it did exactly that. They loved the fruity flavour (and the fact each serving only contained 0.2 grams of sugar), plus how easy it was to take — simply make up a glass before bed and sip while you read/doomscroll. All reported a boost in their energy levels after a month of nightly doses, as well as an improvement in how long it took them to nod off.
Our only complaint? Larger bags so we don't have to remember to restock every month — although that's what the subscription service is for.
Pros & ConsPros- Infused with 500mg of ashwagandha, 300mg of magnesium and 250mg of reishi mushroom.
- Easy to make part of your evening ritual, and can be enjoyed warm or cold.
- Plant-based.
Cons- A slightly spenny option.
Various GLAMOUR editors have praised ashwaganda for inviting a sense of calm and stillness into their lives, key for a rejuvenating slumber. Free Soul's best-selling gummies — arguably one of our favourite supplement forms, considering they closely resemble a sweet treat — offer a daily dose of 300mg, intended to support an improved mood, reduce stress and cortisol, while also aiding a better night's sleep. Simply pop one 30 minutes before bed to enjoy its potent benefits.
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Pros & ConsPros- Vegan, plus gluten, soy and lactose-free.
- Batch tested to ensure the highest production standards.
- Delicious classic Cola flavour.
Cons- While infused with only 1 gram of sugar per dose, they are very sweet-tasting.
Puresport Unwind Nootropic Capsules
These sleep supplements are formulated with three key adaptogens, including ashwagandha, montmorency cherry and L-theanine, which may trigger your sleep and awake hormones at regulated intervals in your sleep cycle, prompting a better night's kip. What's more, ashwagandha, bacopa monnieri and L-theanine have been linked with reduced stress levels, which are often responsible for poor sleep quality.
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Pros & ConsPros- Every Puresport product goes through a three-step curation process of discovery, expert validation and community testing.
- We appreciate the aesthetic packaging.
Cons- Easy-to-swallow capsules.
Novomins Night Time Gummies Bedtime Aid
Yet another delicious gummy that's also been praised for aiding significant improvements in users' sleep patterns, including reduced wakefulness during the night and increased energy levels in the morning. Each supplement sweetie is power-packed with 15 high-quality ingredients and a scientifically formulated botanical blend of magnesium, L-theanine, as well as vitamins B5 and B12, the latter praised for its ability to fight fatigue.
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Pros & ConsPros- Vitamin B12 helps reduce tiredness and fatigue by contributing to normal energy-yielding metabolism.
- Halal-certified and approved by The Vegan Society.
- Fruity, raspberry flavour.
Cons- You'll have to add three bottles to your cart to qualify for free delivery.
Hormones like melatonin and cortisol are closely linked to sleep. Thankfully, these capsules have been infused with vitamin B6 to help regulate your hormones, as well as magnesium bisglycinate, montmorency cherry powder, L-theanine, L-tryptophan and 100mg of calming lemon balm. A daily dose involves three capsules, ideally up to 60 minutes before sleep.
Pros & ConsPros- Each serving also includes your daily intake of zinc, which contributes to normal cognitive function and normal function of the immune system.
- L-tryptophan, an essential amino acid, also plays a key role in mood maintenance.
Cons- Infused with just 200mg of magnesium, as opposed to the recommended 310 to 420.
While most of the sleep supplements in our edit combine magnesium, ashwagandha, and some form of mushroom, most skip over saffron because it's expensive. However, the spice has been clinically proven to reduce time to fall asleep by an average of 15 minutes and increase deep sleep phases naturally, without the unpleasant side-effect of slow-passing grogginess.
Our testers loved how quickly these worked, noticing a difference in how tired they felt after just a week. They also appreciated the small, easy-to-swallow capsules and the fact that they're vegetarian-friendly.
Again, this brand offers a subscription service, ridding the need for regular reminders to restock on your phone, as well as a hefty discount (up to 20%) when you order multiple pouches at a time. Essentially, no complaints all round!
Pros & ConsPros- A clean solution without fillers, chemicals, or side effects.
- NOT a synthetic sleep aids that leave you groggy and dependent.
- Includes saffron, clinically proven to improve sleep quality by 62% in just 28 days.
Cons- Requires a double dose every night.
This CBD oil comes packed with a powerful blend of plant actives and 1500 mg of pure CBD, praised for its anxiety and insomnia-fighting powers. The fact that it's non-drowsy also means that it can be called at tense moments throughout the day. Other ingredients include spearmint essential oil, peppermint leaf extract, liquorice root extract, lavender flower extract, lavender essential oil, plus rosemary extract, all sustainably and ethically sourced.
What are the benefits of taking a sleep supplement?
Hopefully, a better night's sleep. For context, there are two different types of sleep: rapid eye movement (REM) sleep and non-REM sleep. While deep sleep (the latter) is vital for physical restoration, REM sleep is linked to cognitive functions and emotional processing, so you need cycles of both for different aspects of your physical and mental health.
“I believe that good sleep is the foundation of overall wellbeing — it’s when the body restores, repairs and rebalances," says Jessica Sepel, expert nutritionist and founder of JSHealth Vitamins. "For those who need a little extra support to switch off, the right nutrients and herbs at therapeutic doses can make all the difference.”
“They aren’t a magic fix, but they can absolutely help to calm the nervous system and support melatonin production for sleep," adds Amy Clarke, in-house Qualified Nutrition Coach at Bettervits. ”With only 37% of Brits getting the recommended 7 hours sleep per night, sleep supplements, along with a mindful bedtime routine, could help you get longer, more restful sleep".
But what are the wider benefits of a good night's sleep? The Mental Health Foundation cites various physical and mental benefits, including better heart health, a strengthened immune system, as well as improved focus, memory and mood. Unfortunately, one in five people in the UK isn’t getting enough sleep, while another 66% of adolescents say poor sleep negatively impacts their mental health.
What should I look for in a sleep supplement?
“5-HTP is a natural precursor to melatonin, while calming herbs like chamomile and lemon balm have soothed for centuries,” advises Clarke. “I always recommend looking for science-backed and traditionally used ingredients that are known to support sleep, relaxation and nervous system health,” adds Sepel.
Magnesium for sleep is another key ingredient to look out for in a supplement. “My go-tos are quality forms of magnesium (especially magnesium glycinate), lavender and passionflower. I also advise seeking out supplements created by a qualified wellness expert with clean, purposeful formulas that follow the research.” Preach.
How should I be taking a sleep supplement?
The number one rule with natural sleep aid supplements — after checking with your GP or a healthcare professional that your chosen dose won't interact with any other medication or allergies — is that you've got to be consistent. This is because some nutrients (AKA water-soluble vitamins), consistent intake is crucial as the body doesn't store them and needs a regular supply.
“I suggest taking a sleep supplement about 30-60 minutes before bed, paired with a calming evening routine — think switching off devices, dimming the lights and practising deep breathing,” suggests Sepel. “Good sleep hygiene is also key, such as keeping the room cool and dark while aiming to go to bed and rise at about the same time each day. It’s not just about taking the supplement; it’s about creating a sleep-supportive environment and lifestyle practices to maximise its benefits.”
Are there any side effects to taking sleep supplements?
“When used as directed, quality, natural sleep supplements are generally very well tolerated,” assures Sepel. “However, everyone is different. Always take the recommended dose and speak to a healthcare professional for guidance — especially if you’re pregnant, breastfeeding or taking other medications.”
Meet the experts:
| Jessica Sepel | Expert nutritionist and founder of JSHealth Vitamins. |
| Amy Clarke | In-house Qualified Nutrition Coach at Bettervits. |
How we test the best sleep supplements:
The Glamour team are a hard-working bunch, often using their evenings and weekends to moonlight as beauty and wellness testers. We've spent the last few months trialling a host of the best Lion's Mane supplements, magnesium supplements and green powders to see which actually make a difference to our sleep, energy levels and general wellbeing.
Both I, Sophie Donovan, and freelancer contributor Cat Hufton tested the sleep supplements in this round-up — plus a host more we didn't love or openly praise — for a minimum of four weeks each. At the end of their trial period, we rated them against the following criteria:
- Ease of use — Were the capsules easy to swallow? Did the powder mix well with water?
- Efficacy — How long into the four weeks did I notice a difference, if any?
- Taste — On a scale of one to five, how pleasurable was the taste?
- Value for money — Would I be happy to commit to the weekly, monthly or bi-monthly spend?
Why you can trust us:
I've been collating wellness guides for the past two years — one year in a previous job, and for 13 months at Glamour. During that time, I've reviewed countless new launches, including AI-powered sex toys, noise-cancelling earplugs, and countless wellbeing-boosting supplements.
To ensure I am an authority on all things health and wellness, I've attended countless press days, spoken to various experts, from nutritionists to women's health experts and sex educators, plus have personally tested hundreds of products. As a result, I'm clued up on the best emerging brands, new releases and can confidently advise on which products are worth your money.
But, being an intermittent insomniac, I also feel my personal experience makes me a prime candidate for reviewing natural sleep aids. So, read on to learn which actually improved the quality and length of my kip.
I'm an experienced lifestyle journalist who has tested hundreds of products in my quest to find the best products worthy of your hard-earned money. I became particularly interested in wellness and health products after having children seven years ago, and I needed a little extra helping hand in feeling my best.
As such, I've spoken to countless industry experts, tested a wide variety of supplements and wellness products, and become pretty astute at knowing what really makes a difference.
