For many of us, the hardest part of getting a good night’s sleep is finding a way to leave the day
behind. The mind keeps moving, the body holds onto tension, and even the quietest evenings
can feel a little too full. While we often focus on getting more sleep, preparing ourselves for rest
deserves just as much attention.
Laurel Shaffer has spent her career approaching concerns like these through the wisdom of
plants. As the herbalist and founder behind Laurel Skin, she brings an extraordinary level of
care to every ingredient, from the way botanicals are grown and harvested to the slow,
traditional methods used to prepare them. Her dedication to fresh, whole-plant ingredients and
meticulous small-batch craftsmanship has made Laurel one of the most respected names in
artisan green beauty — and a treasured part of the Beauty Heroes community since our earliest
days.
“Laurel has emerged as the platinum standard for artisan green beauty. I’ve been able
to see firsthand the extraordinary care Laurel puts into sourcing her ingredients and
meticulously crafting fresh, highly potent products, and that integrity comes through in
everything she makes.”
— Jeannie Jarnot, Founder, Beauty Heroes
Laurel is bringing that same herbalist’s understanding to the art of rest. Her new Laurel Sleep
Collection pairs time-honored botanicals with the sensory experience of scent and touch,
creating a beautiful two-step ritual designed to help the mind and body transition into a more
restful evening.
The Philosophy Behind Laurel Skin
At the heart of Laurel Skin is a belief that the intelligence of the whole plant deserves to be
honored. Rather than building formulas around isolated cosmetic actives, Laurel Shaffer draws
on her expertise as an herbalist to select botanicals for their naturally occurring constituents,
traditional uses, and complementary qualities.
That philosophy begins with the plants themselves. Freshness, growing practices, harvesting
methods, and sourcing relationships are essential considerations, not afterthoughts. Laurel
works closely with botanical ingredients, favoring organically grown plants, freshly prepared
materials, and traditional methods that respect the integrity of each harvest.
The craftsmanship is equally remarkable. Every small-batch formulation reflects the time and
attention required to create something exceptional, whether that means distilling fresh
botanicals, selecting unrefined plant oils, or allowing whole herbs to infuse slowly over several
months. This is the quiet luxury of Laurel Skin — extraordinary ingredients, prepared with
intention, by people who understand them.
SHOP THE LAUREL SLEEP COLLECTION
It’s an approach we’ve believed in from the beginning. Beauty Heroes and Laurel Skin share a
commitment to ingredient integrity, responsible sourcing, environmental stewardship, and the
belief that truly Healthy Beauty considers the entire life of a product — from the soil where its
ingredients begin to the experience it creates in your hands.
Our relationship with Laurel stretches back more than a decade, built on mutual respect for the
people, plants, and principles behind exceptional beauty. Laurel describes that partnership in
her own words.
“Partnering with Beauty Heroes since their inception 12 years ago continues to be
something I am always holding gratitude for. In an industry where cutting corners,
greenwashing, or simply looking the other way has become the norm, having a partner
like Beauty Heroes that stands for honesty and integrity is a rare and special thing. Not
only is the whole Beauty Heroes team (and Jeannie!) an absolute JOY to work with but
knowing that they genuinely care for the health of both their customers, and the planet
means the world to me!”
— Laurel Shaffer, Founder of Laurel Skin
With Laurel Sleep, that same commitment to thoughtful formulation finds a new expression. The
collection extends Laurel’s whole-plant philosophy beyond traditional skincare, bringing
botanical expertise and intentional self-care into the hours that prepare us for rest.
What Is The Laurel Sleep Collection?
Laurel Sleep is a two-product nighttime collection that brings together whole-plant herbalism,
therapeutic aromatics, and the simple pleasure of slowing down. Designed as complementary
steps in an evening ritual, Sleep Mist: Settled Mind and Sleep Balm: Somatic Rest
approach the transition to bedtime through two distinct sensory experiences.
Sleep Mist begins with scent, combining lavender, tulsi, and sandalwood hydrosols in an elegant
three-ingredient formulation. Sleep Balm brings the ritual to the body through touch, blending
nourishing botanical oils with slow-infused herbs and aromatics, including passionflower,
skullcap, valerian, lavender, cedarwood, vetiver, and clary sage.
The collection was inspired by Laurel’s own experiences with restless nights. Rather than
treating sleep as something to force, she began considering the many factors that can make rest
difficult, from a busy mind to the physical tension carried throughout the day.
Her herbalist’s perspective asks a more thoughtful question. What might be keeping the body
from resting?
That curiosity shaped a ritual centered on what happens before we close our eyes. Through
familiar botanical aromas, slow massage, and a few intentional moments of stillness, Laurel
Sleep offers a way to make the transition from day to night feel less abrupt and more nurturing.
How Your Nighttime Ritual Affects Your Sleep
Even when we’re physically tired, our minds and bodies don’t always settle at the same pace.
Stress, mental stimulation, and lingering tension can follow us into the evening, leaving little
space between the demands of the day and the expectation of rest.
A consistent nighttime ritual can make that transition feel more natural. Familiar scents,
soothing textures, and deliberate movements introduce moments of calm into an otherwise busy
routine, creating recognizable cues that bedtime is approaching.
Laurel Sleep brings this philosophy to life through three connected elements — plants, scent,
and repetition.
Plants Can Help You Slow Down
For centuries, herbalists have turned to plants as part of traditional practices focused on
relaxation and rest. Lavender, valerian, passionflower, skullcap, and tulsi are among the
botanicals associated with these traditions, each valued for its distinct properties and place in
herbal preparations.
Many of these plants are known in herbalism as nervines, a category of herbs traditionally used
to encourage relaxation and ease feelings of tension. For Laurel, their importance extends
beyond their individual characteristics. She considers the plant as a whole, including how it was
grown, harvested, and prepared, and how its qualities complement the other botanicals in a
formulation.
Laurel Sleep brings those traditions into the modern bedtime ritual through two beautifully
different preparations. Sleep Mist introduces delicate botanical hydrosols into the space around
you, while Sleep Balm combines slowly infused herbs with plant oils and grounding aromatics.
Together, they make the experience of working with plants both sensory and personal.
Scent Gives Your Brain a Signal That It Is Time to Rest
There’s a reason certain scents can transport us to a particular place or moment. Our sense of
smell is closely connected to the areas of the brain involved in memory and emotion, giving
fragrance a remarkable ability to evoke familiarity.
That connection can become part of a nighttime ritual. When we consistently experience the
same botanical aromas while slowing down before bed, those scents can gradually become
associated with the quieter rhythm of the evening.
In Laurel Sleep, every aromatic ingredient has a place in that experience. Lavender contributes
a soft, familiar floral note, tulsi adds fresh herbal character, and sandalwood brings a warm,
woody depth. The Sleep Balm introduces a richer aromatic profile through botanicals such as
cedarwood, vetiver, and clary sage.
These plants aren’t presented as a promise of instant sleep. Instead, their aromatic qualities
become part of a deliberate sensory experience, helping distinguish the moments reserved for
rest from the demands of the day.
Repetition Turns a Routine Into a Ritual
Some of the most meaningful rituals are also the simplest. A few familiar steps, repeated with
care, can bring a sense of comfort and consistency to the end of the day.
That might mean misting your pillow before bed, warming a botanical balm between your
fingertips, or spending a few minutes massaging your neck, shoulders, or feet. None of these
moments needs to be complicated. Their value lies in the opportunity to slow down, reconnect
with your senses, and give your attention to something other than the next task.
Over time, repetition can make these actions familiar cues for winding down. With Laurel Sleep,
the Mist creates an aromatic atmosphere, while the Balm adds the warmth of touch and the
comfort of a nourishing botanical texture.
The plants give the ritual its foundation, scent creates familiarity, and repetition makes the
experience your own. It’s a simple philosophy with a distinctly Laurel sensibility — thoughtful,
grounded, and rooted in the belief that meaningful self-care begins with intention.
What can you find in the Laurel Sleep collection?
The Laurel Sleep Collection includes two complementary formulations, each crafted with the
botanical expertise, ingredient integrity, and patient preparation that have made Laurel Skin so
distinctive. Although both products are designed for the nighttime ritual, each offers a different
way to experience the power and beauty of whole plants.
Sleep Mist: Settled Mind
For the evenings when your body is ready for bed but your mind is still moving, Sleep Mist:
Settled Mind offers a beautifully simple invitation to slow down. Made with just three organic
whole-plant hydrosols, this delicate botanical mist turns scent into an intentional part of
preparing for rest.
Hydrosols capture the water-soluble aromatic constituents of plants through distillation,
offering a softer, more delicate experience than concentrated essential oils. In true Laurel
fashion, the quality of the botanical material and the care taken in its preparation are central to
the finished formula.
The three ingredients each bring something distinct to the blend.
- Lavender Hydrosol — A familiar nervine in traditional herbalism, lavender has long been
associated with relaxation and easing feelings of tension. Laurel Skin grows, harvests, and
distills its lavender at the Laurel Skin Farm, bringing an extraordinary level of traceability
and freshness to the finished hydrosol. Its delicate floral aroma creates the soft foundation of
the Mist. - Tulsi Hydrosol — Also known as holy basil, tulsi has a long history in Ayurvedic herbalism,
where it is traditionally valued for its association with balance and resilience during periods
of stress. Its fresh, green, gently spiced aromatic character complements lavender’s softness
and brings a distinctive herbal dimension to the blend. - Hawaiian Sandalwood Hydrosol — Sustainably cultivated Hawaiian sandalwood adds
warmth and depth to the formula. Long appreciated in traditional aromatic practices, its rich,
woody character grounds the lighter floral and herbal notes, creating a beautifully balanced
composition.
Together, lavender, tulsi, and sandalwood create an aromatic experience that feels delicate yet
complete. The Mist’s elegance lies in its restraint, allowing three carefully selected botanicals
and the craftsmanship behind their preparation to speak for themselves.
How to use: Mist your skin, pillow, linens, or the space around you before bed. Take a few slow
breaths as the botanical aroma settles, allowing this simple moment to become a familiar part of
your evening ritual.
Sleep Balm: Somatic Rest
Where Sleep Mist encourages a quieter atmosphere through scent, Sleep Balm: Somatic Rest
brings the ritual closer through touch. This rich botanical balm was created to make space for
the physical side of unwinding, combining the comfort of slow massage with the extraordinary
quality of Laurel’s whole-plant formulations.
Made with 18 organic whole-plant ingredients, the balm brings together nourishing
botanical oils, therapeutic aromatics, and a centerpiece that reflects the patience of traditional
herbalism — a three-month infusion of passionflower, skullcap, and valerian.
These herbs have long been used in herbal traditions associated with relaxation and rest. Rather
than relying on isolated constituents, Laurel chooses to work with the complete plants, allowing
them to infuse slowly as part of her meticulous preparation process.
The supporting ingredients add their own nourishing and aromatic dimensions to the formula.
- Passionflower, Skullcap + Valerian — These three traditional nervine herbs form the heart
of the balm’s slow whole-plant infusion. Each has a history of use in herbal preparations
centered on relaxation and rest, reflecting Laurel’s thoughtful, herbalist-led approach to
formulation. - Lavender, Cedarwood, Vetiver + Clary Sage — A sophisticated aromatic blend that moves
from soft florals into deeper herbal and woody notes. Lavender brings familiarity, cedarwood
and vetiver offer earthy warmth, and clary sage adds a gently herbaceous finish. - Pumpkin Seed Oil, Hemp Seed Oil + Milky Oats — Rich in naturally occurring botanical
constituents, these ingredients bring nourishing comfort to the skin and contribute to the
balm’s beautiful texture. Laurel values their whole-plant composition, including naturally
occurring nutrients and compounds associated with their traditional botanical uses.
The resulting balm melts into the skin with a velvety richness that lends itself beautifully to
massage. As the formula warms between your hands, its botanical aroma unfolds and the simple
act of application becomes an opportunity to release the pace of the day.
How to use: Massage a small amount into your neck, shoulders, chest, temples, hands, or feet
before bed. Warm the balm between your fingertips and take your time, allowing the botanical
aroma, rich texture, and slow movements to become part of your nightly transition.
Together, Sleep Mist and Sleep Balm create a complete sensory ritual. The Mist introduces
botanical aromatics into your surroundings, while the Balm makes the experience more tactile
and personal. Each formulation reflects a different expression of Laurel’s herbal expertise,
united by her dedication to exceptional plants and intentional self-care.
Buy Laurel Sleep at Beauty Heroes
Our relationship with Laurel Skin has always been about more than bringing beautiful products
to our shelves. For more than a decade, we’ve had the privilege of knowing Laurel, witnessing
her commitment to sourcing and formulation firsthand, and sharing her extraordinary work with
our community.
What continues to distinguish Laurel is the integrity behind every product. The freshness of her
botanical ingredients, her respect for traditional herbal preparations, and the care involved in
small-batch production reflect the qualities we celebrate at Beauty Heroes.
Laurel Sleep is a meaningful extension of that philosophy, bringing her expertise into a nightly
ritual centered on scent, touch, and a more intentional approach to rest.
For Jeannie, the experience has already become personal.
“Sleep is such a challenge for so many of us, and I love that Laurel has ventured into
self-care with a truly holistic way to support rest. Massaging the Sleep Balm into my
feet, wrists and neck has become one of my favorite nighttime rituals, it’s such a
beautiful way to signal to my body that it’s time to wind down.”
— Jeannie Jarnot, Founder, Beauty Heroes
The ritual is refreshingly simple. Begin with Sleep Mist: Settled Mind, allowing the floral,
herbal, and woody notes to settle into your surroundings. Follow with Sleep Balm: Somatic
Rest, massaging the rich botanical formula into the areas where you tend to carry tension.
Mist, massage, breathe, and begin to let go of the day. The beauty of Laurel Sleep is found in
those few unhurried moments, when caring for yourself becomes the most important thing on
the evening’s agenda.
Beauty Begins With a Good Night’s Sleep
At Beauty Heroes, we believe beauty is connected to the many ways we care for ourselves, from
the ingredients we put on our skin to the rituals that bring balance to everyday life. Rest is an
essential part of that picture, and preparing for it deserves the same intention we bring to our
skincare.
Laurel Sleep embodies that philosophy through an extraordinary expression of whole-plant
herbalism. From lavender grown and distilled at the Laurel Skin Farm to carefully sourced
aromatics and a three-month herbal infusion, every ingredient tells a story of botanical
expertise, exceptional quality, and patient craftsmanship.
It’s the kind of dedication that has made Laurel Skin such a meaningful part of Beauty Heroes
for more than a decade. With Sleep Mist and Sleep Balm, Laurel brings that same
uncompromising approach to the nighttime ritual, reminding us that luxury isn’t always about
doing more. Sometimes, it’s about giving ourselves the time and space to do less, beautifully.
