I’m sure there are more than a few of you out in cyberspace wondering why I am doing a review on a pillow.  What on earth does a pillow have to do with makeup or cosmetics? Plenty, I believe. While those who follow beauty-related blogs obviously love to look at, and wear makeup, I would like a show of hands as to those who enjoy covering up signs that you’ve had a miserable night’s sleep? Anyone enjoy trying to figure out how to conceal the lines and indentations around your eyes and cheeks due to tossing all night because you couldn’t get your pillow in the correct position to comfortably fall asleep?

I’m going to assume that we’re all in agreement that makeup and cosmetics should be fun, and not used for the sole purpose as a way to hide our exhaustion. That’s why I started to do some research on sleeping and beauty sleep in particular–of course! First I came across this research:  

“Medical researchers confirm that Beauty sleep is not a myth!” CHRISTMAS 2010: RESEARCH

“Beauty sleep: experimental study on the perceived health and attractiveness of sleep deprived people, published in the British Medical Journal, researcher John Axelsson and his team at the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm found that sleep-deprived individuals appear less healthy, more tired, and less attractive than those who have received a full night’s worth of sleep..Studies show that people who do not get enough sleep may appear unhealthy and unattractive….Sleep is probably more effective than any beauty treatment you can buy.” 

Then, Jane E. Brody published an excellent NYT’s article: A Good Night’s Sleep Isn’t A Luxury; It’s a Necessity, on May 31, 2011, (Permalink: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/05/31/health/31brody.html),

I didn’t need any more convincing to know that I had to get myself a new pillow since I was clearly not getting enough sleep every night, and I would wake up, literally, feeling like I needed to go back to sleep, and with a sore neck to boot! And by the way, I also had those lines on my face from the pillow that was ironing the latest pillow emboss onto my right cheek due to the heat and pressure! 

I had enjoyed a well-known brand of contoured pillow; it was supposedly ergonomically shaped for support, which is great, and it was also soft and able to be “shaped.” However, big problem! While it was excellent when I first purchased it, after only about 2-3 months, the pillow started to break down and was so “shapeable” it no longer offered the support it had claimed. It just turned into a blob of foam. 

While looking at beauty sites, I actually saw that Sophie Uliano had a contest to win a free luxury pillow, “PILLO1″, on her site, “A Simply Gorgeous Life.”  I wasn’t feeling lucky enough to win, so I decided I would purchase one. However, I decided that this time I would do more research than I did for my previous pillow purchase.  It was during this search that I came across the scary statistic that almost 75% of the population has a sleep problem, and I came to the quick conclusion that I was one of those people!  I went forward to find out how I could get one of these new pillows that the actress Angie Harmom described as, “Heaven in a box.”

I went to PILLO1′s website: http://www.pillo1.com. There I saw that not only did the gorgeous Jaclyn Smith offer her testimony about the PILLO1, but also there was a lot of information provided. The website is one place where customers can purchase the PILLO1. It also explains how PILLO1 is different from other pillows, and  provides tips for sleeping better (which follows later in the post). I found it extremely interesting that PILLO1 has two different types of surfaces: one soft, breathable, pliable cushion for the face, and then a more supportive contour for the neck. Most pillows that I had researched had only one surface from some sort of fiber-filled synthetic material.

Dr. Raymond Hall, who has been a chiropractor to the stars for over 26 years, is responsible for crafting and developing the 35 prototypes for what was to become “PILLO1.” I had read that he began working on the pillow when he realized that “4 out of 5 people that came in to him, came in with neck pain after waking up from sleep.” 

photo courtesy of PILLO1

The PILLO1  positions your neck and back so you have perfect alignment whether you are sleeping on your back, or you are sleeping on your side–so your head is elevated. And PILLO1 gives a two year manufacturers warranty for the foam not to lose resiliency.

I loved my PILLO1, but I had one concern about recommending it to others. PILLO1 is very upfront and writes that some people may need a “break in period” — and they even have a schedule for doing that. I did not need that, but I wanted to know if that was typical before I gave a complete “thumbs up” on recommending it. I wrote to Dr. Hall and he kindly and quickly responded to my inquiry.

Dr. Hall, I know that you have written a lot about the “break in” period for the PILLO1, but I didn’t need one at all. From my first night on, I started waking up feeling more rested. Do most people, like myself, who have previously awakened in the morning with neck pain, really need this adjustment period?

Great question, Moxie!  We put that in just for the people who need a lot of correction in their spine and/or who are a bit older.  People in their late fifty’s and older tend to need a longer break-in period as they have had poor sleeping support all their lives.  But so glad to hear of your immediate comfort and therapeutic effect.  I have seen the immediate response in probably 3 out of 4 people under fifty.  The remainder usually begin to fall in love within 2-3 weeks.