I recently wrote about my nightly conundrum here on Mind Your Body: (No, not that one!) It’s about whether I should turn over and sleep on my side, thus creating or deepening facial lines. My natural instincts to flop usually win, but now, that’s ok.
It’s because I heard from Kim Renton, who along with her colleague Kathy Young Keefe who’s also a registered nurse, invented “the smartest pillow on the market.” It’s the enVy®, and she offered to let me try one. I actually couldn’t wait, and I agree: This is one very smart pillow. It’s also the first of its kind.
Renton describes it as “a unique therapeutic pillow to promote both wellness and a youthful appearance, while optimizing the quality of sleep.” The pillow was originally designed for patients following plastic surgery.
Nicely done
It arrived in a beautiful brown satin outer case, embroidered with its name on the upper right-hand corner of the actual bamboo pillowcase. That material is promised to be gentle on delicate facial tissue, with triple the “breathability” and wicking properties of cotton. It’s smooth and nonabrasive to skin. I like that.
The pillow is made of high-quality Canadian memory foam and is molded to provide proper alignment and weight distribution for head and neck. This is also good since I also sometimes have neck pain, not helped by so many hours at my computer or my falls off horses.
Holds it right there
“EnVy promotes the ideal position necessary for reducing muscle pain and headaches and facilitates proper airway positioning in the treatment of sleep apnea,” says Renton. “We like to say there are many neck support pillows on the market but they are not designed to protect your face or support your neck.”
This pillow actually has two neck supports.
“We think enVy is the first wellness pillow designed to meet the needs of every sleeper. It keeps you in perfect alignment on your back or side without leaving the evidence of a good night’s sleep on your face,” says Renton.
It really delivers. Even if I need to turn sideways, my face isn’t “scrunched” deeply into the pillow, yet I’m on my side. Zzzzzzz…off my face!
Sweet memory foam
New users need to keep a few things in mind, advises Renton:
Although enVy may feel firm, especially if it is in a dry or cold environment, the warmth of your head will soften the pillow. All true, so give it time.
Memory foam will give your head a weightless feeling and the shape of the pillow will allow your neck and shoulders to relax. Like orthotics or even Birkenstocks for feet, a supportive pillow may take getting used to. It’s worth it.
If you currently sleep on a puffy pillow, or even worse two pillows, it can take up to ten nights for your neck muscles to stretch out so your head can comfortably rest aligned.
When you fall in love with your pillow you won’t want to travel without it, she promises. “Your enVy can roll up and be secured with a belt. When you get to your destination, simply remove the belt and within minutes your pillow will be back to its original shape. So many people travel with their pillows now that we have decided to make a travel-sized enVy. We hope to have them available this summer.”
Buy the current pillow online at $199.