What Is The Envy Pillow? What Can It Do For You?

If you’re waking up every day looking and feeling worse than when you went to bed then it’s time to address the problem. Sleep should be rejuvenating. You should wake up feeling refreshed, looking and feeling well-rested. If you wake up with stiff shoulders, a crick in the neck, or creases on your face that weren’t there when you went to bed maybe you should think about getting yourself an Envy Pillow. What Is The Envy Pillow? It might be just what the doctor ordered.

What Is The Envy Pillow?

The Envy Pillow is a therapeutic beauty pillow, co-created by friends Kim Renton and Kathy Young Keefe, in 2007. Both Registered Nurses, their combined experiences, interests, and expertise gave them all they needed to design the most comfortable anti-sleep wrinkle, therapeutic pillow on the market today.

Kim’s career took her from hospital-based practice to founding her own company, KAPPS, training physicians on the use of BOTOX and facial fillers. Her expertise in anti-ageing made her aware of the fact that sleep wrinkles are one of the biggest skin agers and one of the most resistant to treatments. She discovered that side and stomach sleepers were the worst affected so the perfect pillow would need to keep pressure off the delicate tissues of the face. You can read more about the healthiest sleep position here.

Kathy worked for years in the research-intensive Hospital for Sick Children, in Toronto. She gained extensive knowledge in anatomy and physiology through working in the Intensive Care, Cranio-Facial, Plastic Surgery, and Burns units. As a teenager, Kathy had spinal surgery. For her, the perfect pillow would need to offer great neck support and chiropractic alignment to relieve any chronic spinal pain.

They originally designed the pillow for post-operative plastic surgery patients, as a way to keep them from putting pressure on their faces while they slept. The fact that the pillow is unbelievably comfortable, and it decreases sleep wrinkles, saw its popularity skyrocket well beyond its intended clients.

The creators originally took their idea into the Dragon’s Den but left without accepting the offers of investment. They were assured by the Dragons that their idea would be a hit and they could do it on their own. Which they did.

The Shape

The ergonomic design has gently sloping sides that form a wide-open V-shape. Whether you sleep on your back or your side your head will be cradled from behind and slightly tilted up, keeping your face away from the surface of the pillow. They call it their Off-Your-Face Technology.

The pillow has dual neck support, and a unique patented design called “The Stepping Stone”. There are two levels of neck support to choose from. You can simply turn the pillow around to change the level of support. Most people seem to choose the larger support. It’s more suitable for those of us that spend a lot of time on the computer and tend to sit with bad posture and our head thrust forward.

The centre of the pillow has an elevated pattern of dots called “The Sweet Spot”. It allows the air to circulate by distributing weight more evenly and relieving pressure points. The pattern isn’t just random either. Each bump is strategically placed at a specific acupressure point to help relieve headaches, stiff neck, and sinus congestion.

The Materials

All the materials used to make the pillow and its pillowcases have the Oeko-Tex Certification, meaning they are completely free of harmful substances including:

• Ozone depleters
• PBDE or any other fire retardants
• TDCPP or TCEP
• Mercury, lead, or other heavy metals,
• Formaldehyde
• CFCs
• Dyes
• Phthalates

All the materials are resistant to mould, mildew, and dust mites, and are hypoallergenic. They are created with low Volatile Organic Compound (VOC) emissions which is better for the environment and better for you.

The Pillow

The Envy pillow is made with Canadian “Unforgettable Memory Foam”. This state-of-the-art memory foam doesn’t get harder when the weather gets colder. It stays soft and malleable even at subzero temperatures. A good quality memory foam moulds itself to the shape of the head and neck. It is considered the best choice of material for pillows, offering comfort and support.

The Pillowcases

Mulberry Silk is made by a rare species of silkworm that feeds on mulberry leaves. The worms create one of the softest silks available. The silk has a lovely sheen to it which, apart from looking gorgeous, also acts as a natural bed bug repellent. The material is so smooth the bugs just can’t stick to it.

This particular silk is hypoallergenic and extremely strong, yet very breathable. Fresh oxygen circulates freely through the case during the night so you won’t be breathing in stale air and dust.

Unlike cotton, silk doesn’t absorb moisture so it won’t dry out your skin and hair. The smooth texture causes less friction and drag so is perfect for helping to prevent sleep wrinkles.

Bamboo is one of the most sustainable resources in the world and harsh chemical pesticides are very rarely used in its cultivation, making the Bamboo pillowcase a very environmentally friendly option. It’s anti-bacterial and anti-allergenic. You definitely aren’t going to have a dust mite problem with this material.

Bamboo fibres are round and smooth. They won’t cause any friction against the skin, meaning fewer sleep wrinkles and skin irritations. They also have amazing insulation properties, keeping you cool in the summer and warm in the winter.

The Copper Liner

The optional liner is made with a smooth, eco-friendly fabric infused with copper using CuTEC® technology. This technology permanently binds the copper compound to the textile fibre, making the copper a homogeneous part of the fabric.

Copper is an essential mineral, easily absorbed and metabolized by the body. It has so many health and beauty benefits it will blow your mind and make you wonder why you haven’t been made aware of it before.

The liner fabric itself is called TENCEL® and comes from raw wood. The makers use an eco-friendly system that eliminates chemicals and produces a textile that is naturally more absorbent than cotton, softer than silk, and cooler than linen.

“We are proud to offer you both a clean night’s sleep AND a green night’s sleep that feels good, and that you can feel good about. TENCEL® provides the peace of mind that this liner is sustainably sourced and consumes as few resources from the earth as possible.” enVy™

The Travel Bag

Envy is an environmentally aware company and tries to keep everything as green as possible. When you order an Envy pillow it won’t arrive wrapped in reams of plastic. Instead, you’ll get it in a beautiful satin travel bag. You’ll probably want to take this pillow with you if you travel so the bag comes in handy.

How To Use The Envy Pillow

The Good

There are plenty of good things to say about the Envy pillow. Let’s start with the pillow itself.

The Pillow

Takes Care Of Your Skin

The uniquely designed “Off Your Face System” means that your face isn’t smushed into the pillow. Even if you try to push your face into the pillow, the wide V shape in the middle will cause your head to roll back into a position where your face is angled up and the back of the head is gently supported. This takes the pressure off of your skin and decreases the chance of developing sleep wrinkles.

Originally designed for post-plastic surgery patients, this pillow is perfect for protecting your skin after any facial surgery or aesthetic treatments like Botox or fillers. It also works well for acne and rosacea sufferers, keeping the skin well-ventilated and away from the surface of the pillow.

Another big bonus for your skin is that it will have time to absorb all those expensive serums and night creams that you slather on before bed. You’d be surprised how much gets rubbed off onto your normal pillow.

Promotes Better Alignment & Relieves Pain

Having the head tilted back relieves any pressure on the jaw. It is very helpful for people that suffer from TMJ, any sort of pain or inflammation in the jaw, and for those who grind their teeth or clench their jaw at night. If you’ve had any dental procedures this will also help relieve your pain.

The Envy pillow gently supports the curve of your neck, keeping your spine in good, natural alignment. If you’re sleeping on your back experts recommend that your ears, shoulders, and hips are in a straight line, relatively parallel to your mattress. Waking up with neck, back or shoulder pain, headaches, or numbness are all signs that your neck doesn’t have the proper support it needs while you’re sleeping.

The Stepping Stone support and the sloping sides of the Envy pillow make sleeping on your back more comfortable. Your head is cradled and feels secure so you won’t be tossing and turning as much during the night. The scooped-out centre means the head stays close to the mattress for better alignment.

Each pillow has two levels of support for the neck, lower and higher support. All you need to do is turn the pillow around to choose which level of support suits you best. This design is recommended by chiropractors to patients suffering from chronic back, neck, or shoulder pain.

Helps Sleep Apnea Suffers

Sleeping in the position that this pillow puts you in actually opens up your airways, helping you breathe more freely. If you suffer from sleep apnea and have to use a CPAP mask during the night you’ll know how uncomfortable they can be. Combine that with a regular pillow that pushes the mask and tubing up against your face and it’s unlikely you’re getting any quality sleep.

The Envy pillow is ideal for opening up your airways. It also allows space for the mask so that it’s not pushing into your skin, leaving marks. Mask users say that the CPAP masks actually leak less when used with an Envy pillow as they aren’t being pushed out of place.

The Copper Liner

The copper liner offers so many benefits I’m not sure where to start. This amazing technology that allows copper to be infused into a textile is so beneficial that I think everyone should try to incorporate a piece of this fabric into their everyday lives. Check out what copper can do for you.

It’s Antimicrobial – Copper has been used for centuries as a potent, natural germ killer, with broad-spectrum anti-bacterial, anti-viral, anti-fungal, and anti-mite properties. It works not only through direct contact but also by releasing ions. These copper ions kill any germs in the surrounding area so the liner also protects the pillow and the pillowcase. It’s basically self-cleaning.

Copper even gets rid of superbugs like MRSA in just 24 hours. Recent studies are researching the effectiveness of copper for killing the Coronavirus and so far the results are looking really good. Envy has started producing face masks with copper to protect against Covid-19. Get your mask here.

It Rejuvenates Skin – One of the worst things about getting older is losing that fullness and firmness in your skin that you just take for granted when you’re young. Collagen and elastin were probably words that you weren’t even aware of in your youth. As you age and their production lessens they start to become buzzwords that just keep popping up more and more often.

Copper might just be the skin saviour you’re looking for. A study published in the Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology says that continued exposure to copper significantly reduces the depth of wrinkles and enhances the production of collagen and elastin. Yay!

It Improves Brain Function – Copper has some really powerful effects on the brain. It helps connect neurons and is involved in creating neurotransmitters. Copper deficiency has been linked to moodiness, brain fog, increased appetite, and even low libido. Imagine if a pillowcase could really help with all that.

It’s Anti-inflammatory & Anti-Oxidant – As your skin absorbs the Copper Ions they work on your body from the inside out. They help in the development of new blood vessels, pumping more oxygen-rich blood around the body.

Anti-oxidants help stabilize free radicals, which stops them from attacking our cells and creating disease. That coupled with the anti-inflammatory effect copper has can encourage and speed up the healing of infections, cuts, and wounds, any cosmetic procedures, and even scarring. Along with the anti-bacterial properties it possesses, copper can have an amazing effect on skin issues such as acne and rosacea.

Copper assists in blocking the production and release of chemicals that cause pain and inflammation. It’s especially helpful for cases of rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, and other inflammatory diseases.

The fact that the copper will only be close to your head and shoulders when using the pillow has no bearing on its healing abilities. The copper ions are absorbed into the skin and therefore will work from the inside out, helping with different problems anywhere in the body.

The Mulberry Silk Pillowcase

The gorgeous, top-quality silk is so soft it’s just heaven to sleep on. It doesn’t absorb moisture so you’re night creams will stay on your face where they belong, and it won’t leach the moisture from your skin and hair so won’t dry them out.

Silk doesn’t cause friction so won’t drag your skin or cause sleep wrinkles. You won’t wake up with bedhead either as silk helps lessen frizziness.

An interesting and unexpected bonus of this pillowcase is that as silk is a natural textile there are amino acids present in it. These acids have been medically acclaimed as having properties that are beneficial for your skin’s health and well-being. They promote a feeling of calm in the user and can also help with skin conditions such as eczema. Silk also contains natural cellular albumen which speeds up cell turnover.

The Bamboo Pillowcase

Apart from being a very environmentally friendly product, this pillowcase is also very smooth and soft. It will help lessen sleep wrinkles and is perfectly fitted to the pillow so you won’t get any extra creases that could lead to more wrinkles.

The entire pillow and its liner and cases are all resistant to dust mites. There’s evidence that dust mites are connected with puffy eyes and with skin outbreaks, so that’s great news for your face.

The Travel Pillow

Envy also offers a travel pillow that is easy to take with you everywhere. It’s half the size of the original, measuring 14″ x 11″ or 36cm x 28cm, and has neck support on just one side. It’s easy to roll up and pop in your case, and comes with its own little travel bag.

The 90-Night Promise

These guys are so confident that you’ll love the pillow that they offer a 90-night no-questions-asked money-back guarantee. This guarantee is only for the full-sized pillows, but as long as they are in the same condition they were sent out in you can get all your money back if you can’t get on with it.

All returned pillows are sanitized and donated to women’s shelters.

The Bad

It’s been pretty difficult to not sound biased while doing this review, but the truth is I can’t find anything bad to say about the Envy Pillow. Even looking at other people’s reviews on Trustpilot I’m having trouble. Out of 72 reviews, only one was bad, 3 were average and the rest were good or excellent. In fact, 90% of the reviews were excellent.

The one bad review I found was from someone who suffers from TMJ and found that the pillow didn’t help her at all. Another person who gave the pillow an average rating found that the pillow was too high for her. Of course, everyone is individual and one product isn’t going to suit everyone but the fact is that most people love it.

I think the price can be put on the bad list. It is expensive. It’s a lot of money for a pillow. But when you think about the fact that it is something you will use every night the cost soon levels out.

A couple of people mentioned that the pillow had started to yellow, but that’s a completely natural thing that happens as the memory foam ages and oxidizes.

There is a slight chemical smell when you first open the pillow, but that’s quite normal with memory foam. It only took a day of letting it air out to get rid of it. It also takes a little bit of getting used to, like anything new.

I found it very comfortable for back sleeping, but when I turned to my side I had to get used to the feeling of my head tilting up instead of down. Of course, that’s the whole point of the pillow, to stop you from smushing your face into it. So it’s a good thing, it just takes a little getting used to.

Obviously, both pillowcases need to be cared for properly to keep them in good condition and avoid shrinkage. Everything comes with instructions plus there’s a full set of instructions for each piece on the website so as long as you read them you shouldn’t have any issues.

 

The Envy Pillow Line

The Envy Pillow – Is It Worth It?

Personally, I love this pillow. I think it’s worth every penny of its slightly hefty price tag.

I have always had trouble finding a comfortable pillow as I like to lay quite flat but have my neck supported. In the past, if I’ve been away from home and the pillows are really high I’ve even resorted to getting rid of the pillow completely and just using a small rolled-up towel under my neck. The Envy Pillow resolves that problem.

I don’t really suffer from any neck or back pain so can’t say for sure whether it would help if I did. I think there is some improvement in the texture of my skin and the appearance of wrinkles. Whether this is down to the materials, the position, or just the fact that I’m getting some really good quality sleep is difficult to say. Time will tell, I suppose.

If you have any pain, skin issues, or any sleep problems you owe it to yourself to give this pillow a try. If you don’t love it you can return it within 90 days for a full refund. You have nothing to lose!

 

“We truly believe everyone who owns enVy®, will love it….and anyone who doesn’t will want to….and that’s how enVy® was born!”

Envy Pillow Company

 

If you have any questions or if you’d like to leave your own review please do so in the comments below.

 

Photo Credits: envypillow.com