Beauty Sleep Co: Best friends launch anti-ageing pillow and pillowcase

Two friends see their business skyrocket after launching a unique pillow they claim reduces the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles and creases.

Hannah McCann and Renata Belperio felt their 30s were catching up with them and were tired of waking up every morning looking groggy with wrinkles all over their faces from sleeping on regular pillows.

They also suffered from constant puffy eyes, found their eyelash extensions had fallen out overnight, and spent hundreds of dollars trying to address their concerns.

“It took longer and longer for these lines to disappear during the day. We then did some research, we tried everything on the market to make us look a little fresher in the morning, but nothing seemed to work,” the Brisbane-based duo told FEMAIL.

They took matters into their own hands and set to work designing their own unique pillowcase to address the problem they both faced – and poured all of their life savings into the idea.

In March 2022, Beauty Sleep Co was born selling satin pillowcases and soft pillows – making $5,000 in sales in one day.

The pillow and pillowcase are ‘uniquely designed’ with moon cutouts on either side to limit pressure around the sensitive eye and face area while you sleep

Although the company only officially launched 12 months ago, the couple started developing the idea before the pandemic hit Australia, working full-time in corporate jobs.

“We don’t have a background in beauty or e-commerce, but spent years researching and learning about the do’s and don’ts of beauty,” they said.

Hannah and Renata say the pillow and pillowcase are “uniquely designed” with moon cutouts on either side to reduce pressure around the sensitive eyes and face while you sleep.

This is said to help minimize fine lines and creases from sleep that become permanent over time and helps you wake up without puffy eyes.

“It can be very difficult to correct these sleep wrinkles with injectables and other treatments as they form over years and years, so prevention is best!” said the pair.

The products also prevent lashes from being pushed and pulled throughout the night and keep hair smooth.

The Selene Pillow, made from a blend of microfiber and shredded memory foam, costs $148, while the cruelty-free satin The Selene Pillowcase is just $36.

Melbourne mom and fashion icon Rozalia Russian also endorsed the product on social media, sparking a rapid spike in sales.

Before and after photos from a customer show the results of sleeping on the soft pillowcase, which keeps skin wrinkle-free (right)

And while silk pillowcases have been all the rage in the last few years, Hannah and Renata say it’s not “enough” to reduce facial lines and creases.

“The average head weighs as much as a bowling ball, so a silk pillowcase won’t do anything to stop that kind of pressure against the face that causes sleep wrinkles when sleeping on the side,” they said.

“They also fell apart so quickly because of the nature of the fabric and then we found out the way they are produced and we were shocked.

This often comes as a surprise to some, but traditional silk pillows are made through a process where about 3,000 silkworms are boiled alive in their cocoons to make just 250 grams of silk. We knew we had to find an ethical alternative.’

By comparison, Beauty Sleep Co’s products are not tested on animals.

But running a business from the ground up isn’t easy, and the two have had to overcome some stressful hurdles along the way, including a stressful sampling process

But running a business from the ground up isn’t easy, and the two have had to overcome some stressful hurdles along the way.

“We lost A LOT of money on our first container of stock because our original manufacturer switched out the materials for a lower quality last minute,” they recalled.

“Because the lockdowns were in full swing during our purchasing phase, we were unable to visit our warehouse. We had spent a lot of time going through quality checks and taking samples from a distance and delayed an order because we were so committed to producing a perfect product.

“When our first order arrived it was nothing like what we expected – we were so heartbroken and didn’t think we would be able to go ahead and order again.”

Hannah and Renata have also found themselves working through the night, often ending the day with a midnight margarita.

But despite the painful sampling process, they produced the perfect product. Today Hannah works full time in the company while Renata still has her job in HR.

The Selene Pillow, made from a blend of microfiber and shredded memory foam, costs $148, while the cruelty-free satin The Selene Pillowcase is just $36. Both products are not tested on animals

In the future, Hannah and Renata hope to shake up the beauty industry with their products, and customers have already left positive reviews.

“I was recommended this pillow by a friend for sleep apnea. I can now have a perfect night’s sleep because the design of the pillow does not interfere with the mask. It also feels silky smooth on the beard. Worth every penny, have a nice day/night!’ someone wrote on the website.

Best kisses ever! I am in love with my pillow and will be buying more for the whole family. Treat yourself!’ another wrote.

“I can’t tell you how much I love this pillow. For years I have searched for the perfect pillow, and this one is just right! The shape is sooo comfortable and I swear I fall asleep faster! The only problem is my family keeps fighting for it, I think we’ll all have one soon,” a third added.