A traveller has shared the genius item to pack to help you sleep on a flight – and it costs just £8.
Magnesium butter is great for travel as it helps muscles to relax – and, an essential benefit when flying long-haul, can improve sleep.
Plus, it’s a budget-friendly option, with brands including NEOM, BetterYou, and Feather & Down offering travel-sized options that you can take through security.
For example, some magnesium creams can be purchased on Amazon for just £7.99 – potentially making a dramatic difference to your journey for less than £10.
It’s simple to use, too – you just massage the cream into your feet, neck or body before sleeping.
Arati Menon, global digital director at Conde Nast Traveller, revealed the clever trick.
Arati wrote: ‘Stock up on magnesium butter. OK, this isn’t the most inventive or path-breaking habit, but I’ve started traveling with my magnesium butter wherever I go.
‘I’m a restless sleeper in the best of times – and a sleepless one when jet-lagged – but I prefer not to ingest sleeping aids.
Sleeping on planes can prove challenging at the best of times
‘A few months ago, I was seduced by an Instagram ad (this, I’ll admit, is a regular occurrence) for a magnesium butter that promised more restful sleep and deeper, longer REM cycles, and I folded.
‘I’ve been using it ever since, rubbing it into the soles of my feet and my calves, and I definitely feel like my sleep has improved.’
Arati added: ‘Even if it doesn’t dispel jet lag completely, it does wonders for both reassurance and that comforting feeling of bringing a piece of home with you.’
Magnesium helps calm the nervous system, helping sleep, which is perfect for travellers flying overnight.
Larger bottles can go in checked luggage without liquid restrictions.
But if you purchase smaller tubs or travel toiletry sets, you can take bottles or tubs under 100ml on board most planes.
There are plenty of other hacks to help you sleep on board your next flight.
Sleeping on planes is one of the hardest things to do for many people – especially if you’re sitting upright in economy.
Now, a traveller has revealed the cheap cream you can take on board to help you sleep (stock)
Many travellers recommend booking red-eye flights, which are ones that depart late at night and arrive early in the morning.
Bringing comfortable clothing and noise-cancelling headphones is another great way to improve your chances of getting some shut-eye.
Another hack is buying a good-quality sleep mask before the flight, as the ones they give out on planes are often thin and ineffective.
Plus, taking a 30-minute walk inside the airport before your flight could increase your chances of sleeping on board.
