I'm a lifelong troubled sleeper. At some point, my issue shifted from falling asleep to staying asleep, but the latter has been trickier to manage. I can't take an Ambien or even melatonin (which makes me sleep but also feel awful in the morning) at 4 or 5 a.m. if I want any cognitive cylinders firing the following day. 

Having exhausted most remedies, I happened upon Fleur Marche's all-natural Dream, Plz dermal patches that deliver a stream of valerian root and hops (the same ones used to make beer!) via the skin all night. Valerian root has been the most effective natural aid for me in falling asleep, so I thought a more evenly dispersed hit might help keep me asleep -- and it has.

While by no means a scientific study, the valerian root sleep patches have been the most effective method for helping me sleep through the night without feeling groggy in the morning. I've kept a sleep log and in the 10 times I've slapped one of the dermal patches on before bed, I've stayed asleep for at least seven hours about 80% of the time. That might not sound great, but for anyone who struggles with insomnia at the back end of the sleep cycle, this is a solid mark.

The patches are pricey -- $26 for eight or $3.25 per patch. But if you subscribe and use promo code REFRESH30 right now, you'll get 30% off two monthly deliveries of eight patches for $15 per month, plus 15% off for subscribing. That's 45% off the non-subscription price and breaks down to less than $2 per patch. If you don't want to commit to 16 patches, you can bag a seven-pack on Amazon for $18.

I don't need or use them every night. I'll typically slap one of the blue dermal patches if I'm experiencing elevated stress, have an important day ahead or have had a few nights of poor sleep and need to break out of it. The patches don't itch like some I've tried and they stay on securely. It's a bit painful to remove them in the morning, but priming the area with a little Vaseline or lotion helps.

The Fleure Marche line includes wellness patches for other goals including relaxation (rhodiola and ashwagandha), energy (B12 and hemp), focus (caffeine and L-theanine) and sex drive (L-arginine, maca, tribulus and hemp). There's also another patch for sleep that contains melatonin called Sleep, Plz. I can't speak for that blend as melatonin and I simply don't agree.