I first heard of Lumie when they started to follow me on Twitter. I thought “what a great name.” Then I did some research and I was really impressed by their range of products.

Lumie have been designing SAD lights to treat seasonal effective disorders since 1991. They also supply direct to the NHS which speaks volumes to me. I’ve only dealt with Lumie via email and they appear to be a very professional company and have a very friendly team.

I got the pleasure of reviewing the brand new Lumie Zest. The Zest is used as a wake-up light for a more natural start to the day. Waking up to a gradual sunrise is a signal for your body to ease production of sleep hormones and increase those that help you get up. Wake-up lights help to keep your sleep cycle on track, boosting mood, energy and productivity levels all day.

In addition to this, the Zest can be used as a bright light therapy in the winter months. Extra bright light is proven to put you in a better mood and make you feel more awake. I was told by using Zest every day it will make a big difference to tiredness and a lack of energy and motivation.

I must admit, I was really excited to give this product a try after reading all this! Here are some of the benefits I found on the box:

• 15 or 30-minute sunrise to wake you up gradually
• Variable final brightness to create your perfect sunrise
• Optional alarm beep
• Timer for bright light therapy sessions
• Selection of light levels from 20% to 100%; choose maximum brightness for quick light therapy treatment
• Independently verified to deliver 2,000lux at 50cm
• LEDs provide extra light output in the blue part of the spectrum that regulates your body clock
• Recommended treatment time: 30 minutes, though you may find 20 minutes does the trick
• Handy size for home, work or travel (mains-powered) and ideal for use as part of a jet lag plan

Let me begin by saying my Wife and I get very little sleep. This is due to a four year boy called Adam and a 2 year old girl called Emma! If they’re not up screaming for us during the night, they’re tossing and turning in our bed for a few hours. It’s not ideal but the way we see it, who cares? We’re fine with it and our kids are certainly fine with it so we’re hoping they grow out of it.

I used the Lumie Zest over a two week period. I wasn’t sure what to expect at first and how realistic the effect of daylight would be. I was genuinely impressed with the morning light and I set it to a half an hour increment. I get up around 7am and it’s still relatively dark outside. It was a funny feeling waking up to sunlight, opening the curtains and it still being dark!

The Zest doesn’t have a battery so it must be plugged in at all times. It must have a small battery inside though as when I  moved it, it kept the time. The product feels solid and well made. It certainly looks the part too and it fit perfectly into our bedroom decor.

It retails at £125 and comes with a three year guarantee. You also get a 30 day home trial so if you’re not happy you can return it. What are you waiting for! I felt it was a little pricey at first but after trying the product, I think it’s an absolute bargain. If you suffer with a lack of get up and go on a morning, give the Lumie Zest a try and I guarantee you won’t be disappointed.

Thanks for reading,