We read every ingredient label and tested every sip, so you can rest easy.
When you can’t sleep, you’ll try anything
After one too many nights of staring at the ceiling at 2 a.m., I decided enough was enough. As the newest editor here, I figured the best way to find the perfect nightcap was to test the big names myself. So I lined up three of the most talked-about sleep drinks—Evening Being, Beam Dream Powder, and Moon Juice Sleepy Magnesi-Om—and gave each a full 30-day trial. From ingredient lists to morning-after feels, here’s how they stacked up. May the best sleep win.
Meet the Contenders
Evening Being – VERSO’s science-forward nightcap. It features patented, clinically-studied ingredients shown in multiple human trials to improve sleep, mood, and brain health. Every batch undergoes third-party testing to ensure purity and potency.
Beam Dream Powder – A cozy, cocoa-style drink in multiple flavors, packed with melatonin, magnesium, L-theanine, reishi, and more. But it includes cacao, which naturally contains caffeine—a surprising choice for a sleep product.
Moon Juice Sleepy Magnesi-Om – A gentle blend with magnesium (glycinate + bisglycinate), L-theanine, and a micro-dose of plant-based melatonin (0.3 mg), offered in 2 fruit-forward flavors.
Ingredient Quality & Clinical Backing
Evening Being stands out from most sleep products. Instead of just tossing in generic magnesium and calling it a day, VERSO formulated it with clinically-studied, patented ingredients:
- Affron® Saffron — A standardized saffron extract backed by multiple clinical trials showing improvements in sleep quality, mood, and relaxation.
- AlphaWave® L-Theanine — A pure, patented L-theanine shown to promote alpha brain waves (associated with calm focus) and reduce stress without sedation.
- Magtein® Magnesium L-Threonate — The only form of magnesium clinically shown to cross the blood–brain barrier, supporting cognitive function, relaxation, and sleep regulation.
- 3 grams of glycine — A research-backed dose that not only improves sleep quality, but can reduce nighttime urination — a big deal if you find yourself waking up to use the bathroom.
Evening Being’s golden hue comes from Affron® saffron, a clinically studied extract from Spain.
When a supplement uses clinically-studied and patented/trademarked ingredients, it means the forms and dosages are exactly what were tested in research — not cheaper, less effective versions. That matters because you’re getting results you can actually connect to published science, not guesswork.
VERSO also third-party tests every batch for purity and potency — an extra step that gave me a lot of trust in what I was drinking.
- Magnesium — from magnesium citrate and magnesium malate, to support muscle relaxation and nervous system function.
- L-Theanine — an amino acid that promotes relaxation and helps reduce stress without sedation.
- Reishi Mushroom Extract — an adaptogen used to help manage stress and support overall well-being.
- Apigenin — a plant-derived compound linked to relaxation and supporting the body’s natural sleep-wake cycle.
- Melatonin — effective for initiating sleep, but can contribute to next-day grogginess or tolerance over time.
- Cacao — used for flavor, but naturally containing caffeine and theobromine, mild stimulants that feel out of place in a sleep formula.
While the blend uses familiar sleep promoting ingredients, they’re not in patented or clinically standardized forms In this case, melatonin takes center stage, with the rest of the ingredients building a comforting, wind-down ritual around it.
- Magnesium bisglycinate and gluconate — chelated forms that are gentle on the stomach and support muscle relaxation and nervous system balance.
- L-Theanine — to encourage a relaxed but alert state.
- Phytomelatonin (0.3 mg) — a microdose of plant-based melatonin intended to help cue the body’s natural sleep cycle without heavy morning grogginess.
The clean, vegan formula focuses on relaxation and gentle sleep support, but without patented forms or high clinical doses, its impact is milder—making it better suited for occasional sleep support than for consistently addressing wake-ups or deeper sleep challenges.
Category Winner: Evening Being
Effectiveness: Falling Asleep vs. Staying Asleep
All three helped me fall asleep slightly faster, which is a win across the board.
- But only Evening Being truly improved sleep continuity—I stayed asleep throughout the night and woke up feeling rested.
- Beam Dream would send me to sleep, but morning grogginess and mid-night awakenings were frequent.
- Sleepy Magnesi-Om eased me into slumber but I still woke up plenty of times throughout the night.
My Oura ring sleep data after a night of Evening Being.
Category Winner: Evening Being
Flavor Variety
- Beam Dream Powder wins in the indulgence department. Its rich cocoa flavors (like cinnamon-cacao or salted caramel) and warm mix make for a delightful bedtime treat.
- Sleepy Magnesi-Om offers light, fruity options that mix well—cherry and blackberry. I went with the cherry, but instantly regretted it, as it tasted like cough syrup.
- Evening Being has just one flavor: honey, lemon, and ginger. It’s gently warming and comforting, especially when enjoyed hot (my favorite), making it an easy nightly ritual to look forward to.
Category Winner: Beam Dream Powder
Morning Feeling & Overall Value
- Evening Being delivered clear-minded mornings with no grogginess—value amplified by the third-party testing and research-backed efficacy.
- Beam was indulgent but often left me feeling slow in the AM; over time, the melatonin felt heavy and potentially habit-forming.
- Sleepy Magnesi-Om avoided grogginess thanks to its low melatonin dose, but didn’t deliver deep, restorative sleep—so I didn’t feel rested in the morning.
Category Winner: Evening Being
Pricing & Value for Money
Evening Being comes in at $75 for 30 servings ($2.50 per night). That’s less than what most people spend on a coffee during the day—and ironically, this one actually helps you sleep. If you were to buy each of Evening Being’s patented, clinically-studied ingredients separately, you’d easily pay two to three times more.
Beam Dream Powder is $85 for 30 servings ($2.83 per night). It’s pricier than Evening Being, but doesn’t even contain clinically-validated ingredients, a melatonin dependency risk, and even a hint of caffeine from cacao.
Moon Juice Sleepy Magnesi-Om is the most affordable at $49 for 35 servings ($1.40 per night), but its gentler formula means it won’t deliver the same all-night results.
Category Winner: Evening Being
Final Verdict
While Beam Dream Powder makes for the most enjoyable nightly indulgence and has flexible flavor offerings, its inclusion of cocoa (with natural caffeine) and reliance on melatonin make it less effective for consistent, restorative sleep. Sleepy Magnesi-Om is gentle and pleasant, but not potent enough to curb middle-of-the-night awakenings.
Best. Nightcap. Ever.
Evening Being strikes the perfect balance—combining clinically-studied, patented ingredients with impressive efficacy in keeping you asleep all night, plus a simple but soothing flavor that tastes best hot. It’s the only formula here that supports both your sleep and your morning clarity—and that’s worth its weight in calm, peaceful nights.
Overall Winner: Evening Being