The research behind the ingredients.

Named ingredients, stated amounts, and a clear distinction between ingredient studies and Winks.

What the research tells us

Winks contains three clinically studied branded ingredients at studied amounts: AlphaWave® L-Theanine, Sensoril® Ashwagandha, and Affron® Saffron.

The ingredients were studied separately in adults. These studies did not test the finished Winks formula.

Representative theanine ingredient illustration

AlphaWave® L-Theanine · 200 mg

AlphaWave® L-Theanine supports relaxation and a healthy response to occasional stress.*

The 200 mg amount in each serving has been studied in healthy adults using acute stress-response measures. That research is about the ingredient, not a promise about how quickly Winks will work.

Read the AlphaWave study

Representative ashwagandha ingredient illustration

Sensoril® Ashwagandha · 125 mg

Sensoril® Ashwagandha supports the body’s response to everyday stress.*

An eight-week randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study tested daily amounts including 125 mg in adults with self-reported high stress. It was not a study of the finished Winks formula.

Read the Sensoril study

Representative saffron ingredient illustration

Affron® Saffron · 28 mg

Affron® Saffron supports better sleep quality.*

28 mg daily was studied for 28 days in adults with self-reported poor sleep. The results relied on self-reported measures and do not establish a guaranteed timeline or result for Winks.

Read the 2021 Affron study · Read the 2020 Affron study

Quality testing checks a different question

Ingredient research looks at outcomes in study participants. Lab testing checks a particular product lot against specified quality measures. One does not replace the other.

For Winks lot 2521665, Eurofins reported melatonin below its reporting limit. Catalyst’s certificate of analysis records heavy metals within the manufacturer’s limits and microbial results that passed its specifications.

What these studies do not establish

The cited studies do not establish that the combined Winks formula is clinically proven, that everyone will have the same result, or that the formula has been studied in children.

*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

Every ingredient, with its amount.

Open an ingredient to see its role, amount, and supporting evidence.

Representative powder illustration, not a supplier-batch photograph or dose depiction. AlphaWave® L‑theanine 200 mg
Representative powder illustration, not a supplier-batch photograph or dose depiction.

AlphaWave® L-theanine

200 mg per stick

Supports relaxation and a healthy response to occasional stress.*

What it isAlphaWave® is a branded form of L-theanine, an amino acid.

Why it’s in WinksChosen as the wind-down layer of the formula. We use the branded AlphaWave® form at 200 mg, the amount studied in the research below.

Read the research

Small ingredient study—not a sleep trial or a test of Winks.

*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

Representative ashwagandha illustration on a transparent background Sensoril® Ashwagandha 125 mg
Representative ashwagandha illustration on a transparent background

Sensoril® Ashwagandha

125 mg per stick

Supports the body’s response to everyday stress.*

What it isSensoril® is a branded extract made from ashwagandha root and leaf.

Why it’s in WinksChosen for the everyday-stress layer. Sensoril® is a standardized root-and-leaf extract, used at 125 mg, the daily amount in its 8-week study.

Read the research

Rounded percentages calculated from published group averages. Week-eight scores did not differ significantly between these two groups. Ingredient research—not a Winks trial.

*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

Representative saffron illustration on a transparent background Affron® Saffron 28 mg
Representative saffron illustration on a transparent background

Affron® Saffron

28 mg per stick

Supports better sleep quality.*

What it isAffron® is a branded saffron stigma extract, standardized for its key compounds.

Why it’s in WinksChosen for sleep quality. Affron® is the standardized saffron extract used in both placebo-controlled trials below, at the 28 mg daily amount.

Read the research

Self-reported results; the 2021 study was manufacturer-sponsored. Neither study tested Winks.

*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

Representative cherry illustration on a transparent background Organic Tart Cherry 480 mg
Representative cherry illustration on a transparent background

Organic Tart Cherry

480 mg per stick

Provides polyphenols—naturally occurring plant compounds. Its effects on sleep depend on the preparation studied.

What it isTart cherry is a fruit. Winks uses it in a measured powder form.

Why it’s in WinksIncluded for its naturally occurring polyphenols. We use a measured organic powder so every stick carries the same 480 mg.

Read the research

Different preparations; neither establishes a sleep benefit from the powder amount in Winks.

Representative powder illustration, not a supplier-batch photograph or dose depiction. Magnesium Bisglycinate 100 mg
Representative powder illustration, not a supplier-batch photograph or dose depiction.

Magnesium Bisglycinate

100 mg per stick

Helps nerves send signals and muscles function normally.*

What it isBisglycinate is magnesium bound to the amino acid glycine.

Why it’s in WinksChosen as the mineral layer. We use the bisglycinate form, magnesium bound to glycine, at 100 mg so it fits in one stick alongside calcium.

Read the research

The study used a higher dose and different form—not the magnesium amount in Winks.

*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

Representative lemon balm illustration on a transparent background Organic Lemon Balm 300 mg
Representative lemon balm illustration on a transparent background

Organic Lemon Balm

300 mg per stick

Studied for calming effects during stress; results vary by extract and preparation.

What it isLemon balm is a leafy botanical in the mint family.

Why it’s in WinksOne half of the calming botanical pair, with passion flower. Organic lemon balm at 300 mg makes up most of the 450 mg of evening botanicals in each stick.

Read the research

Standardized extract in drinks or yoghurt—not a trial of the Winks ingredient or finished drink.

Representative passionflower illustration on a transparent background Organic Passion Flower 150 mg
Representative passionflower illustration on a transparent background

Organic Passion Flower

150 mg per stick

Studied for sleep quality and duration, with early findings from tea and extract trials.

What it isPassionflower is a flowering botanical, also called Passiflora incarnata.

Why it’s in WinksThe other half of the calming botanical pair. Organic passion flower at 150 mg rounds out the 450 mg of evening botanicals in each stick.

Read the research

Tea is not equivalent to the passionflower material or amount in Winks; this was not a Winks trial.

Representative sunflower illustration on a transparent background Phosphatidylserine 100 mg
Representative sunflower illustration on a transparent background

Phosphatidylserine

100 mg per stick

Forms part of cell membranes, including those of nerve cells, and helps support cell signaling.

What it isPhosphatidylserine is a phospholipid, a type of fat found in cell membranes. Ours is sourced from sunflower seeds.

Why it’s in WinksIncluded in the stress layer alongside ashwagandha. We chose a sunflower-derived, soy-free source at 100 mg, the lower amount used in the study below.

Read the research

The study used soy-derived phosphatidylserine, not the sunflower-derived ingredient in Winks, and did not test sleep.

Representative calcium illustration on a transparent background Calcium 200 mg
Representative calcium illustration on a transparent background

Calcium

200 mg per stick

Helps muscles contract and nerves carry messages. It also supports bones and teeth.*

What it isCalcium is a mineral. Winks supplies it in calcium citrate form.

Why it’s in WinksIncluded as the second mineral in the formula, in citrate form at 200 mg. Calcium is paired with magnesium rather than used alone.

Read the research

Association is not cause and effect. This was not a trial of calcium supplements or the amount in Winks.

*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

Representative powder illustration, not a supplier-batch photograph or dose depiction. Lithium Orotate 0.5 mg
Representative powder illustration, not a supplier-batch photograph or dose depiction.

Lithium Orotate

0.5 mg per stick

Lithium can affect cellular signaling. A sleep benefit from this trace amount has not been established.

What it isLithium orotate is the form used for the trace lithium amount in Winks.

Why it’s in WinksIncluded as a trace mineral at 0.5 mg, far below prescription amounts. We use the orotate form and keep the amount fixed in every stick.

Read the research

A review—not a sleep trial. Findings from prescription lithium cannot be applied to this trace amount.

What’s not in it

  • Gluten-free
  • Soy-free
  • No added melatonin

Formulated with Dr. Todd Born.

Dr. Todd Born, ND, CNS

Dr. Todd Born

  • Naturopathic Physician (ND)
  • Certified Nutrition Specialist (CNS)
  • Winks Formulating Advisor
“Falling asleep is only one part of a good night. I worked with Winks to build a balanced formula designed around the whole night: settling down, staying asleep, and waking ready for the day.”

3rd party tested

Melatonin-free

Tested undetectable (Eurofins)

Heavy metals

Within limits

Microbes

Passed

Quality checks on lot 2521665, not sleep results.