10 Best Sleep Masks in 2024 Reviewed
Searching for the best sleep mask in 2024? Check out our pros & cons, factors to consider and choose the perfect eye mask for sleeping when traveling.
Not every flight or travel scenario involves adjustable LED lighting like the ones found on those ultra-long haul flights that make the news every now & then.
Even then, there are only so many variables you can control to ensure you get the rest you so badly crave.
Sleeping pills are one way to go but are certainly not the healthier option in the long run. Melatonin is a chemical your body needs to produce to help you fall asleep.
LED lighting for example, although great at conserving energy can be really bright. Sleeping masks are a great way to block light from your eyes and enable your body to produce melatonin.
When you are at home you can simply turn the light out but when you are on a plane or on a bus you don’t really control the light switch. That’s where sleep masks really come to the rescue.
10 Best Sleep Masks for your Eyes
Nowadays, eye masks do a lot more and can aid with relaxation, some designs muffle sound, some cool your eyes etc. We’ve combed through a whole bunch of designs and so you can easily find the right one for your needs.
1. Alaska Bear Natural Silk Sleep Mask
The Alaska Bear is our pick for the best sleep mask in the market today. The first thing we noticed was how soft the material is. The Alaska Bear is made of 100% natural silk which also makes it much more breathable than synthetic fabrics. The strap is pretty easy to adjust so you can play around with it so that the fit suits your preferences.
- Pretty comfortable
- Adjustable strap
- Good for sleeping on the side
- Breathable material
- Great price
- The fit may loosen over time
2. Bedtime Bliss Sleep Mask
The Bedtime Bliss is one of the ever-popular sleep masks around these days. Its contoured design which allows it to do a great job of blocking any light from sneaking in is just one of the reasons that makes it a great sleep mask for those who like to relax and sleep comfortably on long travels.
- Blocks the light quite well
- Won't disrupt any makeup or lotion you have on
- Keeps the pressure off your eyes
- Quite comfortable
- The strap can be hard to adjust
- Shaky durability if used daily
3. Jersey Slumber Silk Sleep Mask
Comfort. If we were to sum up what this mask offers the most in one word that would be it. At first glance you can see its similarity to many other silk sleeping masks in the market but the one thing that the Jersey Slumber excels at is offering superb comfort at a very affordable price.
- Super comfy
- Inexpensive
- Simple and unobtrusive
- Modifiable slider strap
- Good for sensitive eyes
- Prevents you from blinking
- Might not suit all sleeping positions
4. Dream Essentials Luxury Travel & Sleep Mask
The Dream Essentials Luxury Mask comes with a fuzzy front and a soft back section made of 100% cotton. The design features indentations & foam padding which makes it one of the few masks where you can comfortably open your eyes.
- Soft foam cushioning
- Slider adjustment strap is much preferred over the velcro
- Comes with earplugs too
- Perfect for side-sleeping
- Elastic and flexible
- Light and comfortable
- Minor light leaking issues
- Not comfortable if you lie face down
5. Nidra Deep Rest Eye Mask
The Nidra Eye Mask is another that features the contoured design and is particularly good for travelers. It’s clear to see that scenarios like flying & car travel were kept in mind when the design was crafted. This eye mask is made of Polyester which drastically improves breathability.
- Comfy contoured design
- Headstrap can be adjusted
- Works for almost any nose shape/ size
- Lightweight
- Fragile – not for everyday usage
- Headstrap is a bit sharp
6. IMAK Pain Relief Mask/ Eye Pillow
The IMAK Compression Eye Pillow is quite a unique on our list in the sense that it contains ergoBeads that massages two muscles around the eye that most people don’t realize they have. This mask wasn’t intended for overnight use so it’s more suited to travelers around the world.
- Excellent for relaxation
- Soothes puffy eyes and cools as well
- Keeps your makeup intact
- Great cushioning
- Washable
- Not designed for overnight sleep
- Strap can't be adjusted
7. Sleep Master Sleep Mask
The Sleep Master features a unique design which fuses the strap component and the main mask section giving a bigger mask padded with Satin. The mask wraps around your head which aids it in muffling some sound.
- Unique design
- Soft and comfortable
- Wraps around the head
- Doesn't muffle sound like it states
- Can make you feel hot quickly
8. Dream Essentials Infinity Sleep Mask
The 2nd Dream Essentials sleep mask on our list is made entire of Fleece. It features a rather thick fleece layering which ensures it does an awesome job of keeping even bright light out.
- One of the best at blocking the light
- Side sleepers will love it
- Good for makeup
- Soft fleece material
- Generates a lot of heat
- Very thick
9. YIVIEW Sleep Mask, 3 Set
The YIVIEW is another impressive eye mask that we simply couldn’t ignore. It’s quite inexpensive and the feel is rather sturdy which we liked very much.
- 3 for a great price
- Does a good job of blocking light
- Surprisingly durable
- Spacious eyecups
- Big and clunky
- Strap could be tighter
10. Simple Health Sleeping Eye Mask
The Simple Health mask looks like a traditional blindfold-style sleep mask, but it’s stiffer than many of them. The gel insert adds thickness to the mask without making it any stiffer. It does a pretty good job of blocking light too.
- Contains relaxation gel
- Durable straps
- Doesn't collect hair
- Affordable price
- Questionable fabric
- Not for side sleepers
- Rather small
How exactly do eye masks help me sleep better?
Having the perfect travel pillow or some earplugs can make a long flight or bumpy car ride more comfortable & can help you to some extent but not as much as sleep masks can. How exactly? Well, let’s just touch upon the science involved with sleep.
The brain regulates the transition between wakefulness and sleep. Your brain also does the job of regulating the quantity and depth of your sleep. The Pineal gland in the middle of your brain naturally produces a hormone called melatonin. This usually occurs when the sun goes down and darkness sets in. As melatonin levels rise you feel sleepy or less alert. This hormone tends to stay elevated throughout the night till daylight or light is back in play.
In reality, many things like caffeine, bright light, screen time can hinder the production of this hormone as you are essentially mixed signals through your receptors. Which is why dimming the lights in your home at night or putting your phones away early can help you sleep easier. Sleep Masks essentially help you regulate your exposure to light or darkness. Sometimes even the screen next to you on an airplane can be enough to keep you awake all night. Masks that block the light 100% or even 99% of the time can supplement this process.
Factors to consider when buying sleep masks
Here are some of the factors that can play an important role in which mask you choose to buy. These can be quite subjective but we hope the criteria we’ve used to pick can also aid you in your decisions.
Usage Scenario
Before we jump into things like material, weight, durability etc. It’s important you know where exactly you plan to use the mask. Is it during regular travel? At home every day perhaps? All these can shape which design you opt for. How you tend to sleep is another element that needs to be factored in. If you like sleeping on the side then pick ones like the Dream essentials Luxury mask that excels in those aspects. Also, are you using the masks just to block light or for something more like pain relief, keeping your eyes cool or relief from migraines, perhaps? Thicker options like Imak are ones to take a closer look at in this case.
Material used
The most commonly used materials are silk, satin, cotton & even gels & beads. Each has their own unique properties which they excel at. If your need is ultimate comfort than silk is usually the way to go. Some silk masks also have a Satin lining which helps it block 100% of the light instead of 99% which makes it a formidable option. Silk is pretty great especially if you have sensitive skin and are in need of something really soft. It’s hard to wash these, however.
Cottom is very breathable which can make your experience that comfortable. And just like silk, its also very light so many masks that were featured on our list are made of either silk or cotton. We looked for things like Satin linings which enriches your experience by providing a soft alternative for a nose bridge. This is the region that can really get uncomfortable if you happen to lie face down or if the straps really tight.
Gels & beads were also an interesting option and one which we found to be highly positive. The beads do a great job of evening out pressure points and the gels give you temperature adjustment options. This sort of versatility is something we looked upon favorably and so can you.
Shape, Size & Weight
This factor can be extremely subjective. Hence, what we essentially looked for is the ability of a mask to cater to a wide range of face sizes & shapes. Pretty much all on our list are quite light, despite some designs being on the bulkier side. Aesthetics aren’t something we gave too much importance to. Functionality was key.
Some designs wrap around your head completely whilst others feature contoured sections for your eyes. All these variations give you interesting alternatives to choose from. Flatter designs excel at being extremely comfortable and the snug fit can be uncomfortable if not well executed. Which is why you see many of these utilizing silk to give you that balance. These tend to do a great job of blocking out light as long as you sleep straight and not move around too much.
Another positive contoured designs have going for them is that they are excellent for side sleepers typically as the masks don’t tend to move around a lot. This is an additional benefit to blinking and opening your eyes when the mask is on of course.
Makeup Preservation
Again, this depends on your usage scenario. If you are traveling long distance and don’t mind if your eyeliner or makeup gets all messed up then you can pick your mask based on other criteria. Makeup protection is something we regarded very highly as this can be vital for business travelers and even those on shorter trips. Business meetings are events where you really need to look your best and you’ll need a mask that aids you in achieving that. Having said that our top pick doesn’t do the best job of preserving appearances but many others (particularly contoured designs) at the top do. Again this can be subjective to your preferences.
Durability
Just like almost every product out there, we wouldn’t want to be buying these often. Many designs feature adjustable straps which aid in making the experience comfortable and helps to make sure all the light is blocked out. Designs that features metal or plastic strap designs were preferred over the velcro options as the latter tends to come loose over time which affects overall durability. Yes, velcros are easy to use but if you are looking at a mask for everyday use then the adjustable straps will last you longer.
The durability of the eyecups is of paramount importance for us. We looked closely at the ability of the eye masks to keep its layers from wearing or coming apart during regular use. The durability is also influenced by the material surfaces used. Some materials can be washed whilst others can’t so any moisture or dirt can have a negative impact on some designs like the Jersey Slumber.
Sources:
https://sleepfoundation.org/sleep-topics/melatonin-and-sleep
http://healthysleep.med.harvard.edu/healthy/science/how