Sleep is the most important part of any beauty routine. In addition to keeping your memory sharp, getting a good night’s sleep will help keep your skin clear, and studies have shown that it actually helps keep you at a healthy weight!
If you’re having trouble sleeping because of light pollution (or if your partner likes to stay up reading) an eye mask can help. They’re also really great to have when travelling, or just for relaxing if you like to meditate.
If you haven’t used one before, you might think that they’re pretty much all the same – but nothing could be further from the truth! Sleep masks come with a variety of different features, and since it’s so close to your face all night, it’s important to think about what texture and fit would be most comfortable for you.
Here are 10 of the best eye masks for sleeping and their reviews.
Table of Contents
1. ALASKA BEAR Natural Silk Sleep Mask
This sleep mask is top-rated on Amazon, and for good reason. It’s only ten dollars, but is great quality for the price.
It’s made of Mulberry silk, which is incredibly soft and lightweight, so if you have sensitive skin, the texture won’t keep you up at night. It’s breathable as well, which is great for people who struggle with acne or other skin conditions.
While it’s silky, the eye cups aren’t very deep, so the fabric does rest against your eyes – meaning those of you with eyelash extensions or who don’t like the feel of a mask against your eyes may not be in love with this one.
There is a two-strap model you can try as well, which may help relieve some of the pressure around the eye area if that’s an issue for you.
Since it’s a large mask, it’s great for blocking out all the light, and will fit a variety of face shapes. The strap has no velcro (so won’t get caught in your hair) and doesn’t have a protruding clasp anywhere, so nothing is digging into your head when you wear it.
However, since the mask is a flat design, it doesn’t conform to your face like other designs, and may not block out all the light.
Pros:
- Lightweight silk – breathable, soft
- Large mask which blocks out the majority of light
Cons:
- Material rests against eyes
- Doesn’t completely block light
2. Dream Essentials Escape Luxury Sleep Mask
This mask is a great mask for travel, since it comes with its own pouch and earplugs! It’s made of soft cotton and has eye cups to ensure that the mask isn’t touching the wearer’s eyes.
While the Alaska Bear mask is a bit more like a flat sheet of material, the Dream Essentials Escape mask is formed to mould the shape of your face – in addition to the eye pouches, it has a padded section to cradle your nose so the mask stays in place.
A downside of this mask is that because its design is so specific, it’s less universally comfortable – so some wearers love it, while some others find it doesn’t sit right on their face. Also, some reviewers have mentioned this one has foam that isn’t flush with the straps at the temples, which could be an issue for side sleepers.
This one does have a velcro strap, but is made in such a way that the velcro hooks won’t wreck your pillowcase or your hair. If it’s a good fit for you, then it might be your next favourite travel companion!
Pros:
- Comes with a pouch and earplugs, making it perfect for traveling
- Has deep eye wells, reducing pressure on eyes
Cons:
- Not perfect for side sleepers
- May not be great for all face shapes
3. IMAK Compression Pain Relief Mask and Eye Pillow
If you’re a person who gets migraine headaches a lot, this mask might be perfect for you. It combines the blackout effects of a sleep mask with the additional benefit of being filled with plastic beads, so it can be put in the freezer before wearing to soothe an aching head.
But be forwarned – it’s not for heat therapy! The beads will melt if you put it in the microwave, as some reviewers have learned the hard way. Also when storing it in the freezer, it’s important to put it in a Tupperware container or baggie so that the fabric doesn’t pick up any food smells.
It does have sewn X’s on the eye area to reduce the pressure the mask places on the eyes, although doesn’t have the same deep eye cups as the Dream Essentials mask.
Migraine sufferers, however, will attest to the benefits of having something cool against their eyes, so in this case it’s an advantage that the mask rests more directly against the eyes. It’s made of a breathable cotton, so it’s still pretty soft as well.
Pros:
- Filled with beads that can be frozen for headache relief
- Mask is sown to reduce pressure on the eyes
Cons:
- Might pick up food smells in the freezer if you’re not careful
- Strap isn’t very snug, so it might shift in your sleep
4. PrettyCare 3D Sleep Mask
This is another mask that’s great for travel, since it comes with a travel bag and earplugs. It’s also made with memory foam, so is able to be thin and lightweight while still being moulded to prevent it from resting directly against the eyes.
Because the eye cavities are so large and the design is simple, it won’t rest against your face and damage makeup as much, so is a good option for sleeping during travel when you have to look your best at your destination!
Some users of the mask have said that light gets in around the nose – so if you’re looking to block out light perfectly, it may not be the mask for you. It does also have a fairly large velcro enclosure at the back, so if you’re resting against the back of your head, it has the potential to be bothersome.
The memory foam has the added advantage of being anti-bacterial and anti-mite, so if you have dust mites or moths in your home, this mask won’t be damaged easily if stored for long periods of time.
At just 0.5 ounces, the memory foam does make it extremely light, so it’s ideal for a carry-on bag if you don’t have a lot of packing space.
Pros:
- Large moulded eye wells – doesn’t rest against face
- Anti-bacterial, anti-mite
Cons:
- Light may get in around nose
- Large velcro enclosure might be uncomfortable
5. Sleep Master Deluxe Sleep Mask
This mask is larger than any of the other masks in this review – it’s designed to block out all the light, and fits securely around your head while you’re sleeping. This one comes with a carry bag and earplugs too, so is also a good travel mask.
It’s unique in that instead of a thin strap, it has a large padded strap that covers the ears, meaning the mask itself helps keep your earplugs in and block noise.
The large size of this mask means it does have the potential to get warm in warmer climates, or if you tend to feel hot when sleeping. Also, satin tends to be less breathable than silk or cotton, so although it initially feels cool against the skin, it might not be ideal for those with acne-prone skin.
This sleep mask isn’t as moulded as the Dream Essentials or the PrettyCare mask, meaning it’s likely to fit more face shapes – but like the Alaska Bear mask, it also rests directly against the eyes.
This is a good option for those of you that want to completely block out all light and sound, and don’t mind a little extra warmth at night!
Pros:
- Very large, shuts out most light
- Wraps around ears for extra noise cancellation
Cons:
- Large size and satin material means it gets hot
- Might not be good if you have acne problems
6. Sleepace Sleep Headphones Sleep Mask
Sometimes you don’t want to shut out all the noise – it’s nice to have some music or relaxation sounds to listen to as you’re drifting off. If you’re the type of person that needs music to help you get to sleep, Sleepace headphones might be ideal for you!
The silk eye mask has built-in flat headphones which are compatible with most phones, so you can choose what to listen to as you’re falling asleep.
The disadvantage is that they’re wired headphones, so you’ll need to sleep with a wire connecting your sleep mask to your phone, which isn’t ideal for people that toss and turn. Some reviewers have commented that the fit isn’t ideal – so this mask seems to fit certain face shapes better than others.
You can still detach the mask portion to wash it, so the headphones don’t make it un-washable, which is a plus! Additionally, you can connect to the Sleepace app which detects your sleep patterns so you can play built-in music until you fall asleep.
The app also has a sleep analysis and advice section to help you make the most of your 8 hours!
Pros:
- Built-in headphones let you listen to music
- Silk fabric – lightweight and breathable
Cons:
- Wired headphones – not ideal if you toss and turn
- May not fit all face shapes
7. Premium Lavender Silk Eye Pillow
Music not your thing? This mask is ideal for those who find aromatherapy a more relaxing way to drift off. The silk mask is actually a pouch with a zipper, that comes filled with lavender and flax seeds.
It also comes with a free eye gel therapy mask for cooling tough headaches, and detailed instructions for how to care for the mask. The package you’ll get comes with extra lavender and flax seeds for when the smell starts to fade, so the lavender smell will last a while before you’ll need to replace the aromatherapy part.
Like other masks that rest directly against the eyes, this one might not be gentle for eyelash extensions and might smudge eye makeup. When the pouch is full of aromatherapy seeds, it is pretty heavy and bulky, although the pouch is easy enough to remove if this is a problem.
The great thing about this mask is that you can customize what you put in it – you can choose your own aromatherapy with a different scent, or try it on its own without the pouches in.
It’s large so it will block out most of the light, and many people enjoy the feeling of the aromatherapy beads gently conforming to the shape of their eyes.
Pros:
- Removable pouch means it’s versatile
- Free cooling mask and detailed care instructions
Cons:
- Pouch can be heavy if full
- Rests directly against the eyes, might smudge makeup
8. Earthen Warrior Sequin Sleep Mask
Ok, so this one doesn’t have as many practical features as some of the other masks, but if you want a mask that’s a little glam to look your best while you’re sleeping, look no further! Earthen Warrior has a variety of aromatherapy and eye masks, but this one is my personal favorite. It’s made of silk, and the art deco sequin pattern is undeniably cute!
This one is a bit pricier than the other masks – at 60 dollars, it’s more of a fashionable splurge than an everyday solution, meaning it’s more of an addition to your wardrobe than your daily go-to sleep mask.
Also, the sequins mean that it’s dry clean only, which is another thing that makes this a once-in-a-while type of sleep mask, unless you do dry cleaning on the regular.
Made in New York, this is a sleep mask that’s for when you’re jet setting off to a cosmopolitan locale, or when you’ve just finished watching the Oscars in your silk pijamas. Featured in Essence magazine as one of their travel essentials, it’s a definite must for when you need some sparkle in your sleep!
Pros:
- Sequins
- You’ll look beautiful while getting your beauty rest!
Cons:
- Price – more expensive than other masks
- Dry clean only
9. MegRhythm Gentle Steam Eye Mask
On the opposite end of the glam spectrum are these steam eye masks. They’re ophthalmologist and dermatologist tested, and are a great single-use solution for people who travel a lot or spend a lot of time in front of a computer.
They have a gentle warming technology that’s activated once you open the pouch, so is soothing for headaches and nausea, while the steam is great for people who suffer from dry eyes.
This product will smudge makeup – however, it’s safe for temporary eyelash extensions. It’s papery material won’t block out nearly as much light as the other eye masks, so it’s more a gentle aid to help you relax rather than something to wear all through the night.
The warming effect only lasts 10 – 15 minutes, but they are safe to fall asleep with.
These are great if you like warming masks, but don’t like the hassle of one you have to prepare. Since each mask is disposable, you can take a few travelling and not have to worry about losing your sleep mask. The one I’ve linked to is unscented, but there are scented options as well, such as citrus and lavender.
Pros:
- Disposable, warming therapy for tired eyes
- Choose unscented or from a variety of scents
Cons:
- Doesn’t block out much light
- Will smudge makeup
10. Graphene Times Heated Eye Mask
If you’re looking for a heated mask that really does block out the light, the Graphene Times heated mask is a great option. You can plug in this mask and adjust the temperature to low, medium, or high depending on your preferred setting. The inside of the mask does have cushioned eye wells, so it’s not resting directly against your eyes.
The primary issue with this one is that, like the Sleepace mask, it needs to be plugged in to work. There’s no steam, so it’s a dry heat, but it still helps for conditions like migraines and nausea that respond to heat treatment. It doesn’t get as hot as other treatments though, so some find the heat isn’t sufficient for it to work as well as they’d hoped.
There’s a one-hour timer on this one, so the mask will shut itself off in an hour, ensuring you’ll have a safe sleep. You can plug it into a USB hub on your computer, or plug it into the wall.
Although it looks bulky, it’s made of a soft and lightweight material. This mask is a great option for people who regularly use heat treatments, but don’t want the hassle of heating a bean bag in the microwave.
Pros:
- Heat treatment with three settings
- Cushioned eye wells
Cons:
- Needs to be plugged in for heat to work
- May not get hot enough for some people
Final Thoughts
We hope you’ve enjoyed this list of the 10 best eye masks for sleeping and their reviews. If you see one that’s not on the list, be sure to let us know in the comments below.