Best Sleep Masks for Blocking out Light and Staying Asleep

Saatva’s reputation for high-quality sleep products extends well beyond the company’s product line. Take the Silk Eye Mask, an affordable yet luxurious accessory to help you sleep in less-than-optimal settings. The mask and elastic band are encased in mulberry silk, a naturally breathable material that feels cool to the touch. Mulberry silk is also exceptionally smooth, so the mask is easy on your skin and shouldn’t cause creases around the corners of your eyes.

Since the band is highly flexible, this is a one-size-fits-all mask that can accommodate most people regardless of their facial structure. The interior is cushioned with plush fiber fill for added comfort. Although silk is a highly durable material, machine washing can cause permanent damage, so Saatva recommends hand washing with mild detergent and laying the mask flat to dry. You can also spot clean as needed. Please note that the Silk Eye Mask is fairly lightweight. If you want a little more heft, Saatva offers a weighted silk eye mask containing glass beads.

Two colors are available, slate and sand, both of which accentuate the silk’s lustrous sheen. Saatva offers free shipping with each order, and the company’s sleep trial spans 45 nights in length. If you decide to keep your Silk Eye Mask, you’ll also receive a 1-year warranty against structural defects.

Mulberry silk is a popular sleep mask material due to its natural softness and breathability. However, it’s also fairly expensive to source and can drive up the price-point by a significant degree. The Brooklinen Mulberry Silk Eyemask is a notable exception. The mask is produced from pure silk with a charmeuse weave that enhances the material’s soft feel, but its sticker price is quite reasonable.

Shoppers can choose from a variety of colors, including several limited-edition options with eye-catching patterns. The mask has a one-size-fits-all design thanks to its elastic strap. The silk’s smooth texture means the mask won’t create lines around your eyes or irritate your skin, nor will it damage your hair.

The mask is machine-washable, but it should be laid flat to dry. Owners can also hand-wash the silk to remove minor stains or blemishes.

Brooklinen allows returns within 365 days of the delivery date. This trial period far surpasses that of most competing sleep mask brands. The company also covers shipping fees for U.S. orders.

The Baloo Sleep Stone Mask is a unique sleep mask made with a secret pocket to insert a sleep stone that rests over the forehead. The mask comes with one sleep stone crystal for the pocket, with choices of purple fluorite, blue lace agate, rose quartz, and amethyst currently available. Up to three stones can be added to an order for an additional charge.

The Sleep Stone Mask is made from silky-smooth satin with a bit of spandex blended in for stretch and adjustability. The mask’s wrap-around design covers the top of the head, including the ears. It has a gap for the bridge of the nose and fastens securely via a Velcro closure at the back of the head. The mouth, nose, and jaw are left free, while the mask can hug loosely enough to allow room for earbud-style headphones.

The mask provides considerable comfort with its soft, gentle feel and smooth finish. The satin construction is relatively thick yet lightweight, allowing the Sleep Stone Mask to block out light and sound without feeling too heavy. The mask is machine-washable for easy care, though it should be air-dried.

The Baloo Sleep Stone Mask ships free to the contiguous U.S., with paid shipping available to Alaska and Hawaii. Each mask is covered by a 30-day return period.

The Ocushield Bamboo Weighted Eye Mask gives you great bang for your buck. This thoughtfully crafted sleep accessory competes at the same level as many other eye masks on the market today, but you’ll pay a fraction of the typical asking price. A reversible design with two distinct textures also makes the mask suitable for year-round use. One side is soft and fleecy for extra coziness on cold nights, while the reverse is a smooth, bamboo-derived fabric with moisture-wicking properties to keep you cool and dry in hot or humid conditions.

Small glass beads fill the inner pad, creating noticeable weight without causing excessive compression. The mask weighs about 300 grams, which is roughly equivalent to two-thirds of a pound. Many people find that weighted eye masks have a calming effect and can alleviate anxiety that occurs before sleep. This can also help you get some shuteye while riding on planes, trains, and other forms of public transportation. Thanks to an adjustable strap, virtually anyone can wear the mask comfortably.

The inner pad doubles as a hot and cold compress. For enhanced comfort, you can remove the inner pad and heat it in a microwave for 1 to 2 minutes. This is intended to improve your blood flow, open up your glands, and relax your eye muscles. Alternatively, you can freeze the pad for the same length of time to reduce pain. The cover can be washed and dried in any household machine, making the mask easy to keep clean and hygienic.

In addition to a reasonable price-point, the Bamboo Weighted Eye Mask qualifies for low-cost shipping anywhere in the U.S. Each order includes a generous sleep trial allowing you to test out the mask for up to 100 nights before deciding whether to return it or keep it. You can also register for an extended warranty within 14 days of purchase, which covers structural defects in the mask for up to 1 year.

The Bía Smart Sleep Mask goes above and beyond your average sleep mask. Equipped with unique sleep-tracking functions, the mask helps promote more restful sleep by blocking light and using neurofeedback technology.

Available in a black or grey color option, the mask has a thick foam design that fits snugly and comfortably over your eyes. In addition to blocking out light, the mask tracks brain activity during sleep to get a snapshot of your sleep quality. The mask is engineered to enhance higher quality sleep by using neurofeedback data it’s collected from your brain activity.

The mask is ergonomically designed to fit any head shape, thanks to an adjustable strap. It should comfortably accommodate back sleepers and even side sleepers, who sometimes have a trickier time with bulky sleep masks. The Bía app provides lifetime access to the neurofeedback features, as well as calming sleep sounds, a sunrise wakeup function, and personalized sleep advice.

Bía offers a 60-day sleep trial with this mask. Shipping is free in the U.S.

Tempur-Pedic’s reputation for luxuriously crafted sleep products extends beyond the company’s mattresses and pillows. The TEMPUR-Sleep Mask is padded with TEMPUR material, the same proprietary memory foam used in other Tempur-Pedic products. The foam has a high-density composition, so it won’t deteriorate as quickly as the foams used in many competing masks. A velvety shell with an exceptionally soft feel encases the foam.

The mask’s elastic strap is outfitted with a Velcro closure to ensure a secure and customizable fit. Its oversize design is intended to completely cover the eyes to simulate total darkness and promote sleep in any environment. The foam should not be exposed to water, so the mask should be spot-cleaned if smudges occur.

Tempur-Pedic provides free ground shipping within the contiguous U.S.

Ostrichpillow’s Hot & Cold Eye Mask has a comfortable design that’s well suited for blocking out light during sleep. It also offers therapeutic relief for anyone who experiences aches such as eye strain or muscle tension.

The mask may be heated or frozen, depending on your therapy needs. Chilling the mask can help alleviate red or irritated eyes, while heating the mask may relax muscle tension. The mask’s edge is cushioned with foam to sit more comfortably against your skin, and the weighted design applies slight pressure to the area around your eyes to help block out light. This gentle compression is also soothing and stress-relieving for some sleepers.

The shell is composed of a polyester and cotton blend, with a touch of spandex for a slightly stretchy quality. It’s filled with natural clay beads that may be heated or frozen as many times as needed. The mask comes with a cotton bag for microwaving the mask, as well as a zippered EVA bag that contains the mask while in the freezer. You can choose between a blue or gray color option.

Ostrichpillow allows returns within 100 days, and the mask is backed by a 2-year warranty. Shipping is $4.99 for purchases $80 and under, with free shipping for purchases over $80.

If you’re a hot sleeper, wearing eye masks made from non-breathable materials can cause discomfort. The Silk Sleep Mask from Swanwick is composed of pure silk, ensuring a cool-to-the-touch feel at all times. Silk is also naturally soft and the fabric glides gently across your skin, so you won’t need to worry about wrinkles or waking up with unsightly lines on your face.

The mask is oversized to completely cover both eyes and prevent light from entering. This makes it particularly well suited to shift workers and other people who need to sleep during the daylight hours. Silk is resistant to dirt and oil buildup, so the mask shouldn’t retain too much odor — but you can wash it for extra freshness. Swanwick recommends washing the mask in lukewarm water with non-alkaline soap, then laying it flat to dry. Black and blue colors are available.

The Silk Sleep Mask is reasonably priced and Swanwick offers affordable flat-rate delivery for customers in the contiguous U.S. Your order includes a 30-night trial period with free return shipping if you aren’t satisfied with the mask.