What to look for when buying a sleep mask (2025)

When it’s time To relax, even a slim beam crossing the curtains or the light of a phone charger can prevent your brain from turning out completely. A well -made sleep mask that blocks light can help you get away more quickly and stay asleep even at sunrise.

Forget these fragile asswine blankets. Sleep masks have gone a long way and the market is filled with a myriad of options designed to help you fall asleep and maintain a good night’s rest. From luxurious silk masks to high -tech sleep glasses, there is a sleep mask for each need. Below, we decompose what to look for in a sleep mask, the advantages that each type offers and how to make the most of it so that you can sleep as you think.

You do not know where to start when it comes to buying a sleep mask for your needs? We are here to break all the things you should consider.

For a better sleep all around, see our guide of the best sleep masks, as well as other sleep -related guides, including the best mattresses, the best sheets, the best pillows and the best organic mattresses.

Benefits of the sleep mask

Sleep masks are more than just blocking light. Whether you are shifted by jet, you catch up after a quarter night or just seek to improve your night routine, the advantages of a sleep mask can be durable after a good night’s rest.

Light is the most powerful signal for your circadian rhythm. It essentially indicates to your brain what time it is. Even the smallest exposure to light can remove melatonin and delay sleep.

“Most of the research has been carried out in hospitals due to noise and lights,” said the doctor with sleep Lourdes Delrosso. “Providing sleep masks and earplugs to hospitalized patients has been studied and published, showing that patients experience a deeper and more restful sleep. Just by covering their eyes, we can promote better melatonin production and send better signals to our brain. ” According to a study by the Sleever Research Society, wearing sleep masks at night can also help cognitive function, including memory, vigilance and episodic learning.

According to a study by the Sleever Research Society, wearing sleep masks at night can also help cognitive function, including memory, vigilance and episodic learning.

And it is not only the electricity effect of sleep masks that gives users a well -rested night. Sleep masks are a healthy sleep association, offering a relaxing and comforting experience that can help you relax at night.

“We have tactile receptors everywhere on our skin, including around the eyes,” explains Annika Carroll, a certified sleep expert. “If we apply a little light pressure with this mask, it releases a hormone called Olytocin, often called romantic hormone. It promotes relaxation and comfort. “

If you are subject to migraines, eye masks can be a simple and powerful ally. Slight pressure around the eyes can help alleviate tension and increase blood flow, while total darkness helps reduce light sensitivity, a common migraine trigger.

The friction breaks down the elastin and collagen of the skin, the proteins that keep your face firm and smooth. Wear a mask for the eyes while you sleep protects the delicate skin around your eyes from the friction against bedding or your arm, especially if you tend to launch and turn.

We know all the signs of a difficult night of sleep: swollen eyes and dark circles. A sleep mask can help switch the chances by increasing traffic on your face, and weighted eyes masks can help break excess liquid around the eyes that leads to pockets.

What form and what adjustment should I consider?

The sleep mask crises are not universal, Carroll says: “I find that there are a little tests and errors to find a mask that adapts to your face. There are rounder faces, and there are thinner and longer faces.” Make sure you try a new sleep mask before giving it a whirlwind; The mask must press gently against your face without feeling too tight, and there should not be gaps between the mask and your skin, especially around the nose. In addition, several characteristics of the sleep mask can affect the way it adapts to your face.

The flat sleep masks are the most traditional type you will see – a piece of flat fabric that covers your eyes. These types are generally lighter and more compact, which makes them easy to travel. Comfort can be a factor here because flat masks tend to press against the eyes, which some can find annoying.

A common problem with traditional sleep masks to put on is the bridge of the nose raising the mask, allowing the light to infiltrate and defeat the goal of carrying it. Many sleep masks are now designed with a profiled or fabric nose around the nose to prevent any light from penetrating.

Some eyes for the eyes are built like swimming glasses: they have two convex gaps that allow you to open completely and close your eyes under the mask without letting light enter.

Too loose and the mask will fall throughout the night. Too tight, and it could uncomfortable against your eyes or hang your hair while you sleep. Fortunately, many sleep masks are delivered with an adjustable strap so that you can personalize the adjustment.

When you buy a sleep mask, examine the product to locate all adjustable clasps or closures. If you are a sleeper, you may prefer this room on the side of your head. Stomach crosspieces can find a more comfortable rear clasp. For those who frequently modify the positions, consider a discreet adjustment and / or a closing mechanism such as slim velcro, magnetic closure or a slide loop.