Many people find it difficult to sleep without some form of sleeping aid such as white noise, soft music or even medication. Others have found that eye masks, or sleep masks, work for them, and do so with no side effects. Our best rated sleep masks work by blocking out light and people with migraines often find them to relieve the intense pain.
Each of the eye masks we recommend is different, and you consider carefully why you are buying one. If you sleep in a room where there is lots of light you cannot control, or you need a sleep mask for an overnight flight or simply to sit back and relax with your eyes protected from ambient light, you are sure to find a suitable eye mask here.
8 Best Eye Masks and Sleep Masks for Sleeping
Table of Content
1. Dream Sleeper Sleep Mask: Best for Side Sleepers
The Dream Sleeper sleep mask is ideal for you if even the slightest light tends to prevent you from sleeping. It will block out all light, even around your nose, and is ideal for traveling, napping during the day or even sleeping if you work at nights. It can be fully adjusted with the Velcro closure and is suitable for both back sleepers and side sleepers.
This is a larger mask that fits around the top of your nose but does not cover it. If you have any allergies, this eye mask is hypoallergenic and free from latex. The Velcro enclosure can be adjusted for tightness and head size and it is a very comfortable sleep mask to wear. And guess what! If you lose your mask anywhere the company will replace it without charge, other than for shipping and handling.
Editor's Notes The Dream Sleeper is one of the best sleeping masks on the market. However, there have been a few complaints regarding the blue dye bleeding onto the pillow or even the wearer's face, and the warranty cover replacement only, with no mention of a refund. Nevertheless, its effectiveness in excluding light and helping you get to sleep quicker and easier is well worth its top position in our review.
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2. Bedtime Bliss Sleep Mask with Ear Plug Set: Best Sleep Mask in General
This sleeping mask is comfortable to wear and good for travel and shift work. It comes with a Moldex ear-plug set and a carry pouch for the eye mask and the ear-plugs. It is available in two blacks and three colors, and is perfect for shift work and travel - and perhaps also for meditation.
You can use this eye mask to get to sleep at night or in the morning if you do shift work. Your partner may want his or her bed light on to read, while all you want is to get to sleep! Simply put on your Bedtime Bliss sleep mask and put in the ear-plugs, and you will see nothing and hear nothing. This will enable you to get sleep whenever you wish. The outside of the mask is polyester while the inside is polyurethane, and it is contoured to fit your face so there is no pressure on your eyes. Here are some of the benefits of the Bedtime Bliss Sleep Mask.
Editor's Notes The bedtime Bliss sleep mask is comfortable to wear and keeps out light. The provision of ear-plugs is a nice touch, because you can then also sleep undisturbed by any noise around you such as a TV or radio.
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3. FOMI Care Ice Eye Mask: Best Ice-Cooled Eye Mask
The FOMI Care Ice eye mask is constructed to hold a pack of medical grade gel beads that can be frozen or chilled to your desired temperature. The cover is flexible PVC, and a gel pack can flex with it. The flexibility of the eye mask and gel pack allow it to conform to the area around your eyes and sinus to cool the entire area. Cold therapy is good for relieving tension, pain, and puffy eyes. However, don't freeze the gel, just chill it. According to the Mayo Clinic, the effect of ice on burns likely won't have a positive effect. This would include frozen gel in an eye mask.
The eye mask can be used to help relieve muscular or joint pain on any area of your body, such as the legs, arms, wrist, elbow, knee, shoulders and back. It is great for relieving stress, muscle pain, sinusitis, fever, stiffness, headaches, migraine or arthritis You can also use a sealed bag of ice or hot water for heat therapy.
If you have puffy, tired-looking eyes, a FOMI Gel Bead eye mask should soon have back looking youthful and refreshed. The mask is double-sided with a plush fabric backing on one side and a PVC cover on the other for more intimate contact with your skin. Avoid use on any areas of skin that are sensitive to the cold. It is suitable for sleeping with, travel, yoga, meditation or simply for blocking out the light as you lie back on the sofa for some relaxation.
Editor's Notes The FOMI Care Ice eye mask is an excellent choice for those who suffer headaches, migraines, stress or even arthritis and joint pain. It uses cold gel rather than the usual ice, and a good majority of those who use it comment on the fact. It's not for everybody of course, but the cost is minimal and so worth trying if you suffer from chronic head pains (headache or migraine), or even pain in your joints - wrists, ankles, elbows or knees.
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4. Jersey Slumber 100% Silk Sleep Mask: Best Silk Eye Mask
The Jersey Slumber Mulberry silk sleep mask is 100% silk, a major reason for it being included with our best rated eye masks. It is extremely soft and comfortable to sleep with and blocks out light that can keep you awake. It may not be our choice as the best eye mask for sleeping, but it is the best sleeping mask we have found that is made from pure silk. Because it is silk, it is extremely lightweight and enables your eyes and skin to feel comfortable when wearing it.
This eye mask will enable you to get a full night's sleep. and improve your energy levels, your mood and your ability to think over the coming day. You can wear it whenever you want to protect your eyes from the light, or sleep without light keeping you awake. At home, in a hotel, while traveling by plane, train or in the back of a car during a long journey. It's even useful while camping when many people find it difficult to sleep.
Editor's Notes This sleeping mask does what most other best rated eye masks do, but is made with pure 100% silk. It is soft and silky to the touch and comfortable to wear. It does not press on your eyes or lashes, and you can blink naturally when wearing it. It is highly breathable, keeping dry air out of your eye space while allowing oxygen in. If you suffer from dry-eye, migraines or insomnia, then is a good choice for you.
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5. Dream Essentials Sweet Dreams
The Dream Essential Sweat Dreams sleep mask is another eye mask that comes with free Moldex ear-plugs. The mask is of simple, plain design with a carrying pouch to store it while traveling. As with those above, the strap is adjustable and it features concave eye pockets for comfort while in use. Also, like those above, it blocks out light to give you a good night's sleep. It useful for shift workers, those whose partners like to watch TV or read before going to sleep, and is also good for daytime naps and meditation.
The concave eye pocket design of this sleep mask ensures that the mask is not close to your eyes, and is clear of your eyelashes, so you can blink as normal and air can freely circulate around your eyes. This eye mask is good for side sleepers as well as back and front sleepers. The straps are adjustable.
Editor's Notes The Dream Essentials Sweet Dreams is one of the best eye masks for sleeping we have found. It is not quite the best, but not far from it. We didn't find any genuine issues other than that some users have reported it to be fragile and easily broken. Our opinion is that they will last if treated gently and with care.
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6. Alaska Bear Natural Silk Sleep Mask
This is another pure natural silk sleep mask that thoroughly deserves its place in our best sleeping mask review. It has 100% natural mulberry silk on both sides of the sleep mask. This super-soft pure silk is a joy to wear and provides you with a high level of cool relaxation and protection of your eyes from the light. It fits easily if you wear ear-plugs, and is good if you use a CPAP facial mask for sleep apnea. The adjustable strap has a plastic adjuster at the back that can adjust the strap from 15.8 inches to 27.6 inches.
The mask is suitable for men, women, and children and for all sleeping positions. It should be kept out of direct sunlight and hot water if you want maximum life from it. The strap is made from nylon elastic, free from latex.
Editor's Notes The Alaska Bear eye mask is available in a wide range of colors and designs, and can be used effectively in all sleeping positions. The pure mulberry silk is extremely smooth and offers excellent light elimination. Ideal for travel or naps in the afternoon. This sleep mask eliminates all light, and is ideal if you have a partner that watches TV late at night or even prefers to read while you try to sleep!
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7. PUREFLY Sleep Mask Natural Silk Eye Mask
Like the Alaska Bear sleeping mask above, the Purefly sleep mask has a single narrow, adjustable fitting band. It could be broader, particularly when used with Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) equipment which can be used with this eye mask. Unlike some others we have tested, the clasps are designed not to dig into your head. A carrying case comes with it for easy carrying.
If you like meditating, then the Purefly sleeping mask enables you to so at any time, day or night. It will provide you with perfect darkness for meditation or sleep.
Editor's Notes The Purefly sleep mask is very similar to those above in that it is made from mulberry silk, is very smooth to the touch and comfortable to wear. It is very effective at eliminating light and is easy to keep clean. We advise that it be washed at least monthly, though it should stay clean if you store it in the carry bag provided when not in use.
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8. Lewis N. Clark Comfort Eye Mask
The Lewis N. Clark Comfort Eye Mask is our #1 choice sleep mask for travel. To their small size, of course, most eye masks are suitable for travel. However, what makes the Lewis N. Clark product particularly travel-friendly is the 15 denier ripstop nylon it is made from. This neither tears easily nor loses its shape when packed. It is breathable and the curved nose and piped edges completely block out light. The strap is adjustable between 16 and 28 inches making it suitable for men, women, and children.
It provides total darkness irrespective of the lighting conditions: bright sunshine, aircraft or in your home. It can be used for meditation, yoga, sleeping during the day, in a hospital or any location when you want to sleep but others don't. It is pillow-soft to wear and kind to your hair.
Editor's Notes We have found the Lewis N. Clark Comfort Eye Mask to be an excellent travel sleep mask. It performed well during trialing and was extremely comfortable to wear. You can adjust the headband to make sure they don't slip when you move around in bed, and they are suitable for back, side and stomach sleepers. This sleep mask has been recently redesigned for some reason, and the new design does not seem as good as the old. Had it been this eye mask would have been at the top at our list.
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Buyer's Guide to Eye Masks For Sleeping
Eye masks, also known as sleep masks, are used for more than just sleeping or napping. They are used for yoga, meditation and some use them for resting in the hospital. Some come with ear-plugs to block out sound as well as light, although you can always purchase ear-plugs if you need them. This buyer's guide is intended to help you acquire the best eye mask for your needs. First, think of your preferred material.
Silk Eye Masks: Silk is often used as a luxury sleep mask cover. Due to its superior thickness, silk tends to block out more light sources than most other fabrics. It wears well and is soft to the touch, which largely why many people prefer silk sleep masks to any other kind.
Satin: Satin is another popular material due to its silk-like feel. Satin may contain some polyester fiber and is often blended with cotton to give the cotton a silkier feel. If you have long hair, then look for a silk or satin eye mask. These are less likely to snag or pull your hair.
Cotton: Being natural and hypoallergenic, cotton is the best choice if you have sensitive skin or eyes. You can usually wash them and, while they may be a bit stiff at first, they will usually soften the longer you use them and wash them. Cotton also resists bacterial, yeast or mold growth.
Polyester: Polyester is a synthetic fiber, and can be used to craft lightweight and hard-wearing sleep masks. They tend to feel cooler than most natural materials such as cotton. One issue with polyester is that it doesn't hold dye very well. Colors can run into your pillow, so white or black is likely the best choice for polyester eye masks. Polyester is often used with more expensive materials in order to lower costs.
Gels/Beads: Some eye masks have a gel pack or beads inside them. This is useful if you need to cool your skin or eyes. Gels can be chilled in a freezer or fridge, but never take them down to freezing, or even close, because that may be too cold for your eyes. If you have burns on your face, then use only cold face masks because frozen gel would likely cause serious damage to burnt tissue. Otherwise, the cooling can be very relaxing and can help relieve headaches and migraines. Cold therapy is known to provide relief from many conditions including stress, muscle pain, and arthritis.
Sleeping Positions
Your sleeping position is important. This may well be an important factor in choosing your preferred sleeping mask. Some eye masks claim to be suitable for all sleeping positions, and this may well be true. However, it does not apply to all. Side sleepers, just like there are best to choose a mattress for side sleepers, also need a slim design of eye mask so that they don't have excess pressure digging into the side of their face. The band is best to be elasticized, or with a clip at the back.
Back sleepers will need a strap that does not dig into the back of their head. If they find it does, perhaps choosing a pillow for back sleepers would help reduce their discomfort. It's best for back sleepers to select an eye mask that has no clip or fixing on the back of the strap. Many have it to one side or the other so this may not be an issue.
Stomach sleepers tend to sleep with their head to one side or the other, just like side sleepers. Their eye mask requirements will be similar to those of side sleepers. A back-fixing or fully elasticized band will meet their requirements.
Other Factors to Consider When Buying a Sleep Mask
There several other factors to consider when buying an eye mask. For example, how much of your face does it cover? Some simply cover your eyes, like dark swimmer's goggles. Others can cover your entire face. Many don't like this because it makes them feel 'closed in' or claustrophobic.
Strap Location: Another factor is the strap. Is it a single elasticized strap that expands to meet your head size? This type of strap cannot suit everybody: those with small heads may find it to slack, medium sized heads might find it perfect, and those with large heads may find it too tight. It is best if it is possible to adjust the length of the strap to fit your personal head size. Some have an adjustment buckle, but you should ensure that you won't lie on this when you are trying to sleep.
Light Blocking: Does the sleep mask block out all light when you wear it? Many eye masks block out 100% of the light no matter what your sleeping position is. If your eye mask doesn't fit correctly or fails to block out enough light, then it may be worthless to you! The best eye mask is one that blocks out all the light by a combination of design and contouring to your face. You will only find this out when you try it, and if it doesn't meet your needs then return it.
Washing the Sleeping Mask: It's important that your eye mask should be washable. Never purchase one that cannot be washed. In general, the washing method used for eye masks should be to hand wash it in warm (not hot) water with mild soap and then hand drying it. Never put a sleep mask in a washing machine or the stitching may become damaged and perhaps let light in, and never use a heated hairdryer for the same reason. Drying your hand-washed eye mask in sunlight is the best way. The sun kills microbes and removes odor from your sleeping mask.
Frequently Asked Questions About Eye Masks or Sleeping Masks
Eye masks and sleep masks are the same things: these masks intended to block light from your eyes when you are trying to relax, sleep or meditate. We occasionally get asked some questions, and here are some of those we are frequently asked.
Sleeping Mask Review: Conclusion
No doubt future technology will come up with an alternative to the traditional eye masks. However, for now, these are the best we could find from the reasonable selection available today. It is likely no 'best sleeping mask' give the massive selection currently available, and if you pay more, you may not get a better product. We are satisfied with our top 8 sleep masks as presented in our list of best rated eye masks.
Summary