Best Sleep Masks
We tried a weighted sleep mask, the popular Lunya and Slip masks, and others to find out which ones could help us get our beauty rest
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If you’re having trouble sleeping, a sleep mask is one of the most cost-effective and safe ways to improve your chances of falling and staying asleep. Even small sources of light, such as from car headlights or a computer screen, can have an impact on your sleep quality, so finding ways to block out that light may have a significant effect on your ability to get a good night’s rest.
Darkness is incredibly important to getting a healthy night’s sleep, according to Molly Atwood, PhD, an assistant professor of psychiatry and behavioral medicine at Johns Hopkins Medicine whose research focuses on sleep. That’s because our circadian rhythm, which acts as an internal sleep clock, is regulated by the cycle of darkness and light that we experience every 24 hours.
How We Evaluated These Sleep Masks
A team of five evaluators, including me, spent several nights in each mask to assess its comfort, appearance, and ability to block light. We were, frankly, shocked—in a very good way—by our findings. We ranked our picks according to the following criteria:
Does the Mask Fit Comfortably?
We looked for sleep masks that are gentle on the skin, don’t have uncomfortable seams or tags, and fit snugly around the head without feeling tight.
Does the Mask Block Out All Light?
This integral feature of sleep masks is surprisingly difficult to accomplish, apparently. Many of the masks we tried let in some light. Because head shapes and facial features differ significantly, a mask that blocked light for me didn’t necessarily block light for someone else.
Does the Mask Slip Off While You Sleep?
There’s little point to a mask that falls off in the middle of the night. Some of the best-looking ones were also the worst in this regard.
Does the Mask Affect Your Hair Overnight?
For folks with long or curly hair, a sleep mask can present trouble by getting tangled in it, even catching on strands and tearing them. Not fun. Not relaxing.
How Do You Feel About the Mask’s Appearance?
Would you wear it on a plane or would you want to wear it only at home? Some sleep masks make wearers look bug-eyed or as if they have bras on their faces. Others resemble diapers. This may or may not be a problem in the comfort of your own home, depending on how much weight you place on appearance vs. performance. But on a plane, where people besides your sleep partner will see you snooze, you may be more attuned to how your sleep mask looks. Or not—no judgment! Flying sucks, and making it as painless as possible is a priority for a lot of us. Regardless, we considered the sleep mask’s beauty in our evaluations because it does matter to us and maybe to you, too.