The 7 Best Sleep Masks for Stellar Sleep

A sleep mask can help block out bright light and help you catch the Zzzs you need to keep you alert and full of energy. Whether you’re looking to snooze in the afternoon, nap on a plane, or block out your partner’s annoying AF reading light, a sleep mask might be the answer to your sleepy time probs.

We’ve put together this list of our fave sleep masks to help make your search easier, so you can rest, relax, and recharge.

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Here are the criteria we used to put together this list of the best sleep masks:

• Materials. We gravitated toward silk masks because they’re soft to the touch and tend not to irritate the skin (or frizz up your hair!). But since not everyone has the same preferences, we also included a few masks made of other materials — like cotton and memory foam.
• Light blocking. We made sure to select masks that legit block out light because what’s the point of wearing a mask if it doesn’t do what it’s supposed to?
• Design. We included a few diff types of designs, so you’ve got options — like convex eye cups to keep your eyelash extensions lookin’ fab or weighted masks to help you wind down.
• Testing and reviews. We only picked masks with rave reviews from customers. We also tried all of these masks ourselves to make sure they’re legit.

Editor’s pick sleep mask

Brooklinen Mulberry Silk Eyemask

• Price: $$
• Materials: silk
• Pros: comes in lots of colors, soft and silky feel, breathable
• Cons: not adjustable

At the top of our list is the Brooklinen Mulberry Silk Eyemask, an editor fave with a silky smooth feel. The silk fabric is lightweight enough that it won’t bug you while you’re sleeping, but it still provides plenty of coverage for blocking out light.

Even the strap is made of silk, so it’s gentle enough on hair and ensures you can get some literal beauty sleep. And the material is cool to the touch, making it great for year-round use. You can also toss it in the washing machine when it’s time for a refresh.

The only bummer is that it’s not adjustable. Womp, womp.

What our tester says: “I’m obsessed with this eye mask. My ophthalmologist recommended that I start wearing a silk eye mask every time I use my dry eye ointment (growing up is so glamorous, isn’t it?), and this Brooklinen mask gets the job done. It has luxurious vibes and is super comfy. The only negative is that it sometimes slips off while I’m sleeping because it’s just a tad loose on me.” – Ruby Thompson, Market Editor

Best blackout sleep mask

MZOO Sleep Eye Mask

• Price: $$
• Materials: memory foam, satin
• Pros: great light blocker, individual eye cups won’t smudge makeup
• Cons: not a good choice for side sleepers

More than 60,000 Amazon reviewers can’t be wrong, can they?

There’s a good reason people love this contoured eye mask for sleeping. The 3D cups help keep light out without digging into your eye sockets and allow you to snooze without having to worry about your makeup smudging — so it’s great for travel!

Reviewers like that the mask is adjustable and say the strap doesn’t get tangled in their hair. A few people complain that the fit around the eyes is too snug, and the 3D design isn’t optimal for side sleepers, though.

What our tester says: “I got this mask on sale on Amazon, and it was one of the first sleep masks I ever tried. I love the contoured eyecups — they make the mask feel weightless. The adjustable strap also makes it way more secure than other masks I’ve tried, which is a big plus. I take this one along with me any time I travel because it doesn’t leave me with raccoon eyes if I nap with makeup on!” – Ruby Thompson, Market Editor

Best silk sleep mask

Blissy Sleep Mask

• Price: $$$
• Materials: silk
• Pros: comes with travel bag, machine washable, comes in multiple colors
• Cons: not adjustable

This super cute handmade mask is 100 percent mulberry silk and features a soft elastic strap with added cushioning. It even comes with a handy travel bag. Need to wash it? Toss it in the washer on the gentle cycle.

The mask comes in multiple pretty colors, including luxurious options like matcha and champagne. It’s designed to be gentle on both your hair and skin.

Reviewers adore how soft it is and appreciate that it doesn’t pinch or tug on hair during the night. The shiny silk is also great for people with sensitive skin. The only downside is that it’s not adjustable, and some reviewers say it’s too big for them.

What our tester says: “Honestly, I hate eye masks. I always thought they were rough, hot, and uncomfortable. That was until I used the Blissy mask. Now I’m an eye mask convert. I’m having a serious love affair with this silky eye mask. It feels so luxurious on my eyes with its cool, silky fabric. It’s not too tight, but it actually stays on my head while I sleep on my stomach (and my face!). It blocks out any annoying light in my room (hello, cellphone blue light) that my blackout blinds miss and just really chills you out. I just wish my baby would let me sleep more so I didn’t have to take it off so much! As a new mom who is trying to hang on to so little sleep, this is a luxury for my eyes and my Zzz’s.” – Carley Millhone, Editor

Best sleep mask for side sleepers

Alaska Bear Natural Silk Sleep Mask

• Price: $
• Materials: silk and cotton
• Pros: organic silk cover, adjustable, thin profile
• Cons: not good for people with small heads, lets light in for some people

Can’t you just wear any sleep mask regardless of your fave sleep position? Technically, yes, but some side sleepers find thick sleep masks uncomfy. If you’re a side or combo sleeper, you might find a thinner mask more conducive to a restful, uninterrupted night’s sleep.

This inexpensive thin mask features an organic silk cover and a teardrop shape to maximize light blockage. It’s also adjustable (yay!). Its larger size also makes it a good choice if you have a bigger-than-average noggin’.

Reviewers like the blackout design and the soft material. However, some people comment that it’s too big for their faces and lets in light.

What our tester says: “I loved the silky-smooth feel of the fabric and it was very comfortable to lay with on (you can sleep in any position with it) but was very disappointed that it lets light in at the bottom. I’d recommend this for someone who doesn’t need full black-out to sleep.” – Samantha Kostaras, Editor

Best weighted sleep mask

IMAK Eye Pillow

• Price: $
• Materials: cotton, beads
• Pros: weighted, freezer-safe, breathable cotton
• Cons: strap doesn’t stay put, according to some reviewers

Here’s another eye mask beloved by our editors. This weighted mask blocks out light while also providing cooling compression, making it a great option if you regularly get headaches or migraine attacks.

Inside, small beads act like tiny massagers to help provide soothing relief. You can toss it into the freezer, so it’s ready for whenever you need to kick a headache to the curb.

What our tester says: “I really love this weighted mask for rest and relaxation. It’s filled with small beads that add a gentle pressure to your face to help with minor pains and stress. You can also freeze it to use as a cold compress on your face for puffiness and irritation.” – Mekhi Baldwin, Creative Manager

Best sleep mask for dry eyes

Drop of DiviniTi Heated Eye Mask

• Price: $$
• Materials: silk
• Pros: provide soothing heat, multiple temperature settings, adjustable strap
• Cons: cord gets in the way

A heated mask might be the answer to your dry eye probs. This warm compress from Drop of DiviniTi is 100 percent silk and has an adjustable strap to help it stay put. Adjustable heat settings let you choose between four different temperatures. There’s even a timer setting, so you don’t have to worry about drifting off to dreamland and overheating.

The 6-foot long cord makes it easy to power the mask wherever you’re lying down.

Reviewers say the mask helps with dry eyes, and like that it heats up fast. A few people note that the cord can get in the way, though it depends on how you sleep and what side of the bed you sleep on.

What our tester says: “I fell in love with this mask. Using it was almost meditative because I was able to change my focus from my racing thoughts to how luxurious the heat felt. In the morning, I felt better rested than usual — which is always helpful for dry eye symptoms. I’d need my eye doc to weigh in on if it actually helped anything, but I plan to continue using it because of the relief it’s giving me.” – Ruby Thompson, Market Editor

Best sleep mask for puffy eyes

Manta Cool Mask

• Price: $$$
• Materials: cooling beads, polyester, nylon, spandex, and cotton
• Pros: can put removable eye cups in fridge for cooling effect, adjustable, molded eye cups
• Cons: might not be comfortable to wear all night

This mega-popular eye mask has removable eye cups filled with beads that you can stick in the fridge for a sweet, sweet cooling effect. The brand recommends refrigerating them for at least an hour to get the icy benefits.

The cups only stay cool for 10 minutes — but Manta says the shorter timeframe is intentional. Apparently, 10 minutes gives you enough time to see the benefits of cold therapy without the risk of damaging your skin.

Reviewers swear by this mask and say it works wonders on headaches and puffy eyes. The only downside is that it might be a little uncomfy to wear all night long and might work better for naps or headache relief.

If in the end, you don’t feel like this mask is for you, Manta has a 60-day money-back guarantee.

What our tester says: “I have migraine and get wine headaches (one glass is all it takes). Sleeping with this mask helped me manage my pain and prevented headaches from progressing to more intense migraine attacks. TBD if I got lucky, but using it on a night I thought I had a migraine headache prevented symptoms like nausea and dizziness while easing my sensitivity to light and sound. It didn’t completely cure my headaches, but I was able to fall asleep and wake up feeling refreshed. One note: I preferred to have the eye pillows position near my temples, as the weight of the bags paired with the cooling effect was, at times, too intense.” – Ashley Sepanski, Senior Editor

Need help choosing the right sleep mask for you? Here’s what to consider.

Sleeping position

A bulky, 3D contour sleep mask might work for back sleepers, but many peeps say they fall right off if you nod off on your tum or side. The same goes for weighted masks.

Stomach and side sleepers might prefer a thinner profile mask for sleeping since they stay put a little better. An adjustable, sturdy strap also comes in handy.

But ultimately, it’s personal preference FTW.

Design

A standard flat mask will probably work for most people. Still, if you want more from your sleepy time sidekick accessory, you’ll need to look at masks with different designs.

A weighted mask, for example, could be an excellent solution for people who want headache relief. And like a weighted blanket, a pressure eye mask might help with anxiety.

If you sleep hot, though, a weighted mask might not provide enough breathability, so you might want to try a cooling option that’s freezer-friendly.

Material

You’ve probably noticed that many sleep masks are made of silk, which is non-irritating, soft, and won’t frizz up your hair while you sleep.

But silk is also slippery, which can be a problem if the mask isn’t the right fit. Many silk masks tend to be thinner, which is great news for side and tummy sleepers, but might not provide enough light blockage to suit all tastes.

If you go for a non silk material, look for breathable options like cotton.

Special features

Some unique features you might find in a sleep mask include:

• weighted pressure
• cooling effects
• scented materials

None of these are *required*, but they can sure as hell make for a dreamy sleep.

Is it good to sleep with an eye mask?

A study involving people in intensive care units suggested that people who use sleep masks and earplugs sleep longer and have a better-perceived sleep quality than people who use neither.

After all, even a tiny amount of light in your sleep environment can mess up your sleep cycle and tank sleep quality.

Which eye mask is the best for sleeping?

The best eye mask for sleeping is the one that fits right and matches your needs. But we’re fans of Brooklinen’s Mulberry Eye Mask because it’s lightweight, easy to wash, and blocks out light.

What is the best sleep mask for side sleepers?

Everyone has unique preferences, but side sleepers may prefer a thinner mask. Bulky masks may slide and fall off while sleeping on your side. An adjustable strap will also help keep the mask in place.

Are 3D sleep masks good?

That depends on what you like! But yes, a 3D sleep mask can block lots of light while sitting comfortably on your face. They are also a good option for napping, travel, and people with eyelash extensions because they’re less likely to crunch your eyelashes.

A bright room or environment can seriously screw up your sleep. Instead of accepting crappy sleep conditions, try a sleep mask to block out light and get restful Zzz’s.

From silky cool-to-the-touch masks designed to help you sleep soundly without ruining your hair or skin to 3D masks that are good for napping on a plane, there’s a sleep mask that’s right for you.