In need of a good snooze?
Don’t overlook the power of an eye mask.
We know what you’re thinking – why would I need a mask? Can’t I just shut the blinds and close my peepers?
But the truth is that sleep masks have come a long way from the rectangle of fabric you might be imagining.
Today’s sleep accessories come with all sorts of snazzy features to help you improve your rest, from soothing scents to options that ensure total darkness.
Take your pick from our expertly reviewed picks below.
Anti-wrinkle Sleep Mask by Dr Harris
★★★★✩
Silicone dots within this blackout mask put light pressure on sensory receptors in the face, relieving both wrinkles and stress. I’ll be honest, until I’d enjoyed a week of amazing sleep, I thought this was rubbish. Works as a 15-minute treatment, though I’ve been wearing it overnight and sleeping like one of my insanely relaxed spaniels. The price is off-putting.
Buy for £89.99 from Current Body
Sensory Retreats Luna Spray Self-Heating Sleep Mask
★★★✩✩
A soft, disposable eye mask, this starts to gently warm as soon as it’s exposed to air. It’s not completely blackout but it is very comfortable and the warmth, which lasts around half an hour — just enough time to drop off — is soothing and soporific. Can be worn all night or for a nap. Highly popular with teens.
Buy a pack of seven for £21 from Sensory Retreats
Silentnight Weighted Eye Mask
★★★★★
A weighted eye mask sounds like moderate torture but the science is firm. I already spend my nights covered with a weighted blanket, which feels like a body hug. This is the face version. What’s known as deep-touch pressure stimulation boosts the release of calming hormones. It’s blackout because you can’t open your eyes. I love this.
Buy for £20 from Sleepy People
Echor Total Blackout Eye Mask
★★★✩✩
Sometimes the light can get in but not so much with this structured mask, which has gentle padding fitted around the eyes, meaning a catnap in broad daylight is possible. I test it in the bright afternoon sun — I’m all about taking these things seriously. It’s like sensory deprivation, though I have to push it down and adjust it over my nose to create full darkness.
Buy for £14.99 from Echor
Okioki Eye Mask
★★★★✩
A twist on night cream, this satiny mask is infused with hyaluronic acid so the delicate skin of the eyes is moisturised as you sleep. Not blackout but it feels marvellously soft against the face and I look refreshed in the morning.
Buy for £30 from The Clean Market
Lavender-scented eye mask
★★★★★
This is packed with lavender to stimulate relaxing neurotransmitters. Soft linen and velvet on the inside, padded, fully blackout, and with an amusing message across the front to warn away anyone trying to wake you.
Buy for £15 from The Little Bazaar
Renpho Eye massager with Heat & Bluetooth Music
★★★✩✩
This is a pleasant massage sensation, a bit like the massage chairs in hair salons but for your eyes. The heat is relaxing and the music it emits a little plinky but I feel pleasantly floaty.
Buy for £52.99 from Amazon
This article contains affiliate links. We may earn a small commission on purchases made through one of these links but this never influences our experts’ opinions. Products are tested and reviewed independently of commercial initiatives.
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