A sleep mask is the cheapest sleep upgrade there is, but the wrong one ends up on the nightstand after two nights: it leaks light at the nose, presses on your lashes, or slides off the moment you roll over. This guide compares the five common types so you can pick the one that matches how you actually sleep.
Quick answer
- Side sleeper: a soft silk or satin mask with a flat, low-profile strap.
- Back sleeper who needs total darkness: a 3D contoured mask with molded eye cups.
- Trouble switching off: a lightly weighted mask.
- Puffy or tired eyes in the morning: a gel-bead or stone-bead cooling mask (10 minutes, then swap to your sleep mask).
- Falling asleep to audio: a Bluetooth sleep mask or headband.
1. Silk and satin masks
The classic. A mulberry silk sleep mask is thin, cool against the skin and kind to lashes and skincare, which is why it is the default for side sleepers and anyone with sensitive skin. The trade-off is light blocking: a flat mask lets a little light in at the bridge of the nose, so it suits dark bedrooms better than daytime naps. Satin does the same job at a lower price; the satin sleep mask two-piece set is the travel-bag option.
2. 3D contoured masks
These have molded cups so nothing touches your eyelids, and a nose bridge that seals out light from below. If you want blackout for daytime sleep, shift work or bright hotel rooms, the 3D contoured memory foam sleep mask is the one. The contoured mask with earplugs adds silicone earplugs for noisy rooms. Contoured masks are bulkier, so side sleepers who bury their face in the pillow may find the edge shifts during the night.
3. Weighted masks
A weighted sleep mask spreads a few ounces of glass beads across the brow and cheeks. The gentle pressure is calming in the same way a weighted blanket is, and many people find it easier to stop thinking with one on. Because it rests on the eyes, choose a version with a soft lining, and skip it if you have had recent eye procedures or find any pressure uncomfortable. A weighted eye pillow wrap is the daytime cousin: warm it or chill it and use it for 15 minutes on the sofa.
4. Cooling gel and stone masks
These are not for sleeping through the night; they are the ten-minute step before it. Keep a gel bead eye mask in the fridge and put it on while you brush your teeth to take down morning or evening puffiness. The woven stone bead eye mask does the same with a heavier, spa-like feel. For the opposite effect, a USB heated eye mask gives a warm compress with a timer, which many people like for dry, screen-tired eyes.
5. Bluetooth masks and headbands
If you fall asleep to a podcast, rain sounds or a sleep meditation, a Bluetooth sleep mask puts thin speakers inside a contoured mask so you do not need earbuds. Side sleepers usually prefer the sleep headphones headband, which is flatter and doubles as an eye cover when pulled down.
What to check before you buy
- Strap: adjustable and flat. Velcro catches hair; a buckle or elastic slider is better.
- Nose bridge: the number-one source of light leaks. Contoured masks with a nose flap seal best.
- Washability: silk is hand-wash; contoured foam is wipe-clean; gel masks rinse under the tap.
- Weight: under 1 oz for all-night use unless you specifically want a weighted mask.
Build the rest of the wind-down
A mask works better with a quiet, cool room. Pair it with reusable silicone earplugs, a portable white noise machine, and a silk pillowcase if you are also trying to be kinder to your hair and skin overnight. Everything above is in our Sleep & Home Spa collection. Free shipping on orders over $45 to the US, Canada and Australia, and 10% off your first order with code WELCOME10.