Best Sleep Mask

Most folks spend thousands of dollars on pillows, blankets, beds and mattresses throughout the course of their lives purely in the name of getting a better night’s sleep. Many of us experiment with white noise machines, different room setups and half of the local pharmacy’s inventory for the very same reason. As such, if you’re having trouble going to sleep or staying asleep at night, it only makes sense to at least try a sleep mask. In fact, as you’ll soon find out, doing so can cost less than a new pillow.

1. PrettyCare

Best Overall Sleep Mask

6,305 Reviews

PrettyCare Sleep Mask 2 Pack,Eye Mask for Sleeping 3D Contoured Sleeping Mask Blackout Out Light - Blindfold Airplane with Ear Plugs, Night Masks with...

$13.97

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5/5 Product Rating

If you’re like most people, your brightest moments don’t typically occur first thing in the morning. As such, the last thing you need is to unwittingly open your eyes and have your new sleep mask actually come in contact with the eye itself. In fact, the possibility of such incident may be a very valid reason as to why you might refrain from buying a sleep mask in the first place. It seems the folks down at PrettyCare seem to understand this quite well, being that this particular mask takes on a three-dimensional appearance; its best and most heavily-advertised feature.

No – you won’t be able to watch your fancy new 3D TV with this mask. The 3D in this product’s name comes from the fact that it actually protrudes from the face at certain points. Because of this, it actually won’t come in contact with your eyelids. The obvious advantage here is that, upon opening your eyes, it won’t come in contact with those either. Not only is the PrettyCare 3D Sleep Mask one of the most high-quality sleep masks on the market, it is also one of the most innovative products on the market.

– Linda Krantz

2. Bedtime Bliss

Best Overall Sleep Mask – Runner Up

11,605 Reviews

Sleep Mask | Eye Mask for Sleeping Men/Women Better Than Silk Our Luxury Blackout Contoured Eye Masks are Comfortable - This Sleeping mask Set Includes...

$5.99

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4.8/5 Product Rating

Out of all other sleep masks on the market, the Bedtime Bliss Moldex Sleep Mask is likely the one which bares the most resemblance to the previous sleep mask we covered. It does; however, have a few key differences. For example, this mask actually covers more of your face. Whether or not this is a good thing depends on your particular taste. Because of its higher amount of facial coverage, you’ll find it has more of a “base,” thus more evenly spreading out its weight (think: standing on ice versus laying on ice). This makes it less susceptible to being pushed in when any sort of pressure is applied on it. This may be particularly useful if you’re the type to stick your face into your pillow at night.

On the other hand, some folks may find it to be uncomfortable due to it covering part of the nose. While I can’t say whether or not you’ll find it uncomfortable, it’s certainly worth noting. However, those who do find this mask comfortable will be treated to a more stable model. If you’ve tried 3D sleep masks before and find they are easily pushed inward, the Bedtime Bliss Moldex Sleep Mask is just the solution to your problem. As an added bonus, it also comes with a pair of earplugs which haven’t seemed to mark up the unit’s overall price to any substantial degree.

– Linda Krantz

3. Alaska Bear

Best Budget Sleep Mask

28,771 Reviews

Alaska Bear Natural Silk Sleep Mask, Blindfold, Super Smooth Eye Mask Unisex (Black)

$9.99

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4.7/5 Product Rating

For this product, we’re going to take a step away from three-dimensional sleep masks. While many like such masks, some do not. If you belong to the latter group, the Alaska Bear Silk Sleep Mask is easily your best option. Don’t take my word for it, by clicking the link above and heading to its Amazon page, over four thousand reviewers other than myself will tell you the same thing.

At the time of this writing, the Alaska Bear Silk Sleep Mask appears to be the most-sold sleep mask on Amazon. This is likely due to one major reason – its comfort. If you’re the type who likes a tight blanket, you’ll love the comfort inherent in this mask. Its thin-yet-soft silk material will almost remind you of spandex, being that it does a great job of contouring to your face. Despite this, the mask itself never feels overly tight. How the manufacturer achieved such a feel is irrelevant. If you’re after a high degree of comfort and nothing else, you simply cannot beat the Alaska Bear Silk Sleep Mask.

– Linda Krantz

Sleep Mask Comparison

	PrettyCare	Bedtime Bliss	Alaska Bear	Nidra	40 Winks	Sleep Master	Restoration	Lewis N Clark	Sleep More	MemorySoft
Color	Blue / Black	Black	Black	Black	Black / Blue	Black	Black	Multi Color	Black	Black
Thickness (cm)	0.60	0.20	0.19	0.35	0.30	0.40	0.30	0.13	0.50	0.10
Adjustable (cm)	20.00	20.00	27.60	20.00	27.60	26.50	20.00	27.60	27.60	20.00
Material	Silk,Polyester	Polyester	Silk	Cotton	Silk	Cotton	Polyester	Nylon	Silk	Cotton
Warranty (Months)	2	Limited Lifetime	Limited Lifetime	1	Limited Lifetime	Limited Lifetime	Limited Lifetime	60	Limited Lifetime	Limited Lifetime

 

Sleep Mask Buying Guide

What is a Sleep Mask?

When it comes to quality, there are several metrics by which you can measure a product. When it comes to comfort; however, it’s all up to you. Although the quality found in the three above units is certainly well above par, you may wish to look around some more for something a little different. While you could buy every single sleep mask in an attempt to find out which is most comfortable, keeping the below considerations in mind will offer the same end result, though without spending thousands of dollars in the process.

Are you able to use Velcro?

Although it may seem like a silly question, it’s an important question you must ask yourself before purchasing your next sleep mask. Many people will purchase a unit with Velcro simply to return it after trying it once or twice. If you have long hair which could possibly get caught in said Velcro, your new sleep mask will likely only lower the quality of your sleep. Of course, this is a given when you’re plucking hairs in your sleep. If your hair is short; however, you needn’t limit your choices based on what a sleep mask’s strap is made out of.

In which position do you sleep?

If you sleep on your side, you might find that 3D masks may lend themselves to getting pushed around in your sleep. Because we’re talking about something that resembles a soft Styrofoam of sorts (at least, in terms of its ability to hold its shape), such masks aren’t always the most stable in such situations. If you tend to sleep on your side, it may be better to get a tight-fitting sleep mask made of silk or another fabric. On the other hand, if you tend to sleep majorly face up or face down, you needn’t worry about your mask getting pushed around, no matter which particular product you may happen to settle on.

What do you find comfortable?

It doesn’t matter how favorable any given mask’s reviews are; only you know what you find comfortable. One feature which may make or break your experience is a mask’s nose. If you’ve tried other masks in the past which go over the top of your nose, you can bet your experience with similar masks will be largely consistent. Also, if you’re the type to find glasses uncomfortable due to their resting on your nose, you’ll likely not find such masks to be very much fun either.

Another factor to consider is how tight any given mask may be and how this might effect your overall experience. Once again, only you know what you’ll find comfortable in this regard. If you’ve tried sleep masks before that were either too tight or too loose, make sure that you adjust your next sleep mask purchase accordingly. Your safest bet is to opt for a product which comes with an adjustable strap.

Added Features

There are a variety of added features you can expect to find in all sorts of sleep masks Whether any given feature is lifesaving or downright useless depends on whether or not you use it in the first place. Here are some features to keep an eye out for, whether to acquire them or to avoid them entirely so as to save money by opting out of features you know you won’t use.

• A Case – Some sleep masks come with cases. While it can be easy to equate a case with an extra level of protection, this is not quite true. In fact, because most of them are made out of fabric, anything which might hurt your case will hurt your sleep mask as well. In terms of protection, they offer very little. They can; however, help keep your mask clean in certain situations.
• Earplugs – Earplugs are included with a whole lot of sleep masks currently available on the market. I needn’t explain what they’re used for.
• Velcro – If you know it won’t come into contact with your hair, a Velcro head strap will allow you to get your most preferred level of tightness out of your sleep mask. Of course, we already know what happens when you do have long hair.

Common Sleep Mask Features

Nobody can tell you whether or not any of the above features are worthwhile. It all comes down to a matter of personal taste. The below features; however, are always nice to see in a sleep mask.

• An Adjustable Strap – This is the single most important factor to look for in a sleep mask. It might be easy to assume that all sleep masks come with adjustable straps, though this is not always the case. Because we’re going after a product which is supposed to increase our level of comfort while we sleep, one of these straps should be considered essential. Several masks come with elastic-laden head straps, though these should be avoided unless you have no other option.
• Absorbent Material – The last thing you want its to wake up with a face full of sweat. Any good sleep mask should have its materials listed on its packaging or should be easily found online. Otherwise, it’s simply not worth the risk of buying unless the mask in question has received consistently outstanding reviews among a large (fifty or more people) sample size.



• Breathable Material – Once again, this particular feature is great because it aids in the fight against sweat. Simply look at what any given mask has been made out of or read its reviews to see what others have to say.

Conclusion

Remember, the most important thing to consider when buying a sleep mask is what you find comfortable. As such, it’s important to find a mask with the features which cater to said preferences. No matter your particular tastes, there is always a sleep mask out there made with you and others like you in mind. Through keeping all of the above tips in mind, finding it is simple.

Resources

1. http://www.ebay.com/itm/3D-Sleep-Mask-New-Design-By-PrettyCare-With-2-Ear-Plugs-Eye-Mask-For-Travel-/371537231913
2. http://bedtimebliss.org/collections/bamboo-cotton-sleep-masks/products/btbt
3. https://www.sleepassociation.org/online-store/alaska-bear-2-straps-pure-silk-sleep-masks-lights-out-eye-mask-includes-premium-ear-plugs-and-travel-pouch/