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Byrdie / Chloe Jeong
Sleep masks (the cloth variety, not skincare) work like blackout curtains in that they're designed to block outside light that may get in the way of catching your Zs. "Light plays a huge role in sleep, because it can impact our melatonin production as well as circadian rhythms," explains product expert Keith Cushner of Sleep Foundation. "Light-blocking eye masks can help create a dark sleeping environment, which can improve your sleep quality."
Researched & Approved
Our best overall pick is the Alaska Bear Natural Silk Sleep Mask, which is breathable, moisture-wicking, and antimicrobial and offers complete light cancellation. We also love its affordable price point. If you can swing the steeper price, the luxurious Slip Silk Eye Mask is made from splurge-worthy silk that feels amazing against the skin.
According to Cushner, some of the best sleep mask designs are made of natural fabrics like silk and cotton. "Silk will have a lighter feel, while cotton may provide more light cancellation," he tells Byrdie. You might also want to look for something adjustable to ensure a secure fit and prevent uncomfortably tight straps. For convenience's sake, a washable design is ideal.
We conducted hours of research on the best sleep masks. We tried some of the top-rated models out there, and our testers took note of the material quality, light cancellation, and extra features. We also considered the skin feel of sleep masks, since they get up close and personal with your face. Our team then combined these results with our research of fan favorites to create this list.
Ahead, find the best sleep masks to help get your beauty rest.
Best Overall
Alaska Bear Natural Silk Sleep Mask
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Amazon
Adjustable
Skin-friendly fabrics
Lots of colors
Hand-wash recommended
Our top pick is the Alaska Bear Natural Sleep Mask. It's made out of mulberry silk, a buttery-smooth material that's inherently breathable, moisture-wicking, and antimicrobial, meaning it won't harbor bacteria. The inner padding is cotton, which is also naturally airy with sweat-absorbing abilities.
Cushner recommends sleeping masks with natural fabrics like this one, noting that the silk component is lightweight and nonirritating against the skin, while the cotton helps block all external light. We also appreciate that it comes in 32 different colors and has an adjustable strap to accommodate all head sizes.
Price at time of publish: $15
Material: Mulberry silk, cotton | Colors: 32 colors
Best Budget
Hochoek Silk Sleep Mask Eye Shade
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Amazon
Affordable
Adjustable
Pack of three
Not machine-washable
This wallet-friendly eye shade comes in packs of three, so you can keep one by your bed and another in your travel bag, and still have one to spare. It's made of real silk to ensure softness and breathability, while an adjustable strap provides a secure, comfortable fit.
Price at time of publish: $22
Material: Silk | Colors: Black, navy, purple
Best Splurge
Dr. Harris Anti-Wrinkle Sleep Mask
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Dr. Harris
Innovative
Reduces fine lines
Doctor-developed
Expensive
Not machine-washable
If you can swing the price, consider splurging on this anti-aging sleep mask from Dr. Harris. A hit with our home tester, the innovative design features copper-infused mulberry silk with tiny silicone dots to stimulate the "little nerve endings in your face" and provide a natural, pain-free solution to fine lines and wrinkles.
Price at time of publish: $80
Material: Mulberry silk, copper-infused fabric, silicone dots | Colors: Black
What Our Testers Say
“After pressing the touchpoint in the middle of my eyebrows as instructed, I did feel an instant wave of relaxation. I fell asleep within 30 minutes, which is much faster than my usual hours-long process.”—Brittany Leitner, Product Tester
Best Luxury
Slip Silk Sleep Mask
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Amazon
Long-fiber silk
Won't leave marks
Doesn't tug hair
Expensive
Not machine-washable
Willing to spend a little extra on the perfect mask? This long-fiber mulberry silk number from the buzzy line Slip is splurge-worthy. Long-fiber mulberry silk has beneficial smoothing qualities to the appearance of your complexion and hair, since it won’t leave any marks on your face.
Price at time of publish: $50
Material: Mulberry silk | Colors: Pink, black, blush, white, navy, burgundy, silver, tie-dye, animal print
What Our Experts Say
"This type of silk is also great for hair to avoid any friction or tangles."—Ginger King, Cosmetic Chemist
Best Washable
Lunya Washable Silk Sleep Mask
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Revolve
Skin-friendly fabric
Offers total darkness
Pricey
Silk is inherently delicate and often not machine-washable, but Lunya's washer-friendly sleep mask is a different story. The outside is skin-friendly silk, and the inner padding is polyester to ensure utter darkness while you doze. So although this model is a bit more pricey than competitors, we think the quality construction is worth it.
Price at time of publish: $48
Material: Silk, polyester | Colors: Beige, gray, black, white, navy
Best Cotton
Mavogel Cotton Sleep Eye Mask
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Amazon
Breathable
Offers total darkness
Ergonomic
Hand-wash recommended
If you're partial to the natural breathability and sweat-wicking properties of cotton, go with Mavogel. Thanks to its unique ski-goggle-shaped design that covers even the smallest gap over the bridge of your nose, it promises to block out all light, no matter where you are or what time of day it is.
Price at time of publish: $20
Material: Cotton | Colors: Gray, black
Best Silk
Brooklinen Mulberry Silk Eyemask
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Amazon
Skin-friendly fabric
Machine-washable
Chic colors
Doesn't block all light
For those who prefer mulberry silk, we highly recommend this eye mask from Brooklinen. Featuring a sumptuously smooth charmeuse weave, it's breathable and gentle against sensitive skin, and unlike other silk products, it's conveniently machine-washable.
Price at time of publish: $29
Material: Mulberry silk | Colors: White, black, blush, star print
Best Gel
Grace & Stella Hot + Cool Gel Bead Eye Mask
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Amazon
Adjustable
Cooling
Minimizes puffiness
Only one color (pink)
Craving a cooling sensation? This eye mask from Grace & Stella is filled with gel beads, which conform to the shape of your face. Even better, it can be chilled in the freezer to offer a depuffing effect around your eyes. You can also heat it in the microwave for soothing warmth.
Price at time of publish: $15
Material: Fabric, gel beads | Colors: Pink
Best Skin-Friendly
Kitsch The Pillow Eye Mask
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Ulta
Offers total darkness
Doesn't leave creases
Comfortable cushioning
Not machine-washable
The Pillow Eye Mask is made of 100 percent satin, a silky smooth and exceptionally soft fabric that promises not to cause creases or irritate your skin. What's more, the soft padding comfortably cushions your face while blocking out all outside light.
Price at time of publish: $18
Material: Satin | Colors: Blush, charcoal
Best Colors
Blissy Sleep Mask
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Nordstrom
Skin-friendly fabric
Offers total darkness
Slightly tight fit
The Blissy Sleep Mask comes in 30 colors, including black, burgundy, bronze, and blush. There are even a few chic prints, like black-and-white marble and playful tie-dye. It's made of mulberry silk, a naturally skin-friendly fabric that's airy but also tightly woven to ensure complete darkness.
Price at time of publish: $40
Material: Mulberry silk | Colors: 30 colors
Best Contoured
MZOO Sleep Eye Mask
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Amazon
Adjustable
Hand-wash recommended
If you have eyelash extensions or just don't like the feeling of fabric right up against your eyes, go with this clever contoured number. The three-dimensional design consists of silk-wrapped molded memory foam to alleviate pressure on your eyelids and allow you to open your eyes and flutter your lashes without being exposed to light. We also like that it has a fully adjustable buckle strap for a customized fit.
Price at time of publish: $30
Material: Silk, memory foam | Colors: Black, blue, purple, red, silver
Best Adjustable
YiView Sleep Mask (Pack of 3)
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Amazon
Affordable
Contoured
Pack of three
Hand-wash recommended
Available in packs of three, this budget-friendly sleep mask features 3D foam contouring to keep pressure off your eyes and lashes. The fully adjustable design accommodates all head sizes and shapes with a comfortable fit in any sleeping position.
Price at time of publish: $16
Material: Fabric, foam | Colors: Black, blue, purple, gray, red
Best Weighted
Nodpod The Weighted Blanket for Your Eyes
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Norpod
Offers total darkness
Strap-free design
Machine-washable
Nothing
"If you are a fan of weighted blankets, there are also weighted eye masks that help relieve anxiety," says Cushner. We like the Nodpod, which is filled with BPA-free polyethylene beads to deliver gentle, deep touch at key pressure points. Thanks to the scalloped design, it conforms to the shape of your face and provides complete light cancellation without an elastic band.
Price at time of publish: $34
Material: Jersey cotton, microfiber, BPA-free polyethylene beads | Colors: Black, orange, purple, pink, yellow, red, gray, blue, green
Final Verdict
Our top choice is the Alaska Bear Natural Silk Sleep Mask, which is breathable, moisture-wicking, antimicrobial, and offers complete light cancellation at an affordable price. If you can swing the steeper price, the luxurious Slip Silk Eye Mask is made from splurge-worthy silk that feels amazing against the skin. If you want something you can toss in the washing machine, go with the Lunya Washable Silk Sleep Mask.
Meet the Expert
Keith Cushner is a sleep expert with nearly a decade of experience researching, testing, and developing sleep products. He oversees the testing lab and evaluation processes at Sleep Foundation.
What to Look for in a Sleep Mask
Material
The best sleep mask will be comfortable to wear and won't irritate your skin or hair. Sleep masks are usually made from silk or cotton. Silk is a great option, not only because it feels great but also because it won't collect moisture (which could soak up your nighttime skincare or cause acne), tug at your skin (which could cause wrinkles), or tangle up your hair (which could cause breakage).
"It's always best to sleep in the darkest environment possible, so it's important to research the different effects of eye mask fabrics."—Keith Cushner, Sleep Product Expert
Size
Your sleep mask should slip on and off easily, but it should also fit you well enough that it doesn't slide around while you sleep. Most sleeping masks come in a one-size option, so make sure it's neither too tight nor too loose.
Features
Beyond blocking out light, some sleep masks can be heated or cooled to help relieve tension and soothe the eyes. Others are weighted to help relax pressure points. Some sleeping masks help fight off wrinkles, while others use light therapy to help calm your mind and body. You can even find sleeping masks that cover your ears to filter out sound. How advanced you want your sleeping mask to be is entirely up to you.
How We Researched
To compile this list, our team of editors and contributors spent hours researching the best products on the market in this category, evaluating their key features—like ingredients, shade range, or design—in addition to reviews from customers and other trusted sources. We then used this research to assign a star rating from 1 to 5 (5 being the best; 1 being the worst) to certain products on the list.
Why Trust Byrdie
Theresa Holland is a freelance commerce writer specializing in sleep solutions, textiles, and beauty. She considered dozens of sleep masks for this story and interviewed a sleep product expert, who offered insight into different materials and the benefits of light-blocking eye masks. She also consulted our testing insights and third-party reviews to inform the product selection in this roundup.
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