Sleep is a vital component of our daily life. It helps our body recover and repair itself, improving our mental and overall well-being. However, modern life’s demanding schedules can make getting enough Zzzs quite challenging. Enter the humble sleep mask – a small but effective tool to help you achieve a better quality of slumber.
What Are Sleep Masks?
Also known as eye masks, these are small, lightweight covers worn over the eyes. They block light and create a dark environment that can help promote deep and restful slumber. You can find them in various materials, including cotton, silk or foam and a wide array of dreamy colours and styles.
When shopping for luxurious sleepmasks, opt for a blindfold made from the finest silk and padding to ensure you get your beauty rest every night. Drift off to cloud nine with padded sleep eyemasks in a wide array of dreamy colours.
How Do They Work?
Sleep eye masks work by blocking out light, which can disrupt your natural slumber cycle. Exposure to light during our snooze time can interfere with the production of melatonin, a hormone that regulates sleep and wakefulness. That makes your brain assumes it’s time to wake up, making it harder to fall or stay asleep.
By wearing an eye cover for sleeping, you can create a dark environment that promotes melatonin production and helps your body to relax and drift off easier. Further, these eyemasks can also block out some of the noise, which can be another common disruptor.
Why Is It Good to Sleep With a Sleep Mask?
Improved Slumber Quality
Just like choosing the right matters can help you get eight hours of sleep, you can create an environment that promotes more restful, deeper slumber by blocking light and noise with a mask. That, in turn, helps you wake up feeling refreshed and energised, ready to take on the day.
Reduced Insomnia Symptoms
Insomnia is a common disorder characterised by difficulty falling asleep, staying asleep or both. These masks can be an effective tool for managing insomnia symptoms. By promoting a dark and quiet environment, sleep eye covers can help regulate your slumber and improve its quality.
A More Comfortable Travel Experience
If you’ve ever tried to doze off on a plane or in a hotel room with bright lights or noisy neighbours, you know how challenging it can be to relax while travelling. Sleep masks can help make the experience more comfortable by creating a dark, quiet environment, no matter where you are.
Improved Skin Health
Besides feeling more rested, you can also get some benefits for your skin. Exposure to light can lead to free radical production, which can damage skin cells and accelerate aging. By blocking out light, sleep blindfolds can help to protect your skin and promote healthy skin function.
How to Choose a Mask?
To pick the best sleep eye mask for you, consider the material, fit, light-blocking capabilities, breathability, style, and additional needs.
Material
The most common material options are cotton, silk, bamboo and foam. Cotton blindfolds are lightweight and breathable, making them an excellent choice for hot sleepers. Silk masks are soft, smooth, and luxurious but can be more expensive than other materials. Foam designs are more durable and can provide a more substantial barrier against light, but they can be less breathable than other materials.
Fit
The fit of the sleep mask is critical to its effectiveness. You want to choose an option customised to fit your face comfortably without putting too much pressure on your eyes. A cover that’s too tight can cause discomfort and interfere with your slumber.
Light Blocking
The primary function of a sleep blindfold is to block out light, so look for one designed to block out as much light as possible, especially if you are a light sleeper. Some masks may have additional features, such as a nose bridge or contoured design, to provide a better fit and block out more light.
Breathability
If you get too hot, look for a breathable option that won’t trap heat against your skin. As mentioned, some materials, like cotton and silk, are more breathable than others, while foam masks can be less breathable.
Style
These accessories are available in many styles and colours, so choose one that suits your unique preferences and sleep style. Some may have additional features like earplugs or a carrying case that can be useful for travel.
Additional Considerations
Consider any additional needs you may have. For example, pick an option made from hypoallergenic materials if you have sensitive skin. If you wear glasses, choose an eye cover that is contoured to fit over your glasses comfortably. If you toss and turn, choose a blindfold that stays in place and won’t