Eye masks for sleeping aren’t for everyone, but regular travellers and those who like to drift off in complete darkness can come to rely on them as an essential item for snoozing soundly.
Designed to help you delve into a deeper sleep, eye masks have come a long way since their humble beginnings. Now available in a wide range of prints, colours and fabrics, there’s a whole host to choose from, so you can truly let your personality shine through, even when you’re out for the count.
From Soap & Glory’s playful pink design to Desmond & Dempsey’s mask for men, there is something to suit every style and budget. Fabrics range from sumptuous silk to soft cotton and more planet-friendly picks such as bamboo, too.
Some eye masks do much more than just block out the light. SnoozeBand has cleverly disguised speakers in its eye mask, so you can sleep soundly with your favourite podcast or playlist playing softly in your ears. Meanwhile, the Mirari Life mask cleverly shapes to your features, reducing sleep creases.
In true IndyBest style, we’ve put some of the most trusted eye mask brands to the test, to find out which ones are worth buying, whether you’re looking for an everyday eye mask, a trusty travel companion or a gorgeous gift for a lucky recipient. Keep reading this article to see which ones made it onto the list.
How we tested
Testing eye masks was one of the most enjoyable things we’ve had to do here at IndyBest, as it involved settling down for a good night’s sleep, to see which ones blocked out the light, felt fabulous on the face, and, perhaps most importantly, didn’t ping off as soon as our head hit the pillow.
Taking cost, shape, fabric and additional perks into consideration, we found the following to be the best eye masks to buy right now.
The best eye masks for sleeping in 2024 are:
Good House London bamboo silk sleep mask
For those who like to support small businesses, put Good House London on your radar. Since launching in 2020, the bamboo silk accessories label has expanded into offering scrunchies, headbands and, of course, eye masks, as well as a capsule collection of clothing. Made from 100 per cent bamboo, this eye mask is one of the more planet-friendly picks, as well as being hypoallergenic and naturally anti-bacterial, making it a perfect pick for those with sensitive skin and eczema. It’s also made from a vegan alternative to silk, which is a plus for animal lovers. Our tester loved the oat shade, the softness of this mask and the sponginess between the layers, which helped block out a huge amount of light, making it our best buy.
Buy now £29.00, Goodhouseldn.com
Soap & Glory the rest assured sleep mask
Soap & Glory is a go-to for cheeky designs and sassy slogans, and this eye mask is no exception. Made from polyester, it has a silky feel that’s lovely and smooth against the skin, while the extra-long shape wraps around the head and blocks out almost all light. It has an adjustable head strap, which means it stays put perfectly throughout the night, and the pink colour picked up our spirits just a touch. Of course, it wasn’t quite as soft as some of our real silk options but, for the price, we can’t complain.
Buy now £7.00, Boots.com
Desmond & Dempsey men’s eye mask
Desmond & Dempsey is known for its luxury printed pyjamas, but the brand’s eye masks are great lower-priced products bringing the same level of luxury. Featuring the same prints for which the brand is famous, the cotton eye masks are fun, fashionable and highly functional, thanks to the padded eye area, ruched elastic strap and blackout design.
It’s soft and silky on the skin, and, although the product name says it’s for men, we’d say all genders would love this option. To sweeten the deal, it comes in a large printed gift box with a fabric bag for storage, adding an extra layer of luxe as part of the £20 price tag.
Buy now £20.00, Desmondanddempsey.com
Drowsy damask rose silk sleep mask
Drowsy eye masks are among the most luxurious on the market. Made from pure mulberry silk, they’re sumptuously soft, while the thick padding protects your peepers from all light and is hypoallergenic and breathable. The masks are available in 13 shades – we opted for damask rose – so there’s sure to be something to suit everyone.
The wrap-around Velcro fastening means it can suit almost every head shape and size, and it doesn’t slip off while you’re tossing and turning. We couldn’t fault this mask on the feel of the fabric, and if you’re looking for a little luxury, we couldn’t recommend it more – it also worked to protect our hair from any band breakage.
Buy now £69.00, Oliverbonas.com
Panda London 100 per cent bamboo eye mask
The best part about this eye mask was the adjustable back strap. Similar to a bra strap, it’s incredibly thin yet can be adjusted to fit your head just perfectly, meaning it doesn’t slip off in the night. The fabric is incredibly soft, thick and feels great across the skin. It’s also organic, hypoallergenic and highly breathable, so you can sleep soundly even in the sweltering heat.
It blocks out a huge amount of light with the smallest gaps at the nose, meaning our tester couldn’t see anything even when sitting in a brightly lit room. It also comes in a matching drawstring bag and keepsake box, meaning it can easily be gifted and kept clean.
Buy now £19.95, Amazon.co.uk
Elizabeth Scarlett turtle conservation eye mask
Whether you’re a fidgeter or you just can’t get comfy with a mask, Elizabeth Scarlett’s designs are going to be top of your list. Although made from velvet, this mask didn’t leave us feeling hot and bothered – even when we used it in the Australian heat. The material is also less slippy than silk, so, it doesn’t move around throughout the night, either. It’s much more affordable than silk, too. We love the fact this mask comes with a carry bag and a beautiful embroidered design – after an undisturbed night’s sleep, you’ll wake up looking like Holly Golightly from Breakfast at Tiffany’s.
If that wasn’t enough, sales of this mask sees money donated towards turtle conservation projects.
Buy now £28.00, Elizabethscarlett.com
SnoozeBand deluxe sleep mask headphones
At first, we thought a music-playing eye mask was a bit gimmicky, but the SnoozeBand blew us away. Not only was it one of the most comfortable eye masks in this round-up – providing full blackout and an adjustable strap for any head size – it was also incredibly easy to use, and the music played just perfectly.
The mask itself is a large wraparound style that will fit almost any head shape. Inside are two ultra-thin 4mm speakers at each ear – just be sure to undo the zip and place these exactly where your ears are – that connect to any Bluetooth device, such as a phone or iPad, so you can drift off to your favourite playlist, podcast or ebook. The charge lasts for around 15 hours, and it comes with a USB lead to recharge each morning. If you hate to sleep in silence, we can’t recommend this enough, and we’re sure to be taking it as a trusty travel companion, too.
Buy now £59.99, Snoozeband.co.uk
Mirari Life Grace silk velvet eye mask
For those who like the little luxuries in life, the Mirari Life Grace silk velvet eye mask is for you. The presentation is second to none, coming with all the bells and whistles of an expensive gift: tissue paper and a beautiful presentation box. Made from a silk velvet blend, it was the thickest eye mask in this round-up, meaning it gave a complete blackout effect, so even the most light-sensitive sleepers can drift off with ease. The fabric also shapes to your features, helping to reduce sleep creases and preserving your skincare routine. It certainly elevated our tester’s night routine, and if you fancy splashing the cash, we won’t be stopping you, although, there are, of course, many other options to suit every budget.
Buy now £90.00, Mirarilife.com
Why you can trust us
Lauren Cunningham is a freelance fashion and beauty writer and editor who’s been reviewing products for IndyBest since 2021. She’s covered everything from vitamin C serums and setting powders to London Fashion Week, so, she knows what she’s doing when it comes to finding stylish eye masks that’ll keep light out and prevent fine lines and wrinkles.
Eye mask FAQs
What to look for in a sleep mask
When searching for the perfect sleep mask, there is a long list of characteristics to consider but which ones are most important to you will come down to personal preference. From tightness and adjustability to softness, materials used, how much light it blocked out and inclusion of headphones or noise-cancelling qualities, think about which style will work for you the best before making your purchase.
What are the benefits of using an eye mask?
We spoke to Sammy Margo, a sleep expert for Dreams, who revealed the benefits of sleeping with an eye mask.
- Blocking out unwanted light – Eye masks create a dark environment by blocking out artificial light from streetlamps, electronic devices, or early morning sunlight.
- Improving sleep quality – The darkness created by wearing an eye mask helps your body produce more melatonin, the hormone responsible for regulating sleep. So, wearing an eye mask can help you fall asleep faster and stay asleep longer, reducing interruptions and improving overall sleep quality.
- Promoting deeper sleep – Complete darkness can also lead to deeper, more restorative sleep cycles, particularly REM sleep, which is crucial for cognitive function and emotional well-being.
- Improving sleeping patterns – Eye masks can be beneficial for shift workers who need to sleep during the day and whose schedules disrupt natural circadian rhythms.
- They’re travel-friendly – Eye masks are compact and portable, making them excellent for improving sleep quality during travel, whether on planes and trains or in unfamiliar hotel rooms.
The verdict: Eye mask for sleep
All of these eye masks were exceptional in their own way, but the Good House London bamboo silk sleep mask took the top spot thanks to its being soft and comfortable on the face. If you are looking to splash the cash, the Drowsy damask rose silk sleep mask really is what dreams are made of.
For those who like to sleep to the sound of music, the SnoozeBand deluxe sleep mask headphones really wowed our tester. Of course, we love a bargain buy here at IndyBest, and Soap & Glory’s the rest assured sleep mask served as the perfect lower-cost eye mask pick. We don’t think you’ll be disappointed with any of these eye mask options. Sweet dreams.
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