The Best Sleep Masks to Help You Get Quality Rest at Any Hour

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Ever wonder what to buy for better sleep? Many products can help, but among the most effective is a sleep mask. The best sleep masks “help block light, which is one of the strongest signals that influences the body’s sleep–wake cycle,” explains Raj Dasgupta, M.D., a board-certified pulmonary and sleep doctor and chief medical advisor for Garage Gym Reviews. “Even little amounts of light can suppress melatonin levels, the hormone that helps signal the body that it is time to sleep. A sleep mask creates a darker environment, which can make it easier for the brain to settle into sleep and stay asleep through the night.”

Meet the Experts: Raj Dasgupta, M.D., a board-certified pulmonary and sleep doctor and chief medical advisor for Garage Gym Reviews; Michael Breus, Ph.D., author of The Sleep Doctor’s Diet Plan; and Amanda Clark, an integrated health and wellness coach for Kinetic Health and Wellness.

Sleep masks are especially great for people who can’t control the lighting in their sleep environment—say, travelers or people with roommates. They’re also ideal for night shift workers who have to sleep during the day. But how do you know which one is the best sleep mask for you?

To help narrow down your search, we have some editor-approved and expert-recommended options below that not only keep out light, but, depending on their material and design, can also improve your rest quality in other ways. From lighweight and breathable silk options to those with built-in eye cavaties for ergonomic coverage, ahead are the very best sleep masks to help you get better sleep tonight.

1) MZOO Contoured Cup Sleep Eye Mask

Michael Breus, Ph.D., author of The Sleep Doctor’s Diet Plan says he prefers sleep masks with deep eye cavities that are specially designed to fit the curves around your eyes and give them space to breathe. “I like the eye cavities so my eyelashes do not scrape against the material,” he says. And we couldn’t agree more.

In addition to that feature, the body of this sleep mask is filled with low-rebound memory foam to provide super-soft padding at all contact points on your face and head. It is extremely lightweight so it doesn’t add any pressure to your face or eyes, yet completely seals out light for a full blackout effect. It’s no wonder that this mask is so highly rated, with over 98,000 reviews and a near-perfect 4.6-star rating.

2) Alaska Bear Organic Silk Sleep Mask

For just $10, this top-rated sleep mask on Amazon helps you snooze soundly, thanks to its lightweight silk material and adjustable straps that help it stay in place. Amazon reviewers love that its smooth surface doesn’t irritate the skin and prevents overheating. It’s a top pick for Amanda Clark, an integrated health and wellness coach for Kinetic Health and Wellness.

“It’s soft, comfortable, and does a great job at blocking out light,” she says. It also is machine-washable.

3) Slip

Pure Silk Sleep Mask

Dermatologists recommend using pure silk pillowcases over other materials because they don’t absorb moisture or tug at your skin, leaving you with a more youthful glow upon waking. This means your skin will soak up all of the vitamin C serum and eye cream on your face while you sleep at night! Silk sleep masks come with all those same great benefits. Slip, the makers of this best-selling silk pillowcase created this sleep mask—both of which are made with 100% mulberry silk. Its soft and even texture allows it to glide on and off smoothly, minimizing wrinkles and bedhead.

4) Nodpod

Gentle Pressure Weighted Sleep Mask

If you’re a fan of weighted blankets, it might be time to try a weighted sleep mask. Similar to weighted blankets, this patented design by Nodpod uses microbeads divided into four equally-weighted quadrants to apply gentle, evenly-distributed pressure across your eyes and head. Instead of an elastic band or velcro closure, it has a pull-through slit to secure the mask in place, meaning that the fit is completely customizable for any sleeping position (and it won’t snag your hair!). If you sleep flat on your back, you could simply lay the Nodpod across your head and eyes without fastening. It is also both warming and cooling—the dual material design is cooling on one side and warm on the other. If you’re looking for an extra chill, it’s even freezer-safe!

5) illo

Wearable Pillow Sleep Mask

“I suffer from dry eyes and blepharitis, so most sleep masks irritate me,” says Prevention’s Senior Commerce Editor Charlotte Finigan. “Even the smoothest, purest silk masks tend to cause uncomfortable styes. This mask might look intense (and it is!), but it is the only one I have found that rests perfectly on my cheekbones and forehead, so my eyes are encased in darkness without any kind of rubbing or friction. It’s particularly great for traveling since it extends around the head to cover the ears and block noise, too.”

6) ASUTRA Eye Pillow with Lavender & Flax Seeds

This aromatherapy sleep mask is the legendary Venus Williams’ sleep mask of choice. The mask is stuffed with dried lavender buds and flax seeds—lavender for relaxation, pain relief, and fragrance, and flax seeds for weight. The best part about this mask is that it comes with extra lavender buds and flax seeds so you can adjust the aromatherapy and weight to the perfect balance for you. Just unzip the pouch and add (or take away) lavender and flax to adjust the mask to your liking. Countless reviewers share that this eye pillow has helped them relieve migraines and headaches. Beyond the bedroom, you could also wear this one while meditating or during savasana in yoga to help you relax and stay focused on your breathing.

7) Brownmed IMAK Compression Pain Relief Mask

Designed by an orthopedic surgeon, this cotton sleep mask has compression beads inside to help provide a pressure-relieving effect around the eyes. If you suffer from headaches or migraines, this sleep mask can help mitigate pain while surrounding you with total darkness for better rest. You can also pop the sleep mask in the fridge or freezer to sooth puffy, irritated eyes. Amazon reviewers like that the beads inside offer just the right amount of cooling comfort without irritating the skin.

8) Mavogel Cotton Sleep Eye Mask

If you like to sleep on your side or your stomach, this lightweight cotton mask features a bendable cartilage design that makes it easy to mold the mask around your eyes and nose, shielding your face from light at all angles. The soft flat material also helps minimize the amount of pressure the mask places on the face, while the wide and thick straps have an adjustable buckle to provide a custom fit for a variety of head shapes and sleeping positions.

9) How to choose the best sleep masks

Make sure it fits. “A good sleep mask should block light effectively without putting pressure on the eyes,” explains Dr. Dasgupta.

Opt for breathable fabric like cotton or silk. “The material should feel soft and breathable so it does not become uncomfortable during the night,” he adds.

Comfort is key. “An adjustable strap is helpful because it allows the mask to stay in place without feeling too tight. Many people also prefer masks with a slightly contoured design so the fabric does not press directly on the eyelids,” he concludes.

10) How we chose the best sleep masks

We only considered sleep masks with an overall rating of 4 stars and above. We also turned to experts like Dr. Dasgupta, Breus, and Clark to learn what they look for in a sleep mask and of course, get their favorites. Lastly, we turned to the Prevention team for editor-tested insights.

To run the full gamut, we included masks made with memory foam, silk, cotton, and other ultra-soft fabrics, as well as masks that are tailored to common sleep needs, like headache relief and temperature control.

11) Why trust us

For more than 70 years, Prevention has been a leading provider of trustworthy health information, empowering readers with practical strategies to improve their physical, mental, and emotional well-being. Our editors interview medical experts to help guide our health-focused product selections. Additionally, Prevention also examines hundreds of reviews—and often conducts personal testing done by our staff—to help you make informed decisions.

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