Contoured or 3D masks have cups that rest over your eyes. The idea is that your eyelashes have plenty of room to move, even if your eyes blink and move while you sleep (highly likely during REM dream sleep). The manufacturers of some contoured masks claim they can accommodate false eyelashes without messing up make-up – ideal for a power nap before a night out! If you’re finding sleeping with an eye mask isn’t giving you the quality sleep you hoped for, it may be time to see a doctor. “If someone is struggling with their sleep multiple nights a week (three-plus) or routinely has trouble with the quality or quantity of sleep, they should talk with a doctor or a sleep specialist,” says Dr. Harris. “There’s a lot of effective treatments out there that can improve sleep quality and quantity, such as Cognitive Behavior Therapy for insomnia.”

It’s ultimately up to you whether or not an eye mask for sleeping makes sense for your needs. However, experts suggest that people who are light sleepers or whose sleep is disrupted by changing environments are particularly great candidates for eye masks. People who have bedrooms with lots of light or who have partners that like to stay up late with the lights on would also benefit from eye masks.Brendan Camp, MD, FAAD, dermatologist at MDCS Dermatology in Manhattan and assistant professor of Dermatology at Weill Cornell Medical College One of the first things you can do to improve your sleep quality is to start sleeping in complete darkness. According to Lisa Artis, Deputy CEO of The Sleep Charity, darkness stimulates the production of melatonin, a hormone that relaxes your body and helps you to drift off. Adjustable straps help to ensure the mask stays in place while you snooze. A well-fitting mask won’t just stay on your head all night, but it’ll cover your eyes rather than ending up over one ear when you turn in your sleep. The right fit is also essential for comfort, of course.

Shelby Harris, PsyD, is a licensed clinical psychologist specializing in behavioral sleep medicine and the director of sleep health at Sleepopolis. She tells Health that eye masks can benefit anyone who finds their sleep disrupted due to light exposure, but everyone needs to sleep in as much darkness as possible. “Those who are light sleepers, or shift workers who sleep during the daylight hours, can especially benefit from using a sleep mask,” she says . What Materials Should You Look for When Shopping for an Eye Mask for Sleeping After researching and reading peer-reviewed studies, we narrowed the list of the best eye masks for sleeping based on their criteria. Avoid coarse materials that could be abrasive and irritating to the skin, notes Dr. Camp. “Eye masks that do not breathe well or retain sweat are also not ideal.” But that's not to say that other materials are inferior. If skincare isn't your top priority when choosing an eye mask, many soft cotton options, and even calming weighted masks, are still really comfortable and offer all the same benefits. To help you find the best sleep mask for your needs, we've compiled a list of the top 10 best available options. We also had an integrative neurologist and sleep medicine physician on our Medical Expert Board review this article for medical and scientific accuracy.

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Sleep should be the easiest thing in the world – yet for so many of us it proves to be a challenge. That’s where a silk sleep mask might come in handy.