Having a wife who has been troubled with insomnia has been a real eye-opener for me. Sometimes she would fall asleep just from sheer exhaustion?and that?s if she was lucky. Difficulty falling asleep and staying asleep affects women more than men (57% vs 51% according to the National Sleep Foundation), but unfortunately, only 7% tend to seek treatment (once more, according to the National Sleep Foundation). In many cases, the problem is related to the sleep environment and comfort level of the surroundings. If you are a woman who is having difficulty falling asleep and staying asleep, then this post is definitely for you. You probably know that insufficient sleep can turn your day into an ordeal. It also poses noticeable effects on your cognitive, social and behavioural abilities. Using sleep eye masks can be a potential solution to this problem. Apart from enabling you to sleep better, some are even specially crafted to help to relieve sinus pain and nasal congestion. These usually have a therapeutic quality to them, and may reduce swelling and puffiness around and below your eyes.
Naturally, the primary reason you?d want a sleep eye mask though would be to block light that could be a nuisance to your sleep. This could be in multiple environments, at home or in transit. It is important to remember here that darkness stimulates the production of melatonin within the brain, which will help you fall asleep faster and remain asleep for longer as well. Because sleep eye masks help to create the right environment for melatonin production, they may help diminish the effects of bothersome issues like jet lag especially when you are traveling across time zones. Ultimately they can improve your adaptability and productivity regardless of where you go. As a woman, a good eye mask can also help you look and feel at your best, regardless of the situation! You can also click here to get some more information on sleep eye masks as well.
I think at this point, it?s safe to say that buying a sleep eye mask is one of the best investments you could make to sleep better and awake refreshed. When I was on the market for finding one for my wife however, I was quickly overwhelmed by the many brands available. After taking a look at the many out there (and purchasing a few) I settled on three critical aspects that I believe really mattered to my lady: style, comfort, and affordability. You still want to look good even while wearing your sleep mask, so it definitely has to have a pleasing design. You will also want to make sure that it is comfortable and feels good on you?so fabric quality is important. Last but not least, you want to ensure that you are getting good value for your money. Sleep masks come in such a wide variety of different colors and designs that it may be a little difficult to find one that fits your personal style immediately. I?d like to take the chance to help you make that choice. Here are the three best sleep masks for women you can consider. Links are included so that you can review the information on Amazon for yourself as well.
#1. ALASKA BEAR Natural Silk Sleep Mask and Blindfold
?My Rating: 4.7/5
Style 
Comfort?
Affordability?
Alaska Bear?s product is a cute sleep mask designed for you if insomnia, migraines and dry-eyes/puffiness are taking a toll in your life. It is well-crafted, and stylish, with the manufacturer standing behind their guarantee that you?ll be able to use it to get great sleep. The best part is it’s also the most affordable of the lot. Goes without saying that this product is pretty popular: at the time of writing it has a 4.5 star review on Amazon from a total of 5000+ customers! Click here?to go to the product page if you’d like further details.
What Makes This A Great Buy
As far as build quality is concerned, this eye mask is comprised of silk charmeuse and stuffed with natural mulberry silk floss. These make it lightweight, and along with that it is ultra-soft and hypo-allergic which is perfect if you have sensitive skin or suffer from allergies. The material is also very breathable, which is important for comfort and deep and uninterrupted sleep. If you use night creams or moisturisers before bed, you?ll be glad to know that this mask is very easy to care for?simply wash with a gentle detergent, rinse and air dry! This material also does not bleed so you don?t have to worry about oiling your pillowcases etc.
The Alaska Bear sleep mask comes with a fully adjustable nylon/lycra blended headband that is hair-friendly and won?t tangle your hair like many other contoured sleep masks. Based on user testimonials, it provides complete blackout enabling you to sleep undisturbed, and is also pretty stable on the face regardless of your position. That makes it a perfect travel companion you can take with you just about anywhere as well.
Things to Look Out For…
The Alaska Bear sleep mask though being comfortable, is not a molded eye mask so you should expect slight pressure on eyes. This is certainly not recommended if you?re wearing makeup or have long eyelashes. Note however that AccMarket, the manufacturer of this product, offers a 30-day trial risk-free.
This mask is pretty affordable and stylish too. It certainly has my vote! if you’re interested, you may purchase via the link below.
#2. Bedtime Bliss Contoured Sleep Mask
?My Rating: 4.3/5
Style?
Comfort?
Affordability?
Bedtime Bliss is an ideal sleep mask made for meditation and travel needs. It is a molded eye mask with a nose bridge, which entirely blocks out all the annoying light when you are traveling. Since it has a more complex design, you may find that this is one of the more expensive sleep masks, costing you a few bucks extra as compared to the Alaska Bear above. Nonetheless, this product has a large Amazon following coupled with a high rating: with 4.5 stars from more than 6000 users. Check out the product page for yourself if you?d like!
What Makes This A Great Buy
This eye mask is recommended for night shift workers and has been said to resolve many daytime sleeping problems. In terms of materials, it has 100% polyester on the outside, with polyurethane foam on the inside to help it keep its shape. This feels pretty soft, lightweight and comfortable, and will naturally contribute to you falling asleep fairly easily. I should also point out that it has a raised eye cup design, and does not put any pressure on your eyes whenever you put it on. This is good news, especially for those who may sleep with their eyes slightly open and consequently suffer from dryness. Additionally, since the mask is somewhat elevated from the face, even in the summer it is unlikely that your face will sweat. This also makes it ideal for ladies wearing makeup, since you won?t have to worry about smudging. For care and cleanliness, once more simply wash with mild detergent and air dry. No worries regarding colour running or bleeding?there have been no instances of this reported.
There?s a pair of ear plugs that accompany each purchase, which I believe gives this mask an edge in creating a more contained sleep environment. Granted, these will eventually wear out, but they are a great supplement for persons who have to contend with noisy daytime households or ambient disturbances during long commutes.
Things to Look Out For…
It is important to remember that this is a one-size-fits-all mask, which may not work well for everyone since it has a contoured shape. Depending on your facial and nose structure, you may or may not experience light leakage.
Based on everything we’ve seen so far, I really like the headphone packaging with this the most. If you like, you can go ahead and purchase via the link below.
#3. Nidra Patented Sleep Mask
My Rating: 4/5
Style?
Comfort?
Affordability?
The Nidra Sleep Mask?s claim to fame is found in its ergonomic design. That?s really a fancy way of saying it fits well, and, based on the reviews, it is indeed very snug and comfortable. This has earned it a 4 star rating from a community of 5000+ users on Amazon. Due to the materials used and its molded eye cup construction, it falls into the more expensive category–actually being the most expensive product in this review. It?s currently on sale now though, so it’s definitely worth a look. In my opinion this is an excellent opportunity to grab a high quality sleep mask on the cheap! Check out the product page here and see what you think about it.
What Makes This A Great Buy
Nidra?s sleep mask has a very precise contoured design which contributes to it being very effective. It is incredibly lightweight, having been made from polyester with a foam insert. The material is soft, yet firm and it will keep its shape for most sleepers regardless of their preferred position. The nose is well-cut out so you won?t have to content with any kind of external nasal pressure. It stands away from the face due to the raised eye cups, and enhances sleep comfort and quality for persons who don?t like the feel of their eyelashes and eyelids making contact with the mask. This also confers an additional benefit of allowing airflow across the face, even during warmer seasons, so you won?t be sweating uncomfortably while trying to get a good night?s sleep. As a woman, you no longer have to worry about make up with this mask either, because you won?t have issues with smudging!
This mask comes with a Velcro strap well which is adjustable. It fits many types of heads and is very durable. Slippage is minimal, and this mask will not run onto your pillowcases either.
Things to Look Out For…
This is a molded mask without a nose bridge so in the event that slippage does happen, you can end up with light leakage primarily in the nose area. This seems to be more of a mild issue for side sleepers or persons with with smaller or flatter noses. This mask is also not machine washable. Nidra nonetheless provides a 30-day risk free trial of their product so you can give it a shot.
Nidra has a pretty good design in my book. If you’re interested in purchasing this item, go ahead and click the link below.
Good quality sleep is paramount in eliminating stress and anxiety that can result in undesirable sleep patterns. All of the masks above will help you get great sleep, leaving you relaxed and thoroughly rested. Ultimately though, it is important to strive to match your sleep mask to your own sense of style, comfort and affordability. Peace of mind after a purchase is also a good thing?on that I?m sure we can agree. It is my hope that you will take a look at my top 3 recommendations and make a decision that?s comfortable for you. All are stylish, trendy, and effective and will help you overcome your sleeping hurdles.
Did you find this helpful or have any feedback around your experience with any of these products? I’d love to hear more about your experience, so don’t forget to drop me a line below!
Rest well until next time.
–Josh.
Oh don’t you are making me worry about sleeping tonight already. I suffer form occasional insomnia and there is NOTHING more frustrating in this world.
I use a sleep mask already, but your recommendation looks great. It’s really big, because I always find with mine that they ALWAYS let some light in no matter how you position it.. Maybe that’s half the problem!
Hi Ruth, I’m glad you found this to be informative. Light seeping in around the edges of sleep masks is a problem many persons complain generally about, but it all comes down to how well the mask can contour to your face. Incidentally, this is one case where less may be more, as a bigger mask may not necessarily mean better light blocking efficiency! I’d encourage you to go for a possibly smaller mask but with raised eye cups (with or without a nose bridge) and an adjustable velcro strap. If you still encounter light leaking in, sometimes just pulling the mask down a bit can solve that problem. It may also be good to understand how you sleep (are you restless or unlikely to move) as that may also determine how well your selected mask may work for you!
Great post on sleep masks! I have trouble sleeping and I have never tried a mask. I was not aware that the darkness they provide stimulates the production of melatonin. Though the Nidra looks like a good choice, I don’t like the fact that it cannot be machine washed. I think that the Bedtime Bliss looks the best mask for me. I am wondering if using the mask would allow me to no longer need sleep aids? That would be great to no longer need pills to sleep!
Hi Erin, thanks for reading! It’s possible that the mask could help to reduce your reliance on sleep aids, but it may be good to say a bit more about your sleep environment first in order to see if that can be the case. I should also point out that sleep aids can sometimes promote snoring, which can also disrupt your sleep. Which sleep aid do you take presently, and is your environment conducive to sleep? I look forward to hearing from you!
Good options. I’ve tried #2 Bedtime Bliss Contoured Sleep Mask myself and a few other contoured options. Bedtime Bliss was my favourite of the lot. It was very comfortable. Only problem that has been consistent with all the masks I have tried, is that the polyester layer separates/peels off the foam over time. Washing them only makes it happen quicker.
I’ve tried running a stitch around the border of mask and that helps some, but the adhesive still wears and the fabric ends up loose in the dome so it hangs and rests on the eyes lol. I eventually gave up and stopped buying them out of frustration but there is definitely value in them.
They are inexpensive so if you don’t mind replacing them every 6-12 months then they are definitely worth having.
Hi Michelle, welcome to my blog, and thanks for the feedback! I agree with you, sleep masks in general tend to have short lifecycles. My wife has had a TravelOn though for around 18 months with moderate usage and it’s been doing surprisingly well! We plan to buy again when it goes. 🙂