The Best Sleep Masks

The Illo looks preposterous. Everyone who saw me wearing it made fun of its giant, marshmallow-like silhouette. But my God, it's one of the most comfortable sleep gadgets I've ever tried (and I have tried many!). It might make me look like some sort of Pixar character, but it encased my head in a total blackout, complete with a soft and cooling exterior fabric that immediately made me sleepy. It puts a little bit of pressure on my eyes, but in a way that I find soothing and not irritating, and it also muffles sound. And it's firm enough that I can rest my head on a car door or too-hard armrest and still get shut-eye.

It includes a carrying case and packs down small enough that you can fit it in your personal item (perhaps with a bit of finagling if you overpack like I do). If you don't mind drawing a little bit of attention to yourself, I think it's well worthwhile, especially considering how affordable it is compared to some other options we recommend. You can wear it around your neck if you want, but I preferred it right over my eyes.

Trtl’s Glimpse Sleep Mask is available in eight fun colors. It comes with a pair of standard-issue foam earplugs in a tiny carrying case, plus a carrying case for the mask itself. The mask is made with eucalyptus fabric, which lends it a silky, cooling feeling. The molded inner eye cups are oval-shaped and can be removed and readjusted to help create a true blackout environment. I did find it a little tricky to get them perfectly adjusted to balance blocking as much light as possible without the mask being too tight or too low. But I got there in the end after much fiddling, and I like that I can blink in the mask since the eye cups are pretty deep. The Velcro attachment for the mask are a little bit loud, so I suggest dialing in your adjustments before flying or sleeping in a quiet room with other people.

The best part of the Trtl Glimpse mask is its “peek” feature. The eye cups have a dark mesh front, and there’s a soft cloth flap across the front of them. You can lift this cloth covering to get a peek at your surroundings. This is something I’ve been wanting for so long. That mesh still blocks a lot of light when you lift the external flap, but you get just enough light to be able to do something like adjust your phone’s media playback or check to see what time it is. My only real complaint is that the included carrying case is similar to the one that comes with Trtl Travel Pillows. It’s basically a crinkly, scratchy-sounding stuff sack with a roll-down top that secures closed via very loud Velcro. The bag attaches to your luggage or backpack with a carabiner, and the whole thing flaps around uselessly unless you do something to prevent it. Secure the case to the inside of another bag (and take your sleep mask out early in a quiet environment) for the best experience.

The skin around our eyes is very delicate and sensitive. If you have eczema that likes to flare in that area from time to time, like me, you know that even pillowcases can aggravate your skin. I love sleep masks for home and travel, but the Manta Silk Sleep Mask is what I use every night. Manta eye masks are designed to completely block out light, with removable eye cups. You can switch these cups in and out for other versions Manta offers (like microwavable Warm or freezable Cool cups), or adjust them ever so slightly with their elastic backing to fit your head exactly. I’m a big fan of the Cool cups for when migraines hit. —Julia Forbes

Some of these masks are just too dainty. If you've got a big head or a lot of hair, and you want a good silk sleep mask, this is a solid option. I also like that it has some more elegant and gender-neutral colors to choose from that don't feel so overtly feminine. It's very similar to the Blissy mask above, but slightly larger both in mask shape and head strap. That meant it didn't do the best job at blocking out light for me, and it tended to slip around overnight. However, I had some friends with larger heads try it, and they all liked it the same way that I like Blissy's mask. My only real complaint is that I wish it came with a carrying case.

Some sleep masks claim to be 100 percent blackout, but this one leaves me totally disoriented, with no idea what dimension I'm in. I often find myself wide awake in the middle of the night, and the TheraFace SleepMask is my favorite remedy for drifting back to sleep. It uses gentle vibrations with three pattern presets that are designed to lull you into slumber. The vibrations are almost too subtle, especially compared to Therabody's SmartGoggles, but they do the trick in helping you get back to rest. Each setting runs for 15 minutes, so you don't need to worry about shutting it off once you're out. The adjustable strap is gentle on my hair, and the contoured, plush pads stay comfortable without pressing into your eyelids. It’s like two jumbo marshmallows resting on your eyes.

But, if you're a light sleeper, the mask's audible buzz might disrupt your peace. It's not as soothing as a white noise machine, which could be a deal-breaker for some. That said, the inner layer is machine washable and you get free access to soundscapes with TheraMind, available in the Therabody app. Plus, it comes with a carrying case, so it's always in my personal item bag when I'm traveling. —Boutayna Chokrane

This mask is featured in our guide to the best weighted blankets and weighted eye masks. The 9-ounce mask has a mulberry silk exterior, which feels cooling against your skin. You can also freeze it if you want things even chillier. It’s got a Velcro strap in the back that can be bothersome if you sleep on your back, but our tester wasn’t bothered when she slept on her side or stomach. There’s also a hidden crystal sewn inside (either amethyst to “clear the mind” or rose quartz to “cultivate love and harmony”) if you’re into that sort of thing. But even if you aren’t, this is a good weighted sleep mask.

The Opal Cool isn’t specifically a sleep mask, but I’m still including it here. I get the occasional migraine headache, and placing something cooling on my eyes helps me take a nap when nothing else will. A cooling mask also comes in handy on hot summer nights when even a box fan isn’t helping me chill out enough to sleep. The gel in the Opal Cool eye mask feels slightly cold all the time, but you can stick the mask in the fridge or freezer to bring the temperature down even more. The gel pockets place the slightest bit of pressure on my eyes and help me fall asleep fast.

In my testing, the plant-based phase-change gel maintained a temperature of 58 degrees Fahrenheit for a little over half an hour—enough time for me to fall asleep. Of course, this isn’t medical advice, and you should talk to your doctor if you’re experiencing headaches! But if you are in the same boat as I am, a cooling mask like this can help bring some relief.

I love the Manta Sound Sleep Mask. This is the older generation; there's a newer generation out that we haven't tested yet.

For me, as a troubled sleeper, sometimes light-blocking just doesn’t cut it. The razor-thin Bluetooth headphones in this mask help me block out even more external stimuli, ensuring that I get good sleep. The C-shaped eye cups (which can be swapped out for freezable or microwaveable cups sold by Manta) block out light without adding pressure to your eyes. The three buttons on the front of the mask make it easy to adjust volume (with 30 different levels) and turn the mask on and off. I wish there were a way to control media playback without needing to lift the mask to peer at my phone, but a good playlist with no skips will take care of that. Despite the relative bulk of this mask compared to some others, it‘s still easy to sleep in no matter whether you’re a back, stomach, or side sleeper. It’s also pretty breathable. I love taking it with me to bass music festivals so I can sleep through morning sound check (or evening party animal neighbors).