10 reasons why you should sleep with an eye mask

Wearing an eye mask provides a variety of benefits that enhance not only your sleep quality but also your skincare regimen. If you're looking to upgrade your nightly rest, we turned to leading sleep and beauty specialists to reveal the primary advantages.

Below, discover the 10 key benefits of sleeping with an eye mask.

Safeguards Skin During Sleep

When we change positions at night, we frequently come into contact with our pillows, sheets, and blankets, which can cause skin damage due to friction.

An eye mask serves as a protective shield, preventing any irritation to the skin caused by movement. While we sleep, the friction from our bedding can disrupt our skin barrier and result in inflammation.

Can Help Alleviate Anxiety or Tension

If you often feel tense in your facial muscles or suffer from headaches and migraines, certain types of eye masks may offer relief.

A weighted eye mask usually contains microbeads that provide gentle compression, helping to ease tension as you fall asleep.

Enhances Sleep Quality While Traveling

When traveling, it can be difficult to get a good night's sleep, regardless of how much you prepare. Eye masks can bring a sense of routine, enabling you to experience more restful sleep in places that are unfamiliar.

They’re compact and perfect for use on airplanes, improving your sleep experience while on the go.

Aids in Reducing Puffiness

Puffiness and dark circles are well-known indicators of a night without enough rest, but there are eye masks specifically designed to address this issue. Weighted masks deliver gentle pressure to the skin under your eyes, facilitating the removal of excess fluid causing puffiness. Similarly, cooling eye masks can help constrict blood vessels, providing additional depuffing effects.

Can Enhance REM Sleep

Eye masks might improve REM sleep, the phase in which most dreaming occurs and comprises about 25% of our total sleep duration. By creating complete darkness, eye masks diminish the impact of external light, leading to fewer disruptions and allowing for an increase in REM sleep.

Offers Total Darkness Anywhere

If outside factors disrupt your ability to fall asleep, eye masks can be incredibly beneficial. When choosing an eye mask, look for one that creates a blackout effect to completely reduce distractions.

Allows the Skin Barrier to Recover

While resting, our skin utilizes the time to repair itself from daily wear and tear. A good night’s sleep enhances the appearance of your skin. Insufficient sleep raises cortisol levels, which can hinder recovery, lead to skin barrier issues, and even cause acne. Getting enough sleep helps decrease inflammation and fights against premature aging.

Supports Skin Hydration

Eye masks can also contribute to maintaining skin hydration. Depending on the fabric, eye masks can shield the products applied to your face, such as eye creams, from external factors. Unlike cotton, silk does not draw moisture away from the skin, helping it retain hydration throughout the night. Silk and satin masks are softer on the skin, reducing friction and promoting better moisture retention.

Hypoallergenic and Antimicrobial

Silk eye masks provide more than just comfort; they are hydrophobic, hypoallergenic, and antimicrobial.

Silk inherently resists dust mites and bacteria, making it an excellent option for those with sensitive skin while offering added protection against irritation.

Resets Your Circadian Rhythm

Sometimes, correcting your sleep can be as simple as wearing a silk mask, which may help recalibrate your circadian rhythm (the internal clock of the body).

The delicate touch of silk can enhance serotonin production, improving your mood, while its light-blocking properties can boost melatonin levels, effectively regulating your sleep patterns.