Sleep masks can help you sleep, especially if your room isn't fully dark: light at night suppresses melatonin, the hormone that helps regulate your sleep-wake cycle, and a mask is a simple way to block it. Studies are small but encouraging: eye masks worn together with earplugs have been linked to more REM sleep and fewer arousals in a noisy, lit sleep lab, and wearing a mask nightly has been linked to better next-day memory and alertness in a 2023 study of young adults.
Why light at night matters
Your body releases the most melatonin when it's dark, and the pineal gland decreases melatonin production when you're exposed to light. Light at night can also nudge your body clock out of sync, which can make it harder to sleep well. Streetlights through a gap in the curtains, early sunrise in summer, a partner's reading lamp or a glowing charger can all add light to your bedroom. A mask puts darkness right where it counts, over your eyes.
Eye masks and sleep: what's known
Masks in a noisy, bright environment
A small 2010 study put 14 healthy adults in a sleep lab with recorded intensive care unit noise and light. On the night they wore earplugs and eye masks, they had more REM sleep time, reached REM sooner, had fewer arousals and showed higher melatonin levels than on the noise-and-light night without them. The masks were tested together with earplugs, so the study can't separate the effect of each.
Masks and next-day memory
A 2023 study had 94 people aged 18 to 35 wear an eye mask every night for a week, then sleep a week without blocking light. With the mask, they did better on a word-learning memory task and on an alertness test. In a second experiment with 35 people, the memory benefit was linked to time spent in slow-wave sleep.
The honest limits
- Both studies were small and involved healthy volunteers, not people with diagnosed sleep disorders.
- A mask won't fix insomnia, sleep apnea or other sleep conditions. If you regularly struggle to fall or stay asleep, talk to your doctor.
What to look for in a sleep mask
- It blocks light fully. The point is darkness, so look for a shape that sits close around the eyes.
- It's comfortable all night. A soft, padded mask is easier to keep on, especially if you change position.
- It's easy to wash. A mask sits against your face every night, so check that the care label fits your routine.
- The fabric feels good to you. Silk, cotton and other fabrics all work; choose what you'll actually wear.
The Inez Washable Silk Eye Mask
The Inez Washable Silk Eye Mask ($48, one size) is made from 100% machine washable silk. Here is how it compares on the checklist above, using Eberjey's own product details.
| Feature | Inez Washable Silk Eye Mask |
|---|---|
| Fabric | 100% machine washable silk |
| Silk quality | Eberjey lists a momme grade of 16 and a fiber grade of 6A, which it says means higher quality |
| Padding | Eberjey describes it as filled with the perfect amount of pillow-soft filling |
| Light blocking | Eberjey says the plush mask helps block out light for improved sleep quality |
| Care | Hand wash or machine wash cold on delicate cycle, separately; remove promptly and lay flat to dry; do not bleach; mesh washbag recommended |
| Size and price | One size, $48 |
| Color shown | Rose Cloud |
Eberjey also describes the material as bluesign®-certified, biodegradable and hypoallergenic. If you have sensitive skin or a known allergy, check with your dermatologist about any new product worn on the face. Eberjey says it pairs well with Inez Washable Silk pajamas, such as the Inez Washable Silk Long PJ Set ($298, sizes XS–XL) and the rest of the washable silk pajamas collection.
How to care for a silk eye mask
Follow the care label: hand wash or machine wash cold on a delicate cycle, washed separately, ideally in a mesh washbag. Remove it promptly, lay it flat to dry and skip the bleach. For more on the fabric, read what washable silk is and how it differs from traditional silk and how to care for washable silk. For a full wind-down plan, see the best pajamas for better sleep, according to sleep science.
Frequently asked questions
Do sleep masks actually help you sleep?
They can, particularly in rooms that aren't fully dark. Light at night suppresses melatonin, and small studies link eye masks to more REM sleep and fewer arousals (when worn with earplugs) and to better next-day memory and alertness.
Is it healthy to sleep with an eye mask every night?
In a 2023 study, healthy young adults wore an eye mask every night for a week and performed better on memory and alertness tests. If you have an eye condition or ongoing sleep problems, talk to your doctor.
Does a sleep mask increase melatonin?
In a 2010 sleep-lab study, people exposed to simulated hospital noise and light had higher melatonin levels when they wore earplugs and eye masks than when they didn't. The mask and earplugs were tested together.
Is a silk sleep mask better than other fabrics?
The studies above didn't compare fabrics, so choose the material you find most comfortable. The Inez Washable Silk Eye Mask is 100% machine washable silk with pillow-soft filling, as Eberjey describes it.
Can you machine wash the Inez Washable Silk Eye Mask?
Yes. The care label says hand wash or machine wash cold on delicate cycle, separately, then lay flat to dry. Do not bleach, and a mesh washbag is recommended.
How much is the Inez Washable Silk Eye Mask?
The regular price is $48, and it comes in one size.
Sources
- Harvard Health Publishing, “Blue light has a dark side”
- Cleveland Clinic, “Melatonin”
- Hu RF et al., “Effects of earplugs and eye masks on nocturnal sleep, melatonin and cortisol in a simulated intensive care unit environment,” Critical Care (2010)
- Greco V et al., “Wearing an eye mask during overnight sleep improves episodic learning and alertness,” Sleep (2023), Cardiff University repository
- Harvard Health Publishing, “Does sleeping with an eye mask improve learning and alertness?”
- Sleep Foundation, “New Sleep Mask Benefit Unlocked: Improved Brain Function”
