We've all pondered the question of how to achieve a better night's sleep at some point in our lives. With no one-size-fits-all solution, each person develops their sleep strategy. For some, it's about maintaining the ideal room temperature. Others swear by the calming comfort of having a soft blanket to alleviate anxiety. Then there's the classic option: donning an eye mask. Not only does this choice exude a sense of chicness—who wouldn't want to channel their inner Blair Waldorf?—but there are also tangible benefits beyond aesthetics.
Before delving into these advantages, it's important to consider a few factors when selecting your eye mask, starting with the choice of fabric. According to a study conducted by the American Institute of Medical Science, natural fibres like silk, are proven at at a microscopic level to be softer and gentler on the skin barrier, like any garment in direct contact with your skin, your eye mask should be cleaned regularly, especially if you skip face-washing before bed or experience significant sweating.
Now, let's explore the primary benefits of using an eye mask for sleep:
1. Protects your skin
As we toss and turn during the night, our skin rubs against pillows, sheets, and blankets. Wearing an eye mask can serve as a protective barrier, preventing skin damage caused by this friction. Often this friction between the skin and sheets can disrupt the skin barrier, leading to inflammation and even wrinkles. Given the delicate nature of the skin around the eyes, it's essential to safeguard it.
2. Controls Anxiety or Tension:
As per a study conducted by the National Institutes of Medicine in 2008, if you’re someone who tends to hold tension around your face or eyebrows or experience headaches and migraines, certain eye masks, especially weighted ones, can offer relief. These masks contain microbeads that exert gentle pressure on the face, providing comfort and potentially alleviating tension around the eyes, nighttime headaches, or migraines.
3. Optimises Sleep During Travel:
Maintaining a consistent sleep schedule while travelling can be challenging, and uninterrupted sleep is often elusive. Eye masks can help create a sense of normalcy and enhance the quality of sleep, even in unfamiliar environments. The ease of carrying an eye mask makes it particularly useful for use on your journeys, aiding in better sleep during travel.
4. Helps Reduce Puffiness:
The tell-tale signs of a sleepless night often include facial puffiness and dark circles. Some eye masks, especially a specially designed weighed eyemask can address this issue by applying gentle pressure to the skin under the eyes, aiding in the removal of excess fluid responsible for puffiness. This, in turn, can improve the appearance of puffiness. Cooling eye masks may also contribute to depuffing by constricting blood vessels.
5. May Increase REM:
As per a study conducted by the National Institutes of Health in 2010, by providing total darkness, eye masks reduce disturbances from external light sources, promoting uninterrupted sleep. This, in turn, can lead to an increase in REM (rapid eye movement) sleep, a stage of sleep associated with dreaming and critical for cognitive functions such as learning and memory.
6. Complete Darkness Anywhere:
For those who are sensitive to their sleep environment, eye masks can be a saviour. The goal is to find a mask that offers blackout conditions, effectively eliminating any potential distractions that could disrupt your rest.
Given these advantages, it's no wonder some may be tempted to acquire an eye mask for every night of the week.