The benefits of a silk sleep mask: what does it really do?

A bedroom is rarely truly dark. The light on the smoke alarm blinks, your phone charger glows and light seeps in around the edge of the curtain. A sleep mask makes it dark where it counts: around your eyes. But what does that actually do, and what does silk add? Here you will find what research says, where silk makes the difference and when a mask helps most.

In short

  • A sleep mask keeps light away from your eyes, even when your bedroom is not completely dark.
  • In a study at Cardiff University, people took in new information better and reacted faster during the day after nights with a mask.
  • Silk feels smooth and cool on your eyelids, while cotton soaks up more moisture.
  • A mask will not fix wrinkles, puffy eyes or sleep problems caused by stress.

Why sleeping in the dark matters

Even with your eyes closed, your body notices whether it is light or dark. Researchers at Northwestern University in Chicago had twenty healthy young adults sleep in a sleep laboratory. Half of them slept one night under ordinary ceiling lighting, the other half in near-darkness.

Study · PNAS, 2022

Ceiling light on100 lux
Near-darknessless than 3 lux

With the light on, sleep was lighter: proportionally, the participants spent less time in deep sleep and in REM sleep.

Lux measures how much light there is. Source: Mason et al., PNAS 2022

A mask is the simplest way to keep that light out. There are no blackout curtains to hang or little lights to tape over, and it works wherever you sleep.

What research says about sleeping with a mask

Researchers at Cardiff University wanted to know what a mask does for you the next day.

Study · Sleep, 2023

  • 18–35years old and healthy
  • At homein their own beds
  • 1 weekwith a mask that blocked out the light
  • 1 weekwithout a mask or with holes over the eyes

After the nights with the light-blocking mask, they:

  • learned new word pairs more easily
  • reacted faster on a test of alertness
  • felt no more or less sleepy than usual

Source: Greco et al., Sleep 2023

A pointer, not a promise

It was a small group of young, healthy people. If you sleep badly because of stress, worry or an irregular routine, a mask will not solve that. In that case, start with the NHS advice on insomnia, which also suggests a dark bedroom, with an eye mask if needed.

What silk adds to a mask

You wear a mask all night on the thinnest skin of your face, so the material matters. The Silkora mask is silk on both sides, and that fabric has three qualities that suit it well:

  • SmoothAs you turn your head, the fabric moves softly with you instead of pulling at your skin or lashes.
  • Absorbs little moistureEye cream soaks into silk less than into cotton, so more of it stays on your skin.
  • Cool and breathableThe mask feels cool when you put it on, and it gets warm less quickly under silk than under polyester.

Silkora silk sleep mask in Icy Blue, with an opening for the nose

SilkCottonSatin (polyester)
On your eyelidsSmooth and coolSoft, but rougherSmooth, but gets warm
Eye creamSoaks in lessSoaks inSoaks in little
BreathableYesYesLess
FibreNatural proteinPlant-basedSynthetic

How silk works when your face rests on it all night is explained in our article on silk pillowcases.

Who gets the most out of a sleep mask

Sunrise and sunset in Amsterdam

21 June05:17 – 22:06
21 December08:48 – 16:29

From sunset to sunrise: 7 hours 11 minutes in June, 16 hours 19 minutes in December.

  • In summerAround the longest day, the sun in the Netherlands does not set until about ten in the evening and is up again before half past five.
  • If you sleep during the dayAfter a night shift, a mask turns day into night.
  • Next to a night owlWhoever sleeps next to you can watch another episode without the light from the screen shining in your eyes.
  • CampingIn a tent it gets light as soon as the sun comes up, but under a mask it stays dark.
  • For a napWith a mask, the curtains can stay open for a daytime nap.

How to get used to a sleep mask

  1. The right fitAdjust the strap before you lie down: the mask should stay in place without pinching. If the strap is too tight, you will feel it on your head after an hour; if it is too loose, light gets in past your nose.
  2. Give it a few nightsFor many people a mask feels strange the first time, and they usually get used to it quickly.
  3. On your sideIf you sleep on your side, check that the strap is not pressing against your ear, and move it a little higher if needed.
  4. Long hairTie it loosely with a silk scrunchie so it does not get tangled in the strap.
  5. WashingHand washing is best; lay the mask flat to dry afterwards. Our page on washing silk shows you how.

Silkora's silk sleep mask

  • Mulberry silk, 22 momme
  • Grade 6A
  • Silk on both sides
  • Filling: 100% silk cotton
  • One size, adjustable strap
  • OEKO-TEX® Standard 100

The Silkora mask is wide and has an opening for your nose. Both sides are Grade 6A mulberry silk of 22 momme, with a soft filling of 100% silk cotton. There is one size, and you set the elastic silk strap yourself. The mask has the same OEKO-TEX® Standard 100 label as our pillowcases.

Open green Silkora gift box with the sleep mask in translucent paper and a round Silkora sticker

Your mask arrives in Silkora's green gift box. Inside, it is wrapped in translucent paper closed with a round Silkora sticker. That makes it ready to give as a present; you will also find it among our silk gifts.

The mask's five colours also exist as a 60x70 silk pillowcase, so you can match your mask and pillowcase.

Frequently asked questions

Can you wear a sleep mask every night?

Yes, that is what it is made for. Do make sure the strap does not pinch, and wash the mask regularly, because it lies on your skin every night. If your eyes bother you, ask your GP for advice.

Is a satin sleep mask the same as a silk one?

No. Satin only describes how the fabric is woven; the fibre is usually polyester. It feels smooth too, but breathes less well than silk. You can recognise real silk by "mulberry silk" or "100% silk" on the label.

Will a silk sleep mask help with puffy eyes or wrinkles?

No, that has not been shown. A mask blocks out light and feels pleasant, but it is not skincare.

Want to try it yourself? The mask comes in five colours, each in a gift box.

Choose your silk sleep mask

Back to blog