The best sleep masks for quality shut-eye, according to our panel of tired testers

Score: 92/100

If you need help to wind down before you go to sleep, whether you prefer a massage, listening to crashing waves or white noise, then you need to take Bob and Brad to bed with you. No, not two men, but rather the mask they developed and modestly named after themselves. The two physical therapists designed this smart pre-sleep mask with a built-in heated eye massager that targets pressure points in the head and increases blood circulation, to alleviate eye strain or migraines.

Its purpose is to get you relaxed and ready to sleep. It has five different massage modes and intensities, as well as in-built optional white noise, which can help to reduce anxiety. But if you prefer to relax to the sweet sounds of Metallica, you can also connect to your own music via Bluetooth.

It went down a treat with our testers. One “adored” how it was “gentle on the eyes and yet effective”. It left another feeling refreshed every time they wore it, and because it’s foldable, it’s also easy to take with you on your travels, to work, or even on the daily commute (this wouldn’t be the most outrageous thing spotted on the Tube, we’re sure). “The best sleep mask I’ve ever used,” said one satisfied tester. Not bad, Bob and Brad.

Score: 90/100

Mulberry silk is said to be the softest fabric in the world, so it’s no wonder that this sleep mask feels incredible against the skin. It has beauty benefits too, as the smooth and hypoallergenic fabric protects your skin and hair from friction caused by pillows and bedsheets. In other words, this mask won’t leave any marks on your skin or kinks in your hair, so you should wake up feeling and looking fresh.

Our testers said it was lightweight and not too tight, yet it still blocked out light effectively. “My eyes feel rested, and it saves me a fortune on blinds,” said one satisfied tester.

It earned extra brownie points for its beautiful presentation box, making it a great gift option. You can choose from a range of colours, from pale pink to olive green.

Score: 89/100

Coming in 17 different shades of silk, from a deep ‘Midnight Blue’, to an opulent ‘L’amour Gold’, these eye masks from Drowsy really put the beauty into sleep. Made from the same Mulberry silk as the option above, this will protect your eyes from light and save your hair and skin from any friction caused by bedsheets.

Though light and delicate, the padded silk is 100% light-blocking – a great plus in the summer months. Likened to a “giant, comforting, cooling pillow for the eyes” by our testers, we’re not sure what else you’d want from a sleep mask. It comes in a beautifully wrapped box with one panellist praising the “simple and clean design that screamed luxury.” It’s a quality product, so we think the investment is worth it. To keep the delicate silk intact, we recommend hand washing in warm water and leaving out to dry.

Read our sleep editor's full Drowsy sleep mask review.

Score: 81/100

Slip on this silky-soft mask before drifting off for a deep sleep in total darkness. The padded eye covers lie gently on your face and are contoured in a way that won’t press on your nose. One of our testers described the fit as “natural, never suffocating”, which is always a plus!

The mask features an adjustable Velcro strap, so it’s comfy for all head sizes, small or large, and it stays in place all night. “I’ve tried numerous eye masks in the past, and this is my favourite,” said one sleep mask connoisseur.

Score: 78/100

This exciting new launch from Therabody, which is known for its popular massage guns, earned the brand some new fans on our testing panel. The mask uses vibrations to help relieve headaches and eyestrain brought on by stress or hours of staring at screens. There are three quiet patterns and intensity levels to help improve your sleep quality and quantity. The vibrations automatically shut off after 15 minutes, as they’re designed to help you drift off.

“It was surprisingly comfortable!” said one sceptical tester. Another, who wasn’t convinced they would enjoy the vibrations, was converted, telling us: “It’s super relaxing and instantly made me feel calm.”

And if you need to be in complete darkness to get those blissful 40 winks, you’re in luck – our experts found it extremely effective at blocking out light. It's at the more expensive end of the scale, but if you take your sleep seriously, we think it’s worth the investment.

Score: 77/100

With this updated version of its original Smart Goggles, Therabody has listened to customer feedback. Not your average eye mask, it uses innovative SmartSense technology to reduce eye strain, headaches and tension through air massage, vibration and heat. It also has an in-built sensor, which is used to monitor your heart rate and adjust the vibrations to help you wind down before bed (or relax if you’re feeling stressed during the day).

The vibrations are quieter in this 2nd Gen version; there’s also a new and improved adjustable strap for a more comfortable, personalised fit and the contoured padding avoids any unwanted pressure around the eyes. Testers confirmed it was “light” and “more comfortable” than the previous model.

It lost points for the lack of set-up instructions, but the three buttons that control the intensity of massages are straightforward to use. If you need further advice on how to use it, there’s a full video demo available online. You can connect to the Therabody app to adjust the vibration settings, and access soundscapes, white noise and guided meditations. It left most of our panellists feeling relaxed and de-stressed, with one saying it even improved their Oura Ring sleep score.

Score: 77/100

This clever eye mask has extra padding inserted around the eyelids, which blocks light out effectively without feeling tight and uncomfortable against your face. Testers appreciated this feature, with one saying it was “a comfortable wear”, and another telling us they enjoyed better sleep when they used it during the trial.

It’s on the chunkier side, so it’s best suited for those who sleep on their backs or who find flimsier masks slip off while they’re snoozing.

Whether you need it for travelling, daytime naps, or you simply haven’t got around to putting those blackout blinds up yet, there are some good quality Zs ahead with this product.

Score: 76/100

Helping everyone achieve great sleep quality is at the heart of Tempur’s mission, and now you can match your eye mask to your best mattress for a night of uninterrupted slumber, thanks to this comfy design.

Developed with the same pressure-relieving material as the brand's mattress, it’s made up of viscoelastic cells (think memory foam) that mould to the shape of your face for ultimate comfort.

Multiple testers praised its ability to block out the light – “it's extremely effective” and “it completely eliminates light disturbances from my sleep”, were just a couple of the comments we got back. Another tester thought it was a great option for travelling, so slip this into your hand luggage for a restful flight.

Score: 72/100

Whether you regularly stare at a screen all day or find it hard to fall asleep at night, Therabody’s SmartGoggles (the previous iteration to the 2nd Gen above) claim to help ease eye strain and help you relax before bed.

Not your average eye mask, it uses innovative SmartSense technology to reduce eye strain, headaches and tension through air massage, vibration and heat. It also has an in-built heart rate sensor, which is used to monitor your heart rate and adjust the vibrations to help you wind down before bed (or relax if you’re feeling stressed during the day).

You can choose from three different modes – SmartRelax, Focus and Sleep. The SmartRelax mode massages your eye area, using vibrations that match your heart rate. The Focus mode adds gentle heat to help ease tension around the temples. And the Sleep mode slows down the vibration pattern and delivers a calming massage to help you relax before bed.

Our testers enjoyed the combination of heat, massage and vibrations. “I loved the sensation around my eyes and head,” said one, with another adding: “It was pleasant to have on and the heat function is really nice.” The goggles are bulky, although they fold in half and come with a case for storage and portability. They’re also comfy to wear. Reviews on set up were mixed, with some finding connecting to the app a little fiddly, and they are a little noisy in use. However, if you struggle to relax and want to have a break from screen time before bed to ease those tired eyes, they're a worthy buy.

Read our full Therabody Smart Goggles review.

Score: 72/100

Cozy Earth’s bamboo eye mask is a lightweight, smooth and breathable option, which the hot sleepers on our panel appreciated. It doesn’t have an adjustable strap, but it did provide a snug fit which worked well for the majority of our testers. It didn’t dig in, rub or leave marks on their faces, either.

It is on the pricier end of the sleep mask spectrum, but according to our panellists, the high-quality feel is worth it: “Having used both cheap and expensive ones over the years, this one was definitely the best” said one tester.

The plush filling feels extra soft comfortable on the lids, and is what the brand likens to “clouds for the eyes.” Just note, some reported that the mask did ride up mid-sleep, which may not be ideal if you're extra sensitive to light.