16-05-2025
Drowsy Silk Sleep Mask review: I now use this genuine blackout sleep aid every night
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What is the Drowsy Silk Sleep Mask?
If you've been thinking about adding one of the best sleep masks to your bedtime routine, you'll probably have stumbled across the Drowsy Sleep Mask when scrolling through social media or online.
It's plush, padded and fully adjustable, comes in 18 elegant colours and at £69, it's one of the top luxury options currently available. Silk pillowcases and sleep masks are lauded for their skin and hair benefits as the gentle fabric is said to leave hair less frizzy. Drowsy goes further by claiming its face masks enhance skin, target fine lines, wrinkles and dark circles, and benefit your sleep, of course.
So, does it live up to its buzzy reputation? And is its '100 per cent blackout design' something you can rely on night and day, and on your travels? Here's everything you need to know about Drowsy's bestselling design – and why, of the 12 sleep masks I tested, this one got a perfect score.
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How we test sleep masks
To identify the best sleep masks, I assessed not only how comfortable and secure each one was, but also how soft and breathable the different fabrics felt against my skin. I've tried everything from satin to silk, cotton and velvet, filled with everything from memory foam to polyester. I've also tried massaging options like the Therabody Sleep Mask, ones with headphones and ones with contouring. In each case I considered whether or not I was happy to wear it for eight hours a night, and judged whether the mask positively or negatively impacted the quality of my sleep.
I also wore each mask out in broad daylight to test their blackout credentials, an important factor for those hoping to nod off during the day or on a train or plane, as well as with a dim night light on and in complete darkness. This helped me ascertain just how much light could really seep in.
After all that, and out of all the sleep masks that I tried, this is the one that I continue to use night after night.
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Fabric
Score: 10/10
Silk is fast becoming the sleep fabric of choice for beauty fans with its promise of fewer fine lines and smoother hair. The fact that it won't absorb your expensive skincare like cotton would is a big plus, too, and a growing number of brands are developing silk sleep masks as a result.
While Drowsy has done clinical research into its mask's skin-enhancing properties, only 30 people took part, so it's worth approaching with some scepticism. But it's made with mulberry silk which is some of the highest quality available and is known for its softness, strength and hypoallergenic qualities. I certainly found it buttery and breathable against my skin when I wore it at night.
The sign of this sleep mask's quality is its momme (the unit of measurement for the fabric's weight and density) with a higher number indicating silk that's heavier and more premium. At 22 momme, the Drowsy Sleep Mask has one of the highest ratings on the market.
Finally, despite silk's somewhat high-maintenance reputation, I found it easy to clean; I hand and machine washed it, and both methods left it looking and feeling just like when I first took it out of the box.
Design
Score: 9/10
Even though this mask doesn't have raised eye pads (Drowsy sells another, more expensive version that does), my eyes felt cushioned throughout testing. In fact, my entire head did. Its cloud-like padding and nose cut out provided a great fit. And it doesn't hurt that it's also one of the more attractive designs that I tried.
I picked the Lavender Haze colourway but there is a wonderful array of shades to choose from, including bolder hues like Royal Blue and the dusky Damask Rose. Neutrals are available too, making it easy for everyone to co-ordinate their mask to the rest of their sleep set up.
It's also worth mentioning its rather iconic Breakfast at Tiffany's -inspired design, which can elevate things further (for an added £10) with a gold trim and embroidered eyelashes, making it a thoughtful gift idea for fans of the classic movie. Or if you want something lavish, consider the Swarovski encrusted style for £129. Whichever one you pick, however, each sleep mask comes in a well constructed storage box to keep it pristine when not in use.
Fastening
Score: 9/10
Most sleep masks are one size fits all, so the fastening can make or break how well it fits and how comfortable it is. Thankfully, Drowsy's Velcro wrap means you can tailor the mask to your exact needs for a snug but cosy fit, which is exactly what I was looking for.
Because I was completely in control of how tight or loose it was, it didn't dig into my head or face throughout the course of the night, or leave me with any marks or creases in the morning. This meant it didn't impact my sleep in the slightest either.
The Velcro itself is good quality, and as part of my testing I opened and closed it repeatedly to ensure that it didn't catch or lose any of its fastening power. It dependably and easily secured in place every time that I wrapped it around my head before bed.
Blackout properties
Score: 10/10
One of the most important attributes of a good sleep mask is how well it blocks out light, and this one comes with the bold claim that it's 100 per cent blackout.
I was happy to discover that it completely blocked out any and all light. I did my best to move my eyes around in every direction to see if any slight glimmers would seep in, but thankfully none did. It's down to the close yet cosy fit achieved by the adjustable strap and the cut out around the nose, which lets the mask nestle completely against your cheeks and block out any light from seeping through.
Meeting this criteria is a lot rarer than you might think; quite a few of the biggest sleep mask brands failed to fully keep light out. So, if you're looking for a sleep mask to take on your travels or block out the summer sun early in the morning, this is the kind of design you need.
Performance
Score: 10/10
Until I started using the Drowsy Sleep Mask with its excellent blackout qualities I assumed my bedroom was dark. But it made me realise how many minor light sources distracted me when I rolled over on my mattress or briefly woke up during the night. Wearing the sleep mask also stopped me from checking my phone and the time every few hours, which can only be a good thing and was a habit I was hoping to break at some point. Its positive impact was reinforced by my Fitbit sleep trackers, which showed that when I wore the mask I experienced less disturbance to my slumber overall.
The soft, padded and slightly hefty feel added a relaxing weight to my eyes, enveloping my head so pleasantly that after the first night, I didn't notice that I was wearing it. I couldn't feel the strap against my face, even when pressed into my pillow. While other, less well-fitting sleep masks would slip around on my head, either because of a loose elastic strap or slippy material, but neither issue arose with the Drowsy Sleep Mask. Instead it helped me to enjoy a less interrupted sleep than I was used to without it. It's why this is the mask that I kept aside and have continued to use since my testing ended.
Technical specifications
There are lots of silk sleep masks to choose from, with some priced at less than £20 or incorporating additional features like contoured eye pads. One of Drowsy's biggest competitors is SilkAddict, which also made my list of the best sleep masks.
Even though they look somewhat similar, how do the two compare?
Should you buy the Drowsy Silk Sleep Mask?
The Drowsy Silk Sleep Mask is a significant investment, but a good night's sleep is hard to put a price on, and this is one of those instances where you truly get the quality you pay for.
Yes, if:
You want a fully blackout design
You're on the lookout for a luxe silk sleep mask
You want a choice of timeless colours
No, if:
Drowsy Silk Sleep Mask FAQs
Is it okay to wear a sleep mask every night?
'Wearing a sleep mask every night is generally safe and can actually be beneficial,' says Dr Nora Jaafar, Cosmetic and Medical Dermatology Doctor at Rejuvenation Clinic. 'It blocks out ambient light, which can help regulate your body's melatonin production and support deeper, more restful sleep.'
And silk sleep masks in particular 'can also help reduce friction around the delicate eye area, which may minimise the risk of fine lines, puffiness or creasing. Unlike cotton, silk doesn't absorb skincare products either, so your expensive eye creams stay where they're meant to – on your skin,' she continues.
Why is my vision blurry after wearing a sleep mask?
'Blurry vision after using a sleep mask is usually temporary and can happen if the mask is too tight and applies pressure to the eyes or the surrounding tissue,' says Dr. Anna Andrienko, Board-Certified Dermatologist at Dr. Ducu Clinics. 'This pressure can slightly distort the shape of the cornea or temporarily restrict tear film distribution, both of which affect clarity.' This might mean your sleep mask is too tight or perhaps the material is too weighty.
'Switching to a lighter, looser-fitting silk or cotton mask and ensuring it doesn't press directly on the eyes,' could help with this issue, Dr. Nora advises. But if the blurriness persists or is accompanied by any pain, it's best to stop using the mask immediately and speak to an eye care professional or ophthalmologist.
How do I wash a Drowsy Sleep Mask?
The Drowsy Silk Sleep Mask can be washed by hand or popped in the washing machine, depending on your preference. In either case, wash it cold or below 30°C. And in the machine, if you have a delicates wash bag, this can also help to keep it looking its best for longer.
