When we think about natural sleep aids, we often consider our mattresses, pillows, blackout curtains, and sound machines, but we overlook an important aid: a weighted eye mask.

What is a Weighted Eye Mask?

A weighted eye pillow, also known as a weighted eye mask, is a type of sleep mask filled with beads, grains, or other weighted materials that apply gentle pressure to the eyes and surrounding area.

Often, there is also an aromatherapy component that promotes additional relaxation.

How Weighted Eye Masks Work

To understand their relevance as a sleep aid, let’s examine the underlying mechanics. How do weighted eye masks work?

Deep Touch Pressure (DTP): The gentle pressure associated with a weighted eye mask is believed to stimulate the parasympathetic nervous system, promoting relaxation.

The parasympathetic nervous system is responsible for the “rest and digest” response that aids the body in relaxation.

This response is also believed to reduce stress and anxiety, making it easier to fall asleep and move into a deeper, more restorative state of sleep.

Light Blocking: Weighted eye masks work similarly to regular eye masks, blocking out light to signal the body to produce melatonin, a hormone that promotes sleep.

Melatonin regulates your body’s natural circadian rhythm, which improves sleep quality. Weighted masks help activate melatonin to support your natural sleep cycle.

Acupressure Effects: Weighted eye masks apply pressure to specific points around the eyes and temples—corresponding to acupressure points in Chinese medicine—to help alleviate tension headaches, migraines, and sinus pain, all of which can disrupt sleep.

Benefits of a Weighted Eye Mask

The benefits of weighted eye masks for improved sleep are:

  • They promote relaxation and reduce anxiety. Using a weighted eye mask for anxiety is a great way to employ gentle pressure as a way of stimulating the vagus nerve, which activates the parasympathetic nervous system.

The parasympathetic nervous system triggers the release of hormones like serotonin and dopamine, which leads to a sense of calm and relaxation. 

This soothing effect eases the day’s anxieties, making it easier to fall asleep.

  • Improved sleep quality: A weighted eye mask creates a dark sleeping environment, promoting optimal melatonin production and regulation of our sleep-wake cycle. 

Darkness also increases REM sleep along with all its benefits, and studies show increased alertness the next day.

  • Headache and migraine relief: Applying gentle pressure to the acupressure points around the eyes and temples can help alleviate these symptoms and associated pain.

  • Reduction of eye puffiness and dry eye: The physical pressure of these masks may help reduce under-eye puffiness and dark circles by promoting fluid drainage and constriction of blood vessels. Heated masks can also stimulate tear production in individuals with dry eyes.

  • Minimizes friction: A weight mask creates a barrier between your skin and your pillow, which can cause fine lines and wrinkles, especially for side and stomach sleepers.

Who Should Try a Weighted Eye Mask?

Sleep disturbance and anxiety: If you are experiencing sleep disturbances, using a weighted eye mask can help promote relaxation and increase melatonin production, leading to improved sleep. 

It also reduces cortisol levels associated with stress, allowing melatonin to work optimally.

Headaches and migraines: If you experience headaches or migraines, the pressure from the mask has been shown to reduce the pain, especially when combined with the darkness the mask provides.

Light sensitivity: Weighted masks block out 100% of light to improve sleep for those sensitive to light.

Night shift workers: Sleeping during the day can be challenging for night shift workers; a weighted eye mask is a great solution due to its light-blocking abilities, making rest easier to maintain.

Weighted Eye Mask vs Regular Eye Mask

A regular eye mask is designed to block out light, creating a better sleep environment. They are lightweight, easy to carry, affordable, and help reduce eye strain.

On the other hand, a weighted eye mask blocks out light. It provides evenly distributed pressure around the eyes and the surrounding area, mimicking deep touch pressure therapy similar to that of a weighted blanket.

The pressure triggers the parasympathetic nervous system, which is responsible for a slower heart rate, lower stress hormone levels, and increased production of serotonin and melatonin.

The benefits include deep relaxation, reduced stress and anxiety, improved sleep quality, relief from headaches and facial tension, along with the advantages of acupressure and enhanced meditation practices.

Yana’s Weighted Eye Mask

The Yana eye mask is the best weighted eye mask for sleep because it is certified free of harmful chemicals, is antimicrobial, and antifungal.

Filled with lavender and flaxseed in a copper-infused satin cover, it blocks out light to prepare for a blissful night’s sleep. It can be heated or frozen to enhance the benefits.

Discover the world of Yana Sleep products!