When you wake up almost every day at 4:45 a.m. [1], sleep becomes a necessity, but also a luxury. Most days, I get around five to six hours of sleep — that is if I can fall asleep. At night, I find myself listening to the noises outside my window (because there's always something going on in New York City), running through my to-do list for the next day, week, month, and year (I think a LOT), and worrying about my training and work schedules.
Although I try my hardest not to scroll through Instagram in bed, and follow these expert tips for better sleep [2], I still struggle to get a quality night's rest most of the time.
I've heard a ton about weighted blankets improving sleep [4], but I really like my comforter, and the way my studio apartment is set up, I just don't have enough room for another item (unless it sneakers). Because space is limited and I don't have the funds to renovate a brownstone in Harlem, I decided to try a sleep mask.
I wish I had some great story as to how I came across the Lunya Washable Silk Sleep Mask [5] ($48), but knowing me, I was probably shopping online at 2 a.m. Not going to lie, the price point had me feeling some kind of way, but after reading 49 reviews, I felt more confident in my purchase.
After wearing this mask every night for a couple of weeks, I know this for sure: I never want to go to bed again without it. Dramatic? It depends on who you ask, but it's 100 percent true. So what makes this mask better than a $10 one I can find at Target? It's machine-washable, it's silk (which means I'm fighting off wrinkles and protecting my skin [6]), it muffles noise, it's better than blackout curtains, and it doesn't leave dents on my face or hair.
A few months ago they changed the lights on my street, and ever since I've been dealing with obnoxious light coming through my window at night. I considered blackout curtains, but decided against them because the light is nice overall (just not when I'm trying to sleep). After a few nights of wearing this mask, I noticed I was able to sleep through the entire night (except waking up to go to the bathroom), which is very rare. The annoying people who party outside while everyone else is sleeping? Couldn't hear them.
I also have a habit of waking up and checking every clock in sight (microwave, stove, and cable box because I live in a studio apartment) throughout the night because I'm paranoid about sleeping through my multiple alarms. Since wearing this mask at night, I've woken up once or twice to check the time. That's what I call progress, people.
Investing in this eye mask was a great decision on my end, and I'm obviously not the only one who feels this way. Lunya offers six silk sleep masks, and currently, five out of six colours are sold out. Fortunately, I spoke with the team at Lunya, and they said they will be restocking and releasing new colours of the silk masks in mid-January. That gives you enough time to save up all your holiday money to get one.
If you can't wait to get your hands on their silk mask, check out the brand's Pima cotton Restore Mask [8] ($48).