Some products that we’ve tried have stood the test of time and remain our faves to this day. In our series 10/10 Would Recommend, we’re giving the final word on well-known products that we fully stand behind.
The Product
Slip's Silk Sleep Mask, a 100% mulberry-silk eye sleeping mask that feels cool and comfortable to the touch while blocking out sleep-disturbing light.
The Stats
The Price: $50
Year It Came Out: Slip launched in 2004, but the time their Silk Sleep Mask launched is unknown.
Reviewed By: Allure, The New York Times, PureWow, NBC News, The Inventory
What Does It Do?
By now, we're all aware of the celeb-favorite silk sleep brand, Slip. This brand has brought all of us the luxury of smooth and comfy mulberry silk since 2004. It has become a staple to every It Girl's beauty sleep routine: Kourtney Kardashian, Cindy Crawford, Drew Barrymore, and Hailey Beiber are just a few of their devoted celebrity fans.
Though Slip's most popular product is their silky-smooth pillowcase, there's another sleep essential that you need to stop sleeping on: Their ultra-comfy, light-blocking Silk Sleep Mask.
Just like all of their products, this sleep mask is made out of the brand’s proprietary “slipsilk,” which is made out of the highest grade long-fiber mulberry silk with a thickness of 22 momme. (Momme is a Japanese unit of weight that’s commonly used to weigh silk. The heavier the silk fabric, the higher its quality, which explains why this mask is $50.) Every inch of this sleep mask is pure luxury: It’s made with pure silk filler, silk internal liner, and a silk-covered elastic band to whisk you away to sleep without any discomfort.
Why would you want to drop $50 on a silk sleep mask? Well, if you have a rather expensive nighttime skincare routine, you’re going to want to use this particular mask, because silk fibers are significantly less absorbent than many other fibers — meaning they can help retain your skin’s moisture and keep your pricey face and hair products on, well, your face and hair.
If, like me, you’re sensitive to light when trying to sleep, you’ll also enjoy the fact that this eye mask actually blocks light with total ease. Its elastic band also secures the mask in its place, so you don't have to readjust throughout the night.
Why Do I Love It?
I'm a diagnosed insomniac, and other than my favorite melatonin + CBD sleep aid (which you can read more about here), there's not much that can help keep my eyes closed and stay closed throughout the night. On top of my insomnia, I’m also extremely sensitive to light when I’m trying to sleep, and even the tiniest bit of moonlight peeking through my window blinds can keep me up for hours.
Then, about 2 years ago, I decided to get a sleep mask to block out light while I sleep. But what seemed like a simple endeavor turned out to be weeks’ worth of trial and error while testing out hoards of sleep masks. Some of them felt too flimsy and scratchy on my eyes, while others failed in their attempts to block out light. Plus, a lot of them were just not cute — I guess I don't have to look good while I'm sleeping, but I'd definitely prefer to.
I finally bit the bullet and invested in the Slip Silk Sleep Mask, and I’ve been praising it to all of my friends ever since. What makes the Slip eye mask so special? First off, it’s made out of the highest-grade silk you could ever find (hence its price tag) that feels oh, so cool and soothing on my eyes.
But that's not the only reason why Slip is so obsessed with silk (and now, so am I) — this luxury material is a better pick in comparison to cotton if you're trying to minimize fine lines, wrinkles, and hair damage because it has a smooth surface and creates less friction (bye-bye, crow's feet). Silk is also less absorbent than cotton, so it won't soak up all of the eye cream that you just put on, and it'll keep your eyes cooler throughout the night.
This silk mask also has some weight to it, which I prefer. The slightly heavier feel makes this mask stay in place and actually block out light.
(Editor's tip: If you want complete darkness like I do, I recommend going with a darker color like black or navy when shopping for one of these masks).
But its heavier weight doesn’t mean it’ll make warm sleepers sweat through the night because its cooling silk wicks away moisture rather than absorbing it like cotton, leaving you cool as a cucumber throughout the night.
Sensitive eyes don't need to fret about allergic reactions because this sleeping mask is also hypoallergenic, dust mite-resistant, and free of toxic dyes. And if you're all about being fashion-forward even when you're hitting the hay (again, like me), the Silk Sleep Mask comes in 10 shades to choose from, so you can mix and match them with your pajamas.
The Final Word
Whether you’re also dealing with light sensitivity at night, or you just want to level up your beauty sleep routine, the Slip eye mask is a luxury buy that’s well worth its luxury price. No, it won’t solve all of your sleep issues, but it’ll definitely help with them — plus, it’s better for your skin than a flimsy cotton eye mask.
So, give your tired eyes what they truly want, elevate your sleep routine, and enjoy some sweet dreams with this silky-smooth sleep mask — you can thank me later for the recommendation.
