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I’ve always been a huge fan of earplugs for sleep (I bang on about my trusty Loop plugs to anyone who will listen) but I've struggled with eye masks – they either slip off mid-snooze or feel too tight and restrictive around my eyes. That was until I tried the Drowsy Silk Sleep Mask. Not to be dramatic, but it's transformed my slumber, and I genuinely can’t sleep without it now.
The eye mask is already loved on social media, with a string of celeb fans, including Trinny Woodall and Vogue Williams, posting shots of theirs. It’s not just another overhyped viral product, though – we put it through its paces at the Good Housekeeping Institute, and it scored an impressive 89/100 in our tests.
Wondering if you should jump on the silky bandwagon? Here’s everything you need to know about this cult sleep solution.
What is the Drowsy Silk Eye Mask?
Key specifications
| Material | 100% mulberry silk |
|---|---|
| Strap | Fully adjustable |
| Machine washable | Yes, on cold or below 30C |
| Colours | 18 |
According to the brand, it’s “the world’s most luxurious sleep mask”. It’s made from 100% pure mulberry silk – known for its durability, lightweight softness and hypoallergenic properties – with a top-quality 22 momme count. This means a substantial amount of silk is used in the fabric, which is great for both your hair and skin, reducing the chances of waking up with bedhead or creases on your face.
It has a wide-cushioned, wrap-around design to block out light, an adjustable Velcro fastening to ensure it stays in place and it’s available in 18 chic shades. It’s suitable for machine washing below 30C.
My Drowsy Silk Sleep Mask review
At the time of writing, I’ve been wearing this sumptuous silk mask on a nightly basis for over a month, and it’s become an integral part of my sleep toolkit, alongside my Loop earplugs, NEOM pillow mist and 10pm cup of chamomile tea.
Good looks aside (I opted for the gorgeous dusty gold colourway), the design is extremely well-thought-out. One of my main bugbears with eye masks is the fit – I have a small head, so they tend to slip off after a few minutes of tossing and turning. There’s no such issue with the Drowsy mask, though – thanks to the wrap-around Velcro fastening, it doesn’t budge an inch as I get my forty winks.
I also love the feel of plush, silky-soft fabric against my skin; the gentle weight around my eyes is super comforting. The mask is a little bulky and I’m a side sleeper, so I was worried it would get in the way, but the pillowy feel works for all sleeping positions – I barely notice I have it on. The thick strap doesn’t get tangled up in my hair and it doesn’t dig in or leave unwanted marks on my face, either.
Most importantly, it blocks out light effectively. As soon as I fasten it around my head, I’m plunged into total darkness; not one glimmer of light seeps in. Since using it over the past few weeks – in my own bed, in hotel rooms and on planes – I’ve found it’s helped me get to sleep quicker and enjoy a more restful night, with less wake-ups.
I was a bit nervous about washing it, but the fabric is ultra durable. I’ve popped it in the washing machine three times so far and it’s maintained its quality and appearance.
The Good Housekeeping Institute review
Score: 89/100
You don’t just have to take my word for it. Our Good Housekeeping Institute experts enlisted a panel of at-home testers to try out a wide range of sleep masks over a few weeks before sharing detailed feedback on design, comfort and overall performance. And this one was one of our highest scorers.
Everyone liked the “luxury” design and rated its light-blocking capabilities. They also praised the smooth, cloud-like fabric. “The mask was like a giant, comforting cooling pillow for the eyes,” said one panellist. Another told us: “My sleep quality improved as I fell asleep a lot faster than usual.”
The only downside? They would have liked a travel pouch. We can probably live with that.
Why trust the Good Housekeeping Institute
From the best mattress to the best cooling pyjamas, we’ve reviewed countless sleep products in our 100-year history at the Good Housekeeping Institute.
Our senior sleep & wellness tester, Kim Hawley, oversees all eye mask reviews, analysing feedback from our at-home testers and making sure we pull out all the important details from our testing.
Our sleep & wellness editor, Priyankaa Joshi looks after our sleep guides, so she knows exactly what's required for a solid night’s rest. She’s reviewed hundreds of sleep products, trying many of them herself, and is always on the lookout for new launches to test.
The benefits of wearing a sleep mask
According to Sammy Margo, sleep expert for Dreams, covering your eyes at night can have a positive impact on your sleep quality.
“Creating a dark environment helps your body produce more melatonin, the hormone responsible for regulating sleep,” she explains. “It can help you fall asleep faster and stay asleep longer, reducing interruptions.”
She adds that the complete darkness provided by an eye mask can encourage deeper, more restorative sleep cycles – especially REM sleep, which is crucial for cognitive function and emotional wellbeing.
Silk eye masks in particular are touted for their beauty benefits. The smooth material protects the delicate skin around your eyes from friction caused by pillowcases and bedsheets, helping to minimise fine lines and wrinkles. Unlike cotton and polyester, silk also allows your skin to retain its natural moisture throughout the night, keeping it soft and supple.
The verdict: should you buy the Drowsy Silk Sleep Mask?
Whether you’re a restless sleeper, shift worker or a frequent flier, an eye mask can help you get the rest you deserve. Drowsy’s luxe design doesn’t come cheap, but if you’re after a 100% silk mask that feels like a soft pillow with faultless blackout capabilities, we think it's worth it.
The Drowsy Silk Sleep Mask is available to buy from Amazon, Selfridges and Drowsy. See our full round-up of the best eye masks for more expert-approved picks.
More Tried and Tested sleep buys
Score: 87/100
Another major sleep disruptor is noise pollution, whether it's a snoring spouse, loud neighbours or traffic noise. Block out all the distractions with these sleep-dedicated plugs from viral brand Loop. Testers found them comfy for all sleeping positions, they drowned out noise effectively and they didn't fall out overnight.
Score: 86/100
These PJs are a great pick if you tend to run hot at night. They're made from an absorbent, water vapour-emitting fabric that’s designed to keep your body cool and dry as you kip. Testers confirmed they did an excellent job of preventing overheating, and they loved the stylish design, too. "I’d be happy to answer the door in these”, said one panellist.
Score: 81/100
If you want to maximise the beauty benefits of silk, why not pick up the brand's pillowcase to match your eye mask? Panellists said their skin felt smoother after the trial period, with several saying they were sleeping better, too. There are 10 colours to choose from, too.
Priyankaa is our sleep and wellness expert, specialising in expert-tested reviews and roundups on the latest health and fitness products. From walking boots to running machines, Priyankaa has written about hundreds of products and is passionate about providing in-depth, unbiased reviews. Plus, as an avid runner and gymgoer, she knows exactly what to look for when finding the right gymwear, fitness tracker or earphones.
Priyankaa has an MA in Magazine Journalism from Cardiff University and over five years’ experience in health and fitness journalism. Priyankaa has written for Stylist’s Strong Women Training Club, where she regularly wrote about diversity in the fitness industry, nutrition tips, training advice and her experience completing various fitness challenges. She has also written for a variety of publications including Business Insider, Glamour, Bustle, Metro, HuffPost UK, gal-dem and more. Outside of work, Priyankaa can usually be found trying out a new gym class, seeking out London's best eats or watching a Spanish TV show in a bid to keep up her language skills.
Kim Hawley is our health and fitness product tester. Her career in fitness has spanned over 30 years. Prior to joining the Good Housekeeping Institute, she worked as a personal trainer, writer and fitness instructor for some of London’s most prestigious health clubs, including The Harbour Club, David Lloyd and The Chelsea Club. Passionate about women’s health and fitness, especially in pre/post menopause, she is also a Level 4 PT and holds a professional nutritional qualification. Kim is responsible for rigorously testing everything from cross trainers to smart watches.
