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9 beautiful sleep masks (and the science behind a good night's rest)
Sweet dreams!
The importance of a good night's sleep cannot be understated. Not only is shut-eye vital to help repair the mind and body, but not getting enough sleep can impact our mental well-being - something we often notice ourselves, when we don't feel well-rested. But saying goodbye to sleepless nights - and the irritability that follows - is sometimes easier said than done.
Thankfully, there's a whole host of methods to try if you're looking to improve your sleep - and help is available for anyone struggling with insomnia.
But one simple fix you might overlook - especially if you tend to get a decent night's rest but think there's room for improvement - is the humble eye mask. One of our fave bedtime accessories, they do much more than make you look cute when you drift off to sleep.
It's all to do with blocking out light, which can be a real game-changer when it comes to the quality of our sleep.
"Bright light exposure early in the day and darkness at night can support our natural rhythm of melatonin which promotes deep sleep," explains sleep expert, Dr Sophie Bostock. What's more, there's a whole host of evidence behind the benefits of incorporating an eye mask into your nighttime routine.
"A recent study in healthy young adults found that wearing an eye mask for a week not only improved alertness but also learning," she tells Cosmopolitan. But that's not all. The more deep sleep, or slow wave sleep, the eye mask users got overnight, the better their performance on a memory task the next day - so it is clear improving our deep sleep is a good thing.
In another study signposted by the expert, researchers found using eye masks and ear plugs "significantly lengthened night sleep duration in sleep-deprived women in late pregnancy". Meanwhile, studies in intensive care settings have found that eye masks and ear plugs improve patient outcomes, says Dr Bostock. Other recorded benefits include reduced anxiety and blood pressure, along with improved sleep quality.
So, it turns out a simple change can make quite the difference. Fancy a new sleep mask now? You're in luck. We've rounded up a few of our faves below.
PS we're also tested wearable sleep trackers like Oura Ring and Whoop which are great if you're keen to see what works best for your personal sleep routine.
Amber O’Connor is Cosmopolitan UK’s junior features writer, who covers everything from breaking news, women’s safety and real life features to fitness, travel, and cultural trends. She works on first-person features, reports, and long reads, plus the hottest stories of the day (if you want to know about the latest wellness craze or TikTok trends, she’s your girl).
Amber has previously worked as a reporter and a lifestyle writer, with her work appearing in numerous publications, including The Mirror, Red Magazine, Evening Standard, Indy100, and Yahoo News. When she’s not working her way through her TBR list, Amber loves dancing, running, and going on adventures with her dog.
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