“I can’t sleep without this eye mask”
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The Recommendation

August 28, 2025

“As soon as I slipped the mask on, I was engulfed in total darkness”

A photo of a person wearing the Mzoo Sleep Mask in bed, inside an illustrated picture frame.
NYT Wirecutter

There’s a lot to love about our favorite sleep mask: Its eyecups are uniquely deep, which gives eyelids room to flutter without letting any light in. The mask feels secure but not overly compressive. And it’s made of smooth, comfortable memory foam — like a swaddle for the face rather than overt pressure.

It also makes an exceptional gift for dorm dwellers, frequent travelers, or light sleepers. “It allows me to get my nonnegotiable eight hours no matter where I am,” says intern Natalie Weiner, who relied on it to snooze soundly through her college roommate’s 4 a.m. study sessions — desk lamp on and all.

“This eye mask helped me survive dorm life with a nocturnal roommate. Now I can’t sleep without it”→

We independently review everything we recommend. When you buy through our links, we may earn a commission. Learn more ›

Plus: All the sleep masks we recommend

Several sleep masks placed in between a white alarm clock and a candle on a blue background.
Connie Park/NYT Wirecutter

24-hour light exposure is a fairly new concept in human evolution. Television screens, phones, laptops, street lamps, and blaring overhead lights around the clock can disrupt your circadian rhythm and make it harder to fall and stay asleep. A sleep mask can help. After testing more than a dozen, we found some favorites, including a lightweight option with a barely there feel and a smooth silk mask.

For better zzzs→

More (on-sale!) bedroom upgrades

Two white comforters folded up on the floor next to a white teddy bear and one white comforter folded on top of a white ottoman next to an alarm clock and candle on a plate.

The best comforters

Fluffy, lightweight, and very warm on a chilly night→

A line-up of some of our picks for best air purifier, organized into two rows.

The best air purifier

Well-designed purifiers can capture virtually all airborne allergens, like pollen and mold spores, as well as bacteria, viruses, and smoke→

A cat playing in a teacup next to a saucer of peas and a stack of mattress toppers on a mattress topped with a gold crown.

Our favorite mattress toppers

We found one that offers intense pressure relief, without feeling like quicksand→

The L.L.Bean Pima Cotton Percale Sheet Set and the Cultiver Linen Sheet Set, our picks for best sheets for hot sleepers.

All the sheets we love

Over the past decade, we’ve washed, dried, and slept on dozens of sheets to find the best ones — from cool, crisp cotton and smooth sateen to airy linen and cozy flannel→

Your daily deal: Silk pillowcases we swear by for better hair days

The Lilysilk 25 Momme Oxford Envelope Luxury Pillowcase in the color Rosy Pink

These silk pillowcases are lustrous and weighty right out of the box. And they can help make hair look great, hydrated, and frizz-free. Add two standard sizes to cart, and use promo code WCLABORDAY to save $71.

Get the deal→

READ THE STORY

“My favorite hair care tool is a silk pillowcase. I hunted down the best one.”→

One last thing: Dorm decor they’ll want to keep even after graduation

A collage of three photos (clockwise from left): silver desk lamp, white weighted blanket, two small houseplants.
NYT Wirecutter

The right decor can transform a dorm room into a beautiful space — while also offering plenty of creature comforts. Our favorite finds include stylish bedding, a wispy bohemian curtain, and an affordable lamp with timeless style.

Plus, some of our expert decorating tips for small spaces→

Thanks for reading.

You can reach the Wirecutter Newsletters team at newsletters@wirecutter.com. We can’t always respond, but we do love to hear from you.

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