Parenting

I Found A Knockoff For The Cult-Favorite Silk Sleep Mask Everyone Swears By

by Gina Vaynshteyn
Updated: 
Originally Published: 
best silk sleeping masks

I thought I found the holy grail of sleep masks. And, to be clear, it’s a very, very good sleep mask that I can truly thank for (almost) consistently getting at least six hours of sleep. And that mask is the Slip silk sleep mask.

The Slip sleep mask: Yes, it’s amazing.

You may have seen it on Instagram. A friend might have told you about it when you asked her how she could possibly seem so awake and energized all the time. It’s the internet’s favorite sleep mask, and it works. But it’s also $50, and I could use that $50 to buy myself five Chipotle burritos with chips and guac.

After I lost my beloved Slip sleep mask on a work trip, I didn’t have it in me to buy another one. So, I did some digging on the internet and found the next best thing (and maybe…dare I say…better?): the Alaska Bear silk sleep mask. It’s under ten bucks, silky-smooth and feels like butter, and it helps me fall asleep even when my husband decides he wants to scroll through 9GAG on his very brightly-lit phone beside me for hours, or if *someone* (cough, my husband) leaves all the lights on in the house. The Alaska Bear sleep mask has also helped me fall asleep in the middle of the day if I need a rare nap, and my bedroom is *all* sunlight. Love me some natural light, but it sure does make sneaking in a nap almost impossible.

So, why silk? Well, it’s said that silk (whether it’s a silk sleep mask or a silk pillowcase) is better at keeping your skin and hair moisturized. Beauty mags have always suggested using silk pillowcases versus cotton if you have acne issues or are looking to reduce signs of aging (i.e. wrinkles — not that there’s anything wrong with ’em) because the material is just so much more gentle on your skin.

But now, let’s get to the goods. The Alaska Bear mask isn’t the only awesome silk mask out there that rivals Slip. I’ve included several more in case you need options.

The best silk sleep masks:

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