When I was little, I’d watch my mom nap after a long night in the hospital.
And she’d always sleep with these peached colored blinders.
I couldn’t help but compare myself. I mean, terrified mini me required a night light when it was dark. And here she was blocking out any peripheral light – on purpose. She wanted it as dim as humanly possible. It would take a while before my fear of the dark morphed into more so fearing sleep deprivation. (And thusly jettisoning the bedtime lighting.) But I’m definitely there myself now. And I’m also thinking maybe mom had the right idea way back when (especially seeing as a decent barring of ambient light helps melatonin levels – the sleep bringing hormone). So, I wonder which kinda sight shades would be a good fit for me. Do they really work? Will I really get an better slumber? And – twenty-five years later – how much have they improved from those things that look like a pantyliner made of silk and lace?
Here are just a few I’ve got my unfettered (for now) eye on:
This one, called the Escape Luxury Travel Sleep Mask, not only has eyeball holes (so it doesn’t rub my mascara on those days I wanna nap sans removing my MAC mug.), but it also comes with earplugs. Much like a sensory deprivation tank, going sightless and soundless is a great way to fall into slumber undistracted. I’d say the carrying pouch is a bonus too, but let’s be honest, here. We all know I never put things where they belong. This’ll live on my bed, next to my contact case, Invisalign, and twelve bottles of partially drunken water.
Next is the Sweet Dreams Sleep Mask.
Yes. I know. But while it looks like a barely there boob covering tube top of sorts….
…that’s just ’cause it’s contoured for full luminosity blocking.
Bonus? Its lightweight nature does make it feel barely there.
Finally, is the Dreamer Sleep Mask:
Soft and cottony, this one’s indeed a fave among blinder owners. Bonus? Aside from optimal obstruction of light, it’s also got this flexible strap on it that won’t wiggle – even when you do through the night.
And the verdict?
I tend to like the sight/sound sense-stifling combo of blinders and earplugs. By blocking out sight, you sense pure darkness. But by also hindering your hearing, you’re inducing that sleep state even quicker. And, lawd knows, after holiday madness and wonky sleep patterns, a fastforward button on my mattress that propels me into delta wavery would be excellent. And this accessory seems as good a means of doing that as any. However, there are two kinds of blinders in life. Escape Luxury Travel Mask blinders… and the free ones I just found in the bottom of a bag earlier this morning when I was cleaning. Funny, I think they were actually given to me by – who else – but my mom (who inspired this article.) And, TBH, I’d be lying if I said the less high tech ones didn’t still excite me beyond words. In fact, although I’m meant to be going out tonight, I think I’mma have to stand up everyone and trial this sexy, mysterious pair of soft goggles in lieu.
Expect a review in the coming days on my “blind date”.