This $9 Sleep Mask Is the Best Thing I’ve Done to Feel More Rested

If there’s one thing that every college student really needs, it’s good sleep. When you’re living in a dorm, or even an apartment, it can be hard to get the rest you really need when the blinds are so mediocre that the light shines right into your eyes the second the sun comes up. 

My sophomore year, I was living in a dorm and desperately wanting to feel more rested. That’s when I went in search of a sleep mask that could block out the ambient light. And although I’ve tried a few, a couple of months ago I finally found the one I expect to use for years: the YIVIEW Sleep Mask from Amazon. 

The YIVIEW sleep mask is a soft blackout sleep mask with an adjustable elastic strap and eye cups. Especially as a side sleeper, I’ve found this sleep mask is so comfortable on my head and eyes, and I’ve felt so much more rested since I started wearing it. 

The mask has a nose cutout so that it can really hug your face (to block out every ounce of sun), and those eye cups give you enough room to blink without your eyelashes getting squished. Made from memory foam, the sleep mask is super comfortable and contours to your face. Plus, the adjustable strap lets you make it as tight or as loose as feels comfortable to you. 

You can find the YIVIEW sleep mask on Amazon currently on sale for $9.49 in blue, black, gray, pink, or purple. The product description recommends washing it by hand, and it’s small enough you could easily do it in your bathroom sink (but I’ve put it in the washing machine on cold and air dried it and haven’t had any issues, either).

Since I got this sleep mask two months ago, I’ve used it almost every single night — and I could never go back to not using it. I’ve had thinner masks in the past, and the YIVIEW stands out as a more substantial pick. It’s thick enough to block out all the light, but adjustable and made of cushy material so it’s still comfortable to sleep in. 

I really do think the game-changer for me is the nose cutout. That truly allows for total blackout, which also saved me from having to buy curtains (or new blinds) for my apartment. 

Not to mention, it’s less than $10 and has been so durable. Because it’s so inexpensive compared to other sleep masks, I was worried it might break or not be comfortable enough, but that’s not the case at all. I’d happily buy another if I ever need to replace this one, but that hasn’t even been a question yet.

If you’re looking to invest in a sleep mask and want to compare some options before settling on the YIVIEW sleep mask or another, take a look at Apartment Therapy’s list of the best editor-tested sleep masks. Here are a few of their favorites.

• TEMPUR-Sleep Mask
• Quince Mulberry Silk Beauty Sleep Mask
• Baloo Weighted Silk Sleep Stone Mask