Considering we spend roughly seven hours of our days doing it, it’s a wonder that sleep has only recently been tapped into as an industry, with all kinds of sleep aids and technologies on the market. And as someone who suffers from frequently broken sleep, I’ve been paying close attention.
So, when I was recently offered the opportunity to try an eye mask called Dr. Harris Anti-Wrinkle Sleep Mask, created by a leading London non-surgical aesthetic doctor and valued at a whopping $165, I jumped at the chance.
The mask, which Kaley Cuoco used ahead of her Emmy Awards 2021 appearance, has carefully placed silicone dots that hit tiny nerve endings, known as mechanoreceptors, on your face. When hit, the nerve endings are stimulated, which activates the body’s autonomic nervous system, also known as your rest and digest system.
“Everyone I’ve spoken to that has tried the mask has said they fell asleep really quickly and slept well and without disruptions,” the PR for the brand told me. “One person even said it improved her sleep by 100 per cent — she suffers from insomnia.”
Sounded incredible. But not only did the mask promise better relaxation and sleep, but it has also been clinically proven to fight wrinkles. Some users reported seeing an improvement in wrinkles after just 15 minutes of use.
The Verdict
The mask’s silk material made it feel super luxe. It even came with a zippered pouch made of felt to keep it in.
I followed the instructions on the box it came in, which called for wearing the mask and then pressing one finger firmly on a relaxation point between your brows for five seconds. ‘Now simply allow your lines to be smoothed and your mind soothed,’ the instructions read. ‘Results last around 4-5 hours, but for a more prolonged effect, simply wear the mask for longer or overnight.’
The instructions also made note that the mask might leave small, red marks, which would disappear after a few minutes. I didn’t notice any.
While I’m not too concerned about the wrinkles around my eyes so can’t comment on that, I did find that the mask helped with my quality of sleep. Maybe it was the self-care factor — sliding on a silky eye mask and taking the time to press the point between my brows and try to actually relax — but I did really feel calm. The mask even has an accompanying meditation, which I listened to a couple of times before bed and found that it helped me to unwind even more.
Though the mask does have a steep price tag, it’s worth it if you’re wanting to feel a bit more relaxed before bed, struggle to sleep the whole night through or are concerned about wrinkles and have the cash to splash to try a way to combat them. And, I mean, if Kaley Cuoco used it before the Emmys and looked as fabulous as she did — well, there’s something to be said in that.
