Silkhaven Review: Silk Sleep Masks Tested for Light, Comfort and Wear

A good sleep mask solves a surprisingly big problem. Streetlights, a glowing standby light, an early sun through thin curtains: any of them can pull you out of deep sleep without you knowing it. A mask is the cheapest fix, but the bad ones are miserable. They slip off in the night, press on your eyelids or come with elastic straps that pull your hair.

Silkhaven sells silk masks and pillowcases and claims its designs avoid all of those problems. Over four weeks, I slept in four of its masks and my partner tried two, while I looked at how the store treats its customers.

What Silkhaven sells#

The catalogue is compact: four masks, three silk pillowcases and a travel pouch. The masks are the Classic flat mask ($24), the Contour with moulded eye cups ($38), the Travel with a fold-flat design ($32) and the Luxe, a double-layer piece with a wider strap ($52). Silk pillowcases run from $68 to $96.

The material listing is precise: 22 momme mulberry silk with a soft cotton interior lining. That number matters because momme is the weight of the silk, and higher means denser and more durable. Cheap "silk" masks are often polyester satin.

How we tested#

I slept in each mask for at least six nights and recorded:

• Light blocking, judged with a small torch held at three angles before sleep and by waking with the curtains open.

• Pressure on the eyes, from a comfort score on a scale of 1 to 5.

• Slippage, based on where the mask ended up at 6 a.m.

• Durability, using two hand washes.

Light blocking and comfort#

The Contour is the standout. Its moulded cups sit off the eyelids, so blinking is unrestricted and there's no feeling of pressure on the eyeballs. In the torch test, it blocked all direct light and nearly all leakage around the nose, which is where most masks fail. I scored it 4.8 out of 5 for comfort.

The Classic is excellent for the price and completely light-tight on my face, but it sits directly on the eyelids, which some people dislike. The Travel mask folds small and is fine on planes, though it leaked a little light at the nose bridge. The Luxe felt the softest, and the wide strap distributed pressure well, though it was warm on a hot night.

Build quality#

Seams are neatly finished, the padding is even and the adjustable strap uses a hook-and-loop closure covered in silk rather than a metal buckle. It is comfortable against the back of the head and does not tangle hair. After two hand washes in cool water with a gentle detergent, the Contour and Classic looked as new. The pale blush colour, however, showed foundation marks quickly, so choose a darker shade if you wear makeup to bed.

Care is the drawback: the masks are hand-wash only, and the store is honest about that. Machine washing will shorten their life.

Shipping, service and returns#

Orders shipped the next business day and arrived in three. The masks come in a cotton pouch inside a slim, recyclable mailer.

Before buying, I asked whether the Contour would suit glasses wearers who sometimes wear contact lenses at night (not advisable, but people do). A reply came in under an hour, recommending removal of lenses and suggesting the Luxe for a wider fit. Helpful and cautious.

The 60-day return window is among the most generous we have seen, and it covers worn masks. I returned the Classic on day 44 and received a full refund within four business days. The store provides a prepaid label within the return window.

Price and value#

At $24 to $52, the masks are fairly priced for 22 momme silk. The silk pillowcases are another story: at $68 to $96, they cost about 30 percent more than comparable cases from other specialist stores, and the benefits for skin and hair are modest at best. Buy the mask, and think twice about the pillowcase.

Who should buy, and who should skip#

Buy from Silkhaven if you are a light sleeper, work irregular hours or travel often, and want a mask that does not press on your eyes.

Skip it if you sleep hot (a cotton mask is cooler), dislike hand-washing or need a full blackout curtain rather than a personal fix. For a wider approach to bedtime light, our Dawnlight review covers wake-up lamps.

The verdict#

Silkhaven earns 4.3 out of 5. The masks are comfortable, properly light-blocking and well made, and the 60-day return policy gives you time to make sure. Expensive pillowcases and hand-wash care take off a few points.

Disclosure: we bought all masks ourselves. Some links on this site are affiliate links. See our review policy.