Sleep masks are a simple solution to help you get your needed shut-eye.

What if all you need to get those elusive Zzz’s is a little piece of fabric covering your eyes?

They may help you maintain your natural sleep cycles and catch up on some very important beauty sleep.

Eye masks or sleep masks work by blocking out artificial light.

“Light, especially at night, can disrupt our internal biological ‘clock’ that helps to regulate our sleep-wake patterns,” says Dr. Wendy Troxel, senior behavioral scientist at the RAND Corporation.

Exposure to artificial light suppresses melatonin, the sleep-inducing hormone, which can lead to sleeping issues or disorders such as insomnia.

“Melatonin’s job is to signal to the brain that it is time to get sleepy, so light exposure, particularly at night, sends the wrong signal to the brain, which can profoundly disrupt one’s ability to fall asleep quickly and stay asleep,” Troxel explains.

Depending on where you live, artificial light can include streetlights, ambient lights in the bedroom (such as a clock), and the biggest culprit for disrupted sleep: blue light from phones and electronic devices.

Eye masks act as shields to block out artificial light. They also realign your body’s internal clock with the rising and setting of the sun.

It’s important to find a sleep mask that works for you.

When choosing a sleep mask, look out for shape, size, material, and weight.

You want your sleep mask to be comfortable enough that it doesn’t bother you or prevent you from falling asleep. If it’s too tight or causes irritation, it won’t be much use.

Check out Healthline’s picks for the best sleep masks on the market.

Shape

There’s a range of different shapes on the market when it comes to sleeping masks, so it’s important to find one that fits your face and rests comfortably while you snooze at night.

You can opt for something flat, or another option is a contoured mask. A contoured mask has cups that rest over your eyes, which is helpful if you find the fabric on your eyelids ticklish.

Size

You want to make sure your mask sits comfortably on your face but is still tight enough to do its job. The idea is to keep out the light while not being so tight that it gives you a headache.

Many sleeping masks on the market have adjustable straps, which are perfect for making sure the mask fits snugly over your head.

Material

Sleeping masks come in various fabrics, each with different benefits.

Cotton provides a soft feel and is fairly inexpensive.

Silk may be a bit pricey, but it won’t eat up skin care products like eye creams and face moisturizers. It also reduces friction around the delicate eye area.

Some masks are made with foam. This helps the mask keep its shape and prevents it from brushing your eyelids.

Weight

Most eye masks will list being lightweight as a benefit.

However, if you’re after something a little heavier, there are weighted eye masks on the market that add light pressure for stress relief.

Light blocking

Some masks are made of light-colored fabric or don’t cover enough area to block light fully. Other sleep masks are designed to have a blackout effect that lets in no light at all.

This is especially important if you find that even the smallest amount of light affects your sleep quality.

Hot/cold

There are also sleep masks on the market that allow for variations in temperature. These can be helpful if you get headaches.

Adding a bit of extra warmth to the eyes while sleeping can be extremely soothing, and a cool mask can help ease sleep in hot weather.

Many masks can be put in the microwave and stored in the freezer, allowing you to change your temperature options.

Some sleep masks may help with dry eyes, styes, or gland issues, though there’s no evidence to support this.

These masks are designed to work by creating a seal between the skin around the eyes, preventing moisture from escaping and drafts, dust, and low-humidity air from seeping in.

“Sleeping with masks is typically helpful for those who have incomplete eyelid closure,” says Willy Gunawan, optometrist at Collins St. Optometrists in Australia. This condition can cause drying and itching in the eyes.

“But even in the absence of confirmed incomplete eyelid closure, there is no harm in trying to sleep with a mask for a few nights,” says Gunawan. “You can continue or discontinue wearing one should you find/not find any relief on your dry eye symptoms in the morning.”

Gunawan is skeptical about their use for other conditions. “[I] wouldn’t think eye masks would help styes or gland issues much,” he says.

A sleep mask can help you get a better night’s sleep by blocking out artificial light and helping to maintain hormone balance.

There are plenty of options out there, so shop around and find what works for you.

The right sleep mask may be the key to sound sleep and its health benefits.