Gel Eye Mask - Types Available + Shopping Tips + Other Helpful Info

After a long day, it feels wonderful to come home, relax, and put on a gel eye mask. For tired eyes, you can cool your mask in the freezer. You can also heat the mask to help with things like sinus pressure. The masks are available at a wide variety of places like Barneys New York, Sephora, Linen N Things, and Brookstone, among many others. Eye masks are affordable, even if you are on a budget. Here, you will find out about different types of gel eye masks, where to buy the masks, and some shopping tips for something that will fit your needs.

Shopping Tips for a Gel Eye Mask

1. Decide whether you will use the mask hot, cold, or a combination of both. Some masks are designed so that they are better for cooling, some are better for heating, and others are made to accommodate both temperatures.

2. Choose whether you need holes for your eyes or not. You will find that some masks are created with two holes in the middle so that the mask can sit around the eyes, not necessarily over them. Other masks are solid so that they cover your eyes. Many people prefer the solid masks because you get the soothing sensation on more of your face. However, other people enjoy the masks with eye holes so they can wear the mask around the house while they are doing other tasks.

3. Decide what kind of cover you would like for your gel eye mask to have. Many masks are made of a blue or green colored gel inside a thick clear plastic covering. Some come with just those elements. Other masks come with additional covers made of things like satin, fleece-like material, velvet, or other materials.

4. Find a mask to fit your face. You will need to take into consideration things like the size of your nose, how large your eyes are, etc. Some masks have smaller cut-outs for the nose, so you might want to try one on before actually buying it. If the mask does not lay well on your face, it will not be able to reach your eyes, which will defeat the purpose of the mask in the first place!

5. Test your mask before using it for an extended period of time. If you plan to sleep in your mask, you probably want to test it first. When you first get it, try wearing it for just five or ten minutes to make sure your skin does not react with any of the materials. If it is comfortable, you can proceed to wear it for longer periods of time.

Types of Masks and Where to Find Them

• At $20, Brookstone has one of the most expensive masks. However, the product rises to meet expectations. This is a solid gel eye mask, so there are no eye holes. It is surrounded in a double fabric. One side is a silky satin for when you want to use the mask to cool the eyes. The other side is covered in Brookstone's NapSoft material that is for when you heat the mask. The band that holds the mask on is elastic that stretches around your head for maximum comfort.

• The Dream Essentials website offers a simple mask for less than $5. If you buy the masks in quantities, you also receive a discount. This mask does have cutouts for the eyes, and it has velcro straps you can use to secure the mask onto your head. The Solace Gel Soothing Eye Mask also has an optional cotton cover that can be purchased for about $5.

• Sephora's Pearl Ice Cooling Eye Mask by Inka is unique because it is filled with class beads. This makes the mask slightly heavier than its counterparts, which is excellent for eye compression. The beads also help hold the cool or warm temperature, depending on whether you decide to cool or heat it. This mask his held on by velcro straps that attach in the back of the head, and it sells for about $20.

• The Beauty website has another unique idea: individual eye packs. These act like a typical gel eye mask , but because they come in individual packs, they allow a little more flexibility. If you just want to cover one eye at a time, the DuWop I-Gels allow you to do just that. For $25, you get three pair of gels: purple, blue, and orange. The blue gel is to be used to rejuvenate tired eyes, the orange helps lessen the look of dark circles around the eyes, and the purple helps plump up the skin around the eyes, reversing fine lines and wrinkles.

• Listed above are some of the more unique types of eye masks. Your typical gel eye maskcan be found at any beauty supply store, drugstore, or grocery store. While it will not come with fancy accessories, a basic mask can definitely help cool down or warm up your eyes and surrounding areas. These masks typically cost around $5, depending on where you decide to buy them.

Uses for Your Gel Eye Mask

People have many different uses for their masks. The most popular usage is for unwinding and relaxing. It is very calming and soothing to apply a small amount of pressure and either heat or cold to your eyes, especially if they are strained all day.

• If you work with a computer, staring at it for eight hours a day can put a terrible strain on your eyes. You can use a cool gel eye maskto revitalize your eyes after a long day at work.

• A warm mask can alleviate sinus or allergy symptoms, allowing you to breathe easier, and making your eyes less itchy.

• If your eyes are tired, you can use your mask to help them relax. Saggy eyelids, baggy under eye areas, and dark circles can be treated with the cold compression provided by a mask.

• A stye on the eye can be caused by a blocked tear duct or gland. One of the best ways to help get rid of a stye is by alternating warm and cool compresses on the eyes. The gel eye maskis perfect for this task, since it can go back and forth between temperatures with no negative effects.

A Note on Changing Your Mask's Temperature

If you decide to heat your eye mask, follow the instructions that come with it very carefully. Sometimes, you must remove the fabric cover before heating or cooling the mask. In addition, for most of the masks, to heat them, you should not microwave them. You have to immerse them in hot water for a set amount of time. Additionally, some of the masks do not require a freezer to cool down. The gel is usually naturally cool. For a very cold mask, you can put it in the freezer. Do note, though, that putting the mask in the freezer can sometimes cause it to be stiff. If you find this is the case, rub the mask in your hands for a few minutes, working it back and forth to loosen up the stiffness.

You will not regret buying a gel eye mask.It will feel great, and it may even help you to sleep. You can choose a mask to completely block out all light, or you can choose one that will allow you to go about your daily life while you wear it. Since a simple mask will only cost you a few dollars, you can afford to try one out to see if you like it. If you do like it, you can always buy a more expensive one to use more frequently. Of course, there is nothing wrong with keeping and using an inexpensive mask for as long as it lasts. Remember to be careful with your gel eye maskand you will be a relaxed, happy user.