When I eliminated caffeine from my diet, many of my sleep problems vanished. However, due to stress and occasional indigestion at my age, I still have the odd restless night.
So, I decided to give the Aura Smart Sleep Mask a go to see if it could assist on those difficult nights. The Aura Smart Sleep Mask guarantees total blackout for complete immersion in darkness.
It also offers ‘Aura DreamScapes’ sounds with audio experiences that can be customised to suit individual relaxation preferences. It features a detachable magnetic cushion for comfort and eyelash protection during sleep.
Here, you can also use one of their aromatherapy add-ons, which claims to enhance the experience with French lavender essential oils. It’s Bluetooth compatible, and you can use the ‘audio balance’ feature to personalise your sounds, reports the Liverpool Echo.
The ‘smart duration’ function uses integrated motion sensors to detect sleep micromovements, ensuring sounds are turned off within 90 minutes to support an uninterrupted circadian cycle. Paired with a wireless and Bluetooth-less connection, this eliminates the need to manually handle a phone during wind-down.
It also claims to have a seven-night charge. So, does it meet expectations?
The mask is sleek and the speakers are of high quality, loud enough for the wearer but not disturbing to anyone else in bed. It comes with a built-in soundscape for immediate use.
On my first night trying it out, despite the bedroom light being on and my husband moving about, I was enveloped in complete darkness and fell asleep within 10 minutes without even intending to.
On the following night, I tested it with the lavender aromatherapy feature, which I feared might be too strong – it wasn’t, they’ve struck the perfect balance. The mask also features gentle lights that can be customised and give a sense of sensory deprivation. Once again, I was asleep within minutes.
Over the past two months of intermittent use, the mask has never slipped off during sleep, it stays in place without feeling tight and is extremely lightweight. Turning it on and charging it was straightforward, and I found the claim of a seven-night charge to be entirely accurate, which is handy if you’re like me and tend to forget these everyday tasks.
The Aura Smart Sleep Mask is also excellent for simply enjoying some peace and quiet, a moment to yourself. Although I haven’t travelled with it yet, I believe it would be ideal for long flights and unfamiliar hotels where potential distractions could keep you awake.
There are a few downsides. At times, I found the magnetic cushion to be a bit slippery, but it’s optional and not necessary. The app and email updates can sometimes be overwhelming, but again, this is optional and can be customised to your preferences.
It’s clear that a lot of thought has been put into this sleep mask to ensure it’s lightweight, comfortable, and provides a level of blackout and relaxation that can transport you to a world of sleep, a daytime nap, or a few minutes of meditation to escape the pressures of our daily lives.
This level of consideration is perhaps why the price point of £175 ($229.00) is slightly higher than I would prefer, and there are cheaper masks available on the market. However, if you’re in search of a mask that offers a spa-like experience with full blackout, comfort, aromatherapy, soundscapes, and won’t roll off while you sleep – this is of excellent quality and comes highly recommended.