Product Review: Lavender Lone Ranger Mask (Sleep Mask)
You can go to bed without fear; you will lie down and sleep soundly.
Proverbs 3:24
The above verse is definitely the ideal. However, in today’s world, it is seldom a reality. There just don’t seem to be enough hours in the day to accomplish everything there is to do. There are stresses, worries, and anxieties centering around a plethora of issues, each varying depending on what is happening in your life at any given moment. When you finally do lie down to sleep, your mind, already in overdrive, simply will not shut up.
Sound familiar?
I received an e-mail from a longtime friend the other day containing a travel diary from a recent trip she took to DC. She said she went to Arlington National Cemetery and thought of me when she saw the Space Shuttle Challenger Memorial there, and even mentioned me and my fondness of astronaut Sally Ride in her travel log.
She actually gave me Sally Ride’s book, To Space and Back, for Christmas some years ago.
You’re probably thinking, “What do Sally Ride and the space shuttle have to do with this post?”
The fact is, it only explains the term “Lone Ranger Mask” in the title. And since this sleep mask has moons and stars all over it, astronaut speak seemed appropriate… plus if you read my bio on this site, you’ll know that I’m a NASA spacefight fanatic!
Dating back even longer, to my pre-teen years to be more exact, my mother got me a stuffed lamb. It was very cute and looked not unlike a little baby’s toy, except this lamb was stuffed with lavender. Lavender is a mood stabilizer, and is also said to be effective in treating insomnia. My mom decided to see if it might help me not feel so uptight and anxious a lot of the time, and also if it would help me sleep.
I can remember going to bed upset many a night, during which I would drape Lavender Lamb over my eyes (he still has tear stains on him!) While I don’t remember any overly dramatic effects, I did adore the scent and did find it somewhat calming (of course the cuteness factor that a tiny stuffed lamb provides helps!)
Fast forward to twenty or so years later. When I started to take a holistic approach to my health, one of the things I began to look into was essential oils and aromatherapy. I found the Lavender Eye Pillow by Nature Creation on Amazon and remembered my mother’s childhood gift of Lavender Lamb, and decided to give it a try.
Lavender’s health benefits include:
- Relief of stress
- Decreased anxiety
- Improved sleep
- Calming of the nervous system
- Headache/pain relief
- Improved skin appearance
I received the sleep mask/eye pillow a few days after ordering and I can honestly say that it is by far the best sleep mask I have ever used. I will still use my old ones if I misplace my lavender one, however, I very much prefer the lavender mask.
When I use this mask, combined with a sleep aid, I usually fall asleep pretty instantaneously, and sometimes I don’t even need the sleep aid.
More important than falling asleep and hours of sleep, I have found, however, is the quality of sleep, and that is something I also feel when I wear the lavender eye pillow each night. There hasn’t been one morning when since I began using it that I have not woken up feeling refreshed and ready to start the day. I set my alarm on days when I need to be up on at a set time, but the sleep mask helps my body’s circadian rhythm so much I am usually up a few hours before the alarm without feeling tired or “spent.” This is a Godsend for me because I am so sensitive to sudden noises that even the gentlest of alarm sounds are startling and it can take me up to an hour or two to recover.
As a bonus, it seems to be helping my skin as well. I have seen several areas in which I typically have chronic inflammation improve, and the area under my eyes, which is still not 100% after a bout with sinus inflammation I had a year ago, also seems to look markedly better after continued use. I think it should be added that quality sleep in and of itself is probably one of the oldest and most underrated beauty secrets in the book, so the combination of that plus lavender is like a one-two punch.
Another great thing is the versatility of this product. It is totally safe to put it in the freezer for a few hours for “cold therapy,” which can help to relieve puffiness and discoloration under the eyes. I am sure it would also feel good on those nights when I am in New Orleans during the summer (plus it’s purple and gold — Geaux LSU!), and I plan to try it on my next visit. Those who spend time in sub-tropical climates like that or just like the feeling of cold compresses might find this relaxing.
As for the possible turn-offs of this product, there is not much I can think of here. Since it is stuffed with lavender, it is a little heavier than the average sleep mask. If you sleep in any position other than on your back, the weight of it may feel a little awkward. Some have reported the elastic strap not being tight enough, but I haven’t had that problem. You could also tie it to your desired tightness if that is an issue.
This is definitely a product I would buy again, and plan on doing so when the lavender scent in my current one is no longer effective.
Anyone who is looking for ways to get better sleep and thinks lavender might help should definitely check out the Lavender Eye Pillow by Nature Creation.
Now, when I sleep, this is how I feel:
I am leaving you with a gift – peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid.
John 14:27