Illumy Sleep Mask Review: Light Therapy for Jet Lag Relief

Price and Where to Buy the Illumy Sleep Mask: $99.99 from Amazon.

How the Illumy Sleep Mask Rates:

• Usefulness: 7/10. Because it uses light therapy to help you fall asleep and wake up, there’s a learning curve with this sleep mask. You need to program it to show light when you want it (calming red sunset light in the evening and energizing blue light as you wake up). Because it’s bulkier than a basic sleep mask, it can take some getting used to, and may be best for people who primarily sleep on their back. I started using it before I needed it for travel, and while on my first night I was worried that the light patterns that flash on the inside of the sleep mask would give me a seizure, after two days I got used to it and found that it helped me fall asleep significantly faster than I do on my own. But I don’t usually sleep with a mask all night, and although I tried, I kept removing the mask while asleep, which made it hard to test the morning light wake-up sequence. I passed it to another tester who slept with it all night, and reported that the “sunrise” timer showed blue light that intensified as it got closer to your programmed wake-up time. Overall, the sleep mask has excellent blackout capabilities and strong Velcro.
• Value: 7/10. Light therapy seems to be an emerging trend in jet lag relief, and this sleep mask is a multi-purpose and portable way of harnessing that power. It could easily be used both on long overnight flights to start adjusting your circadian clock, and in hotels once you arrive. But, at $150, it’s not necessarily priced for the casual vacationer who finds jet lag to be a mildly irritating part of travel.
• Durability: 7.5/10. It comes with a durable case, but because the mask has electrical parts, it needs to be handled with some degree of care.
• Cool Factor: 9/10. A sleep mask that effectively blocks light and helps reprogram your internal clock while you sleep just might be the future of travel. And that’s pretty cool.

Final Verdict: If you’re a back sleeper who’s serious about minimizing jet lag, this sleep mask is worth a look.

Editor’s Note: Reviews are based on usefulness, portability, durability, value, and “cool factor.” Some review products are sent to us free of charge and with no incentive to offer a favorable review. We offer our unbiased opinions, positive and negative, and will never accept compensation to review a product. If you have any questions or comments concerning our reviews, or would like to suggest a product for review, please email us at editor@smartertravel.com.

(Photos: Illumy)