Silk Eye Masks for Flights and Travel: What to Look For

By Snoozyn · Updated October 2026

An eye mask is one of the smallest things in a carry-on and one of the most used: on a night flight, on a train, in a hotel room with thin curtains. This guide covers what a silk eye mask is made of, how to tell silk from satin on a label, what shape and strap to choose for travel, and how to pack and wash one so it lasts.

What makes an eye mask silk?

A silk eye mask is made from silk fibre, usually mulberry silk: the long, fine filament that silkworms spin into their cocoons. It is a natural protein fibre, and woven tightly it gives a cloth with a smooth, low-friction face and a soft sheen. Everything on the label that follows from that, the grade and the weight, tells you how much silk is in the mask and how good the filament is.

Momme: the weight of the silk

Silk is sold by momme (mm), a Japanese unit of weight for silk cloth. A higher momme means more silk in every square metre, so the cloth is denser and more opaque. 19 momme is a common weight for eye masks and pillowcases; 22 momme is heavier. Our guide to what momme means explains the numbers in full.

Grade: the quality of the filament

Mulberry silk is graded A, B or C, with A the best, and a number after the letter. 6A is the top of the scale and means long, even filaments with few breaks. A mask that states its grade and its momme is easier to compare than one that only says "silk".

Silk or satin?

This is the most common mix-up on eye mask labels. Silk is a fibre. Satin is a weave, a way of floating threads across the surface to make it shine, and it can be woven from almost any fibre. Most satin eye masks are polyester. The two can look alike in a photo; the fibre content on the label is what tells them apart.

For a fuller comparison, see silk vs satin, and which to choose.

What to look for in a travel eye mask

A contoured 3D shape

A flat mask lies directly on your eyelids. A contoured, or 3D, mask has moulded cups that hold the fabric away from them, so you can open and close your eyes freely while wearing it. On a long journey, when you may put the mask on and take it off many times, the shape also makes it quicker to settle back into place.

A strap that adjusts without hardware

Plastic buckles and Velcro tabs can catch on hair and on silk itself. A silk-covered elastic strap stretches to fit and has nothing hard to press against the back of your head if you lean against a headrest or a window.

Small and light enough to carry

A silk mask weighs very little and folds flat, so it fits in a coat pocket, a wash bag or the seat pocket in front of you. If you like a mask that keeps its shape, choose one with cups that will spring back after packing rather than a padded mask that creases.

How to pack a silk eye mask

Silk is strong for its weight, but its smooth face can snag. Pack the mask flat in a soft pouch or its box, away from zips, Velcro, jewellery and the edges of a bag. If it is a 3D mask, keep anything heavy off the eye cups. If you are giving one as a present before a trip, our signature gift boxes start at £2.90 for the small size.

How to wash it when you get home

A mask worn on a flight is worth washing once you are back. Ours is hand wash only:

1. Fill a small bowl with cold water and a drop of pH-neutral silk detergent.
2. Squeeze the mask gently. Do not twist or wring it, because the strap and the shaped cups both lose their form.
3. Rinse in cold water until no detergent is left.
4. Press it dry in a towel, then lay it flat in the shade, away from a radiator, until it is completely dry.

No washing machine and no tumble dryer. The full routine, including how often to wash a mask you wear every night, is in the care guide.

Our silk eye mask

Our 19 momme Eye 3D Sleep Mask is 100% 6A grade 19 momme mulberry silk, with moulded eye cups and a silk-covered elastic strap. It comes in Pink, Candy Pink, Navy, Black and Gold, and costs £25.90.

If you would rather have a mask that goes in the washing machine, our printed masks are Modal Cloud (95% modal, 5% elastane) rather than silk. They start at £17.90, or £19.90 with a matching scrunchie, and every one is in our eye masks collection.

Questions people ask about silk eye masks for travel

Is a silk eye mask good for flights?

It is easy to travel with. A silk eye mask weighs very little, folds flat into a pocket or wash bag, and mulberry silk has a smooth, low-friction face. A contoured 3D mask also holds the fabric clear of your eyelids, so you can open and close your eyes while wearing it.

What is the difference between a silk and a satin eye mask?

Silk is a fibre; satin is a weave. A silk eye mask is made from mulberry silk, a natural protein fibre spun by silkworms. A satin eye mask can be woven from almost anything, and most are polyester. The label will tell you the fibre: look for 100% mulberry silk and a momme weight.

What momme should a silk eye mask be?

19 momme is a common weight for silk eye masks and pillowcases, and 22 momme is heavier and denser. Momme measures the weight of the silk cloth, so a higher number means more silk in every square metre. Our 3D eye mask is 19 momme, 6A grade mulberry silk.

How should you pack a silk eye mask?

Pack it flat in a soft pouch or its box, away from zips, Velcro and jewellery, which can catch and pull silk threads. A contoured mask keeps its shape best if nothing heavy sits on top of the eye cups.

How do you wash a silk eye mask after travelling?

By hand, in cold water, with a pH-neutral silk detergent. Squeeze it gently rather than wringing it, rinse until no detergent is left, press it dry in a towel and lay it flat in the shade. Our silk mask should not go in a washing machine or a tumble dryer.

How much is the Snoozyn silk eye mask?

Our 19 momme 3D Sleep Mask is £25.90 and comes in Pink, Candy Pink, Navy, Black and Gold.