I’ve mentioned many times that I have dry eye and red eyelids. One of the things that I must do daily to treat dry eye is apply a moist compress to my eyes/lids for 10 minutes. My ophthalmologists suggested warm facecloths, but facecloths lose heat almost immediately. I started looking alternatives right from the start, and I’ve been dealing with dry eye for more than 15 years.
For the past 5 years or so, I was using versions of Click Heat: Hot to Go, Snappy Heat, gel-filled small pillows where you click the metal disk inside and that causes the gel to heat up.
The heat lasts for about a half hour before the gel turns hard. Frankly, they work quite well because they get quite hot and last plenty long. I wrap a wet facecloth around it to create moist heat and to prevent my eyelids from getting burned. Then I wrap a makeup head wrap around the entire thing to keep it in place. The next day, I have to boil the Hot to Go or Snappy Heat for 15 minutes to get them back to the gel state.
This procedure works, but it’s a lot of effort and takes a lot of time.
Back in October, when Jeff and I went to Philadelphia for a long weekend, I forgot that I put 4 days’ worth of my Hot to Gos for the weekend in my carry-on bag by mistake rather than in my suitcase. Since there would be no place to boil them at the hotel, I needed one for each day. When I went through the TSA check, the woman who was checking my bags discovered them. My choices were mail them to my destination, throw them away or go back out, check my bag (for an additional $40), and come back in through the TSA line. I chose the third option because I couldn’t be without them for 4 days. Ugh.
Not long ago, I became aware of self-warming sleeping or relaxation masks on the blog of a friend. Wow, what a discovery!
Even better, I was recently given the opportunity to try out Popmask’s Starry Eyes and Jet Setter Self-Warming Sleep Masks. Each box contains 5 self-warming masks, each in its own pouch.
Starry Eyes and Jet Setter have two different patterns on the masks (i.e. stars and jets), but other than that, they work the same. Jet Setter has a light jasmine scent, while Starry Eyes is unscented.
When you take the mask out of the pouch, it comes folded. Unfold it, and it activates the heat.
The outer sheet is made from soft, non-woven fabric. Inside is a heat cell that contains iron powder, water, vermiculite, activated carbon, and salt. However, the heat cell is inside the fabric, and you don’t see it, you just feel it.
After you unfold the mask, it begins to heat up within 30 seconds. It has elastic ear loops to keep the mask on your face, and there’s an indentation for your nose. It’s unbelievably thin and lightweight, and very comfortable to wear. So much better than the layers of gel pillow, wet facecloth, and makeup head wrap that I have been wearing for years. For me to get the moist heat that I need for my dry eyes, I spray the inside with a little bit of water.
Then I lie back and relax. The self-warming mask is not nearly as hot as the Hot to Go activated gel pillows that could get so hot they could almost burn me. Instead, Starry Eyes and Jet Setter are warm and soothing. Honestly, wearing the mask and feeling the warm heat helps me fall asleep faster. I truly appreciate that because I have a hard time falling asleep. The self-warming mask really helps me relax. I used to time the Hot to Go when I used it for my eyes because wearing all that was bulky and kind of annoying. With Popmask, I just put on the self-warming mask and fall asleep. It stays warm for 20 minutes or more. If I wake up later on, I just take it off or leave it on to block out the morning light. Each mask can be used once, but I am planning to keep the elastic ear loops and give them to a friend who is sewing Coronavirus masks.
These Popmasks are the perfect solution for me for travel, for sure, and for at home use as well. Check ’em out on the Popmask website! The website said that Popmasks will be coming soon to Macy’s, Anthropologie, Urban Outfitters, and Planet Beauty (they may be there now?). Here’s an update: I just read on Facebook that Popmasks are now available at CVS! So much easier to buy or use my Extrabucks on, yippee! Plus they are sold on Amazon. Finally I discovered that a box of 30 is sold at Costco, so I may buy them in bulk!
You don’t have to have dry eye like me to enjoy and truly appreciate these lightweight, relaxing, eye depuff-ing, self-warming masks!
I need to try these! I love my MegRhythm Warming Eye Masks, and these sound fantastic as well!
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Do you sew? If you do you can make rice bags that you can microwave to cover your eyes. You could make small ones and sew those loops on it help keep it on your face. It is a moist warm heat depending how long you leave it in the microwave. I have many of them and all different sizes. Are use them on my head my neck shoulders back they are good
Thank you, Gloria, for the suggestion! In fact, I had several microwavable masks including a rice filled mask, but the microwave is a non-starter. When I was frequently traveling on business, many hotels didn’t have a microwave in the room, so I wasn’t able to use it. And I have a two-story house with the microwave in the kitchen. You will think this is the height of laziness, but after I have taken forever getting ready for bed or having finished watching something on TV in my bedroom, I am too lazy to go back downstairs and microwave my mask. I liked the Click Heat things because I didn’t have to go back downstairs. I love the Popmasks because I don’t have to do anything but put it on, and it weighs nothing.
These are absolutely perfect for you. It is so wonderful that you got these to try and now can purchase them. They sound terrific. I love the fact that they help you fall asleep too. That sold me right there. I’d love to try these myself. Does it interfere with eye cream at all?
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I don’t think that the self-warming mask interferes with my eye cream. In fact, compared to the layered gel pillow, wet facecloth, and makeup wrap around my head, this lightweight cottony mask is so much less on my face. I wish they had single mask samples coz I think once you try one, then you can make up your mind. For me, I was hooked after one.
These sound absolutely amazing.I’ve never tried a warming eye mask but have been very curious about them. I like that they are easy to use and relaxing. Can’t wait for them to be at anthropologie ! I’ll also keep in mind the spritz of warm water tip as well.
The self-warming mask is such a terrific technology. Where has this been all my life? So relaxing, so lightweight, and perfect for my dry eye use. But the fact that it helps me fall asleep is an extra plus. I think you would like them too!
OMG, I need these in my life! I get dry eye and I bet they would help. My only concern is if they would trigger a hot flash for me. I have that whole menopause thing going on, ugh!
Carleen, I am not sure if the self-warming masks would trigger a hot flash. I have had to use some form of a warming compress for 15 years, and I do it every night. I honestly can’t say that I remember any warm compress triggering a hot flash for me. I tend to get them around 5 or 6am in bed when I get hot in the early morning and I kick off the blankets. I wish there was a way for you to try one. They should do sampling because once I tried it, I was hooked.
I need something like this! I feel like I’m going to fall faster too wearing this eye mask
The self-warming mask is so relaxing and soothing, Kathryne. And no fuss, no muss to use 🙂
I’ve never heard of a heated one. I know cold ones help with swollen eyes. Interesting read!
Thank you! The self-warming mask is so relaxing!