Sleep Accessories: Helpful or Hoax?

Texas Mattress Makers

June 16, 2023 · 6 min read

If you’re waking up tired regularly, you may turn to sleep accessories to help you fall asleep faster and stay asleep longer. But do eye masks, noise machines, supplements, and pillow sprays actually improve your sleep quality? That’s what we’re here to discuss.

What products help you sleep better?

The truth is that while certain types of sleep accessories have benefits that are backed by science, others fall flat. We’re here to tell you which is which so that you can save your money and get the rest you need.

The mattress experts at Texas Mattress Makers know a lot about what you can do to get your best night’s sleep. Here are some popular sleep accessories, some of which can actually help you to get good sleep, while others are hoaxes that should be avoided at all costs.

Eye mask: Helpful

Also known as a sleep mask or eye cover, an eye mask has become one of the most popular sleep accessories on the market. Images of women in their silky eye masks grace mattress ads and sleep-related billboards, but it begs the question, does an eye mask actually help you sleep better?

The answer is, in most cases, yes!

While some may see them as a “feminine or frivolous” accessory, an eye mask can block out excessive light, allowing you to fall into a deeper sleep faster with fewer disruptions. Consistent darkness as you sleep allows you to enter and stay in your REM (rapid eye movement) sleep cycle for longer — this is crucial for feeling rested the next morning as well as your brain’s ability to store memories.

Some people find that an eye mask helps them to keep their eyes closed as they drift off to sleep. We would recommend finding a mask with a protruding or goggle-like design that doesn’t apply any pressure to your eyelids for maximum comfort.

Magnesium supplements: Undecided

Magnesium supplements for sleep have become all the rage on TikTok lately, with users sharing their “sleepy mocktail” recipes. This recipe or magic sleep potion, as one user called it, typically consists of tart cherry juice, prebiotic soda, and — most notably — magnesium powder.

The science of magnesium’s effects on healthy sleep quality is widely underdetermined. While magnesium can relax muscles, making you feel a bit more calm, there is no evidence to prove that taking magnesium is linked to getting better sleep. It may work for some, but not for all.

Similar to taking melatonin supplements, specialists say that you should avoid taking magnesium supplements daily and instead focus on eating magnesium-rich foods including fish, legumes, and cashews to name a few.

Noise machine: Helpful

For those living in the city, investing in a noise machine for sleep can be beneficial in helping you get some much-needed shuteye. Unfortunately, we’re constantly surrounded by sounds — car horns, barking dogs, or (if you’re really unlucky) a partner who snores like a chainsaw. A noise machine’s job is to block out all of those sounds to aid your brain in relaxation with less distraction.

There are many types of sounds that can help with sleep, the most common being white noise, but studies have shown that pink noise is becoming a more popular and effective soundtrack for snoozing. Pink noise (often found in nature-related sounds) is proven to help people relax and fall asleep faster due to its less-distracting and calming frequencies.

Having a noise machine for sleep in your bedroom can assist in stabilizing your sleep and overall improving its quality so you can feel well-rested!

Pillow sprays: Hoax

Pillow sprays can help transform your bedroom into a relaxing, spa-like atmosphere with the help of their pleasant aromas — but do pillow sprays really help you sleep better? In our expert opinion, pillow sprays are more of a gimmick than an effective sleep aid.

Although popular pillow spray scents like lavender and chamomile have been proven to help with relaxation, no studies have been conducted to prove that pillow sprays improve sleep quality. In fact, at most, essential oils containing lavender, chamomile, or jasmine can assist in helping you to fall asleep faster but may not help you achieve deep, restful sleep.

If a brand is charging you $30 for lavender-scented water to spritz your pillow with, run. Many sleep brands sell overpriced sleep accessories by promising they will provide you with “your best sleep ever.”

However, the secret they don’t want you to uncover is that you won’t reap the benefits of even the best sleep accessories if you’re sleeping on a bad mattress.

What can I do to sleep better at night?

If you want to invest in bettering your sleep quality, first look at your mattress: the literal foundation of your sleep. If your current mattress is low-quality, old, or not complimentary to your body and its needs, then you will not get the quality of rest you need…and spending hundreds of dollars on sleep accessories won’t fix the problem.

Those who toss and turn during the night or wake up with aches and pains are likely sleeping on a mattress that is not right for them. For example, the firmness level may be too hard or too soft or the mattress’s components may not accurately support the sleeper’s body. But, how do you know which mattress is right for you, specifically?

That’s where we come in.

Need Help Choosing Your Dream Mattress?

View Our Top Picks

Get Your Best Mattress for the Best Price with Texas Mattress Makers

Let’s be clear: the only tool you need to get the best night’s sleep is a quality mattress made for your needs, and even the most helpful sleep accessories should be considered just a bonus. However, there are some mattress accessories that you may find useful! For example, if you’re looking for the best adjustable base bed to reduce pain and enhance circulation as you sleep, we sell a variety of adjustable bases that can meet a wide range of needs!

At the end of the day, choosing your perfect mattress does not have to be difficult or stressful. When shopping with Texas Mattress Makers, you can get an incredibly good mattress price on a bed that will tick all of your boxes. Your days of settling for less are over!

Visit any of our mattress stores in Katy, Downtown Houston, The Woodlands, Rosenberg, Humble, and Baybrook, TX today to find your perfect mattress match.

More Helpful Articles by Texas Mattress Makers: