Do you think of eye masks as fun accessories that little girls take to sleepovers? While they do make some adorable masks with fun embroidery to match nightgowns and sleep wear for children, adults are the most likely consumers for today’s advanced sleep eye wear.

Rather than thinking of these masks as accessories or fun gimmicks, start thinking about them as legitimate tools that can help you solve some of the most common sleep problems. Here’s the great news: they’re cheap!

Do You Need a Sleep Mask?

If you’re ready to invest in a new mattress because you’re struggling to get to sleep or stay asleep all night, it won’t hurt to pick up a quality cooling eye mask while you’re at it. You can buy some of the best masks for less than $20, and you will know within a few nights whether your sleep problems are caused by light leaking into your room or other common distractions.

Even if light doesn’t disturb your sleep, there are still four good reasons to sleep with a mask:

1. Eye circles and bags don’t stand a chance against a cooling eye mask.

Do you regularly wake up with deep bags, dark circles or puffy redness around your eyes? Whether this is caused by allergies, insomnia, or a medical condition, wearing a cool eye mask could help solve the problem. The coldness restricts the blood vessels surrounding your eyes, and that will alleviate the dark coloring for a short period of time. You may still look worn out later in the day, but at least you can start out fresh.

2. Dry eyes and some common causes of eye pain and discomfort are easily remedied with heat.

If you suffer from chronic dry eyes or experience pain due to eye strain, relaxing with a warm gel mask over your eyes can help. You don’t want to use a full-sized heating pad on your face, and a wet rag is sloppy and may feel uncomfortable. Gel eye masks that you can heat will fit perfectly across your face without endangering your skin or eyesight.

3. There’s no better way to relax.

Gel masks are fun to play with when you’re bored, but they’re best applied to your eyes. You can heat them up or chill them in the freezer for a short period of time, depending on what you find the most comforting. Then slip them over your eyes, get into a comfortable position, and clear your mind.

Whether you enjoy a full nap or simply take a few deep breaths to ease stress mid-day, you will likely feel refreshed when you remove the mask. This is a fast and cheap way to clear your head when life just gets complicated.

4. Masks are one of the most natural remedies for headaches and migraines.

Many people swear by sleeping blindfolds to block out light that can make a migraine unbearable, but a sleep mask may also help you avoid headaches that are caused by sleep deprivation. If you tend to get headaches when traveling, you might want to invest in a travel eye mask as well as a gel mask that you can heat while at home.

You may also find that sleeping blindfolds put you in the mental space for sleep. Once you sleep with your mask for a week or two, slipping it on will signal to your brain that it’s time to rest. If you find that you have fewer eye circles or bags or that puffiness is no longer a concern, those are just additional reasons to go to bed with an eye mask.