Indiegogo staffers are putting crowdfunded products to the test in our new series of honest reviews. In this edition, our very own email marketing and lifecycle strategist Karisa Hunt tried out Aura Smart Sleep Mask, the new tech-powered sleep mask that our crowdfunding community is talking about. Does it live up to the hype? Read on as we put it to the test!
I really like where I live, for the most part. My street is quiet, there’s access to good public transit within walking distance, it’s not too far from anything… pretty much perfect!
…except for the neighbor across the street.
He’s a nice guy, but he’s a little too obsessed with public safety. While I appreciate his dedication, I really can’t agree with his outdoor lighting choices at night… which are floodlights. All night long. One of which comes directly into my bedroom window.
I’ve tried everything: talking to him, looking up local code, and finally installing blackout curtains. However, even with the curtains, there’s still a good amount of light in my bedroom. I needed a way to relax and sleep without worrying about the light pollution in my room, so when the chance ame to review the Aura Smart Sleep Mask, I jumped on it.
Unboxing
The Aura is boxed very neatly and thoughtfully. It opens like a pizza box, and all of the pieces inside are arranged neatly and in a way that prevents them from jotling too much during shipping. It’s all very easy to get out, too–nothing gets stuck in place or jams. Great packaging!
Setup
The mask comes with an app. I was given access to the test version, but the finished version will be available by the time it’s available to everyone. Changes will be coming!
Pairing the mask with my phone was simple, and as soon as I got it connected, I was able to start controlling the mask from my phone. The setup process was incredibly simple overall.
The mask secures with Velcro, so it’s easy to make sure it fits. It’s also super comfortable, and the part that touches your face is removable and washable.
Use
So… did it work?
The short answer is that this mask is extremely good at blocking out light. At night with the lights off and curtains over the windows, this mask blocked out all of the remaining light.
Darkness! Hooray!
However, that’s not where it stops. The real magic of the Aura Smart Sleep Mask is that it’s so much more than a mask. It has pre-programmed meditations that help you fall asleep, as well as soothing sounds that can further lull you to sleep. The guided breathing meditation followed by jungle sounds didn’t quite get me all the way to sleep, but it helped me relax and fall asleep much more quickly than I normally do.
Aura Smart Sleep Mask also has a wakeup feature. This uses gentle light and sound to help you wake up naturally, rather than just blaring an alarm at a certain time. I haven’t tested this feature as much, but I did like it when I used it.
The true genius is that you can customize the programs for sleep, naps, and meditation. All of the pre-programmed blocks are available in a library, and you can add any of them in any order to your routine. If you don’t want the rainforest noises, that’s fine–substitute in a gentle rain soundscape instead!
The only drawback I ran into was the limited availability of soundscapes in the library. However, as I mentioned, I’m testing an early version of the app. I’m sure that there will be more options available when the mask actually gets into most peoples’ hands.
Conclusion
This mask provides great light-blocking, but it’s awesome to have it actually help me fall asleep, too. I love how well it fits my face, and the ability to program what I want it to play is really great. I wouldn’t recommend this to people as a first-ever face mask, because if you’re not used to sleeping with something on your face it’s a bit disconcerting, but for people searching for the next best thing in sleep? Run, don’t walk to grab your Aura Smart Sleep Mask now.
To learn more, check out the campaign for Aura Smart Sleep Mask!
