There’s no doubt about it: I’m not a girl who can function on a mere couple of hours’ worth of shut-eye. I need my beauty sleep. This includes when I’m traveling. Heck, especially when I’m traveling. When you’re zipping in and out of time-zones, the last thing you want to do is put up with a sleepless flight for 19 hours straight. (Tip: When traveling on flights, it helps to rearrange your sleep patterns from the start so as to reduce jet-lag.)
But if the person sitting next to you has her reading light on — determined to finish that Stephen King novel in her hands — or if that passenger at the far end of your row thinks it’s just peachy to have the plane window shades up when everyone else is trying to sleep, what can you do?
I know what I did: draw on my Bucky Shades and retire into utter darkness. And with it, utter bliss.
Yes, there was a time when I would’ve thought paying $24 for a pair of eye-masks was extravagant. But trust me, it’s worth it. On my recent international flight to Malaysia, where the well-meaning, extremely courteous attendants were determined to keep us fed and hydrated the whole time, these shades saved my sanity by letting me fall asleep while everyone bustled about.
I used to use the complimentary eye-masks that airlines hand out to passengers, until I realized there was a reason they are handed out like peanuts. They feel like plastic and are flimsy, and never quite feel clean even after a few rounds in the laundry machine (and really, I’m beginning to wonder if they were ever clean in the first place).
Throwing out the disgusting prospect of putting those things on my face again, I had to ponder on the ideal eye-mask:
1) Definitely washable. Must be easily tossed into the laundry machine, because I have no time to scrub at the sink. But though it may be durable, it also has to be. . .
2) Soft and comfy. No chafing against my skin, please. But this doesn’t mean it has to be delicate, because it most importantly has to be. . .
3) Able to shut out the world, or at least one’s fellow passengers. Yes, I’m sure they’re lovely people, but when I’m unable to close my eyes against the brightness and at least get a nice long snooze session going, no cute smile is going to charm this lady.
The Bucky Shades are all of the above. They bring complete and utter darkness, resting oh-so-softly and soothingly over one’s eyes. There’s no chafing against the nosebridge or cheekbones, and its Velcro straps ensure that you can adjust how tight you want your shades to be without the indignity of feeling a buckle at the back of your head.
And, heavens yes, they’re hygienic. Very important factor, for this daughter of a former nurse. I can pop these shades into the washer and know that they won’t harbor bacteria. I find myself using my Bucky mask not just on planes, but also when staying in guest bedrooms with too-thin curtains.
They come with earplugs that you can tuck into the little pocket on the front of the shades. I don’t use earplugs — I much rather prefer the comforting drones of my iPod contents — so I can’t vouch for those, but testimonials on their website certainly have.
If you value your rest as much as I do, you’ll definitely want to invest in eye-masks that provide you with complete, soothing (and clean!) coverage. And while others are stepping out of the plane groggy and grumbling, you’ll be the one quickly collecting your luggage and cheerly flitting off to your next destination.
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