Abstract: A sleep mask apparatus for protecting a wearer's eyelashes during sleep, comprising a face portion configured for covering an area of the wearer's face generally bounded by the wearer's forehead, beneath the wearer's eyes, and across the wearer's nose bridge, a relatively thick, resilient perimeter portion integral about an inner surface of the face portion, and a pair of relatively rigid side portions integral with opposing left and right edges of the face portion in a position substantially perpendicular to the face portion, whereby, during use of the sleep mask, the perimeter portion contacts the wearer's face and the side portions contact the sides of the wearer's head, such that the wearer's eyelashes are spaced from the inner surface of the face portion as well as the side portions, even when the wearer is side sleeping.