Although many eye pillows look similar, the size, weight and amount of filling can vary. Some are fairly thin and light. Others are fuller and feel more noticeable across the face.

It is difficult to judge this from one photograph, so check the measurements and look through the full product gallery before choosing.

Size and Filling

The size of an eye pillow can be hard to judge online. A longer one may reach across the temples, while a shorter design covers a smaller part of the face.

The filling changes the way it sits as well. A lightly filled pillow usually lies flatter. One with more filling will feel fuller and may keep its shape more firmly.

Two pillows can have the same outer measurements and still feel quite different because of what is inside them.

Fillings vary between products. Some may contain seeds, beads or other natural materials, while others use a manufactured filling. Scented ingredients may also be included in certain designs.

Check the individual product details rather than assuming every eye pillow contains the same thing. This is particularly important when you wish to avoid a certain material or fragrance.

Covers and Fabrics

Eye pillow covers are available in a mixture of fabrics. You may also find heavier woven covers, plain colours and printed designs.

Some eye pillows have removable covers. The zip or opening may be hidden along the back or underneath, which means it is not always obvious from the main picture.

Other designs are sewn as one complete piece and cannot be separated from the inner filling. Check this before ordering when a removable cover is important to you.

Can It Be Heated or Cooled?

Some eye pillows are specifically made to be warmed or cooled. Others are not.

A pillow may also contain a hidden metal zip or decorative part that makes microwave heating unsuitable.

Where heating is permitted, follow the timing given with the product. Do not use instructions from a different eye pillow. Its materials may not be the same.

Stop using the pillow if you notice a change in the fabric.

Cleaning an Eye Pillow

How an eye pillow should be cleaned depends on the way it has been made.

A removable outer cover may be suitable for hand washing or a gentle machine cycle.

The filled inner pillow may need to remain dry. Avoid washing the whole product unless the care instructions clearly say that this is allowed.

Fillings can hold water long after the outside appears dry.

What to Check Before Ordering

Before choosing an eye pillow, have a look at:

The length and width
The overall weight
The outer fabric
The type of filling
Whether it contains a fragrance
Whether the cover can be removed
Whether it includes a strap
The cleaning instructions
Whether warming or cooling is allowed

Our collection includes yoga eye pillows in different fabrics, colours, sizes and weights. Check the photographs and individual product details to see how each one has been made.

Putting the Cover Back On

Small covers can be more awkward to replace than they look.

Start by sliding one end of the inner pillow into the cover. Work the fabric along gradually instead of trying to push the whole cushion inside at once.

The filling may gather at one end while you are doing this. Once the pillow is inside, move it around gently with your hands until it looks fairly even again.

Before closing the zip, check that the inner fabric is not trapped in the teeth. Forcing the fastening can damage both the zip and the liner.

It may take a minute or two, but going slowly is usually easier than pulling hard at the cover.

Checking What Is Included

Product photographs sometimes show an eye pillow beside a pouch, spare cover or other yoga equipment.

These extra items may only have been used to style the photograph. Check the written listing to see what will actually be supplied.

Look for confirmation of:

The eye pillow itself
A removable outer cover
A filled inner cushion
A storage pouch
A strap or fastening
Any heating or cooling instructions

When something is not listed, it is better not to assume it will arrive with the pillow.

Different Shapes

Most eye pillows are long and rectangular, although the shape can vary.

Some have straight sides and square corners. Others are slightly curved, rounded at the edges or narrower around the centre. You may also come across designs with stitching through the middle to stop all the filling moving to one end.

Check the measurements before ordering. Two pillows can look almost the same online but be noticeably different in length or width when placed next to each other.

Keeping an Eye Pillow at Home

An eye pillow does not need much storage space. It can be kept in a bedside drawer, a small basket or with the rest of your yoga equipment.

A simple pouch helps keep dust and marks off the cover, especially when the pillow is only used occasionally.

Keep it somewhere dry. A bathroom shelf, damp cupboard or cold windowsill is not a good place for fabric filled with seeds, beads or dried ingredients.