We all know that sleep is important to our mental and physical well being. For some people light effects their quality of sleep. That’s where the Manta Sleep Mask comes in handy.

This is not like a regular sleep mask we’ve seen in the past. This is a unique design that wraps comfortably around your head and stays secure via velcro. But what makes this mask unique are the eye cups that are also connected to the headband with velcro. The mask is completely adjustable to fit your head and your eyes, so getting the most comfortable fit is easy. 

These cups can be aligned to a perfect fit for your face. They are soft and deep enough to let you open your eyes without any friction, but still keep the light out.

There are many reasons for having complete darkness when we sleep. First, the light often effects how much sleep and the quality of sleep depending on each individual. Some people can fall asleep easily in full sunlight while others need more darkness. When our eyes are closed there is still light coming through. The brain understands this and sometimes it is not easy to shut out the outside world without total darkness.

Blue light from computer screens and televisions can effect sleep. If your partner likes to watch TV or work on a laptop or table in bed the sleep mask is the perfect addition to your nighttime routine. What I like is turning on night music on YouTube however most of the sites that have relaxing music still have visuals on the screen so in effect that negates the entire situation. With the sleep mask I can still listen to the relaxing music on my favorite YouTube channels but do not have to deal with the visuals on my TV, even though they are quite nice to look at. Yes, there are some sites that have music and black screens, but many do not. 

And if your partner gets up in the night to go to the bathroom and turns on the light, even if it is a dim one, this can effect your sleep. You might not wake up completely, but your brain detects the light so your sleep might be effected.

In the summer when it’s lighter longer, the Manta negates the need for blackout blinds. You can still have your windows open and not get any light interfering with your sleep. This is a necessity in the far north like Alaska when the sun stays up for most of the 24 hours. Trust me when I say I relied completely on the blackout blinds while in the 49th state!

Migraine sufferers know that complete darkness is helpful when fighting the pain and symptoms of this dreaded headache. Migraines are more than simple headaches. Being in a dark room is often a necessity but sometimes not easy to find. With the Manta that problem is solved. It won’t get rid of the migraine but it will allow sufferers to block out all the light that many times makes the pain worse.

The folks at Manta have several additional options for users. There are a few different eye cups that can be purchased separately. There is one that cools the eyes. Simply place the cups in the freezer for a little while then attach them to the headband. Another cup can be heated in the microwave to give users a little warmth, which is a good idea when you have a sinus infection or sinus problems.

Whether you want to take a little nap during the day and don’t want to shut all the blinds, or whether you feel blackness will help with your sleep at night, it is worth trying this mask. 

The Manta is foldable and comes with its own carry bag so users can take it wherever they go. 

If you’re not used to a sleep mask, it might take a few nights to adjust so be patient.

Sleep is one of the best things you can do for your health. 

Check out the website for the different masks. They have several options. There is one for kids and believe it or not, one that connects via Bluetooth so users can listen to soft music or whatever while still staying in the dark. They also have additional eye cups.

Note – Manta sent me a mask to test for an honest review. I found it comfortable and easy to wear as well as helpful when I needed darkness to sleep. It is truly a unique design that has a purpose and can help users get a good sleep any time of day. I like the fact that when I turn over at night the eye cups stay adjusted to where I put them and do not cause any uncomfortableness.

About the Reviewer

Francine Brokaw writes about books, products, travel, and all aspects of entertainment for over 30 years. She has been published in national and international newspapers and magazines as well as Internet websites. She has written her own book, Beyond the Red Carpet The World of Entertainment Journalists, is the entertainment correspondent for Good Day Orange County, and has her own TV show, Beyond the Red Carpet, on Village Television in Orange County.

We all know that brushing and flossing our teeth is important for both oral and general health. Water flossers  have become a regular part of our daily oral hygiene regimen, and the Guru Nanda Advanced Dental Water Flosser 2.0 is a great way to make sure you keep up with your dental routine when you’re away from home.

Whether you’re at your office or on vacation, this portable device can help with your oral hygiene. It’s lightweight and provides a good water stream to floss your teeth. The rechargeable unit comes with a USB cord (USB/USB-C) to charge on the go. And most hotels these days have USB outlets. 

Once charged, fill the tank with water, press the button, and select the mode you want – soft, normal, or strong. They are all selected via one button so there’s no learning curve for using this little unit. The water flosser holds the memory of the last mode used, so once you know what feels best for you there is no need to reset it. And there is a UV mode for sterilization. Two flossing tips come with the unit.

A power indicator button blinks when the unit is charging then turns green when it is completely charged. It takes approximately 6 hours to fully charge the flosser. After it is charged it will last for about 4 hours before needing to recharge.

Because it is cordless and portable, it’s the perfect item to keep in your office desk or school locker. And when you’re on vacation there’s no need to stop your oral cleaning routine. 

People with crowns or braced know how easy it is for food to get stuck in their teeth. With up to 1800 pulses per minute this little unit will make life easier.

This is a handy device for every household. The only thing it is missing is a travel case. Additional tips can be purchased through the website or on Amazon.

A water flosser added to daily brushing will help with oral care. Just ask your dentist!

About the Reviewer

Francine Brokaw writes about products, books, travel, and all aspects of entertainment for over 30 years. She has been published in national and international newspapers and magazines as well as Internet websites. She has written her own book, Beyond the Red Carpet The World of Entertainment Journalists, is the entertainment correspondent for Good Day Orange County, and has her own TV show, Beyond the Red Carpet, on Village Television in Orange County.

The mophie snap+wireless charging vent mount unit from Zagg is just what’s needed for hand’s free calling, talking, and texting while in the car. Sure, many newer cars are capable of synching your smart phone with the vehicle, however older cars still require some tricky “MacGyvering” for drivers to talk or call while in the car. Trying to set up a way to do this while still keeping eyes on the road is not easy. Enter the mophie snap+wireless charging vent mount.

The unit easily and safely clips onto a car vent. In the box is the adjustable arm which makes the unit a bit longer if desired, a charging plug, a 4.9 foot USB -C to USB-C cord, and an off-set additional arm so users can change the direction of their phone depending on the position of the car vent. 

Simply set it on the easiest and closest vent that won’t distract you while driving. Of course, we all take our eyes off the road for a split second to adjust the temperature, change the music channel, and little things like that. The object of this unit is to make looking at your phone take less than a split second. In that split second you can let the phone know (via Siri on iPhones) what you want to do – make a call, take a call, send a text, ask for guidance, etc. And warning – only look at your adjustments or your phone when you know it is safe to do so and cars are not immediately in front of you.

Once the unit is connected to your car vent your smart phone magnetically connects to the mophie unit and you’re ready to go.

You don’t have to use the unit connected but it is just an additional option utilizing Qi2 technology for safe and fast charging (up to 15w). The iPhone 15 has built-in Qi2 compatibility so you can rest assured charging it won’t damage your new phone. It’s the newest charging technology. What else would you expect from the folks at ZAGG?

Even if your car is set up to synch with your phone, there are plenty of reasons to use a vent mount – rental cars, friend’s car, loaner car for when your vehicle is in the shop, etc. For safety sake, most people do not want to synch their phones to a secondary car that is only temporary. In this case bringing your own vent mount for your phone is the best option.

Check with the website for sales, which they do run quite often.

About the Reviewer

Francine Brokaw writes about products, books, travel, entertainment. She has been published in national and international newspapers and magazines as well as Internet websites. She has written her own book, Beyond the Red Carpet The World of Entertainment Journalists, is the entertainment correspondent for Good Day Orange County, and has her own TV show, Beyond the Red Carpet, on Village Television in Orange County.