If you wear a mask all day (not healthcare)

[claudiakishi]

I’m headed back to work in a school soon and I will have to wear a mask all day. I have been off since March and have only needed a mask for quick trips to the grocery store. The ones I have are fine for that but will not work for all day wear.

If you currently wear a mask all day but aren’t in healthcare (I say this because it doesn’t need to be N95), do you have any recommendations? Ideally it would have adjustable ear straps, a way to pinch in at the top of the nose, comfortable (as much as one can be). I don’t care about design or colors, but prefer neutrals.

[Bad Dingo]

I really like my masks from Vida.
shopvida.com/products/protective-mask

[erbear]

This sounds crazy but the ones I got from Old Navy are by far my favorites. They don’t slip, and they are thicker so they don’t get sucked into my nose when I breathe. They’re pretty too. I bought 5 but I might get a second set since I think I will need to change them during the day at school.

[icedcoffee]

Jul 20, 2020 10:10:51 GMT -5 erbear said:

This sounds crazy but the ones I got from Old Navy are by far my favorites. They don’t slip, and they are thicker so they don’t get sucked into my nose when I breathe. They’re pretty too. I bought 5 but I might get a second set since I think I will need to change them during the day at school.

I like them too! I just ordered more for myself and my 3 year old. They are my favorite ones so far.

[k3am]

Both my kids are currently in daycare... The teachers in the classes though go through masks like candy, swapping them out multiple times a day, so whatever you get, get enough for changes throughout the day.

[gummybear]

I wear the regular masks from Athleta all day and they are my favorite. They come in a 5 pack.

ETA: They have a great pinch top for the nose and adjustable ear straps and the colors are the earth toned neutrals that match a lot of their clothing. And camo, lol.

[wanderingback]

I don’t have a specific recommendation but wanted to mention something. I wear regular surgical mask all day and sometimes n95 and obviously talk to people all day and they don’t slip down.

I went to visit my partner for the first time last month and was wearing a cloth mask he got me. We were walking outside and talking a lot and it kept slipping down. I guess I hadn’t realized I hadn’t been talking to people outside of work at all with a cloth mask on to realize how much they can slip down if you’re talking a lot.

So anyway, just wanted to give that heads up as you try on different options. Make sure it fits while talking a lot.

[TR]

Jul 20, 2020 10:10:51 GMT -5 erbear said:

This sounds crazy but the ones I got from Old Navy are by far my favorites. They don’t slip, and they are thicker so they don’t get sucked into my nose when I breathe. They’re pretty too. I bought 5 but I might get a second set since I think I will need to change them during the day at school.

Jul 20, 2020 10:49:10 GMT -5 icedcoffee said:

Jul 20, 2020 10:10:51 GMT -5 erbear said:

This sounds crazy but the ones I got from Old Navy are by far my favorites. They don’t slip, and they are thicker so they don’t get sucked into my nose when I breathe. They’re pretty too. I bought 5 but I might get a second set since I think I will need to change them during the day at school.

I like them too! I just ordered more for myself and my 3 year old. They are my favorite ones so far.

Well, this is good to hear! I ordered a 5 pack from ON recently because I was overwhelmed by all of the options as far as masks go and these were cheap and neutral.

[wildrice]

I like the Old Navy ones, too. The only thing I find annoying about them is that they are almost TOO big for my face (which makes no sense because I do not have a small head or thin face, lol) so they seem to ride up to start covering the bottom of my eyes, and I have to adjust it.

The best advice I can give you about wearing a mask is to wash/sanitize your hands before touching it. Otherwise you take a chance on getting germs (COVID or otherwise) on your mask and then putting them directly on your face. You should wash before taking it off and again before putting it back on. Using the same one all day is fine, as long as it doesn't get contaminated (drop it on the floor, someone sneezing directly in your face (let's hope that doesn't happen anyway). But you should wear a fresh one daily. I think having a stash that includes twice as many as you think you'll need is probably smart.

ETA: I am still working from home 100%, but I am part of the task forces that developed the mask wearing guidelines and I'm designing our training based on those guidelines, so I hopefully still know what I'm talking about

[tripleshot]

The 2/$4 Target ones are a favorite in my house.

www.target.com/p/2ct-adult-fabric-face-mask/-/A-79934801

[Velar Fricative]

I really like my tieback ones from Avocado Green Mattress, but I have two sets from there and they're different - I like the older ones better. I'm not crazy about ones that go around my ears, even though tieback ones are a little more cumbersome to handle because you need both hands to tie them around the back of your head. But they're comfortable and when I need to wear them for hours at work, they are helpful.

I did just buy a bunch of cotton masks from Nordstrom Rack since I needed more quickly and am wearing one today. Still not crazy that they have earloops instead of tying around my head but they're pretty comfy too. I did realize they slip down my nose if I wear them one way versus the other (basically, I needed to turn it upside down to wear and now it's holding up much better).

[TR]

Jul 20, 2020 11:23:55 GMT -5 wildrice said:

I like the Old Navy ones, too. The only thing I find annoying about them is that they are almost TOO big for my face (which makes no sense because I do not have a small head or thin face, lol) so they seem to ride up to start covering the bottom of my eyes, and I have to adjust it.

 

Well damn, lol. I do have a small face. Like, oddly so because I'm not a small person. Oh well, we'll see how they go soon enough.

[wildrice]

Jul 20, 2020 11:33:43 GMT -5 TR said:

Jul 20, 2020 11:23:55 GMT -5 wildrice said:

I like the Old Navy ones, too. The only thing I find annoying about them is that they are almost TOO big for my face (which makes no sense because I do not have a small head or thin face, lol) so they seem to ride up to start covering the bottom of my eyes, and I have to adjust it.

 

Well damn, lol. I do have a small face. Like, oddly so because I'm not a small person. Oh well, we'll see how they go soon enough.

It seems like most people like them, so it may partly depend on the shape of your face. FWIW I still plan to use mine! I just need to be careful about keeping my hands clean and adjusting it. 

[dexteroni]

Jul 20, 2020 10:05:44 GMT -5 Bad Dingo said:

I really like my masks from Vida.
shopvida.com/products/protective-mask

I was going to recommend these too. They're the most comfortable masks I've tried so far. I have two more coming from other makers; I'll update if I like them.

And the 2/$4 Target ones aren't bad at all. They run a little big - even the S/M size was a bit large on me - but I just tied a knot in the elastic and they're fine. It would be worthwhile to keep a few on hand as backups. 

www.target.com/p/2ct-adult-fabric-face-mask/-/A-79934801

[Patsy Baloney]

Jul 20, 2020 10:10:51 GMT -5 erbear said:

This sounds crazy but the ones I got from Old Navy are by far my favorites. They don’t slip, and they are thicker so they don’t get sucked into my nose when I breathe. They’re pretty too. I bought 5 but I might get a second set since I think I will need to change them during the day at school.

I LOVE THESE.

I was 100% on the masks-with-form/anti-pleated boat until I tried these. They’re my number one with a bullet.

[sugarbear]

My family loves the ON masks, but I also have some from this Etsy store that we like: Etsy: Louis and Phil

[Deleted]

Jul 20, 2020 10:10:51 GMT -5 erbear said:

This sounds crazy but the ones I got from Old Navy are by far my favorites. They don’t slip, and they are thicker so they don’t get sucked into my nose when I breathe. They’re pretty too. I bought 5 but I might get a second set since I think I will need to change them during the day at school.

Yes! I ordered a 10-pack from Old Navy a few weeks ago and I really like the material. They wash well too.

[sewf]

I like the ones I have from Sock Fancy. I wear them for seven hours a day and they are the most comfortable of all the ones I got.

(Also, the kids sizes work really well for my kids. My two year old leaves her’s on, no problem.)

[doctoranda]

I also use the Old Navy once (among others) and they are also a bit big for me. I just tie the ear loops a tad bit so they are smaller and they fit a lot better that way.

[Dznyprnces]

I feel like I need to try the old navy ones, since so many people here and IRL love them. But I’ll third the target masks. I agree they run big, but I washed and dried ours and they fit better now. My kids prefer the target masks also, so I stocked up for all of us for school.

[VillainV]

Another vote for the pleated ones from Athleta. They’re soft and don’t feel as hot against my face.

[RoxMonster]

My favorite are some I bought at a local clothing.

I also did just order some of the Target ones for pick up this afternoon after hearing so many rave about them. I can report back.

[rubytue]

This is my husbands favorite mask. But he goes through multiple a day. They get moist after a few hours of wear, especially in the summer. It’s a Maryland company that switched over to making masks recently.
masktheus.com/products/allmask™-tri-blend-protective-face-mask

[fernweh]

Make sure you are allowed to wear your own. My employer will only allow to wear company issued masks that they give out each day to avoid contaminated masks coming in.
It doesn’t look like that is the case most places but it’s worth a double check to avoid spending money on masks if not needed.

[RoxMonster]

Update on Target masks: definitely order the S/M. I got the large because I have a pretty fat face and it was huge. Ordering the smaller size now.

[Patsy Baloney]

Jul 20, 2020 16:43:33 GMT -5 RoxMonster said:

Update on Target masks: definitely order the S/M. I got the large because I have a pretty fat face and it was huge. Ordering the smaller size now.

I did the same thing. I’ve got a big ol’ melon and a broad, round face. They’re comically oversized! I’m going to attempt to shrink them in the wash, but have a feeling I’ll have doll-sized masks here soon 😂

[definitelyO]

Jul 20, 2020 14:56:59 GMT -5 fernweh said:

Make sure you are allowed to wear your own. My employer will only allow to wear company issued masks that they give out each day to avoid contaminated masks coming in.
It doesn’t look like that is the case most places but it’s worth a double check to avoid spending money on masks if not needed.

we require the surgical/disposable type masks and don't allow cloth (we're manufacturing). we provide them for all employees.

I found some ones I really like at the local Kroger oddly enough. 

[sapphireblue]

I wear a mask all day long at my job (public library) and I love the Electric Styles ones:
www.electricstyles.com/

I think I have a big face as a lot of masks seem good to me but then they don't adequately cover my chin, or, as wanderingback said, if I talk to someone the mask keeps slipping off of my nose as my chin's movement pulls on it.

The vida masks, for example, are nice but are too small for my apparently huge face!

[claudiakishi]

Thanks for all the great recs!

[claudiakishi]

Jul 20, 2020 14:56:59 GMT -5 fernweh said:

Make sure you are allowed to wear your own. My employer will only allow to wear company issued masks that they give out each day to avoid contaminated masks coming in.
It doesn’t look like that is the case most places but it’s worth a double check to avoid spending money on masks if not needed.

Thanks, we are, that’s why I’m looking now for better ones.