Best face masks to wear that look great: fantastic face coverings
We should be wearing them - so let's look good in the process.
It is now mandatory to wear masks when in shops. Without getting too much into the politics of the situation, this is a more than welcomed mandate from the government - anything we can be doing to slow down the spread of Covid-19 should be done.
And, hell, if Bane can wear one while overthrowing the world of banking and putting rich people in their place, then we sure as hell can wear some sort of face covering for an hour while we pick up our weekly shopping.
UPDATE: Two charities are doing their bit to help you cover up, by offering face masks with proceeds that will go to help others. Variety, the Children’s Charity, has teamed up with Keith Lemon for the ‘I Love Variety’ face mask campaign. The comedian and presenter has put his face on his very own personalised masks. The masks are available for £12.49.
Face mask maker Ally has revealed it is providing 30,000 masks to NHS workers charity HEROES. Ally will also be donating all proceeds generated from the sale of HEROES-branded face covers, as well as £2 for every generic ace cover sold on the Ally website. The masks are £15 for adults and £12 for children.
If you want to know the government's guidelines for face coverings, then head to the official site.
In short it says: "A face covering is not the same as the surgical masks or respirators used by healthcare and other workers as part of personal protective equipment. These should continue to be reserved for those who need them to protect against risks in their workplace, such as health and care workers, and those in industrial settings, like those exposed to dust hazards."
With that in mind, we've picked out 10 of the best face masks to wear that look great when you wear them. All of them are non medical use but offer the protection the government is asking for. If you want to go further, then please check the small print about just how much the material used filters and protects, as each manufacturer offers a different design.
In the end, it's not about looking cool but protecting you and those around you. So if you are looking for an incredibly cheap mask, then entrepreneur Laurence Nair-Prices's OnePoundMask may well be for you. Not one for the fashion focused but you get £1 a mask or 65p if you buy 4 plus masks.
- If your hands are chapped after all that washing, head to our best hand cream guide.
Best mask and face coverings
Dutch label Scotch & Soda offer up contemporary clothing for the modern man and we are big fans of their mask output. There's a replaceable nano-filter that should be removed after each use and they are made from breathable, double layered quality cotton. Each mask has a metal nose wire that secures the mask comfortably.
This three-pack of masks is a bargain at just under £15. They are well made, too, as you would expect form Adidas - made with a minimum of 40% recycled content. They aren't medical grade but are comfortable for those who just want that extra layer of protection when out and about.
Zavvi has a decent line of face masks with some rather fun designs. This one caught our eye, based on the Mexican luchador wrestlers who were famous for wearing masks themselves. While they are £9 a pop, you can get three for £15 which is a great price. It is made from breathable, soft material that ensures a balance between comfort and style, according to Zavvi. It is easy to wash, too.
A UK brand that has its eye on the global stage, Just Hype is a great label and one that does a mean line in face masks. Our pick is this grey knit face mask. It has a decent mix of comfort and protection and is made from 12% Elastomeric 40% Polyester 48% Diolen Hygienic Poly.
You can get three masks for £15 on Zavvi right now, which is something of a bargain - especially given the styles they have. This pink skull mask is made from breathable, soft material. Zavvi reckons this "ensures a balance between comfort and style. It is easy to wash, too, which is is a bonus.
100% Human is an initiative that was launched back in 2017. The idea is that with the clothes and masks made under this banner, 10% of profits go to the ACLU (American Civil Liberties Union) which is a great idea. Made in America but shipped to the UK, these masks are 100% cotton and machine washable. They look great, too.
A spin-off of J Crew, Madewell has been around for 13 years now, offering classy get-ups that the likes of Alexa Chung and crew are fans of. These masks are great, made from leftover fabric scraps and both companies have donated 75,000 single-use face masks to Montefiore Medical Center in New York which is great to see.
Not all heroes wear capes, but they do wear masks - especially ones that are emblazoned with the Bat Sign. The Mask Club has loads of decent masks available but this is our pick and offers 2 ply protection. The mask is 100% polyester and has a bendable nose wire to contour your nose. There is also a slot for filter in between the two layers of fabric. And it's reusable and washable.
Well, this is a surprise. Vistaprint, which makes a pretty penny out of all our photographs, has turned its hand to making masks and, well, they are decent. The Lucky Cat design took our fancy but there are a whole load to choose from. They are on the pricier end of this list, though, but the designs are vibrant - one for those who want to stand out.
Until the end of August, these are pre-order only. But if you are looking for a decent face mask that's got your favourite Disney, Marvel or Star Wars character on it then you can do wrong with what's on offer at the Disney Store. The best thing about these is that Disney is giving 100% of proceeds to Red Cross organisations around Europe. Disney is also donating 100,000 face coverings to MediCinema, a long-standing charity partner of theirs. Nice one, Mickey and co!
