Wondering where to buy the best face masks in 2023? Even with the vaccine being rolled out and the amount of COVID cases dropping, it's still a good idea to have and wear a face mask.
Today's best face masks are a world away from the cheap, ineffective, uncomfortable offerings many of us were making do with in the early days of the pandemic. In this guide, we've selected the best options for a range of uses – whether you're looking for a mask that's good for sport, one that won't cause your glasses to steam up, or one that'll fit a smaller face – we have a mask for you. And it goes without saying, all the best face masks in our list are designed to fit closely and effectively filter particles.
Where to buy best face masks in the UK
Not in the UK? Jump straight to the best face masks in the US.
None of those take your fancy? Here are some more face mask options to try...
- NEQI: Simple but very effective, and great value too
- Look Fantastic: Luxury face masks with a mulberry silk outer layer and breathable cotton lining
- Buff: Kid and adult designs with surgical-grade filters
- Sea Salt: 3-pack, printed masks, made from organic cotton
- Migrate Art: Super-cool reversible prints from top designers, with 100% net profit going to #masksformeals initiative
- Boden: Three-pack of different Boden colours and prints
- Cotswold Outdoor: A few options available, in different sizes and styles
- Adidas: An excellent cheap face mask, but better for small faces
Where to buy the best face masks in the US
Want some more options? Try these...
- StringKing: 2-ply washable cloth face masks
- Naturepedic: Basic, double-layer organic cotton masks, 6 for $49
- RendallCo: Double-layer dense, woven cotton, designed and made in LA
- LA Apparel: Lots of colours and styles to choose from
- Eastern Serenity: Various styles to suit different face shapes
- Vida: Fitted fabric face masks, with multi-layer filter and nose strip for a snug fit
- Araks: Luxe, high quality pleated face masks in a variety of floral and other prints
- Matteo: Double-layered, 100% cotton masks, with a pocket for a filter
What kind of face mask works best?
Why you can trust T3 Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing products and services so you can choose the best for you. Find out more about how we test.
There are a lot of different types of face masks. Medical-grade face masks, including surgical masks and N95 masks, are in very short supply, so it's mainly non-medical face masks that are being recommended to the general public.
For example, the UK document regarding face masks states: "A face covering is not the same as a facemask such as the surgical masks or respirators used as part of personal protective equipment by healthcare and other workers. These supplies must continue to be reserved for those who need it." Here's a closer look at the different types of face mask.
Surgical masks
Surgical face masks are probably what you think of when you think of a face mask. These are disposable, single-use masks made from pleated synthetic fabric. The fabric is breathable and these masks don't form an airtight seal against the face. How well they filter pathogens varies according to different studies. They're in very short supply at the moment.
Respirator masks
Respirators are the most effective at filtering pathogens. These are fitted to the face and sealed to keep pathogens out, and tested rigorously by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH).
There are a few different types, with different efficiency rates. For particles 100-300 nanometres in size: N95 respirators can filter 95% of particles; N99 respirators filter 99% of particles; and N100 respirators filter 99.7% of particles. Coronavirus is estimated to be 125 nm in size.
Fabric face masks
Finally, there's homemade fabric masks, which are the least effective of the bunch at filtering pathogens. However, the research we have so far suggests that wearing one is still much better than not wearing one when it comes to reducing the likelihood of you unknowingly passing on the virus to others.
There are a few elements that affect how effective cloth face masks are at filtering pathogens. One is the fabric it's made from – porous fabrics don't keep out tiny droplets very well. The CDC suggests two layers of tightly woven 100% cotton. Adding a filter, such as a coffee filter or paper towel, can help make your fabric face mask more effective.
Fit is also all-important. Gaps around your nose and jaw will make your mask much less effective. If your mask fits snugly around your nose and face, this should help improve the situation.
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