We asked doctors and researchers for their top face masks that balance comfort and safety

Aria BendixDec 18, 2020, 18:53 IST

Tom Bihn's multi-layered face mask.TOM BIHN

Medical experts understand the challenge of finding a face mask that's both comfortable and protective.
Four doctors and one mask researcher told Business Insider the masks they recommend for situations outside of hospitals and clinics.
Some recommended DIY options, while others suggested multi-layer masks that have undergone independent filtration tests.

To pick the right face mask, doctors often recommend a simple trick: Try blowing out a candle while wearing it. A good mask should prevent you from extinguishing the flame.

But it can be difficult to know whether a mask will pass the candle test just by looking at it.

So Business Insider asked four doctors and one mask researcher about the face coverings they wear outside work and those that meet their safety criteria. Some recommended DIY options, while others suggested multi-layer masks that have undergone independent filtration tests.

All experts agreed that it's better to choose a mask you won't be itching to take off.

"The best mask is the one that fits and that you're actually wearing," Dr. Alice Sato, an epidemiologist at Children's Hospital & Medical Center in Omaha, Nebraska, told Business Insider.

Here are their recommendations, plus a few tips for making masks more comfortable.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends multi-layer cloth masks for the general public.

Yuqing Liu/Business Insider

Dr. Ricardo Correa, an endocrinologist at the University of Arizona College of Medicine, said a simple surgical mask is a good low-cost option.

Amazon/Bigox

Correa also suggested cloth masks from Tom Bihn, which are multi-layered and adjustable to prevent slipping.

TOM BIHN

If traveling, Correa said, it's a good idea to combine a face mask and face shield.

A couple wear protective face shields and masks at Newark International Airport on November 25, 2020. Mike Segar/Reuters

Dr. Megan Ranney, director of the Brown University Lifespan Center for Digital Health, said masks with a wire along the nose - like these Happy Masks - keep glasses from fogging.

Happy Masks

Dr. Megan Ranney, director of the Brown University Lifespan Center for Digital Health, said masks with a wire along the nose - like these Happy Masks - keep glasses from fogging.

For maximum protection, Dr. Monica Gandhi and aerosol expert Linsey Marr both suggest a three-layer mask, like this one from Kitsbow.

KITSBOW

Oura's four-layer mask also fits the researchers' criteria.

OURA

Another highly protective option is to layer a surgical mask with a cloth one.

Brendan Williams, president of the New Hampshire Health Care Association, puts on a surgical mask while carrying another mask. Charles Krupa/AP Photo

If you are opting for a homemade mask, Sato recommended one that sews at least two pieces of fabric together, with a paper towel in the middle.

Getty

Sato said some of her colleagues insert a plastic cup or bracket into their mask to give them more room to breathe.

HeartFormSF

Any mask is generally better than none.

Kevin Houston uses a bandana to cover his face on April 23, 2020, in Evanston, Illinois. Stacey Wescott/Chicago Tribune/Tribune News Service/Getty Images

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We asked doctors and researchers for their top face masks that balance comfort and safety

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends multi-layer cloth masks for the general public.

Dr. Ricardo Correa, an endocrinologist at the University of Arizona College of Medicine, said a simple surgical mask is a good low-cost option.

Correa also suggested cloth masks from Tom Bihn, which are multi-layered and adjustable to prevent slipping.

If traveling, Correa said, it's a good idea to combine a face mask and face shield.

Dr. Megan Ranney, director of the Brown University Lifespan Center for Digital Health, said masks with a wire along the nose - like these Happy Masks - keep glasses from fogging.

For maximum protection, Dr. Monica Gandhi and aerosol expert Linsey Marr both suggest a three-layer mask, like this one from Kitsbow.

Oura's four-layer mask also fits the researchers' criteria.

Another highly protective option is to layer a surgical mask with a cloth one.

If you are opting for a homemade mask, Sato recommended one that sews at least two pieces of fabric together, with a paper towel in the middle.

Sato said some of her colleagues insert a plastic cup or bracket into their mask to give them more room to breathe.

Any mask is generally better than none.