Keep the Mask Away From Your Mouth With the Mask Holder
I never minded the feeling of the mask on my lips until I put it on in the gym. Gasping between clean and jerk as one does, I continued to involuntarily suck the cotton cloth into my mouth. Not funny.
Some masks, such as the expensive but costly Under Armor masks, are made of a tough material to avoid this situation. But if you have a regular, thinner mask, there is a quick and cheap solution: the mask bracket. It is a soft silicone or plastic frame that fits under the mask. He does not have his own belts or clips; the pressure of the mask keeps it on your face.
Mask brackets are usually included; three to five will cost about $ 12. ( Here is one of Amazon’s many listings ; mine came in a box labeled “burglar mask.”) You wear the bracket with the top resting against the bridge of your nose or the tip of your nose and the bottom under your mouth. Some reviews say they keep your glasses from fogging up, but that will depend on how close they get to your face.
Runners and other cardio enthusiasts were the first to use mask braces because they keep tissue out of your mouth when you breathe heavily. But I’ve also seen them advertised as “lipstick protectors,” which makes sense too. The bracket also helps keep moisture away from the mask, which is handy if you find your mask wet from sweat or moisture from your breath.
The downside is that nothing touches your face and you can really feel how sweaty your face becomes. When I put on a brace or structured mask during my workout, I have to stop quite often to quickly remove the earloop and dry my nose and mouth with a towel. If you do the same, treat this towel as if it is full of germs – because it is – and put it back in your gym bag rather than placing it on a common surface.