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Reusable Face Coverings - Cath Kidston
How to Wear and Care for your Reusable Face Covering

When we all stayed up late to shout HAPPY NEW YEAR, blissfully bellowing Auld Lang Syne and charting up a busy year of big plans – no one could have predicted that the must-have accessories for 2020 would be less suitcase-and-sun-cream and more face-covering-and hand-sanitiser. But … here we are.

Since face coverings are here to stay, and to shout out the launch of our own Cath Kidston double-layered face coverings made of upcycled archive fabric, we’ve pulled together our very top tips on all things masks. From choosing, wearing and washing to steaming, scenting and carrying. But most of all, figuring out how to make the best of face coverings in the all-important interest of staying safe.

Reusable Face Coverings on man and woman- Cath Kidston

 

TIPS FOR CHOOSING A FACE COVERING

Make sure its cotton – amidst a bunch of studies, cotton comes up as the best fabric to make non-medical-grade face-coverings out of, since its natural fibres allow for breathability, comfort against skin but are still fibrous enough to act as an effective barrier to transmission. That’s why our face coverings are made of 100% cotton.

At least double layered – The World Health Organisation have advised that your mask have ideally three layers, but at least two. Our Cath Kidston face covering is double layered with a slip pocket for a filter, if you want to add that third layer of protection.

Wash it regularly – Ideally wash your mask between each use to make sure you’re getting rid of any nasties from your last wear.

 

Floral Face Coverings - Cath Kidston

 

TIPS FOR WEARING
  • Wash your hands before putting on your mask and after taking it off.
  • Try not to touch the fabric of the mask as you’re putting it on, taking it off or when you’re wearing it. The fabric is essentially the germ filter, you want to avoid putting your hands on it at all.
  • Put it over your nose and mouth and secure it under your chin, fitting it snugly against the sides of your face. If it’s not sitting flush, try twisting the elastic over itself before hooking over your ear to shorten it.
  • If you’re finding it’s hurting your ears after a while, check out Etsy for some cheap and cheerful ‘mask ear protectors’, or make your own with the help of a paperclip.
Mushroom printed Face Covering - Cath Kidston
Woman in floral face covering - Cath Kidston

 

TIPS FOR WASHING

Our face coverings are hand wash only to make sure we protect the print and the stitching for a long, happy life. Plus, handwashing is quick and easy and means you’re not losing your mask in the small mountain of laundry the kids have managed to create in record time.

Girl in unicorn face covering - Cath Kidston
Boy in cowboy face covering - Cath Kidston

 

OUR VERY TOP TIPS
Carry your mask in a zip lock

You’ve gone to all the effort to make sure your mask is nice and clean between uses, throwing it in your handbag with the rest of your life-litter means your mask could pick up other germs – so keep a separate pouch / purse / even a sandwich bag to store it in. And vice versa, once you’ve worn your mask, be sure to pop it away from the other things you’ll touch and use.

Invest in a multipack

We’re going to be wearing masks for a while, so having more than one is a sound investment. As a general rule, having one to wear, one in the wash and one to spare makes good sense. (Our spare we stash in the car for the ‘oh no’ moments outside the super market where you realise you’ve forgotten your mask).

If your glasses are steaming up …

Finding yourself in a perpetual ‘stars in their eyes’ moment every time you put a mask on? We get it. What’s causing your glasses-fog is your breath escaping from the top of your mask. Try moving your mask higher up your nose, making sure it sits flush against your skin and sitting your glasses on top.

Scent your mask

To calm yourself down, to wake you up, or even just to give yourself something better to smell than your own breath – why not make your own essential oil mist to spray your mask with.

All you need to do is mix 10-20 drops of your favourite oil with 50 ml of water and a tablespoon of vodka (to act as a preservative … obviously).

Some favourite essential oils to get you started:

  • Lavender – calming and relaxing, a good one if you’re still a little anxious being out and about or wearing a mask.
  • Peppermint – in a spray is lovely and cooling but also nice and fresh. Perfect for hot commutes.
  • Teatree - a crisp, clean scent and a good natural cleanser.

Then, just spray your mask, leave it to completely dry in the sunshine, and get a whiff of something wonderful on your next wear.

 

Now available to buy, our double-layered face coverings, with an insert pocket between for a filter, are made in some of our brightest and most loved heritage prints. Repurposed from upcycled off-cuts of archive cotton, availability of each print is limited edition using the fabric we have.

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