How to get a comfortable face mask fit: top tips from Dyson experts

Whilst wearing masks remains a duty across the world to prevent the spread of the virus, there is no denying they can be frustrating and irritating when worn for the majority of the day – commuting on public transport, working in the office, in shops and other commercial spaces. Using their expertise in areas as diverse as microbiology, aerodynamics and skin research, Dyson engineers and scientists share their top tips for coping with wearing a face mask in the post-COVID era.

“As a glasses wearer, the first frustration I experience when putting on a mask is the immediate condensation on the lenses,” says Jess Le Dinh, Engineering Lead. “Avoiding exhalation is really the only fool-proof way to stop your glasses fogging up entirely, but it’s obviously not a practical solution. But, it’s a simple matter of managing the airflow and there are other things you can do.”

On exhaling, warm breath travels upwards out of the top of the mask, particularly the space where masks fit imperfectly over the bridge of the nose. It hits the cold lens of the glasses, rapidly cooling down and forming condensation, steaming up the glasses. The slower you exhale, the less warm air hits the colder lens, meaning that condensation can be less obvious or frustrating. Equally, by exhaling through your mouth, the stream of exhaled air is generally less pressurised, escaping less rapidly up towards the glasses. The best solution is to ensure a tight fit over the bridge of the nose – look for those masks with a level of rigidity you can mould to your face – or use a skin-friendly medical tape to close the gap entirely.