How to shop for face masks on Etsy, according to experts
Online marketplace Etsy includes a wide range of face masks that are handmade in many styles and colors. Here's what to know before buying one.
Hanna Horvath
Hanna Horvath
Masks come in two types — single or double layer — and two colors, black and gingham. Masks are made of a cotton blend and are one-size-fits-most. They are available for bulk purchase, if needed.
These cotton face masks come in more than a dozen different patterns and styles, from plaid to floral to stars. Masks come in both adult and kids sizes, with a nose wire and adjustable ear loops for a tighter fit. Masks are 100-percent cotton and machine washable.
Made from a jersey cotton blend, these machine-washable face masks come in five colors and designs, including snake print. Masks are double-layers and allow the ability for an insertable filter to be placed in the middle.
Each of these cotton masks comes with five disposable, insertable filters. Masks come in either black or white and are one-size-fits-most. (Shop for additional face mask filters here.)
These face masks are made of two layers, a spandex outer layer and a 100-percent cotton inner layer. Masks come in black and are washable, and are designed to fit tightly around your nose.
These black masks are made of cotton material and come with a pocket for an insertable filter. They are reusable and adjustable to fit different sizes.
These washable masks are made of two layers of 100-percent unbleached cotton and include a pocket for an insertable filter. Masks come with adjustable ear loops for a more snug fit. Buyers also have the option to embroider a personalized message onto the mask, allowing for gifting options.
Regardless of where you buy your mask, be it from a popular retailer, brands who donate to coronavirus relief efforts with each face mask purchase or an independent sellers' marketplace like Etsy, you should diligently consider quality and breathability, advised Nidhy Varghese, MD, a pediatric pulmonologist in Texas.
“The truth is that, regardless of the source of your mask, there is no standardization in this new industry,” she told NBC News Shopping. “So it’s up to the consumer to make sure that the mask they purchase meets their requirements.”
Look for masks with two to three layers of tightly-woven fabric like cotton, explains Richard Martinello, MD, a professor of infectious diseases at the Yale School of Medicine. Some masks come with a filter built in or as a replaceable feature, which can only help the mask’s effectiveness in filtering out particulate, Varghese said. (Keep in mind that face masks — with or without filters — do not replace or relieve the need to wash your hands and practice safe social distancing.)
Material is only one aspect of the mask — a snug fit is essential to a mask’s effectiveness. Martinello recommends shopping for masks that have a fabric piece that pinches around the nose for a tighter fit. Fabric ties may be more effective than elastic ties, as elastic bands can stretch over time, he said. “You have to wear it the right way. You see people wearing their masks under their nose,” Martinello said. “And the joke is, their mask only works half as well.”
Most homemade cloth masks will work to reduce transmission of the virus to others by blocking large droplets from coughing or sneezing, said Nishi Viswanathan, director of Texas Health Catalyst, a state university program focused on health innovation. But they cannot fully protect you from contracting the virus from someone else, Viswanathan added.
“The most important thing to remember is that masks are not a substitute for social distancing. Don't let a false sense of security let you neglect other key measures such as regular hand washing,” she said.
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