6 elements your fabric face masks should include, according to the CDC

Our team is dedicated to finding and telling you more about the products and deals we love. If you love them too and decide to purchase through the links below, we may receive a commission. Pricing and availability are subject to change.

A significant number of fashion retailers and brands have shifted their efforts to producing fabric face masks ever since the CDC recommended all Americans should wear “face coverings in public settings where other social distancing measures are difficult to maintain.” With the devastating shortage of N95 medical masks, it’s critical that the public reserve what surgical masks remain for our frontline healthcare workers.

Although fabric face masks will not completely protect against contracting the COVID-19, the CDC explains that they can help “slow the spread of the virus and help people who may have the virus and do not know it from transmitting it to others.”

According to reports from the CDC, cloth face coverings should:

  1. “Fit snugly but comfortably against the side of the face”
  2. “Completely cover the nose and mouth”
  3. “Be secured with ties or ear loops”
  4. “Include multiple layers of fabric”
  5. “Allow for breathing without restriction”
  6. “Be laundered and machine dried without damage or change to shape”

The guidelines also advise that “all people two years of age and older wear a cloth face covering in public settings and when around people who don’t live in your household.”

After over 20 U.S states are now officially requiring face masks in public, we’ve come to terms with the fact that we will most likely be sporting face masks for a while. New York, New Jersey, California, Maryland, New Mexico Pennsylvania, and Rhode Island are just some of the states with mask mandates.

Ahead, we’ve rounded up some of the top-rated styles on the internet that abide by the CDC’s guidelines.

Shop: Nordstrom 6-Pack Adult Pleated Cotton Face Masks, $24

Credit: Nordstrom

Shop: Etsy Black Reusable Stretchable Face Mask, $7.99

Credit: Etsy

Shop: 8 Other Reasons 3 Pack Face Mask Set, $22

Credit: Revolve

Shop: Amadi Gingham Reusable Ear Loop Face Mask, $14

Credit: Anthropologie

Shop: Disposable Non-Medical 3-Ply Face Masks, $17.99 (10-Pack)

Credit: Daily Steals

Shop: Everlane The 100% Human Face Mask 5-Pack, $25

Credit: Etsy

Shop: Koral Infinity Leopard Face Mask, $20

Credit: Koral

Shop: Sock Fancy Water-Resistant Face Mask, $12.00

Credit: Sock Fancy

Shop: Rag & Bone Stealth 3-Pack Face Mask, $55

Credit: Rag & Bone

Shop: LookHuman Solid Black Fabric Face Mask, $18.99 (Take 30% off at checkout with code ‘SRING30’)

Credit: LookHUMAN

Shop: Variant VL-M1 Face Mask With 8 Replacement Filters, $30

Shop: KOODING 3D Elastic Face Fashion Mask, $5.99

Credit: Kooding

Shop: Caraa Assorted Colors Mask Pack, $25.00 (5-pack)

Credit: Caraa

Shop: Old Navy Variety 5-Pack of Triple-Layer Cloth Face Masks for Adults, $12.50

Credit: Old Navy

Shop: SKIMS Seamless face masks, $8

Credit: Skims

If you enjoyed this story, In The Know also covered how Etsy searches for face masks have increased an average of 9 times per second.

More from In The Know:

15 of our favorite retailers that are selling fabric face masks

Students can get Amazon Music Unlimited for $0.99 a month

Accessories queen Lele Sadoughi talks face masks and fall trends

Subscribe to our daily newsletter to stay In The Know

Listen to the latest episode of our pop culture podcast, We Should Talk: