We Found the Best Face Masks to Prevent Foggy Glasses

Taking off your glasses to wipe them clean every few minutes when wearing a mask is understandably annoying, though necessary for those working in public buildings or traveling on public transit. Those who wear glasses have invented a few clever ways to stop their lenses from fogging up due to breath condensation. Many may be familiar with the shaving cream hack gone viral in 2020; it likely stemmed from a 2011 study that suggested chemicals in soap, shaving cream and toothpaste may work as a thin shield between condensation and your lenses.

Temporary treatments don't last forever, and nearly all of the YouTubers and Reddit users who swear by them admit they reapply treatments routinely. Rather than forcing yourself to swap to contact lenses altogether, a better solution would be swapping out the kind of mask you currently wear on a daily basis while in public.

Which kind of face masks are best for those who wear glasses?

As many continue to choose to wear face masks in crowded, indoor spaces, the issue of foggy glasses is very apparent; chilly interiors only make the issue worse. Selecting a face mask to help fix your foggy glasses is easier if you know what to look for. Try looking for these qualities in the next face mask you purchase:

1. A nose bridge or clamp: Is the mask equipped with a bendable metal strip for the bridge of your nose? Does this strip extend towards the top of your cheeks? Many masks designed during the COVID-19 pandemic make use of this feature, as it may redirect the motion of your exhaled breath.
2. Adjustable ear straps or ties: If the mask you wear is loose-fitting, it makes sense why your breath would escape out and up onto your face. A form-fitting mask should direct your breath through your mask, not up and out.
3. A straight fold straight across your cheeks and nose: Some masks have been designed to dip beneath your cheekbones to form a clear nose covering. If you're wearing glasses, though, that means there's nothing between the bottom of your lenses and the top of your mask — making it quite likely that breath will escape over your cheeks and directly onto your lenses. If possible, you always want the rims of your glasses to be sitting on top of the masks' upper region, as this weight blocks the flow of air.
4. Enough room to cover your chin: Constantly pulling your mask down to sit beneath your chin? There's a good chance your mask isn't covering enough of your face and nose to ensure hot breath doesn't escape up and out.
5. The right kind of fabric: Moisture-wicking performance materials or the lightest of cotton and silk is important for those with glasses, as you don't want to be stuck with a damp mask that can't hold up to hot breath.

With the help of the Good Housekeeping Institute's Textile Director Lexie Sachs, we're spotlighting some of the best masks for those who wear glasses. These options stay tight across your nose, mouth, chin, and cheeks, and will be sure to keep your glasses as clear as possible.