Mei ManuelKonnichasssuuu!
Its Day 102 of the Community Quarantines across the country and this writer over here is feeling the strain even a little. Even if I’m used to working at home since I am a freelance writer, staying this long at home is really crazy. But, with the vaccine still far from completion and availability, we have no choice but to stay at home. The statistics is still growing in the country which is alarming but I do hope and pray we will be able to get past this issue and get on with 2020.
Since face masks are now essential if you will be going out of your home, a lot of face mask sellers are now on the market featuring masks of all kinds. There are masks with N95 capabilities, those which can be reused time and time again and others which are disposable but still have great N95-like features. In my case, I needed to get one with N95 features because I do have allergic rhinitis and the slightest off scent gets my nose going and I also do travel using public transportation, which exposes me to all sorts of viruses and bacteria.
I have been searching for masks since the pandemic began and after a few months, I found an ad for one from a classmate of mine back in college who is a good friend of mine (‘elo Nikko!). Deciding to ask coz I needed one for me and my folks, here’s what you need to know.
Disclaimer: This is not sponsored post. I bought the mask myself coz that’s how we roll! ;)
The brand of the mask is Outcovers (they used to be known as Face Mask MNL but trademarked the name after a lot of brands copied their offerings) and the masks are made from China. They were the first to introduce the K95 mask of this design in the country.
As explained in this picture, the mask comes with a unique design that allows users to stay comfortable while wearing the mask even for a long period of time. The masks can be washed without worries and they are very light to the face when worn.
For people who have glasses like me or if you wear shades when you go out, your glasses won’t get fogged up coz the mask has a 3D protruding nose which will snugly cover your mouth and prefer any air from going up to your glasses. The 3D nose also fits perfectly under your glasses as if it has a stand on its own.
When I ordered my masks, it was batch 4 already and to test it out, I got two colors, grey and pitch black. Did wait for a bit for my mask and here are the pictures below when I got them from LBC (please do take note that they have changed packaging after I got mine to represent their new name)
Here are the masks, I ended up giving the grey one to my dad which I regretted coz it had a nice tone. I ended up with the black one. Since this was a bundle purchase, I got spare filters with my order.
As you can see in the photo above, the mask comes in three parts: the main mask, two gaskets which holds the filter in place and the filter. It’s pretty easy to change the filter since it is shaped exactly like the mask itself. The only tricky bit is putting it inside the mask because of the 3D flap that touches your face.
Here’s the look of the mask up close. I forgot to do the photo myself but here you go. The 3D bit covers your nose and your mouth perfectly. You also don’t have to worry about your nose touching the filter and the gasket because there is enough space inside for easy breathing and speaking.
It’s fairly a simple process to clean the mask. They do provide you with this little guide on how to do it. Since I got my mask, I do clean it every time I go out for a long time just to be safe. For my dad’s mask, I clean it every 2 days.
Now here is a photo of me when I first wore my mask. I did have to get used to it because I did find the 3D part hard to work with coz I have a small nose. The result was the mask tends to go too high that even my glasses are out of alignment. I did retry several times to wear it in a manageable level before I did go out from that car for my task to get things into order.
When you do wear the mask, it doesn’t get too hot when you wear it for a long time since the filter inside is breathable while it protects you from all sorts of stuff. The only trouble is if you do get sweaty while wearing it coz the sweat will cascade from the 3D part to your neck. Did happen to me several times but I was able to stop by a clear area and wipe myself dry. When I took off my mask, it wasn’t as sweaty as the other parts of my face. I did have an issue with ear straps because it keeps bending my ears, but I think this is mostly due to how big my head is and the need for further adjusting. I may have to get those ear protectors and mask band adjustors so it doesn’t happen often. Overall, having it on is great coz it doesn’t move about and can be worn for an entire day.
If you want to try out Outcovers, they are currently open for pre-orders through their website at http://www.outcovers.com. For extra savings, they do offer their masks in bundles where you can get additional PP filters good for 2 to 3 months and sunshields which will cover your eyes not just from viruses but also from UV rays. If you have one already, they do sell PP filters separately
For kids, they also have Outcovers Kids and they can come in bundles too!
They do ship nationwide and they also accept international orders. Please do give them time to ship orders!
If you want to learn more about the masks or find out when their next batch will open, you can inquire at their official FB page, Pit Manila.
Order today since they run out like hot cakes! I will be ordering one soon because I’m after their sun shields. LOL!
