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This mask saves you from suffering face acne (maskne) and breathing issues, with built-in mic for easier communication too.
Face it, wearing face masks is going to be a part of our lives. With the advent of yet another new Covid variant on the horizon, it looks like the authorities are also not going to let up on enforcing the rule in the near future. Plus, with more people going back to work, offices are also encouraged to ask employees to mask up even when they are alone in their work stations. Imagine the thought of having to wear a mask for at least eight hours during a work day, five (or more) days a week for the months to come.
By now, most people would have experimented and found their preferred type of mask, whether it's the reusable types or the standard-issue disposable ones. Yet even after two years of having to wear a face mask, most people are still complaining of how uncomfortable it is and the challenges wearing a mask poses when trying to talk to others in a discussion.
That's where I found myself a month ago, absolutely fed up with having to repeat everything I say and feeling the sweat soak up on my fabric mask every time I step out of the house. That was when I decided to invest in a mask with a better design and more features to help make my daily routine easier.
Now I've heard of the LG Puricare air purifying mask before, but decided to hold back on getting the Generation 1 version because of conflicting reviews from the net. Yet to LG's credit, the company took the feedback into consideration and introduced the new Gen 2 LG Puricare mask a few months ago. This time round, the development team seems to have solved the small nagging issues and improved the overall experience with using the mask. So I decided to take the leap and find out if the new Gen 2 LG Puricare mask will be my IT mask.
This is basically how the mask looks on the outside. It comes in black or white colours, with adjustable elastic straps on the sides. It definitely looks bulkier than a fabric mask, but it's not glaringly eye-catching. By now, most people would be used to seeing masks of all shapes and sizes in public, so I would say not to worry if you are concerned that wearing this one will make you stand out too much in the crowd. The silhouette is plain, simple and easy on the eye. The mask comes in a matte finish, so there's no gloss on the casing.
One of the interesting upgrades of the Gen 2 Puricare mask is the built-in mic and speakers, which allows others to hear you easily without having to raise your voice! For me, that's a big advantage because I'm often shuffling from meeting to meeting, and have to conduct interviews on a daily basis. You'll find two small slits on the front of the mask, where the speaker is placed.
This is how the mask looks on the inside. There is a removable rubber face shield protecting your face from coming into contact with the hard casing of the mask. The rubber face shield attaches to the mask through three magnetic clips, which I found rather clever. Aside from the paper filter you have to place behind the face shield, which filters out dust particles, there are also two mini-sized HEPA filter cartridges on each side of the mask. The HEPA filters help to remove viruses and other contaminants.
When it comes to pricing though, the initial investment might sound like quite a bit when compared to disposable masks. The mask itself retails for $249 on Shoppee & Lazada, while the paper filter covers retail for $20 (for a pack of 30 pieces) and the HEPA filters retail for $30 for a pack of 2. However, remember that the mask itself and the rubber face shield are reusable, and each pack of paper covers and HEPA filters can last for over a month. Ultimately, when it comes to ensuring your health, I feel it is a worthwhile investment.
This is the packaging of the mask. It's not excessively large, and comes with everything you need to get started.
Kudos to LG for using eco-friendly packaging too. Seeing the amount of cardboard boxes and stuffing plastic being used for my online purchases have made me conscious of how much waste we are generating, especially when we are shopping from home.
The mask is neatly packed in a clean wrapping, ensuring that there's no dust or dirt inside.
Upon unboxing, you'll see the Gen 2 LG Puricare Air Purifying Mask in its glory. I have to say that the Gen 2 version looks much better than the Gen 1 version. Here's how the Gen 1 version looks, with raised portions jutting out from the front sides and no built-in VoiceOn feature.
There's an instructional guide, but the mask itself is pretty easy to set up.
The first thing you'll need to do is to place the HEPA filters into each side of the mask. The HEPA filters come sealed in their own individual packs ensuring that there's no contamination too.
Slot the HEPA filter cartridge into the slot on each side of the mask and click to close.
The next thing you'll have to do is to place the paper filter protector over the center part of the mask.
There are little raised stems to guide you on where to place the protector.
The rubber shield goes over the protector. See the small magnets on the top and bottom of the rubber shield? Those click on easily and hold the rubber shield in place, but I realised that it's still possible for them to come loose if you are not careful. I lost it once while I was tipsy and had to purchase a replacement the day after. Something to take note if you are planning for more drinks over the coming holiday season. Thankfully, all the parts can be easily replaced from the official LG online stores on your online shopping sites.
This is how the mask looks when it is all put together. The HEPA filters and protector combined help to filter out contaminants in the air, but what's really cool is that there are fans within the mask that help to moderate the flow of air into the mask as you are breathing. You'll be able to hear the fans spin with each breath you take. At first, I felt like Darth Vader with the mask on because there's a low whirring sound every time you breathe in, but after a day or two I don't notice it at all anymore. more importantly, thanks to the internal fans, breathing through the mask is much easier compared to using disposable or fabric masks. The fans work harder when you take in deeper breaths, regulating the flow of air to suit your intake level. Over time, your breathing feels regular and normal again.
The mask comes in one size, but will be able to fit most faces. My initial feel on wearing it is how light it feels, even though it may look slightly bulky. However, the mask does come with a head strap to hook onto the adjustable ear straps so your ears don't feel the strain from holding onto the mask. I found that the ear straps tend to loosen themselves quite easily too while on the move, so it was easier to just use the mask with the head strap on all the time.
Another thing I like about the rubber shield is that it keeps your face from coming into contact with the mask, thereby reducing the chances of your skin becoming irritated by it. Those who wear spectacles will also be happy to know that the rubber shield prevents air from being blown upwards, so you don't need to put up with misted spectacles anymore.
One of the best things of the Gen 2 mask is the VoiceOn feature. Click on the button at the bottom of the mask to switch it on and your voice will be amplified by the built-in microphone for clear speech. Okay, but to manage your expectations, the amplified sound is only loud enough so your words can be heard clearly. It's not going to turn your mask into a strap-on microphone for the whole neighbourhood to hear. In a crowded situation, it's still going to be hard to talk over the noise. It makes your voice sound as loud as what it would have sounded without a mask, that's all.
Battery-wise, you'll have to charge the mask up with the USB cord provided before using it. The mask can be used for up to 8 hours on a single charge. LG has also gone a step further to design an additional charging case where you can place the mask when not in use, the case doubles as a UV disinfectant device too for your mask or a mobile device that can fit into the case. However, the case is sold separately and retails for $249. LG does include a felt pouch in the mask package for you to put your mask when you are not wearing it. So while the mask itself is a 'need to have', I'd say the case is a 'good to have' but it's not going to be a deal breaker if you decide not to get it (I actually caved and got it too after using the mask for a month because I wanted to have a permanent spot to place the mask when I'm at home, this way I don't have to go searching for it before heading out).
All in all, I'm happy that I decided to get the mask. It's become an essential part of my daily routine, and like what they say in credit card ads, "I wouldn't leave home without it." The price tag aside, the LG Puricare Air Purifying Mask should be something that everyone ought to have if we are to get used to living life in the 'new normal'.