My lower face feels naked! - YouLookFab Forum

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My lower face feels naked!

Zaeobi

(website)

Veteran

Up until 8 days ago, Hong Kong was literally the only place in the world where you still had to wear a face mask everywhere (Macau lifted their rule a little earlier):
https://www.scmp.com/news/hong.....id-erupted

It has no longer been a requirement since March 1st, but I've noticed that most folk still wear their masks indoors (in malls/ on public transport etc). It'll be interesting to see how long this lasts once the weather warms up considerably (it's inconsistent for now - 23C max today but last week it was 14C max lol)...

I've been taking my mask off once I get to work, so that students can read my lips (lifts & public transport are becoming crowded once more out here, since HK has lifted quarantine requirements for all travel - so the tourists & international students have returned).

It's freeing but honestly also a little bewildering - I have to remember that people can see my full face when I emote, lol! Lipstick is still an issue too, since it can smear on my commuting mask.

Does anyone else remember what it was like to have to wear a face mask? If so, any tips from the other side? Will I ever get used to feeling the lower half of my face again, lol??

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20 replies

Latest reply was from

SarahD8

Veteran

I still wear a mask in many public places! Will be interesting to see how people’s habits shift where you are.

Jenni NZ

Veteran

Z I’m still wearing one at work seeing the patients as there is still Covid out there but not as much. I was slow to remove during last year’s spring (so maybe September 2022) because there had been a lot of cases and I still had not had it. I still wore mask in the supermarket etc. But I finally socialised in a large event (biggest for ages-certainly since NZ had a lot of cases) in November- and caught Covid as did DH.
Now that is over 3 months ago and I don’t want it again, but hardly anyone here wears masks. It was never really a part of our culture. I don’t put on lipstick for work and have to consciously remember for other times!

rachylou

Veteran

We still wear them at work, but I went to a coworker’s party this weekend (an actual big party) - and lol, I saw faces that I haven’t seen in years belonging to people I saw only yesterday. I must say, I have a terrible memory. Haha. No one looks quite like I thought… !

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Oh, for sure -- I don't just remember. I still wear one. Not all the time. It's not mandated except in medical offices and hospitals. But I wear mine on public transit, and also in crowded stores or stores where the staff are wearing them and I can't really distance, or stores where the staff request it.

I plan to mask up for the conference I am attending this week, or at least that is how I feel now. I will see friends for meals without mask, though.

Most people do not mask all the time where I live but there are still a fair number who mask on occasion.

It does feel strange at first, and then welcome, as people can see your smile.

Dee

Veteran

Hmm.. interesting to hear what everyone is doing reference masks. I only stopped wearing mine when I’m out shopping around a month ago but I usually only shop during quieter times during the week.
Most people here aren’t wearing them much anymore.

I have a hair appointment today, debated about not wearing a mask, but I’ve changed my mind and will wear it. It will feel a bit awkward again because the last time I was there a few months ago, I was the only person wearing one in the salon, but who cares really.

ETA: Hair appointment complete, again I was the only one wearing a mask, but my stylist was great saying we always want you to feel comfortable.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Exactly what Suz said. YES! It feels very weird, Zaeobi. But it will settle and feel more normal in some situations soon.

We only recently stopped masking up indoors for everything.

We are still masking up for public transport, at airports, and for air travel. In any medical setting, and if places are really crowded indoors. Also, for people who want us to mask up, or when I am simply unsure about the situation.

Generally, I avoid crowds. Have been shopping with clients recently, and for the first time in almost three years went unmasked. It was quiet though. We shop at QUIET times, and at outside malls if we can.

In the US, I believe all COVID protocols will go away in May.

anchie

Veteran

Well, here in Vienna mandatory mask mandate on public transport was dropped just 8 days ago, so I am still adjusting. But on the other hand I have been in the office full time throughout pandemic except for few months in 2020, and nobody wears a mask at work. There are 5000 people in the building, crowded elevators and 1000 seats busy cafeteria restaurant where I have lunch every day. There are also often conferences with additional 2000 people when things get even more busy. So I am switching now from anxiety in public transport without masks to feeling ok without them when I enter the office building.

slim cat

Veteran

I was working without the mask ( last year or about ) until recently - when got infected with Covid for the first time. I went back to mask wearing everywhere and now do mixed version ( some places with mask and some without - depends on crowds and people ). In some ways wearing mask again was easy and comforting.

April

Veteran

I just came from the dentist - International Women's Day, gotta celebrate somehow - and while the office staff there is required to mask, patients are not, anymore.

Of course, patients never could mask during a cleaning but even 6 months ago they required you to stay masked until they actually began the work.

Ginger

Veteran

The last time I wore a mask was to scalp the lawn on Saturday afternoon! Works nicely for keeping the dust out of my sinuses. Other than that I honestly don't remember wearing one in a very long time. I find them quite claustrophobic. I imagine you'll get used to it quickly.

Irina

Veteran

Still wear one on a transportation and a must in the medical facilities. My DH wears it when shopping, I gave up. I go to the office twice a week and no one wears masks anymore. We are in an open concept space and a lot of my coworkers either young themselves or have small children. I wonder if I don’t wear it in the office, should I bother at all.

Peri

Veteran

I still wear one anywhere out in public. It isn't required, but I prefer to and I don't care what anyone thinks about it. As I've posted before, my DH was in cancer treatment during the first Fall of the pandemic and throughout that winter. Once he was done chemo we had the extra blow of finding out the vaccine didn't work for patients with his type of cancer and the drugs used to treat it, so it was a year before he could become fully vaccinated. He is doing well now, but I have no desire to test his response by exposing him to something. People who are in close contact with us wear masks...maybe because in general I avoid close contact with people who are not courteous. As far as being out in public, I'll wear mine because I don't trust other people to be careful.

So...I guess to your question, no my lower face doesn't get to see the public. And I do love lipstick, but I'll have to stick to my own appreciation of it.

Zaeobi

(website)

Veteran

Sorry for the late replies - I keep forgetting to check the Off Topic forum for notifications!

@SarahD8
I suspect that, since people here were wearing masks long before COVID, it may be a while until they stop wearing them again (heat notwithstanding) - especially since it's difficult to socially distance in such a densely populated area!

@Jenni
That makes sense - I believe they've lifted the rules for both indoor & outdoor masking here but it's still required at healthcare services.
I actually caught COVID for the first time last Autumn because that's when we went back to face-to-face teaching - even with masks on & clear barriers between the desks, my students still ended up infecting me lol...

@rachylou
Haha same - I also remember many folk being much better looking with masks on than now!

@Suz
The facial expressions do make a big difference - especially in this line of work, where being able to see whether your students are following you (or look confused) can affect the whole flow of your class...

@Dee
I'm glad your hairdresser is accommodating - in HK some folk do give you the stinkeye if you're not wearing a mask, but I remember there were folk in the UK who did the same when I *was* wearing one last summer, lol!

@slim cat
I can see how catching COVID may make you more wary about wearing a mask - I've know folk have caught it again within 2 months (even though I saw something floating around about how you have immunity from it for 3 months...)

@April
My dental cleaning appointments just got cancelled altogether due to COVID (they still did the check-up but not the hygienist bit, which was weird but ok lol...) so it looks like everywhere varies so much on those rules for masking!

@Ginger
That makes sense re: the lawn - for similar reasons, I always wondered why nail technicians would wear face masks but wouldn't give one to their clients lol!

@Irina
I've started to do something similar - I wear a mask everywhere in public except for teaching (especially for pronunciation) & if I'm in a wide open space outdoors (like the park or hiking).
I guess it could be more courteous to wear it around particularly vulnerable people (like children or the immunocompromised)? Idk

@Peri
I'm glad to hear your husband is doing better! Yeah I've found that people who aren't willing to respect my needs to mask or not (& aren't willing to do so themselves if requested & able) aren't worth the arguments over it... I was the only one masking at a UK wedding I attended last summer, but it is what it is!
I don't usually wear makeup in general but pre-COVID I would sometimes swipe lipstick as an 'easy' way to brighten up my face quickly. So it's not a big loss but I suspect the lipstick thing now is because I'm feeling fairly 'exposed' without a mask now. MrZ says he misses having an excuse not to have to emote at acquaintances at work, lol!

Anonymous

It's been over a year since I regularly wore a mask. Even on the plane, they didn't make us, though some medical offices still do.
I got used to wearing the mask, and used to not wearing it!

Zaeobi

(website)

Veteran

Oh gosh, I remember wearing one for the entire duration of my plane rides both back to & from the UK (bar eating)!

Cardiff girl

Veteran

The whole of wales is mask free and has been for ages but l still wear mine in crowded places,on public transport and the like.l had covid just before Xmas and have no wish to repeat the experience.l make no judgements on those who choose not to wear one but l have been judged for wearing one.l was particularly taken aback when my family doctor suggested l remove mine as it was no longer the law that we had to.This was in a health care setting during a covid wave and whilst it might not be mandatory it did seem sensible!l would like to get to the point where l felt it wasn’t necessary but as l personally know people going to public places with symptomatic covid l don’t feel that that time is now.

Jenni NZ

Veteran

I was in a car last night with a girlfriend, she was driving, to pick up takeout for dinner, and just the way her windscreen was I could see all these droplets when I was talking and laughing. We have both had Covid before but more than 3 months ago for each of us, and I really noticed how many droplets there were and thus how much difference masks can make. I’m certainly very keen to still wear them at work. And it was a large unmasked event where I finally caught Covid last November for the first time.

Barbara Diane

Veteran

I remember the first time I ate indoors-it felt very weird for the first half of the meal-I kept mentioning it. I still wear masks inside in most instances and I’m currently contemplating returning to activities I haven’t done in 3 years. It feels very strange.

Zaeobi

(website)

Veteran

@Cardiff
That sounds like England too - my GP said the same thing to me (as if I wasn't aware that the mandate had lifted, lol...)
Worse was a Scotsman who outright told my father & I that 'we're all gonna die of something eventually anyway' whilst holding the door open for us (because my dad was being careful about touching the door handle) - I make no judgement of others wearing a face mask or not, but he had no idea WHY we were, so why comment on it? (i.e. I didn't fancy going to a government detention centre if I was COVID positive in HK!) E.g. @Peri mentioned immune issues too - it's always best not to assume what others are going through...

@Jenni
I suspect there will be staying power to some of the hygiene habits developed 'during' COVID (lol as if it's over now...) - like birthday cakes, I don't know anyone who blows out the candles on them anymore. Whereas most folk had no problem with it before, lol...

@Barbara
It does, doesn't it? I wonder what the long-term ramifications of this will be on people's hobbies & getting out of the house etc.

Anonymous

I am in an area that most are older and still wear masks. They are required yet at any medical facility even the eye doctors. Most store personnel still wear them and some require them inside. Even having sanitizer and masks just inside the door for those that do not have their own. I still wear mine indoors and in groups. I am vulnerable and have extenuating circumstances. I have lost several dear ones to the disease and now know a bunch of widows. I also have relatives with long Covid who are really suffering over a year later. I will continue to wear a mask and stay at home. I still feel gyms and churches are especially unsafe places.