However, that does not mean you cannot have fun with your new accessory – and a lot of people have been flexing their creative muscles through the medium of make-up.
A mask covers half your face – which you might initially think would limit your beauty options, as you can’t exactly model a bright lip – but make-up fans have been more than making up for this by playing around with their eye looks, and matching with their masks.
There is huge scope for experimentation here – on the more subdued and wearable side of things, you can wear a mask in muted tones like peach or lilac and sport matching eyeshadow.
On the other end of the spectrum, people have been capitalising on the bright colours and patterns of some of the masks you can buy, and making sure their eyes are just as stand-out.
These are some of our favourite mask/make-up looks on Instagram, from the more low-key…
… to the more extra…
Playing your make-up off your mask is arguably a way to help normalise and integrate mask-wearing into your day-to-day life.
And if beauty isn’t your thing, you could also try the growing trend for matching your mask to your outfit…
Be subtle by coordinating your scrunchie to your mask (you can buy sets on ASOS). Or take a leaf out of Kate Middleton's book, who visited a care home in South Wales wearing a blue dress with pink flowers and a pink floral mask.
If you want to kick it up a notch, you could even match your entire outfit to your face covering.
It looks like masks are here to stay – at least for the near future – so you might as well have some fun with it.
