Be sure that your helmet is not too small or large. The size of the helmet can be adjusted by loosening the screws on the side to slide the front portion forward. The protection built into the helmet won't work with a helmet that does not fit as intended by the manufacturer. Face protection varies. A full metal cage provides maximum protection.
Some players find it difficult to play with the cross hatching of a cage in front of their eyes.
Those that struggle with a cage sometimes have a difficult time locating pucks when they are just in front of their skates or in their skates. Others players prefer a clear Plexiglas shield. Plexiglas shields work well but they do have a tendency to scratch through contact and scratches can cause some of the same problems that the cross-hatching does on a wire cage. A Plexiglas facemask also has a tendency to fog up when the humidity is high at the rink. Masks are now available that have a combination of the traditional metal cage with a piece of Plexiglas inserted in the middle.