ARCHIVE - 2019 Mask of the Week Challenge!

[eshoe]

Hello lovely masking mavens! Please continue posting on the Q4 Thread which can be found here:

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https://community.sephora.com/t5/Skincare-Aware/2019-Q4-Mask-of-the-Week-Challenge/m-p/4995162/highl...

Many thanks to the wonderful @Aaliaa for beginning this thread and excited you are here. 

To Post:

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Each week features a different theme, as well as a letter of the alphabet for coming up with new masking ideas. Feel free to post as frequently or infrequently as you would like, with or without following the challenge; they are guidelines and just something we do for fun. We love hearing about every masking experience, and suggestions are always welcomed!

Please include the brand and name of the mask you are trying out, as well as a photo if possible. Any other details are greatly appreciated, including scent, if it's an exfoliating mask (include acid info if known), your overall experience, and whether or not you would repurchase. Don't forget to include a grade (thanks to @ShortErica for the idea) to help others along the way.

Most importantly, have fun and merry masking!

https://community.sephora.com/t5/Skincare-Aware/Mask-of-the-Week-Challenge/td-p/3615125 

Mask Hacks - Here are a few to get started thanks to our lovely BIC-ers, a big thank you for these fabulous ideas!

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Trim off long chin and add to forehead for sheet masks	itsfi
Squeeze tube lip balms (like Bite) into pans and place in magnetic palette	sonnydee
Layer lip sleeping mask (such as Laneige) over regular balm	cianni
Derma plane prior to a peel-off mask to ease the pain of removal	heartsmyface
Warm water helps remove clay masks quicker than cold	cianni
Lay sheet masks flat prior to use so the serum is more evenly distributed	eshoe
Remove clay/difficult masks in the shower to keep towel clean and removal easy	itsfi/BIC
Use an HA serum prior to trying a mask with alcohol high on the ingredients list	keana1
Use a Makeup Eraser to remove wash-off masks	lmaster
With a detox mask, apply a thicker layer where pores are	Ather
Use a resurfacing exfoliating spray (such as Kate Somerville’s Liquid ExfoliKate) before a detox mask to better clear out your pores	Miamia27
Re-use a large sample jar for a blank sheet mask pellet and fill it with essence/toner	Itsfi
Use a nail clippers to trip a mask if scissors are not on hand	ShortErica

Female-owned companies, for reference:

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Amika (Co-Founder Vita Rayhkman)
Annie’s Way (Annie Wu)
Beauty Pie (Founder Marcia Kilgore)
Biobelle (4 sisters)
Bite Beauty (Founder Susanne Langmuir)
bkr (Co-Founders Kate Cutler and Tal Winter)
bliss Spa/bliss Skincare (Founder Marcia Kilgore)
Briogeo (Nancy Twine)
By Terry (Terry De Gunzberg)
Captain Blankenship
Drunk Elephant (Tiffany Masterson) 

Esker (Shannon Davenport)
Glossier (Emily Weiss) 
Glow Recipe/Sweet Chef (Sarah Lee & Christine Chang)
Herbivore (partners Julia Wills and Alexander Kummerow)
Honest Beauty (Jessica Alba)
Indie Lee
Josie Maran
Jane Iredale
Juice Beauty (Karen Behnke)
June Jacobs
Kate Somerville
Kora Organics (Miranda Kerr)

Dr. Loretta

NuFace (Carol Cole)
Odacite (Valerie Grandury)
Omorovicza (husband and wife Stephen and Margaret de Heinrich de Omorovicza)
Ouai (Jen Atkin)
Pacifica Beauty (Brook Harvey-Taylor and husband Billy Taylor)
Pai (Sarah Brown)
Peach & Lily/Peach Slices (Alicia Yoon)
Pixi (Petra Strand)
Purlisse (Jennifer Yen)
Rael (Yanghee Paik)
Sand & Sky (twin sisters Emily and Sarah Hamilton)
Saint Jane (Casey Georgsson)
Sara Happ
Skin Laundry (Yen Reis)
Soap & Glory (Founder Marcia Kilgore)
Soko Glam (husband and wife Charlotte and David Cho)
Sol de Janeiro (Heela Yang, Co-Founder)
Summer Fridays (Founders Marianna Hewitt and Lauren Gores Ireland)

Jill Stuart
tarte (Maureen Kelly)
Tata Harper
Tatcha (Vicky Tsai)

Charlotte Tillbury

Wander Beauty (Co-Founders Divya Gugnani and Lindsay Ellingson)
Joanna Vargas
Yadah Cosmetics (Founder and CEO Anna Kang)

2019 Mask of the Week Challenge Schedule

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WEEK     LETTER       THEME

Jul 1 - 7          A           Hydrating Masks to get over the dehydration of Air-Conditioning! Meetup: Crème Shop -My Melody Softer than Cookies -  Saturday July 6th. Thank you @lmaster!  

Jul 8 - 14        B           Masking Hacks - share your masking secrets that make your life easier and your skin happy 

Jul 15 - 21      C           Lip, Hand or Foot Masks to help that summer skin 

Jul 22 - 28      D          ’Weird Mask' Bubbling, Peeling, Colour changing other worldly wonders! 

Jul 29 - Aug 4 E           Multi-Masking How many masks can you use at one time or in One Day?? 

Aug 5 - 11       F           Blind Pick Your Mask - Let's make it fun to use the masks in our stash! Meetup: Biobelle #Peachy mask Saturday 8/10

Aug 12 - 18     G           Sheet Mask Focus - from cotton to cupra, coconut gel to bio cellulose, what are your favorites and why? Meetup: Biobelle Pineapple mask Saturday 8/17
Aug 19 - 25     H           Drugstore & Grocery Brands Week 

Aug 26 - Sep 1 I           Favourites Week - Your go to miracle in a mask 

Sep 2 - 8          J          Rainbow Week - Bring out the colorful masks in every hue Thanks to @Sonnydee

Sep 9 - 15       K           Autumn Masks - Fall goodness in a mask 

Sep 16 - 22     L           When you are getting GLAM for a night out and want that  Glow Meetup: Lookatme Watermelon Saturday 9/21 thanks to @GalPalVal17 and @ShortErica! 
Sep 23 - 29     M          BIC Made you do it! Masks recommended/inspired by other BIC members 

Sep 30 - Oct 6 N          Sephora Collections Week - House Brand Goodness 

Oct 7 - 13        O           French Pharmacy Week 

Oct 14 - 20      P           Ends of the Earth - masks that use ingredients from or are made in far away places 

Oct 21 - 27      Q          Overnight Masks - Sleeping miracles in a jar 

Oct 28 - Nov 3 R          Duel Week V2.0 & Mask Meetup thank you @mrsmouse for suggesting the Wish Formula Bat Eye Mask!

Nov 4 - 10        S          Forgotten Wonders - Shop your stash for an unloved mask 

Nov 11 - 17      T          Gross/Odd/Unusual Ingredients - Spirulina, donkey milk, bee venom, snail mucous - what masks have you used that have strange ingredients? 

Nov 18 - 24      U          Flash Masks - masks that do doubly duty in half the time 

Nov 25 - Dec 1 V          Morning Masking - Masks that help give a pep to your step 

Dec 2 - 8          W          Asian skincare Brand - Visit old cultures and their ways 

Dec 9 - 15        X           Sample Dive - I know we have them! 

Dec 16 - 22      Y           Holiday Party Prep Mask 

Dec 23 - 31       Z          Masks you discovered in 2019

First Half of 2019:

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Jan 1 - 6     A    Masks you discovered in 2018 - What new loves did you discover last year?
Jan 7 - 13    B   Favourite Mask of the “Masking Week Challenge 2018” 
Jan 14 - 20  C   Favourite Mask in your regular routine - What do you buy in bulk, so you always have it on hand in case of masking emergency?@itsfi
Jan 21 - 27  D   Clean Week - Masks that give your skin a boost without the guilt

 Jan 28 - Feb 3 E  Lip, Hand or Foot Masks to help that winter skin
Feb 4 - 10    F     Vitamins Week - masks that nourish your skin with vitamins and minerals@Kim888
Feb 11 - 17  G     Special Occasion Masks - the mask(s) you use to pamper yourself@itsfi
Feb 18 - 24  H     Gross Masks - whether it's the scent or results, share the details please!@Aaliaa
Feb 25 - Mar 3 I   Spring Flowers - floral ingredients or scents that add a spring to your step
Mar 4 - 10    J      Female Owned Brands - In honour of Women's Day March 8th
Mar 11 - 17  K      Favourites Week - Your go to miracle in a mask
Mar 18 - 24   L     Sample that made you buy the FS - You tried it, and decided to buy it!@itsfi
Mar 25 - 31  M     Favourite Smelling Masks - Watermelon, Kale, Spa??
Apr 1 - 7       N     BIC Made you do it! Masks recommended/inspired by other BIC members
Apr 8 - 14     O     The Oozoo Week - share your Oozoo and Neogen loves!

Meetup: The OOZOO Capsule Rose Petal -  Saturday April 13th. @Shosh85
Apr 15 - 21    P     Luxe it Up or a Pretty on a Penny - the $ and the $$$$ of Masks
Apr 22 - 28    Q     Sample Dive - I know we have them!
Apr 29 - May 5  R  Sephora’s ‘Best Selling’ Masks Meetup: Sephora Collection Honey Face Mask -  Saturday May 4th. Thank you @missjeanie!  May 6 - 12      S     Overnight Masks - Sleeping miracles in a jar
May 13 - 19    T     Summer Masks to refresh and sooth during sunny months May 20 - 26    U     Fruits & Veggies Week - masks that use natural goodness to nourish your skin@Keana1
May 27 - Jun 2  V   Guess this Mask - using only a pic or description, see if you can stump fellow BIC masking mavens. Meetup: Bawdy Butt Mask- Your pick Saturday June 1. Thank you @faeriegirl! Meetup: Mediheal Vita Lightbeam Essential Mask EX Wednesday 5/29 thanks to @ShortErica & @Shosh85  
Jun 3 - 9         W     DIY Mask - Skincare meets Chemistry. Meetup: Bawdy Butt Mask 2.0
Jun 10 - 16      X     Morning Masking - Masks that help give a pep to your step Meetup: Bawdy Butt Mask 3.0
Jun 17 - 23      Y     Masks you've discovered so far in 2019. Meetup: Yadah All Day Mask Pack - Your pick Saturday June 22. Thank you @ShortErica!           Meet up: Bawdy Butt Mask 4.0 - The Finale 
Jun 24 - 30      Z      Masking Duel - Dare to compare 2 (or more!) masks in one session

Masking Surveys Thread: Curious about others' masking habits? Join the fun w/ @ShortErica: 

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https://community.sephora.com/t5/Skincare-Aware/2019-Masking-Surveys/m-p/4857667

Next Mask Meetup Info: Crème Shop - thanks to @GalPalVal17 date and mask TBD in October ALSO just added: Halloween Wish Formula Bat Mask Meetup thanks to @mrsmouse !  

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We have scheduled monthly meetups as well as impromptu sessions because you cannot compare masks only once a month :D. Please check the 2019 Schedule to see what meetups are coming up next. If you have an idea for a week’s Meetup or a particular month, tag me so I can add it to the schedule.

April: The Oozoo Rose Capsule, April 13th
May: Sephora Collection Mask - Honey Mask, May 4th (Thank you @missjeanie!) 
June: Bawdy Butt Mask Month. Let's try all four masks, one a Saturday (Thank you @faeriegirl!) On the 22nd we will also be trying out a Yadah mask - your pick, thanks to @ShortErica. 
July: @lmaster suggested a Crème Shop Sanrio Mask for our July 6th meetup, and you all voted for the My Melody Softer Than Cookies.

August: Biobelle Tutti Frutti Collection - the Peach is on deck for our mid-summer masking! Join us Saturday August 10th to compare notes on this mask. Then Saturday August 17th we will be comparing the Biobelle Pineapple mask. Thank you @lmaster, @Shosh85 & @PrettyPaint for suggesting Biobelle!
September: @ShortErica and @GalPalVal17 are interested in everyone's thoughts on the Lookatme Watermelon Face Mask. Join us Saturday, September 21st for the fun!
October: @GalPalVal17 suggested a Crème Shop Mask, will update with more info. ALSO: October 31st join us for the Wish Formula Bat Eye Mask thanks to @mrsmouse!

[emaisgr8]

This morning I used ERNO LASZLO - Multi-Task Eye Serum Mask

I liked this mask. I feel it did brighten my under eye area nicely.  

[divaknits]

I’m always looking for a mask to brighten my under eyes @emaisgr8 . I’ll have to look for this one. 

[missjeanie]

Oh I'll need to keep an eye out for these eye masks @emaisgr8 .  I think I've enjoyed all the products I've tried from this line.  

[lmaster]

super cool @emaisgr8 have not seen these yet

[GalPalVal17]

@emaisgr8 these are another eye mask I really like. I try to trade for them whenever I can. I haven't been lucky enough to find them at TJ Maxx or Marshalls. These give pretty good results. Love using them in the morning to help with puffiness.  Glad you had good results also. 

[faeriegirl]

They sound great @emaisgr8!😊

[Shosh85]

@emaisgr8 Haven't tried these yet! Glad to hear you liked them and saw some nice results! 😃

[itsfi]

love the results you got from this mask @emaisgr8! 💗

[eshoe]

Yes on the AM eye masks, @emaisgr8! I need to take some out for this morning, thank you for the reminder 🙂 

[PenelopeBT]

@emaisgr8 I've been eyeing that mask for a while. I love using eye masks in the morning before my makeup to refresh my eyes. <333

[m3rc3d3s]

General Question:

How do you all keep track of all of the masks you have tried and tested? I am starting to realize that some sort of spreadsheet or tracker is definitely going to be needed now that I am testing more and more !!! Would love to hear how you all :

1) store your masks (do you organize by type/ ingredients?)

2) keep track of the ones you have tried 

xoxoxoxo

[m3rc3d3s]

Thanks for all of the suggestions ! I got some inspo from "snow white and the asian pear' blog on how to start off my spreadsheet. I am starting to realize just how many products I have tried and how putting in a little elbow grease now will make my documentation process go a lot smoother ! Now that I am starting to test out more and more sheet masks in particular it will be nice to go back and look at my initial thoughts etc.! I have attached a little picture (just started about five min ago hahah) wish me luck !!

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[divaknits]

I’m a new masker so my masks don’t have a formal home @m3rc3d3s . They’re in bags. I don’t have duplicates of any mask that I know of so keeping up with what I’ve tried hasn’t been a problem yet. I won’t buy more than one mask of any type unless I truly enjoy it. Unfortunately (or fortunately, depending how you look at it), my mask collection is growing much like my lipstick collection grew. My wallet is crying!

[ShortErica]

@m3rc3d3s 

Recently I moved all my masks into one basket. I removed packs out of boxes and kept them together with rubber bands. These are on the right side of the basket alphabetically by brand, followed by alphabetically by mask name if I have multiple masks from one brand.

The left side of the basket are masks I received from other maskers. They are grouped by who I received it from with a rubber band including their sweet cards and put in alphabetical order by brand. I find this an easier way to skim through them when going for letters of the week. If I want an ingredient with the letter, I can usually tell by the name and package.

This works for me with my ~100+ masks. I don't know that it would work if I had much more though. I find it easy to flip through what others have sent if I want to find something while also keeping masks grouped.

Because my face stays consistent (partly genes and hopefully good skincare) and I have normal skin, I don't focus on ingredients as much when selecting a mask as some others do. It is very wise to consider ingredients while masking and in organizing but just personally, it hasn't been as important for me so I don't do this route. If ingredients play a role in how your skin reacts, I'd encourage you to organize your masks with this in mind so you can make good masking decisions based on how your skin is that day.

In general, I think it is a bit trial and error. Maybe at this point, organizing your masks in ABC way works best for you. But maybe 6 months later, you prefer to see them in XYZ way. You'll figure it out!

As for tracking, I have a spreadsheet. I have a product spreadsheet in general with three tabs: Makeup, Skincare, Masks. For masks, I have columns whether it's one mask vs. a pack and the number, when I purchased, and any purchase details. Once I use the mask I have columns for when I used it, number of uses (useful for wash-off masks), mask grade, and mask notes. I would like to create additional columns for my mask notes regarding different elements like serum level, scent, fit, wear time, etc. but that seems a bit too time consuming. So for now I input my grade and then write general feelings. For example "C" in the mask grade column and "good fit, 30 min wear, bad scent, meh results" in the mask notes. There are quite a few times I need to search on BIC to refind my thoughts on masks I've used. I generally jot down the date in a notebook that tracks my skincare/makeup products uses but don't always include my thoughts.

Wow that was long-winded. I hope at least some of it is helpful. It can seem quite overwhelming but you will find what works best for you. There have already been some great responses and I'm sure other maskers can share what their organization solutions have been.

[m3rc3d3s]

Oh wow! This is quite a system! Thanks for sharing! I am at about 30 or so sheet masks right now in my collection and currently just have them in a clear ikea-type container so it makes it easy to just flip through and choose based on what my skin is like that day. I have pretty 'average' skin (i.e. no crazy breakouts or anything besides a little hormonal breakouts for a few days ) so I usually just go based off of what I feel my skin needs at that moment !

I am thinking that a spreadsheet might be a good way to start or as another reply mentioned perhaps using reviews with pictures to organize ! 

[Shosh85]

@m3rc3d3s When I really started getting into masking I realized that it would be impossible to remember ALL the masks I've ever tried and it's nice to be able to go back and reference them, so I started saving the reviews I write and now copy and paste them into my notes app on my phone. I even save the ingredients list with it too.

As for organization, I'm still trying to figure out a system I like. Right now they're organized by expiration date, because I have so many and I want to be sure I use up the older ones first. The problem with going by expiration though, is that it's hard find a specific mask I'm looking for. I am thinking of redoing it so that there's a section in front for all the 2019 masks and the rest alphabetized by brand. That way I know which I need to use up now but still find the others easier.

Hope you are able to find something that works for you and I'd be interested in what you decide to do with them!

[divaknits]

That sounds like a great idea @Shosh85 !

[lmaster]

expiration date is a great idea!! @Shosh85 I'm going to do that now,,, smarty pants 😂😆

[m3rc3d3s]

love the idea of organizing by type and then having the ones that need to be used sooner rather than later at the front of the pack! Thanks for sharing !!

[ShortErica]

@m3rc3d3s I can never remember who to credit, but someone on the panning challenge put colored dots based on purchase date on her cosmetics. I'm sure you could do the same thing based on mask expiration dates so at a glance you know how quickly you need to use them. I've been considering this myself. Though I only have one mask left that has a 2019 expiration! 🙂

[quspork]

As for organization, I recently reorganized my sheet masks into one of those over-the-door shoe hanger organizers. They're divided by a mix of by brand and by ingredients/use. Wash-off masks are all jumbled together in a large ziplock. Another ziplock for sleeping masks.

With regards to keeping track, I tried a spreadsheet a long time ago and got tired of updating it so I ended up devoting an Instagram account to skincare (and some makeup). Now, I don't really update that 😂. But I've been masking a long time so mostly I just remember what works from re-purchases and try out new things that look interesting in these threads.

Hopefully you'll find a system that works for you, @m3rc3d3s ! 😊