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Welcome to the 2024 Masking Challenge!
This year is going to be a little different - simplified. Easy. Every month will have a new theme, and that's it. Feel free to join in whenever and wherever. Most importantly - have fun!
Spring Fling - Baskets and bouquets, showers of much-anticipated rain...this month's focus is herbal and floral sensory delights ๐ฎ
January | Fresh Starts - Time for a re-set, or morning masking? However you see it, this month is all about new beginnings. |
February | Winter Love - Whether it's a mask you adore, or something extra-special to care for dry winter skin, this month is for some soothing TLC. |
March | March Madness - Competition is in the air! Find a $ dupe of a $$$ mask that is share-worthy? Or find a dupe that works even better than the original? Details, please! |
April | Spring Fling - Baskets and bouquets, showers of much-anticipated rain...this month's focus is herbal and floral sensory delights. |
May | Dew Drops - May Day lore says to wash your face in the dew you collect in the morning of the first day of May for radiant skin. This month is for absorbing all of that good-for-you H2O. |
June | Summer Sunshine - Ice cream, sunglasses, SPF, check! Once the sun is down (or before it's up), extra care is most necessary. How do you give your skin cooling repair? |
Mask of the Week Misc. Info & Previous Year's Links:
To Post:
Each week features a different theme, as well as a letter of the alphabet for coming up with new masking ideas.
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, fit, adherence, mask type (hydrating, brightening, exfoliating, detox, sleeping, etc.) as well as your overall experience.
Most importantly: Would you repurchase it?
Second most important: Have fun and merry masking!
2023 Mask of the Week Challenge
2022 Mask of the Week Challenge
2021 Mask of the Week Challenge
2020 Mask of the Week Challenge:
2019 Mask of the Week Challenge:
2018 Mask of the Week Challenge:
https://community.sephora.com/t5/Skincare-Aware/Mask-of-the-Week-Challenge/td-p/3615125
Thank you @Aaliaa for starting this thread, and giving us a place to share our love for masks๐
You guys are the best! Thanks for taking the time to share your expertise!
You guys bring up some really compelling points I didnโt realize, like the serum thickness. I havenโt had bad reactions to tonymoly, Annieโs way, spalife, nature republic, or look at me. I think all of those have a watery-er consistency, so maybe weโve found the culprit! Although, I've tried 4 different masks from the creme shop that i think could be considered watery, but I have to avoid the brand like the plague. Every time, I get red splotches and the white pimply dots all over!
Im assuming I donโt have a reaction to extracts since Iโve used masks with multiple and had no issues. Like tea tree, grapefruit + pomegrante extracts, plants ( flowers + lavender, rose, aloe) kudzu, pennywort, clary, hyacinth, etc. Dont know if ive used a mask with peppermint before. (I guess my skin is a bit more robust than I gave it credit! I always thought my skin hated basically everything lol).
For my routine, I exfoliate 2x a week. Exfoliation days are usually 1-2 nights before a sheet mask, but never the same day. Before a sheet mask, I always wash my face and let it dry before applying. I keep it on for the max time instructed on the mask (usually 20 mins) and let the remaining essence absorb. I donโt apply any extra.
It is pretty incredible how much your skin can take, isnโt it @pinyo!? Very interesting about the consistency of the serum, and that your skin may just be partial/respond more favorably to a thin, watery one. Although not all masks specifically state it, it would seem safe to conclude jelly and milky serums are a no-go;)
@pinyo so sorry this mask brought your skin some unfavorable texture! It sounds like this one is most definitely a match for you. Iโm curious if you used a wash-off mask prior to it, and what your routine was like as well (exfoliating? Dermaplaning? Peel?).
Iโve tried this mask and found it to be just ok. They make a gauze one that I love, love , love, but it has added fragrance and it is very noticeable.
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In addition, it has quite a few extracts that can cause irritation (tea tree, lavender, rosemary and peppermint). Like @WinglessOne mentioned, there really is no one line/brand that will have 100% fail-safe skincare. But the similarities within specific lines can make it easier to feel safe about trying new masks! If Annieโs Way works for you, I would keep moving forward with it:)
@pinyo Hmm... that sounds similar to some of my skin's bad reactions to products. Do you know what ingredients, or types of ingredients, your skin's sensitive to? My combo skin is fairly sensitive and hates essential oils, among a few other ingredients. I think this particular Merbliss mask contains cananga odorata (ylang ylang) flower extract, so this is a mask I'll probably never use. But the other Merbliss mask you have (the aloe & honey one) would probably work for my skin: I've looked up those ingredients before and didn't see any major issues.
If your skin likes Annie's Way masks, try comparing those masks' ingredients with both of these Merbliss masks's ingredients. You might be sensitive to something in the Hydra Ampoule mask, but not to anything in the aloe/honey mask. But if you feel safer returning all the Merbliss masks, definitely do that. ๐
There's no skincare brand whose entire line of products, or even just entire line of masks, I can safely use. It all depends on the ingredients in each mask, regardless of brand. Example: my face LOVES some JayJun masks, but several other JayJun masks I can't use because they contain bad-for-me stuff like lavender oil. I also avoid masks containing 2 or more citrus ingredients; this rules out some masks from brands I love. I'm very ingredient-driven about skincare, not brand-driven.
@pinyo, Iโm so sorry to hear this mask didnโt work out for you. That particular version of the Merbliss mask is for intense moisture and probably best suited for very dry skin types. It might be that it wasnโt compatible for your skin type. I know that there are some masks within a brand or even the same line that are not ideal for my skin type. The essence / serum in the aloe honey version will be lighter than this one but my recollection is that the mask is packed with the the essence / serum. Also, if Iโm remembering correctly, the serum in the Merbliss aloe honey version is much more gel like and thicker than the essence in the Annieโs Way sheet masks, which may be a factor in your skin reacting to the other Merbliss mask.
To your question, itโs entirely possible that the aloe honey one will be better suited for your skin, but I think it is completely understandable if you passed on it entirely and returned the unused masks. If (and itโs a big if) you decide to try the aloe honey one, I recommend you wring out some of the essence in the mask before applying it to your face, in case itโs too much.
K is for Kombucha
Mask: | The Crรจme Shop Watermelon & Kombucha Fusion Sheet Mask |
Mask Material: | Soft, thin-ish, cotton |
Scent & Essence: | Thin, slightly viscous liquidy essence. It does not smell like kombucha at all; definitely a sweet, watermelon scent, but I wouldn't say watermelon jolly rancher. It's like a combination of a watermelon Starburst and a carbonated watermelon soda - if Fanta or Crush had a watermelon flavor in their lineup, I think it might smell a little like this, with a little added sweetness. |
Claims & Star Ingredients: | Watermelon - hydrates, tones, and regulates oil production Kombucha - improves skin elasticity, anti-aging, detoxifies, hydrates, tones and brightens |
Fit & Adherence: | Adherence is good. Standard fit for TCS - smidge too short at forehead, an inch too long at chin, the area between the eyes is extra wide and the bottom corners of the mough hole smoosh my lower lip. |
Performance & Results: | I experienced some very minor tingling along my right chin/jawline area, which makes sense as my skin is healing from a breakout to a product. My skin does look refreshed and brightened, and feels soft and hydrated. Interestingly, my nose and chin areas look less oily and shiny, too. |
My Two Cents: | It's been a while since I've tried a new mask from The Crรจme Shop. I liked the results on this one. Seems like it has something to offer most skin types. It does contain willow bark extract (a source of salicin which can be chemically converted into salicylic acid (BHA)), and added fragrance (last ingredient) so those sensitive or allergic to either of those ingredients (or others in this mask) should steer clear. |
Would I Repurchase?: | I'm being more and more picky selective (lol) with which sheet masks I would repurchase, but I can see myself picking up this particular mask again. The results are good all around and I think that's saying something at the moment, given that parts of my face are not in the best of conditions. |
@itsfi Great to hear you'd use this mask again.
Itโs a nice one @tjffc. The masks from the fusion line are some of the consistently better ones from The Creme Shop. The fit is off on them but the results are good. ๐
@itsfi I have yet to try any of these new ones, but I'm happy to hear I have something to look forward to! Love that the drink pairs perfectly with it! ๐๐
@Shosh85, Iโm usually down to try out a new mask and a new to me kombucha flavor so I was excited to give both a go for this masking. ๐ I will say that I like the mask more than the actual watermelon kombucha, which wasnโt bad, but just not my favorite. I fell off the wagon with sticking to my pre-2020 sheet mask purchases for this one, but back to it. ๐
Happy to see you enjoyed this one @itsfi ๐
@lmaster, itโs a nice one. Another win for the fusion line for me. ๐
Now Iโm craving watermelon ๐ soda, @itsfi, yum!
Thank you for the info about willow bark. It sounds like it would be a soothing ingredient, so learning that it can change into BHA is key to know. This one sounds like a very sensory-pleasing mask, though:)
This was a really nice mask, @eshoe. I like kombucha and watermelon so the pairing definitely captured my attention when it was released. It'll be interesting to see what masks I'll repurchase once my mask stash gets to the point where restocking becomes a "must" as opposed to restocking because my willpower was weak. lol.
I find willow bark extract is a common BHA in Kbeauty skincare products and it's been popping up in other skincare products as well. The beauty of the internet is having the ability to read up on these skincare ingredients and be better informed about what is in products, for those interested in doing so.
@itsfi I love kombucha and funny enough, just got a watermelon kombucha yesterday. ๐ since I've seen so many products w/kombucha, like Fresh Kombucha Antioxidant Facial Treatment Essence 5 oz/ 150 mL , I've wondered about just putting the kombucha on my face lol...or at least that last bit that you don't want to drink, haha...any studies on that? ๐
@treestar86, the Fresh kombucha essence is really nice! Iโve used a DS and a few foils of it and like it very much.
Iโve seen willow bark in a few products, I believe in some of Origins skincare , @itsfi. This is a good reminder to do a little due diligence for key ingredients, though! It does appear to have anti-inflammatory properties, which is very good to know, too:)
Hitting all 3 of last weekโs themes: J = Japan, Q = Q10, and a vibrantly colored serum. Sunday nightโs mask was the DHC Coenzyme Q10 Pack Sheet.
Notes:
Claims: Deeply hydrates and restores elasticity; soothes and moisturizes; neutralizes free radical damage.
Ingredients: Oh hey, thereโs our good friend lecithin again, placed high on this list. Some folks might freak out over phenoxyethanolโs presence, despite the fact that itโs a safe preservative (seriously, what is with โcleanโ brands/lobbyists/influencers/fans demonizing good preservatives?) that's approved by the European Commission on Health and Food Safety in concentrations up to 1%, and the FDA hasn't deemed it dangerous.
โBut wait, Q10 appears after phenoxyethanol in this list! That means youโre getting less than 1% Q10 in this mask; seems like a ripoff. Why isnโt the star ingredient higher?โ Well, Q10โs been shown to be effective in topical skincare products at concentrations as low as 0.3%, so Iโm not concerned. ๐ But this is a good example of how product formulation matters as much as its contents. Iโm still gonna whine about sodium hyaluronate being so low on this list, though. I also see an oil-soluble form of vitamin C (ascorbyl tetraisopalmitate) that sounds great on paper but needs more study to prove efficacy, since our bodies have to convert it to vitamin C before it can do its magic.
As for the last ingredientโฆ yeah, Iโm still not convinced that topically applied collagen molecules can actually penetrate deep enough into skin (if at all) to do much good, so I donโt care that itโs in last place here.
Performance: This thick, non-stretch, white sheet was unevenly coated in a very thick, yellow, and unscented cream serum.
I assume the yellow hue comes from all the triethylhexanoin (an emollient) since there arenโt any colorants listed in the ingredients. Anyway, this sheet also had large forehead tabs, much too big to leave in place. I cut those off, along with the eye flaps, and used all the trimmings to cover exposed skin at my jaw and forehead. (The sheet did cover a good amount of my jaw, but I like coverage all the way to my ears.)
I didnโt need to widen any holes (the eyeholes were generously sized), and the chin was just short enough to not fold under at all. As with many thick sheets, this one didnโt stay adhered everywhere, but it behaved better than I expected. After 30 minutes of wear, I spent maybe 20-30 seconds massaging in residual serum. My skin quickly soaked it all up, leaving no pilling or tack behind.
Results: Moderately hydrated and mildly moisturized skin that felt firmer and had a bit of glow. Folks with normal to oily skin might find this mask quite moisturizing, but my combo skin wasnโt that impressed. I mean, it doesnโt fail in the moisturization department, but itโs nowhere near the best moisturizing masks Iโve used. This mask did deliver on DHCโs improved elasticity claim. If I used this mask regularly for a month, Iโd probably notice even bigger improvement. But honestly, Iโd rather frequently use a bottled Q10 serum than this sheet mask.
If anyone plans to try this mask, be sure to massage the sleeve for a minute or 2 before opening it to try evenly coating the sheet with serum. I wish DHC had included that in their instructions.
this is interesting information. I'm not that familiar with Q10, but since you mentioned a serum would probably be more effective than a mask (which is what I was thinking), I recently purchased The INKEY List Q10 Antioxidant Serum 1 oz/ 30 mL and wonder if you've tried that one or think it's a good one? @WinglessOne
@treestar86 Oh, it's not that I think a serum would be better than a mask in general. I mean, a sheet mask is basically another delivery method for serum. ๐ Instead of wearing a sheet on your face for 10-30 minutes, you could just squeeze out the serum and apply it to your face like you would a bottled serum. The premise behind sheet masks is that they supposedly press serum into your skin for "better" penetration. And of course, some of us just enjoy the masking experience. But for this specific DHC mask, I'd rather just use a bottled serum than deal with this mask's issues. There are other Q10 masks out there that perform better.
About that TIL serum: I do think that'd be a good one. In fact, you just reminded me that I wanted to try it. The ingredients list looks solid and the price point is ridiculously low. One thing to note about Q10: it does all its magic behind the scenes, where you might never notice it working. You might see some skin brightening from the soy extract and maybe some firming from the peptides, but don't get discouraged if you notice no big results from this serum. In fact, the biggest result you might notice is how slowly your skin seems to be aging as you get older, with continued use of this serum. Let me know what you think of it after you've used it a few weeks!
@WinglessOne ahh, gotcha. I've never actually used a sheet mask, and had been wondering what the point was lol. but I do have a few and just got one from trader joe's, so I've been meaning to try it.
yeah I think it was out of stock for a while and just happened to be in stock when I needed something else to add to my order. that's more good info. ๐ I'm most interested in the firming bc of my long, fatt-ish face lol.. I'm bad about using things, even after I start using them and like them. I'm trying to be more consistent w/skincare (a fall/winter project lol), so that's good to know and hopefully will motivate me to use things more. I'll be sure to let you know, and I'd love to know what you think if you try it also! ๐ค