ARCHIVE - 2020 Mask of the Week Challenge! - PART 1

[eshoe]

Please join us on Part II of this year’s challenge:

https://community.sephora.com/t5/Skincare-Aware/2020-Mask-of-the-Week-Challenge-PART-II/m-p/5433327/...

Welcome to a new year of masking adventures! ***The second half of the year thread will be up June 28th (or earlier), thank you for the suggestion @heartsmyface, @Kim888 & @quspork!***  

Thank you @Aaliaa for starting this thread and giving us a place to share our love for masks💗 Below is the 2020 schedule. Post as frequently or infrequently as you would like, with or without following the challenge. We love hearing about every masking experience, and suggestions are always welcome. Looking forward to sharing some new masking 💖 with you all this year!

This Week’s Theme: Masking Duel - Dare to compare 2 (or more!) masks in one session

Letters of the Week: “Z” and “A”

Spoiler

Jan 1 - Jan 5	A & Z	Mask Stash Clean-Out! Finish those masks before they expire.	l8totheparty/ShortErica
Jan 6 - 12	B & Y	Masks that Make you Hungry	itsfi
Jan 13 - 19	C & X	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 20 - 26	D & W	Clean Week - Masks that give your skin a boost without the guilt	eshoe
Jan 27 - Feb 2	E & V	Transportation Masking	@lmaster/@ShortErica/@missjeanie
Feb 3 - 9	F & U	Best fitting mask - Mask that best fits your facial features	PrettyPaint
Feb 10 - 16	G & T	Special Occasion Masks - the mask(s) you use to pamper yourself	itsfi
Feb 17 - 23	H & S	Gross Masks - whether it's the scent or results, share the details please!	Aaliaa
Feb 24 - Mar 1	I & R	Snubbed It: Masks you don't want to use & are continually passed over	ShortErica
Mar 2 - 8	J & Q	Female Owned Brands - In honour of Women's Day March 8th	Aaliaa
Mar 9 - 15	K & P	Masks Good Enough to Eat	heartsmyface
Mar 16 - 22	L & O	Sample that made you buy the FS - You tried it, and decided to buy it!	itsfi
Mar 23 - 29	M & N	Favourite Smelling Masks - Watermelon, Kale, Spa??
Mar 30 - Apr 5	N & M	Mask While You Task	l8totheparty
Apr 6 - 12	O & L	Most Outrageous Mask Claims	ShortErica
Apr 13 - 19	P & K	Hi-Lo Week: Mix or duel of $$$$ and $ masks
Apr 20 - 26	Q & J	Sample Dive - I know we have them!	Aaliaa
Apr 27 - May 3	R & I	Targeted Skin Concern - Mask to address a current skin issue	PrettyPaint
May 4 -10	S & H	Overnight Masks - Sleeping miracles in a jar
May 11 - 17	T & G	Mask with a Partner	Alphaboo
May 18 - 24	U & F	Vitamins Week - masks that nourish your skin with vitamins and minerals	kim888
May 25 - 31	V & E	Best/Cutest Printed Mask	Shosh85
Jun 1 - 7	W & D	Mask that best describes your personality or mood	PrettyPaint
Jun 8 - 14	X & C	Fruits & Veggies Week - masks that use natural goodness to nourish your skin	Keana1
Jun 15 - 21	Y & B	Forgotten Wonders - Shop your stash for an unloved mask	missjeannie
Jun 22 - 28	Z & A	Masking Duel - Dare to compare 2 (or more!) masks in one session	eshoe
Jun 29 - Jul 5	A & Z	Masking Pet Peeves - use a mask that has some component that drives you crazy!	ShortErica
Jul 6 - 12	B & Y	Masking Hacks - share your masking secrets that make your life easier and your skin happy	eshoe
Jul13 - 19	C & X	Lip, Hand or Foot Masks to help that summer skin
Jul 20 - 26	D & W	’Weird Mask' Bubbling, Peeling, Colour changing other worldly wonders!	Aalia
Jul 27 - Aug 2	E & V	Multi-Masking How many masks can you use at one time or in One Day??
Aug 3 - 9	F & U	Blind Pick Your Mask - Let's make it fun to use the masks in our stash!	veronika23
Aug 10 - 16	G & T	Sheet Mask Focus - from cotton to cupra, coconut gel to bio cellulose, what are your favorites and why?
Aug 17 - 23	H & S	Drugstore & Grocery Brands Week	eshoe
Aug 24 - 30	I & R	3-Step Masks/Multi-Step Masks	heartsmyface
Aug 31 - Sep 6	J & Q	Rainbow Week - Bring out the colorful masks in every hue	Sonnydee
Sep 7 - 13	K & P	Autumn Masks - Fall goodness in a mask
Sep 14 - 20	L & O	When you are getting GLAM for a night out and want that inner GLOW
Sep 21 - 27	M & N	BIC Made you do it! Masks recommended/inspired by other BIC members
Sep 28 - Oct 4	N & M	Sephora Collections Week - House Brand Goodness
Oct 5 - 11	O & L	Masks that Make you Hungry - Fall/Winter Edition	itsfi
Oct 12 - 18	P & K	Forgotten Wonders - Shop your stash for an unloved mask
Oct 19 - 25	Q & J	Overnight Masks - Sleeping miracles in a jar
Oct 26 - Nov 1	R & I	Masking Duel Week II
Nov 2 - 8	S & H	Buddy Up! Dare to compare the same mask with another BIC-er	eshoe
Nov 9 - 15	T & G	Gross/Odd/Unusual Ingredients - Spirulina, donkey milk, bee venom, snail mucous - what masks have you used that have strange ingredients?	Aaliaa
Nov 16 - 22	U & F	Flash Masks - masks that do doubly duty in half the time	eshoe
Nov 23 - 29	V & E	Morning Masking - Masks that help give a pep to your step
Nov 30 - Dec 6	W & D	Mask that would make a good band name (kinda silly, I know)	PrettyPaint
Dec 7 - 13	X & C	Holiday Party Prep Mask
Dec 14 - 20	Y & B	Most Artistic Sheet Mask	Kim888
Dec 21 - 27	Z & A	Favourite Masks of All-Time	itsfi
Dec 28 - 31	123	Masks you discovered this year

Mask of the Week Misc. Info & Previous Year's Links:

Spoiler

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, 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!

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

Spoiler

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

2019 Mask of the Week Challenge:
https://community.sephora.com/t5/Skincare-Aware/2019-Mask-of-the-Week-Challenge/m-p/4497678/highligh...
2018 Mask of the Week Challenge:

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

NEW!!! Got an idea for next year's challenge? Let me know! Was there a challenge you'd rather not repeat? Share below, so we can start building the 2021 schedule:

Spoiler

https://forms.gle/JYfmPU7YXR4k6Sb19 

[WinglessOne]

L = Last night? 😄 It was my first time using the Sweet Chef Kale + Vitamin B Fresh Pressed Sheet Mask. 

Finally trying a Sweet Chef mask.

Notes: 

Spoiler

Claims: Calms, nourishes, hydrates, and moisturizes skin; provides a glowing complexion.  

Ingredients: I love kale. It’s one of my favorite veggies to eat, and my face generally loves products made of it. My skin also loves hyaluronic acid and centella asiatica, so I figured this was the best-for-me Sweet Chef mask variety to try despite the inclusion of sage oil, which my skin doesn’t like. (Sage is one of those essential oils that can do lots of damage you won’t notice until the day your skin can’t hide it anymore.) At least it’s listed near the tail end of this list, along with gardenia.  

Spoiler

Water, Glycerin, Dipropylene Glycol, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate, Brassica Oleracea Acephala (Kale) Leaf Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Panthenol, Theobroma Cacao (Cocoa) Extract, Centella Asiatica Extract, Paeonia Suffruticosa Root Extract, Chamomilla Recutita (Matricaria) Flower Extract, Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Butylene Glycol, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/VP Copolymer, 1,2-Hexanediol, Xanthan Gum, Glyceryl Caprylate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium Polyacrylate, Hydrogenated Polydecene, Salvia Officinalis (Sage) Oil, Trideceth-6, Dextrin, Gardenia Florida Fruit Extract, Pantolactone, Disodium EDTA 

Performance: This thick soft sheet has no cuts. Since the sheet’s not stretchy, I had to scrunch it around my chin, jaws, and cheeks to get better coverage, and of course it was still too narrow. It was also too long throughout: all the facial feature holes were definitely placed for folks with longer and narrower faces than mine, so I had to do more snipping than I’d like.

The sheet was loaded with cream serum, leaving none in the sleeve. It has a pronounced sage scent with a hint of kale. I love herbal and veggie scents, so I had no problem smelling this one each time I turned my head. I wore this mask longer than I meant to, nearly 40 minutes. After removal, it took just 20 seconds to massage all the serum into my skin, which quickly drank it up. No tack or pilling with this one. 

Results: My face was water-damp before I applied this mask, except for my left jaw which had dried down after BHA application. After removing the mask and letting the serum sink in, that part of my face felt soft but barely moisturized. The rest of my face felt hydrated and very moisturized. Normally I keep my face damp throughout my skincare routine, but I’m glad I accidentally let a section dry down: it was a good test of Sweet Chef’s hydration claim. This mask is barely hydrating. It IS highly moisturizing, but that does little good if there’s no hydration (no watery layer of something) underneath the serum. I had to tap a little water on my left jaw post-mask to give my cream moisturizer something to seal in. The rest of my face felt like it didn’t need moisturizer, so I skipped facial oil and used the thinnest layer of cream moisturizer possible on most of my face. 

As for soothing: I didn’t notice a big change in my redness, but this mask did knock all flakiness out of my oily zone. And my face did look a bit brighter. This would rate as an 86 point wine for me, with the caveat that it should be applied to damp skin for maximum moisturization benefit. 

[ather]

@WinglessOne  I’ve wondered about that brand I’m glad I got to read your thoughts! Thanks for going in depth 😊

[lmaster]

Salad for your face! @WinglessOne sounds like a winner

[eshoe]

This mask had such an odd fit, @WinglessOne. I wonder how the bottled serum compares to this - if it's the same or slightly thicker. I like Kale/herby/grassy scents, too!

[WinglessOne]

@eshoe  I almost bought the serum along with the mask, but I saw lavender oil in the serum’s ingredients. 😞 It was either last or almost last, but I was very disappointed to see it at all since there were also many good ingredients listed. (For me, lavender oil is worse than sage oil.) Oh well. If you ever try the kale serum, let me know what you think! 

Hooray for herbal/grassy scents! 

[eshoe]

Hmmm @WinglessOne going through a couple of products now with rather strong lavender scent, they do have the oil as well which doesn’t irritate my skin, it’s just not a scent I want to add more of to my routine.

[heartsmyface]

@WinglessOne Oh this mask looked good in the photo but I ended up feeling increasingly disappointed in it the more I read.  I’m happy it moisturized your skin well enough to not need moisturizer though.  

[itsfi]

You had me at kale ... and centella asiatica... but I dunno about the sage oil @WinglessOne. Loving the wine ratings; it puts it into good perspective for me. Hahaha! 😉 

[Shosh85]

@WinglessOne  Glad to hear this was in the higher 80's 😉 I've tried all 3 from the line and though they were all pretty decent, I wasn't really too impressed with any of them. Now I'm wondering if I might've liked it better had I started out with a damp face 🤔

[WinglessOne]

@Shosh85  Good to know the other 2 aren’t much better than this one. It’s not something I’d go out of my way to buy... had none of my skin been damp when I applied this one, it would’ve rated in the very low 80s, maybe even high 70s. Pre-mask prep makes a big difference with this one. 

[mrsmouse]

Not even remotely on theme, but it was one in the "close to expiring" pile.

Spoiler

The Creme Shop Plump Up, Skin!: This was your typical TCS sheet mask with a cute bulldog design on it.  The scent was pretty standard and not overly strong as I didn't notice it too much during the 20 minute wear time.  There was enough serum left in the package for my neck, decolletage, arms and hands.  I can't really say that my skin plumped up a lot, maybe slightly, but my skin did look really good after.  It seemed brighter, and somehow more healthy.  There wasn't really tackiness after per se, but my skin did wind up feeling a wee bit tight.  Once I put moisturizer on the tightness was gone.  I'd give this one a solid B+.  I'd probably pick it up again if the circumstances were right.

Ingredients:

Spoiler

[ather]

@mrsmouse  I just love the cute prints on the mask!!

[mrsmouse]

Me too @ather!  🙂

[lmaster]

@mrsmouse the creme shop has the cutest packaging to reel us in 😆

[mrsmouse]

Right @lmaster?!  The cuteness ALWAYS seems to get me.  😉

[Shosh85]

@mrsmouse This one sounds decent, and pretty cute too 😉 I have this one but haven't got around to trying it yet - glad it had some nice results! 👍

[mrsmouse]

Thanks @Shosh85!  I'm curious to know if you have the same experience with this one as I do.  Everyone's skin is so different that what works for one doesn't necessarily work for others so I am always curious to know what multiple people think of a specific mask.  I hope you like it though!  🙂

[WinglessOne]

@mrsmouse  Hmm, this is one I’ve never tried but keep almost buying because it contains good ingredients. I think my Creme Shop hit or miss experience keep stopping me from picking this one up. But next time I see it, I’ll grab it and see if I also get any skin tightening effect. I do love Frenchies, so that’ll be fun! I’m glad it wound up working pretty well for you! 

[mrsmouse]

The tightening was more like something had dried on my skin rather than a lifting type of tightening, if that makes sense @WinglessOne.  It wasn't bad, just something that I noticed because that's not typically a feeling I get after masking.  I do think it's a solid little mask though and my skin did look better (healthier, brighter, etc).  I just didn't get the plumping that I expected.  I totally get how you feel with TCS masks, they can be hit or miss with me too, especially when it comes to fit.

[eshoe]

@mrsmouse I'm curious about the tightening you experienced; was your skin dry, or did it feel like it was 'pulling' everything up (anti-gravity stuff). I've used a few skin products recently that made my skin feel tight but not a dry-tight. Strange, but seemed to resolve itself after numerous uses.

[mrsmouse]

Not in an anti-gravity kind of way @eshoe.  Just sort of like a feeling of having something on my skin that dried, which is really what all masks are, but I don't usually have that kind of feeling after masking.  My skin just usually feels more like it does after a serum, or it feels tacky.  The feeling wasn't super bad or anything, just something I noticed, and I still think it's a solid mask.  It probably would have been better if they had marketed it as something other than plumping since I didn't see much of that.