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]

@ShortErica  I try to give equal weight to performance and results. Sometimes performance outweighs everything, especially if I have a better performing mask that yields the same results. Also, if a mask performs well but the results don’t live up to its claims, then results might outweigh performance. Funny: it was much easier to be objective when evaluating my direct reports at work than when scoring sheet masks. 🤣 (I actually used a special scoring spreadsheet at work to eliminate all chances of subjectivity, and also to keep myself from comparing one employee to another to decide who deserved the higher rating—which would’ve been unfair.) 

Ingredients also factor into things, though all masks I bought myself were pre-screened for yucky stuff. Things get tricky when ingredients/formulations change for export to the US. I assume those changes happen to meet FDA rules, so I don’t ding brands for doing it. 

[sonnydee]

And my thoughts. The good: my heels do look & feel smoother. It didn't burn,sting or itch my skin while it was on. You do get 4 patches in the package. The bad: the instructions could be a lil clearer & exactly where & to put what on my heels. It does have pics but they are from the side so they leave you guessing. I wore socks while I was still up so i could still get around, which worked,i was able to walk around/do what I need to do. BUT I cant sleep in them (socks) & i tried. I took them off at hour 5, taking the socks off some of the patch lifted. I laid it down the best I could but the patches don't bend that easy & within 30 min, my bedding had ripped them off. Next time I'm going to have to use other things to make them adhere better-maybe medical tape🤔 Would I purchase again? yeah, but not have a crazy stock or anything

[Shosh85]

@sonnydee  Happy to hear you saw some nice results from these! I think medical tape would be good to use and I like @WinglessOne's bandaid idea. 😃 I personally don't mind wearing socks to bed (I guess that makes me crazy @ShortErica 😜 😂), so I think these would be worth a try! 

[WinglessOne]

@Shosh85  @sonnydee @ShortErica   I’m also in the Crazy Sock Sleepers Club! My feet get very cold at night, so I have to sleep in socks all fall and winter, and often well into spring. Not just any socks, though: they must have cuffs loose enough to not constrict my calves/ankles but not so loose that they slip way down and bunch up on my feet overnight. And they must have either an invisible or unfeelable toe seam. My pickiness probably makes me doubly crazy. 🤣 

Anyway, I might try these patches next time I see them somewhere! 

[ShortErica]

We've all got at least a little crazy @Shosh85! 😉

[ShortErica]

I agree @sonnydee - I can't wear socks to bed and those people are crazy! 😉 Interesting about the patches though. What's the recommended wear time?

[sonnydee]

8 hours @ShortErica the only time I can sleep in socks is winter time-when its actually cold here. But I do sleep in my uggs when I'm camping. (we spend a week in the woods for Thanksgiving)

[lmaster]

@sonnydee oh awesome! These sound really neat to try, I don't mind wearing socks in bed, so this doesn't steer me away 😉

[sonnydee]

you should be fine then! @lmaster i thought about cutting off the toes in a pair of socks & making a "sleeve" for my heels when I wear these.....🤔

[lmaster]

@sonnydee yeah, if I lived where you do....I probably wouldn't be able to wear socks at night!!

[WinglessOne]

@sonnydee  I bet med tape would help keep them on overnight. Bandaids would also work, if you use them as tape. KT tape might also work... I still have some that I occasionally use on my bum knee. Anyway, I’m glad they work well without irritating your skin. 👍 

[sonnydee]

ohhhh yeah the kt would definitely hold them on @WinglessOne i think I'm going to try the medical tape next time, less width but cheaper to.just throw away

[ather]

@sonnydee  Very interesting. I’m not sure either what would help keep them on. 

[itsfi]

@sonnydee, this one has got me a bit stumped as I think about what you could use to help with adherence.... thinking.... thinking... 🤔🤨 

[itsfi]

Yesterday’s “Mask While You Task”

The Mask: Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare DRx SpectraLite™ FaceWare Pro 

The Task: I'm not sleeping; I'm just "resting my eyes." 😉 I ended up taking a 30 minute nap after using the DDG mask.

I hemmed and hawwed over whether to purchase this mask for about a year because this is a spendy purchase, and ultimately decided to go for it during a really good sale. I've used it a few times since I purchased it and really put it to the test over the last couple of months, aiming to use it 2-3 times per week and ... wow! I get one or two unsightly large zits on a monthly basis. This past month I had what looked like one about to form smack dab in the middle of my face (ugh!) but it never materialized (yes!)! I also had one other zit this month but it was right below my jawline, an area not covered by the DDG mask. No other breakouts anywhere else. 🙂👍🙌 I'm happy with my purchase, and will continue to reach for it as a regular part of my skincare routine. 

[ather]

@itsfi  Ahhhh I love it!! Looks sooo cool. I’m glad you’ve had good results with it!! It’s definitely on my wants list right now!!! 

[itsfi]

It’s a fun mask and even better that it works @ather! 🧡 I’ll try to remember to post a pic with it in use - it looks very cool then with the lights peeking out of it. 

[Shosh85]

@itsfi  Oh yay! you got one! Ever since I saw @Cyncynn's review I've been interested and intrigued by it! It sounds amazing so far! So happy to hear you're seeing some great results! 🙌😃 Plus, it makes you look like an awesome super hero! 😍

[Cyncynn]

@Shosh85 

As an update I am still loving it and using almost every day - my only criticism is the pointless strap and that you need to charge it every 7/8 uses or so (for me this is every week, but maybe I'm lazy?).

[itsfi]

@Shosh85, thank you. 🤗 I’m happy with how well it’s been working. I want to get to 6 days per week - 3 each for the red light and blue light (and maybe one day for the red/blue light option) but I don’t think that will happen. I’ll work towards 4 for the time being. @GG84 and @Cyncynn had great things to say about it. 🙌🏼

[Cyncynn]

@itsfi It makes me so happy that you are enjoying this! I find it easier to fit this in my schedule right after I shower at night. It's part of my routine now and I rarely miss it.

I noticed that if I am having breakouts I have better results by using the blue light on its own btw! 🙂