💕😌 2024 Masking Challenge 😌💖

[eshoe]

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 💮

Spoiler

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:

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, 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

Spoiler

2022 Mask of the Week Challenge

Spoiler

2021 Mask of the Week Challenge

Spoiler

2020 Mask of the Week Challenge:

https://community.sephora.com/t5/Skincare-Aware/2020-Mask-of-the-Week-Challenge-PART-1/m-p/4995162/h...

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   

Thank you @Aaliaa for starting this thread, and giving us a place to share our love for masks💗

[PrettyPaint]

@eshoe I loved reading this. That Needly mask looks especially nice, though your "foot smell" description cracked me up. Was there much residual stickiness after this one? I like jelly masks as long as they aren't overly sticky. 

[eshoe]

Ugh @PrettyPaint I did not make one note on the tackiness 🤨 I need to make a little checkbox system for myself, so that I remember to take note of every relevant aspect of a mask!

[PrettyPaint]

@eshoe  Oh, no worries! I probably wouldn't have remembered either unless it was particularly noticeable 🙂 

[itsfi]

Another O for oil. My skin is craving the oil as it gets acclimated to the change in seasons.

Spoiler

Hanyul Yuja Face Oil Sheet Mask is an interactive mask. Inside the package is another clear packet containing two compartments, the top housing the cotton sheet mask and the bottom containing a liquid that is released into the top portion containing the sheet mask (as well as some other liquid) when you fold the bottom portion and press the folded area. Some interactive masks are a bit more challenging, but this one was easy to use. 

The essence feels luxuriously rich and smells absolutely divine - a lovely, fresh, slightly sweet, citrus scent. If Hanyul makes a perfume or body oil with this scent, I would buy it. There's a lot of essence to the soft, cotton sheet and even more in the packet - enough for face, neck, and arms. Fit is standard and adjustments are needed to the openings for the eyes. I left the mask on for 30 minutes, but could have probably kept it on for another 15 with how much essence the mask held, and even longer if I layered the extra essence in the pouch over the mask. Results were wonderful - soft, plump, nourished, bright, dewy skin. A beautiful mask I would happily repurchase.

O for odd percentages 

Spoiler

Okay, I'm not a mathematician or scientist, but the percentages claimed by the Charlotte Tilbury Cryo-Recovery Lifting Face Mask with Acupressure Technology seem ... odd. It's claims that based on clinical results, skin feels (1) lifted by 253%, (2) firmer by 238%, and (3) more smooth by 243%. i received this one as part of a raffle (and a trade) for an event I attended last week. I've now used this mask 3 times this week, including twice on the same day - it was warm and humid and the cooling sensation was wonderful! I noticed too that my face looked less puffy in certain areas after just having the mask on for about 15 minutes, and a smidge more firm, supple in certain spots, but far less than the 238% claimed. Granted, I don't know how long the clinical trials lasted or how many uses of this mask were had by the participants in the clinical trials, but still. 253%? 238%? 243%? Seems a little hard to believe.

Setting those figures aside, the cryo portion of the mask offers some immediate and noticeable benefits and results, even in the short amount of time I've had the mask. I can see this mask coming in handy, either as a nice way to unwind after a long day or as suggested on the hauls post as a prep before makeup application, but it's a mask that will require some advanced planning on the user's part - instructions recommend keeping it in the freezer for 30 minutes to one hour before use.

As for the acupressure ball points along the brow line, I haven't had enough time with the mask to form an opinion of them. I didn't really notice anything different in terms of how I felt afterwards, but I also wasn't experiencing any headaches or other things that might make the benefits of acupressure more noticeable. I'll need to do more research on acupressure. Overall, I think this mask is a nice one to have, but it's not necessarily a must have.   

Spoiler

[elleb810]

@itsfi  

How much are you loving that CT cryo mask? 

[itsfi]

@elleb810, I'm so sorry for the delay; I just saw this post. I do like the cryo mask, it's a nice way to wind down after a long day. I sometimes put it on while doing a foot soak. Are you still using your CT cryo mask regularly?

[elleb810]

@itsfi  

Yep. Still using the CT. Even though it's cold here, I find the cold on my face relaxing for some reason. Weird, I know. I've been using it about 3 or 4 times per week and at least once on the weekends. 

[eshores]

@itsfi - the Charlotte Tilbury mask looks cool.

[itsfi]

@eshores, the mask is cool, literally and figuratively. 😆 A nice one to help unwind or kickstart the day!

[PrettyPaint]

@itsfi  Oh, the oil mask sounds lovely! I'm glad it was easy to use (some of those interactive ones can be frustrating). 

Those percentages on the CT are indeed odd. It looks like they are basing their "findings" on the combo of the eye serum + magic crystal elixir + the mask, so perhaps the presented results are additive? It's also an N=33, so not the most impressive sample size...haha. 

[itsfi]

@PrettyPaint, I think I get put off by the interactive masks like this one because of how challenging it can be to break open the portion with the serum to release it into the section with the sheet, but this one was so very easy! The scent and the results from this mask were great too!

I'll have to try the CT mask with the serum to see how the results change, if there are any changes. Yeah, that sample size seems awfully small, doesn't it? 

[eshoe]

@itsfi the Hanyul Yuja mask sounds absolutely divine! Your description of the interactive portion sounded very much like the Oozoo Bear mask, another love.

The CT mask seems appealing enough, I think it is pretty grand that it landed in your hands the way it did 😄 It looks like it might possibly be loose-fitting around the cheeks. Curious if it fits tight enough to put pressure on your skin on its own, or if you need to massage or press it to encourage acupressure. Either way, looks fun to try!

[itsfi]

@eshoe, it was so much easier to release the serum in this Hanyul mask than from the bear's ear in those Oozoo masks. I seem to have a more challenging time with masks like these types but this was easy-peasy for me. 

From what I've read, acupressure seems to be based in part with physical pressure so for the CT mask, it seems there is some significance to the pressure points built into the mask at the brow line and needing to physically press them. To me, tightening the mask wouldn't seem to be enough to stimulate that pressure. The straps are at the top and along the chin / jawline so tightening those areas could maybe help with the pressure of the cooling beads in the mask which would probably help with the depuffing action. It would probably help with the fit too, around the cheeks, along the bottom portion of the mask where it didn't adhere as well to my face - I didn't pull the straps and velcro too tight the first couple of times I used it, but I could see that helping. I'll have to try that the next time I use the cryo mask. Do you think you'll pick up the CT mask?

[eshoe]

@itsfi I am seriously considering it. I love my acupressure mat, and my dermaroller for my face. I find that method very soothing. Do you think you will make it a regular part of your routine? 

[itsfi]

@eshoe, I think I'll try to use it regularly, but I'll need to give some thought to what that looks like and how to fit it in. 🤔  It's feeling like it'll be part of a morning masking routine for me. For now, I'll aim for once per week just to get in the habit of reaching for it and figuring out the best way for time management purposes. The instructions say that if you leave it in the freezer overnight or longer than recommended, then you'll need to "defrost" it before using it, so timing matters. 

[eshoe]

Hmmm, yes it doesn’t sound something that requires some premeditation @itsfi. I don’t know that I would remember to do it weekly, it just seems like something that would be beneficial for calming/soothing. Thanks for your thoughts on this!

[itsfi]

@eshoe, maybe you could use this mask when you use your acupressure pad? It could be an entire at home acupressure session. 😀 

[eshoe]

I might fall asleep, @itsfi! In reality, I doubt it, but it does sound intense☺️

[lmaster]

@itsfi the top mask ohhhhh sounds absolutely wonderful!! Those percentages do seem extraordinary 😆

[itsfi]

@lmaster, the Hanyul Yuja mask is oh so good. I used the extra essence this morning and the smell…ahhh! 🥰 There’s a handful of what appears may be similarly scented products from the brand so it’s on my list to check out after I get through a few more skincare products. 

[Kim888]

@itsfi @Thanks for sharing your thoughts on the Ct! Those percentages do seem really strange! The cooling mask does seem really nice, but I wonder how much better it would really be than one of those cheap cooling face rollers