2025 Skincare Check-In Challenge: LAST Week! - Don't forget hand + foot care

[TeamBIC]

Happy New Year, BIC! ✨ We’re stepping into 2025 with a crucial reminder: we must take special care of ourselves — this year and EVERY year. Some of us may already have set resolutions and/or stellar routines nailed down; regardless of where you are on your self-care journey, we could all use a few extra nudges and motivation to spend some extra time on ourselves! 🤝

Much like posts from previous years, we’ve come up with a list of weekly prompts to challenge you to strut your self-care skills. 💗 This time around we’ll be focused on all things skincare, because when our skin feels good, we feel GEWD. 🌟 We encourage you to participate and respond to the prompts that inspire you – and don’t be shy to share any other self-care tips and tricks along the way!

Week 1 (1/8 – 1/14): Curating the perfect rise and glow ☀ skincare routine to kick off your day 

Week 2 (1/15 – 1/21): Relaxing in your favorite face/eye mask(s)

Week 3 (1/22 – 1/28): Trying out tools to promote wellness (rollers, high tech tools, DIY massage . . .)

Week 4 (1/29 – 2/4): Adding some extra indulgence to your body care (baths, butters, oils, scrubs etc.) 🛀

Week 5 (2/5 – 2/11): Washing your makeup brushes, towels, pillowcases, etc. — whatever touches your GORG face 😘

Week 6 (2/12 – 2/18): Stimulating your scalp with treatments/serums (yes, this is skincare too!)

Week 7 (2/19 – 2/25): Sharing your favorite jumbo or refillable skincare goodies to get the best bang for your buck 🤑

Week 8 (2/26 – 3/4): Giving your hands and feet some extra love (masks, creams, exfoliants, etc.)

Hit the “Reply” button below and let us know how you are practicing self-skincare! 😍 Be sure to use the “#” to tag any products mentioned in your answers, if applicable.

[SportyGirly125]

@CynthieLu I really like the PMD jade. It has a heating function which is so nice. The jade roller was the first tool I ever got at Sephora that helped with my serums. 

[peculiarzmakeup]

These look wonderful! The mask set looks really helpful and these are all so soothing and helpful! @SportyGirly125 

[itsfi]

Week 2 (1/15 – 1/21): Relaxing in your favorite face/eye mask(s)

Ahhhh, masks. One of my favorite skincare products!! 

Lately, I've really been loving the 1-2 punch from the thermal / warming effect of the Farmacy Honey Potion Plus Ceramide Hydration Mask  following by the cooling feel of  Clarins Cryo-Flash Instant Lift Effect & Glow Boosting Face Mask 2.5 oz / 75 g  on my skin. If you already have one of these beauties, consider getting the other one. Or keeping an eye out for a promo gwp. 😉 @TeamBIC 

Other masks I appreciate having in my arsenal include:

• DIOR Capture Dreamskin 1-Minute Mask 2.5 oz / 75 mL  - quick, easy, gentle - evens texture and makes for a great prep before makeup
• innisfree Super Volcanic AHA Pore Clearing Clay Mask 3.38 oz / 100 ml  (I have the older packaging) - great for gently but effectively decongesting and detoxifying the skin. One of the beauty techs used this on me during a perk facial. Will post more about that later in the week on the Sooooo... How did it go? The Beauty Studio Service Thread 
• fresh Black Tea Firming Overnight Mask  - I'm not getting any younger and this firming mask is a nice one to keep on hand.

I don't use sheet masks as often as I used to but a few I make an effort to always have on hand include:

• #Dr. Jart+ Cicapair ™ Sensitive Skin Serum Face Mask for Redness 1 Mask / pack 
• Dr. Jart+ Ceramidin™ Cream-Infused Mask 0.63 oz / 18 ml  - the cream serum is wonderful in the winter months when my usually normal-to-dry skin decides it will just be dry or veeeery dry. @Shosh85, have you tried this one? 
• SEPHORA COLLECTION Booster Face Mask Soothe + Hydrating 1 mask / pack  - I can be critical of the sheet masks from the Sephora Collection - don't get me wrong, there are some mighty good ones, but having used as many sheet masks as I have over the years, I can be very picky. I have no "area(s) for improvement" to note for this one. Well done, Sephora Collection Team! I like to use it with a roller but more on that when the Week 3 prompt comes out. 😉 
• Sulwhasoo First Care Activating Single Sheet Mask 1 mask  

Eye masks:

• Sephora Collection Caffeine Eye Mask has sadly been discontinued. 😥  I stocked up before all inventory for it was sold (and I received many as gifts from folks who know of my love for it) so I'm well stocked and should be good for a while. Still, the search is ongoing for its replacement; or, maybe it's me binding time until it is re-released back into the permanent collection. 🤞 A girl can hope ...
• Augustinus Bader The Eye Patches 1 Set / 2 Patches  
• Pyunkang Yul Black Tea Time Reverse Eye Patch

And ... Augustinus Bader just recently released its full face hydrogel sheet mask. It's quite nice!!

[curlychiquita]

Fabulous list, @itsfi! I still need to try the Augustinus Bader The Eye Patches 1 Set / 2 Patches .

[itsfi]

Thank you @curlychiquita! The AB eye masks are nice - they stay on nicely, doesn't feel heavy and the serum is infused in the hydrogel so it's not wet or slick. Given the price per pair, they're not something that would part of my daily routine, but would be lovely for a special event / occasion or just to pamper myself. 

[ather]

@itsfi  Wow this is an impressive list of masks! I love the idea of a warming mask than a cold mask. I may need to try this combo!!! 

Have you found a replacement for the SC Caffeine eye mask? Or nothing quite lives up to it yet? 

I hear you on not getting younger!!!! 

[itsfi]

@ather, if you can do a warming mask followed by a cooling one, it is worth a try. 👍 I've heard of contrast therapy - aka hot (more warm, really) and cold water therapy - years ago but in the context of a bath. I took the concept and applied it to face masks. It didn't hurt that I have had these two beloved masks in my collection for a while and enjoy both - if each is good on their own, wouldn't they be great together?! 🤔 Not always the case, but in this instance, these two make a dynamic duo. 💞 

No, not yet, but to be fair, I haven't gone all in on finding a replacement for the Sephora Collection caffeine eye masks. I've generously received a good number of the caffeine eye masks that I'm set for a while so I'm less motivated to really comparing the ones I currently have or have my eyes on. That said, this is a good year to be a little more diligent in the search for the next great eye mask! In fact, I'm thinking about making the search part of a Beauty Product Battles, Throw Downs and Showdowns this year!! First with eye masks and then possibly a battle of caffeine eye serums. This could be a busy year of beauty battles! 

[ather]

@itsfi  Oooo I love this idea! If I come across any good ones I will make sure to send them your way! I really hope Sephora is just reformulating it. I saw it in one of the kits at Christmas time. If they discontinued them why would they add them to the kit. Or are they trying to get rid of them! Hmmm 🤔 

[peculiarzmakeup]

Beautiful array of masks! You have a great collection and variety! I love how you mentioned using a mask with a warming effect and then one with cooling these products look amazing! And a good sheet mask is always a great experience! Glad your enjoying these happy masking 🙂 ❤️ @itsfi 

[itsfi]

Thank you; I have a ... robust ... skincare collection, including a healthy number of masks - much less and more manageable thn before but there are lots of variety to choose from. 😅 My masking routine has changed over the years @peculiarzmakeup, but using a mask (wash off, overnight, sheet mask) is such a nice treat - and it makes my skin happy!! 💞 

[Shosh85]

@itsfi  Yes! I have tried both the Cicapair and Ceramidin masks several times and I love them! I actually edited my last post to include those after I realized Sephora sold them and weren't actually discontinued! I see them at TJ Maxx and Marshall's all the time, so I had just assumed they were discontinued! Looks like they were at least repackaged.... not sure about reformulated though?

I love your list of favorites! I have been very badly wanting to try the Sulwhasoo and Augustinus Bader masks, but that price tag makes me sad. I also reeeeally love the Fresh Black Tea mask, but have only used it when I've had samples - it's another price tag that makes me sad. Oh and Pyunkang Yul?..... another great brand! Luckily I've been finding quite a few of their products at Marshall's! 😉

Not surprised you and I share the same interests in masks and have the same favorites! ❤️

[itsfi]

Ahhh, I need to do some catch up @Shosh85 (as evidenced by my eleventh hour posting for week 2's prompt 😬).

Dr. Jart+ went through a rebranding and repackaging recently / a year or so ago(?) I don't know all the details but for the most part the material changed for their jars and tubes and the aesthetic of their branding changed a little as well - font, logo/design, etc. 

Yes!! I love that we have a shared interests in masks and skincare (and lip balm and ... 😂) and with favorites - that's been since Day 1! 💗 You've definitely been a good resource for me - there have though been so many more lip balm and skincare releases since then; there are pros and cons to that, for sure! Okay, gonna have to work on catching up bit by bit ... after I figure what's for dinner. Ha! 

[CorgiMommy]

Great mask collection, you know how to choose products!  That Framacy mask is a really winner.  Nothing like that warm feeling when you put it on.  @itsfi 

[itsfi]

@CorgiMommy, yep, it's deserving of all the raves it's gotten over the years.

[scarykitty]

I'm trying Oak Essentials..My friend let me try hers.

[Shosh85]

@scarykitty  That's nice of your friend! What products are you trying? 

[CorgiMommy]

@scarykitty you have a great friend.

[Mellmars1185]

@scarykitty How are you enjoying the brand? What products have you tried so far?

[Samtian]

Not sure I have a favorite but I did really enjoy the #Dr. Jart+ Cryo Rubber™ Face Mask with Hyaluronic Acid 0.14 oz / 4 g Sephora gave me as a gratis. 

[ather]

@Samtian  Such a great one!! 

[Shosh85]

@Samtian  I agree! Definitely a good one! Glad it was a winner for you too! 😃👍