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 

[ather]

@itsfi  I hope you have safe trips!! 

[itsfi]

Thank you @ather! 🤗 

[mrsmouse]

I'm sorry you couldn't sleep @itsfi, but glad you decided to make the best of the situation.  I'm sitting here trying to figure out how Ryan a lion without a mane?  😉  At any rate, I'm glad these were all winners for you!  🙂

[itsfi]

Thank you @mrsmouse! Yeah, not sure why I had a hard time sleeping. I woke up thinking that I was going to miss my flight when in reality I wasn't even flying out this morning. Hahaha! My goodness! 🙂 

Right?! I kept thinking "who's a lion?" Because when I see Ryan, I think 'bear.' Ha! 

[Shosh85]

@itsfi  Well he sure looks like a bear to me! Haha! Either way, he's pretty cute!😉 This one sounds great, especially that creamy essence! Glad to hear you enjoyed it and would repurchase! 😃👍

[itsfi]

I was not at all expecting a creamy essence @Shosh85, but it was a pleasant surprise.

[mrsmouse]

Here I am again not following any themes other than trying to work through some of my expiring masks and those that have been so generously gifted to me by the lovely and amazing people in this community.  The Sephora Aloe Sleeping mask was gifted to me by @l8totheparty.  Thank you so much!  And the Esfolio Cold Snail Hydrogel Eye Patches were ones that I am trying to work through, but the fragrance is a bit strong so I tend not to use them all that often.

Spoiler

Esfolio Cold Snail Hydrogel Eye Patches:  I've reviewed this before so I'll keep it brief.  They are too fragranced for me personally (hence why they don't get used all that often).  I think if fragrance doesn't bother you then they are certainly good for the price point.  No matter how many hydrogels I try I always seem to go back to the PTR Water Drench Hyaluronic Cloud Hydra-Gel Eye Patches.  They just seem to work the best for me in terms of results as well as less of a fragrance.  I wouldn't purchase these again due to the fragrance.

Sephora Aloe Sleeping Mask:  All I can really say is that I really should have known better and I confirmed that I am allergic to aloe.  I should have realized this might be a problem as a couple of years ago I tried pure aloe and within just a few minutes my face was red and burning.  When I contacted the company I bought it from they said far more people are allergic to aloe than they realize because typically the stuff you get in the grocery store is only about 10% aloe.  I had never reacted to any aloe products before that so thought maybe it was a fluke.  Turns out it wasn't.  I woke up after using this to a very pink face and very pink & itchy neck.  I used the Dr. Jart Cicapair Tiger Grass cream which helped and fortunately it calmed down enough that it wasn't super noticeable under make up.  I can honestly say I won't be using this again.  I also have another couple of masks with aloe in them that I will be passing along as I just don't want to risk it.  😕

[ShortErica]

Oh no, that doesn't sound like good masking @mrsmouse! I wish you luck getting through the eye gels fast. I don't like strong smells either. Has your skin recovered? I'm sorry to hear about your allergy but glad you can avoid it now that you know what causes a problem.

[mrsmouse]

Thanks @ShortErica!  My skin has totally recovered.  In fact, most of the redness dissipated by the end of the day and the itching seemed to subside fairly quickly too.  I defintely feel like I am lucky to have found out about the allergy like this. 🙂

[l8totheparty]

Oh my gosh. @mrsmouse !  I didn't know you were allergic!  I'm so sorry you had that reaction 😞

[mrsmouse]

There was absolutely NO WAY that you could have known @l8totheparty!  I didn't even know (although in retrospect I probably should have).  Truthfully, I am so glad that you sent it and that I found out this way!  The effects were relatively mild considering.  I mean, could you imagine what could have happened if I would have tried aloe juice?  Seriously, I am really grateful for this experience.  🙂

[quspork]

Oh no! So sorry you had an allergic reaction, @mrsmouse!

[mrsmouse]

Thanks @quspork! I'm just super glad I found out like this as it could have been a lot worse & I'm totally fine now.  🙂

[ather]

@mrsmouse  I’m sorry to hear your allergic to aloe. 

[mrsmouse]

Thanks @ather!  Fortunately, I am all better now and no worse for wear.  🙂

[ather]

@mrsmouse  Good to hear. 

[Shosh85]

@mrsmouse  Oh my goodness! So sorry to hear you're allergic to aloe! You'd expect it to help with redness and itchiness, not cause it! That doesn't sound pleasant, but I'm glad it wasn't the pure stuff this time!

[mrsmouse]

Right @Shosh85?!  It's such a common ingredient in soothing and calming masks.  I am just glad the allergy is somewhat mild (I mean, I did leave it on all night and for that length of time I feel the reaction wasn't bad at all) and also, now I know.  You might think I'm strange for being glad to be able to try it, but I am.  If I hadn't found out this way, it could have been a much bigger or stronger reaction when I did.  🙂

[itsfi]

Oh no @mrsmouse! I’m so sorry you had a reaction to the aloe mask. It’s one of my go-to’s for skin irritations or reactions. If the redness doesn’t go away or if you need a soothing mask to calm and soothe your skin, a honey mask may help. 

About the snail 🐌 eye gels....hmmm.... 🤔 If the fragrance is too much, maybe use them on the soles of your feet along with a foot mask or on your elbows. The fragrance will still be there but it won’t be so close to your nose. 😉 

[mrsmouse]

Thanks so much @itsfi!  Aloe certainly seems to be a common ingredient in calming masks.  In fact, it makes me wonder if some of the other calming masks that haven't worked for me in the past had that as an ingredient.  Maybe the percentage was small & since it's only left on for 30 minutes I didn't realize I was reacting, but just thought the mask wasn't doing much?

I used these last Thursday night (I'm a little behind on my posting), so my skin is perfectly fine now.  I'm going to keep a mental note on the honey recommendation though as I bet that would have felt wonderful.

That's a good idea to try the hydrogels elsewhere.  Stupidly, I bought another jar of Esfolio ones (black pearl, not snail) thinking the different type would mean not the same fragrance.  I was wrong.  It's exactly the same and still strong.  Oh well, you live you learn, right?  😉

[lmaster]

Oh my gosh @mrsmouse allergic to aloe?? I'm so sorry you found this out,, hopefully it didn't do too much damage