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 

[Shosh85]

@itsfi  I'm not exactly sure where this mask came from, but it's very possible I got it in the subscription 😉

[lmaster]

Cute packaging and honey scent, not didn't wow you?? What's wrong with this picture?? Lol @Shosh85 

[Shosh85]

@lmaster  Haha! It was good, but I guess they just can't all be amazing! 🤷‍♀️ 😉😃

[Kim888]

@Shosh85 oooh so pretty! glad it worked out for you well - that's always the best !

[Shosh85]

@Kim888  It was a nice one! and cute packaging is always a plus 😉😃

[quspork]

I love the packaging on this one, @Shosh85. Glad it worked out nicely!

[Shosh85]

@quspork  It really is such cute packaging! Anything with a honey pot on it lures me in 😉🍯

[WinglessOne]

M = mangosteen. Last night’s mask was FarmSkin Superfood Salad Balancing Mangosteen. 

Trivia: mangosteen is one of my favorite fruits to eat.

Notes: 

Spoiler

Claims: Balances complexion. Calms, brightens, nurtures, and protects skin. 

Ingredients: Nephelium Lappaceum is rambutan, used here as (I assume) a hydrator. Lychee is also present, probably for dark spot lifting among other things. 

Spoiler

Water, Methylpropanediol, Dipropylene Glycol, Algae Extract, Eclipta Prostrata Leaf Extract, Hydrolyzed Lactobacillus/Streptococcus Thermophulus/Colostrum Ferment Extract, Nephelium Lappaceum Branch/Fruit/Leaf Extract, Litchi Chinensis Fruit Extract, Garcinia Mangostana Peel Extract(10ppm), Hydrogenated Lecithin, Betaine, Carbomer, Tromethamine, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate, Disodium EDTA, Butylene Glycol, Fructooligosaccharides, BETA-Glucan, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Bis-Peg-18 Methyl Ether Dimethyl Silane, Fragrance, 1,2-Hexanediol, Hydroxyacetophenone 

Performance: The thin sheet was loaded with serum, but there was still about a handful left in the sleeve; more than enough to cover my décolletage and the parts of my jaw left uncovered. The sheet covered part of my jaw and was a decent length for my face, but it kept slipping down my forehead just far enough to cover my eyelids. Rather than use my mask holder, I just cut the eyeholes larger to keep the sheet off my top lashes. 

The serum had a light herbal + mangosteen scent: mildly sweet, tangy, almost citrusy... if you’ve ever smelled a ripe mangosteen, you know how it smells (and tastes) like a combo of several other fruits you’ve smelled and tasted. Anyway, I wore this mask for 25 minutes. It took 2 minutes of massaging and pressing to get all remaining serum into my skin. I had no pilling or tackiness afterward. 

Results: Surprisingly well hydrated skin with a suede-like softness. I didn’t notice any brightening. My face was moderately moisturized: I didn’t need to immediately apply any moisturizing products, so I had plenty of time to do my 9% BHA spot treatment and let it settle in before applying my cream moisturizer. I’m not quite sure which wine varietal this one reminds me of, but it’s in the 89-90 point range. I need to try this mask again to nail that down. 

Update on lifespan of opened LuLuLun multi-sheet pouches: (to answer @Shosh85’s question) I emailed the brand about this on Tuesday. I told them I’ve kept (and used up) mine for 60 days at the longest, and that I heard a rumor of an 80-day lifespan. Here’s the brand’s reply (emphasis added by me): 

“Regarding your inquiry, the rumor that you heard is right. Once you open the pouch, we recommend using all masks within 80days at room temperature. We do not recommend storing masks in the fridge because lower temperatures might change the quality of sheet masks. As you said, please seal the pouch tightly after using it to avoid drying and changing product quality.” 

That’s nearly 3 months to use up an opened 7-day pack. Impressive! Makes me feel even better about having several varieties of these packs open at once. Also reduces my stress about getting through all 36 sheets in my box of Pink masks before they expire. 😄  

[ShortErica]

I know what you mean about needing a 2nd try to truly rate a mask @WinglessOne. Seems like this Superfood Salad mask is another good one with the others.

[itsfi]

@WinglessOne, lots of good masks from this brand. As for wine varietal for this mask, I think you’ll need to try the mask again AND sip a few glasses of wine just to make sure it’s the right fit. 😉 🍷 

Now, a completely non-sheet mask related question but it is about mangosteen...how do you “open” it, or get to the part of the fruit you can eat?!! I picked up a small bag once and for the life of me couldn’t figure it out. 🤷🏻‍♀️ 

[WinglessOne]

@itsfi  If I do several wine flights at home all by myself (social distancing!), that makes excessive wine consumption socially responsible, right? 😂 I did just get my sparkling rosé delivery, so I’m all set for my next rosé-rated mask! 

About mangosteens: if you have a fairly soft one, you can hold it stem-side up with both hands, then smoosh-twist it with your fingers to kinda tear it open. You can also run a knife all around the perimeter kinda avocado style (horizontally though, not vertically like an avo cut), but be careful because mangosteens don’t have seeds as big and hard as avos do—and you’ll want to try not to cut deep into the white juicy goodness beneath the skin. The outer layer can be up to a centimeter thick. I like to do a very shallow cut all the way around to create a perforation line, so I can easily smoosh-twist the fruit open. 

[itsfi]

Love your idea of several wine flights at home @WinglessOne! 😍🍷 You should definitely do it!

Thank you for the tips and tricks for mangosteen. 🤗 I’m more inclined to pick up some again when I see them, now that I know how to go about it

[eshoe]

@WinglessOne your knowledge about stuff like this is kind of intimidating 😂 I get brush cleaning (and collecting), lip product layering techniques (love the Mac Prep+Prime) but didn’t expect this. Good to know and hopefully some day I can put this information to good use☺️

[WinglessOne]

@eshoe  I hope you can try a mangosteen someday! I learn this kind of stuff mostly because I enjoy cooking and trying new foods. A friend’s mom taught me how to open mangosteens without a knife. She’s also the person who taught me the easiest way to peel bananas: instead of working from the stem end, pinch the other end between your fingers to open the fruit up. Then you can peel the banana and use the stem end as a handle. My mind was totally blown that day. 😂 

[Shosh85]

@WinglessOne  Just wanted to chime in here and say, that is supposedly the right way to eat a banana. It's how monkeys eat them, and they're the experts 😉🐒🐵

@eshoe 

[lmaster]

@WinglessOne I love this line!!

[Shosh85]

@WinglessOne  Oh wow, 80 days for a 7 day pack seems like a very generous amount of time! I also find it interesting that they instruct you to keep it out of the fridge- I would've thought that would keep them fresher! I think you've definitely sold me on these!
The Mangosteen mask sounds great! I've never tried a Mangosteen before, but I'll have to make a point to soon! 😃

[quspork]

A touch of double masking from the other day:

M for Matcha- the H2O AquaDefense Refining Matcha Detox Mask

So I didn't realize that this was a peel-off mask until just before applying it and checking in with the directions. Glad I did! I'm not a fan of peel-off masks but decided to give it a try anyway. I will say that as far as peels go, this one wasn't terrible. I did layer it on pretty thickly to help in the peeling process later. It did feel like it took a lot of product to really get it to be a thick enough layer. And of course, it took a while to dry down- a good 20+ minutes. It does smell nice, though not very matcha-like. Once it was dry and I was able to peel it off, it came off mostly in one piece and luckily with minimal pain. There was just a touch of irritation, but that's expected with this type of mask for my skin. At the end of the day, was it an ok mask? Yes. Would I use it again? No, but again mostly because I just don't care for peel ones in general. 

So I followed it up with an N for NEW to me mask, the Primera Lotus Seed Mask.

 

This mask advertises its benefits as soothing and hydrating and, for the most part, it fulfilled on both accounts. It's an unbleached thin cotton mask with a slightly sweet scent that dissipates quickly. The fit was a bit narrow for my face. It was nicely saturated and had good adherence. Removal left some tack, but nothing too overwhelming. I would say this ended up being only lightly hydrating- there are definitely more hydrating masks out there BUT it most certainly calmed my irritation and left my skin bright and almost luminous. For that reason, I would definitely repurchase this on the future. 

[eshoe]

@quspork how many masks have you been excited to try and suddenly realized they are peel-offs?!? It’s happened to me more than I’d like to admit, sorry it happened to you. I guess just going with the t-zone to finish it is a good strategy🤷🏻‍♀️

[quspork]

It does happen from time to to time, @eshoe! They should really mark the packages better LOL. 

[eshoe]

I suppose one day I will remember to read the label instead of being excited by something new/pretty/colorful too, @quspork 😂