💕😌 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 💮

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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:

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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

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2022 Mask of the Week Challenge

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2021 Mask of the Week Challenge

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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💗

[Shosh85]

@itsfi  This one was so nice! I'm definitely a sucker for milky serum! 😃

[itsfi]

Don’t blame you one bit @Shosh85! Love the sheet masks with the milky serums. ♥️

[itsfi]

I was inspired by the collage of masks in @haleyvvvv's last post. Here are the rest of my green tea masks from last week.

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Mask:	Missha Pure Source Cell Sheet Mask (Green Tea)	The Crème Shop Green Tea Latte Fusion Sheet Mask	Sephora Collection Clean Matcha Tea Face Mask	Whole Foods Air Wrapping Mask Moisturizing Green Tea
Claim(s):	Moisturizing and calming	Anti-aging, nourishing and  repairing (correcting discoloration)	Mattifying and clarifying	Moisturizing and refreshing
Material:	"Compact cell fabric" which I've taken to mean thin-ish cotton material.  This one has a grid/gauze like pattern to the material.	Thin-leaning cotton mask	Eucalyptus fiber	2 piece mint green foil mask
Fit:	Extra large width- and length-wise. Holes for eyes and mouth are very narrow and require adjustments.	Like most of the masks from The Crème Shop, the fit on this one is overly large all around. It means it'll be suitable for many face sizes and shapes and for me, it means I just need to pull out my mini scissors to make some adjustments.	Fit is fine - I like that the eye holes and mouth hole are wider than most sheet masks. It is too long at the chin/jawline for me, but that also is very common with sheet masks.	Fit is pretty good, but requiring incision to the corners of the eyes to keep them from being smooshed and also to reduce the likelihood that the essence would get into my eye.
Adherence:	Good	Great; the material clung to the skin comfortably	Great; gently hugs the contours of the face.	Good. It stayed on for the entire wear time and I was able to get some things done around the house at the same time.
Essence:	Clear and watery	Thin, slightly runny, clear watery essence.	Light, slightly viscous, clear essence	Clear liquid
Scent:	Soft, fresh, partly medicinal, partly herbaceous minty scent	My recollection was that this had a green tea creamy scent but when I reached for this last week, I didn't really pick up a scent. Hmmm…	Very light green tea scent	Not really any discernible other than it having a fresh scent.
What I Liked:	Affordable. Green tea extract is the 5th ingredient listed. Ingredients list supports claims though some are rather low on the list - allantoin (soothing - 6th); jojoba esters (emollient - 11th); camellia japonica flower extract (antioxidant, anti-pollutant and soothing - 19th); and sodium hyaluronate (hydrating - 24th).	When I read milk proteins on a sheet mask, it makes me think the essence will be a creamy or milky serum, a treasure for those of us with dry or dehydrated skin, or really, for anyone who finds their skin looking dull or in need of some nourishment, which could be anyone in the cold, winter months.	Has a cooling and refreshing effect on the skin.	The ingredients really are the stars of this mask. The ingredients list is great, with the key ingredient (green tea extract) being the 4th ingredient listed and a host of other good-for-the-skin ingredients that follow, all of which are vegan. The price point for the mask is very nice too - comparable to many sheet masks from Asian brands.
Area(s) for Improvement:	(i) Denatured alcohol - that it's there and also that it's listed before green tea extract; (ii) added fragrance; (iii) tingling sensation lingers	Most of the key ingredients appear in the middle of the ingredients list. Also, that list includes (i) denatured alcohol; and (ii) added fragrance, neither of which irritated my skin, but I'd prefer a mask not to contain either.	This one had a tingling effect that while not overwhelming, is definitely noticeable. It's recommended that the mask be worn for 5 minutes, which, given the tingling, is probably a good duration.	More accessibility to these masks. Some versions are available through amazon now but it's limited.
Performance + Results:	I experienced some slight and brief tingling around my under eye and cheek bone areas - my skin is normally sensitive in those areas, but the tingling lasted for a while and I removed the mask after about 5 minutes. My skin looked dewy after I removed the mask but it was also slightly pink in those areas where I felt the tingling.	A one-time use isn't going to shed much like on a mask's anti-aging claim.	I didn't notice any mattifying or clarifying from this mask. What I did notice was that there was no stickness after removing the mask and my skin felt lightly hydrated.	My skin felt soft, hydrated and plump afterwards.
Overall Thoughts:	Generally speaking, this Missha mask is what I think of as a standard daily sheet mask. The tingling for me is too much and this isn't one I'd repurchase.	This is one of the first masks from The Crème Shop that I used, following the recommendations of some maskers on BIC, so it holds some nostalgia for me. At that time, it was a mask that I would consider a staple in my collection. It's still what I would consider a good mask, and I'd happily use it again, but having tried other similar masks through the years, there are ones that I prefer more so it's not one I would seek out. ETA: it seems this mask has been discontinued, which actually makes sense because I received it as a surprise gwp in a couple previous orders. FWIW, pre-covid,  a box would pop up occasionally at TJ Maxx or Marshalls.	I haven't tried all the sheet masks in the new clean collection (yet) but of the ones I have tried, I'd classify this one as a good, but not great mask. The tingling keeps it from the great category. I'd use the mask again, but it's not my first choice of the masks in this line.	I'm not aways the biggest fan of foil masks but this one isn't bad. My preference is for 2-piece masks like this one for me, that's an added plus. Results are good and I would probably repurchase but it's not my first choice of mask from within the Whole Foods collection.

All the green tea drinks and treats were tasty, too! 😋 I would definitely repurchase or make them again. 😂

[lmaster]

I have to ask @itsfi what are the food items in your photos??

[itsfi]

@lmaster, love this question!!! ♥️

* upper left (Missha mask) - green tea mochi - a Japanese rice cake with a green tea filling - it's sweet but not overly sweet. Here's a pic of what the inside looks like:

photo from finedininglovers dot com

* lower left (Sephora mask) - green tea ice cream mochi - Japanese rice cake filled with green tea ice cream

[lmaster]

Wow!! I wish I could find items like this around me,, even the bigger towns don't offer anything like this! @itsfi 

[quspork]

This is a really nice comparison, @itsfi. It's a shame there was more tingling with the Missha but at least it didn't seem to leave too much in the way of a negative effect. 

[itsfi]

Thank you @quspork! 🤗 The green tea version was the first from that line of masks where I experienced tingling. Maybe my skin was extra sensitive that day? I have a couple different ones left from that line and if I don’t get any tingling from them, I may try out the green tea mask again at a later time. 

[Shosh85]

@itsfi  That's a lot of Green Tea! 🍵😳 Everything looks so delicious too! 😋

I would agree that these masks would fall under the category of "good but not great." I feel like out all the them, The Creme Shop one is my favorite, but it's been a long time and honestly I might be a little bias since, like you, it was one of the first Creme Shop masks I tried....and I totally forgot about the alcohol! 
Whole Foods has a good, solid line of masks, but I think foil in general is just not my favorite material.

Do you have an all-time favorite Green Tea mask? 

[itsfi]

@Shosh85, I forgot about the alcohol in TCS mask too until I was looking through the ingredients. Alcohol in sheet mask doesn't usually cause issues for me, but I'm incorporating more acids into my routine more frequently so I try to minimize the opportunities to add more things that could potentially dry out my skin. It's dry enough on its own. 😂 I remember doing a comparison of all the TCS green tea sheet masks and this one from the fusion one came out on top so I'm a little bummed that it's no longer being made. 

Ooooh, my favorite green tea mask? Hmmm... 🤔 Wash-off mask would be Origins Ritual-Teas which they don't make any more because ... because of course, they would have discontinued it; I like it, so it has to be discontinued or headed in that directions. 🤣 I didn't discover it until later, too late apparently, and the next thing I know, poof! Gone.

For sheet masks, I like Tosowoong Pure Green Tea Mask - I like most of the masks from that line and that brand in general is one I really enjoy for skincare. I also like that it's $2 regular price. 😉 AmorePacific has a lovely sheet mask too, but that one is $25 and while I like my face, I don't know if I like it enough to use a $25 mask on it regularly. That's just me though. 😄 Besides, green tea extract in that particular AP mask is near the bottom of the inci list and I would splurge on the AmorePacific essence before the sheet mask. I plan on giving the A'Pieu green tea daily sheet mask pack a try later in the year. 

[Shosh85]

@itsfi  Tosowoong makes some nice masks and I think there's only been one so far that I haven't really liked. 
I had no idea AP had a Green Tea sheet mask, but that's probably because I'm cheap and try to ignore the brand. 😂 😆

I had never seen that Origins mask, but I bet I woulda loved it - and OF COURSE it's discontinued, OF COURSE  it is! ☹️

[itsfi]

@Shosh85, I have one sample packet left of that Origins mask and I'm holding onto it, though I may only be able to do that for one more year. My hope is to get my masks stash (wash off and sheet masks) to where I want it sometime this year, then I'll pick up some masks similar to the Origins one and do some testing to see which is the most similar to the Origins. 

[eshoe]

Are those Mochi in the bottom right, @itsfi? My family broke the sugar fast with green tea Mochi - they are too irresistible 💚 Now to go back and read your reviews 😉

[itsfi]

@eshoe, the two photos on the left have mochi in them - the top left, with the Missha sheet mask is green tea mochi (filled with a green tea paste) and the bottom left, with the Sephora Collection Clean matcha tea sheet mask is mochi green tea ice cream. Lots of green tea last week. 🍵 Sorry to hear the fast was broken. I find it can be harder to do the second time around. Going out with green tea mochi isn’t a bad way to go. 😂 Was it mochi ice cream or regular mochi?

[eshoe]

Mochi ice cream, @itsfi - I had no idea Mochi  could be anything else🤦🏻‍♀️ 

The Missha sounds most promising to me, adding it to my to-do list. Looking to add more jojoba into my routine, thank you for the detailed side-by-side comparison!

[ather]

@itsfi  Loving all your pictures super calm feeling! Note to self I need to drink more green tea!!! I was disappointed when you said the creme shop mask was discontinued. I generally enjoy them and I would have seemed it out. I’ll keep my eyes open for it when I’m in the city!

[itsfi]

Thank you @ather! 🤗 I need to up my green tea intake too, so your note to self is a note to myself too 😂 I used to drink green tea all the time. Need to make that a habit again! 🍵 

[quspork]

Playing catch up for a few masks over the last couple of weeks:

1. Dewytree Blooming Ginseng- Loved this one. It has a strong ginseng scent which I love but if you're not a fan of strong scents in general or don't care for ginseng, that's something to watch out for. It left my skin hydrated and feeling nourished. It's a shame I don't see it for sale anywhere besides ebay now (of course), but I would totally buy it again if it wasn't discontinued. 

2. Instree Hyaluronic Acid mask- This one is just ok. I don't love it as much as some other Isntree masks, but it fit alright and did offer hydration so I can't complain too much about it. I would use it again, but won't be running to repurchase. 

3. Beyond Intensive Ampoule Propolis mask- Another good but not great mask. It's a medium thickness cotton sheet with a noticeable woven pattern. The watery serum has a light powdery perfume scent. It added some hydration and a bit of brightness but also has a bit of tack to it after removal. It's not my favorite propolis mask (that honor probably goes to either Papa Recipe or Tosowoong) but it's a good performer. I would use it again if it crossed my path, but I won't purposefully seek it out. 

4. Acure Brightening Under Eye Hydrogels- Unfortunately, these just did not stay put, sliding every which way. They also offered no brightening effect. They may have reduced some puffiness slightly, but that's about it. Wouldn't use again. 

5. Kina Marine Complex mask- This one is pretty interesting with "17 botanical extracts, and a marine complex made with kombu (kelp), algae, and collagen." It was a comfortable fit and I was able to wear it for a while without it drying out. My skin looked nicely hydrated after removal but I think it would require more consistent usage to get the full effect of the various extracts and complexes. I'd use this one again. 

6. TonyMoly Prestige Jeju Snail Mask- Thank you to @itsfi for sending me this one a while back. I will be the first to admit that I'm not usually a fan of TM sheet masks. They just tend to be poor fits and underperformers for me. But this one was actually pretty excellent. The fit was still a bit off for me, but the cotton sheet was comfortable and easily manipulated to make it work. And there was a ton of serum! I feel like I had this mask for quite a long time and it didn't dry out. I felt very moisturized after removing the sheet and my skin felt pretty soft and supple, so I'd definitely use this one again. 

[eshoe]

I’ve found the Beyond masks to be underwhelming too, @quspork. I loved that Dewytree too, what a blah ale it’s been discontinued! Makes me think a good ginseng lip scrub might be good🤔

[quspork]

This Beyond was just meh @eshoe but I have really liked the Herb Garden line that they have. Although those can be pretty fragrant so I can understand why they wouldn't be everyone's cup of tea. 

[ather]

@quspork  Wow great lineup!