💕😌 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💗

[greeneyedgirl107]

@lmaster I've been wondering about the Origins one for ages.  I think that will be the next one I try!  Glad it has your endorsement 🙂

[lmaster]

@greeneyedgirl107 this is one I've repurchased many times 😊

[Shosh85]

@greeneyedgirl107  So glad to hear the Innisfree mask is working out so well for you! I'm not sure if you've had a chance to look up the ingredients, but when I was skimming through reviews I read that some people aren't happy about it containing Walnut Shell Powder - do you know anything about that ingredient? 

[greeneyedgirl107]

@Shosh85 I don't know anything about walnut shell powder.  The only thing I can think of is how back in the day companies apparently used to make their scrubs with ground walnut shells and apparently they were really abrasive.  I don't have an issue with it in the mask thus far, especially since I'm not using it as a scrub.  

Side note: I wish scrubs were grittier.  For me, what aggravates my skin isn't the abrasiveness, but rather the fragrance/other irritants when paired with a scrub.  I think companies are attacking things from the wrong angle in some regards.

[Shosh85]

@greeneyedgirl107  I remember a lot people complaining when the Origins Dragonfruit mask came out because of the walnut pieces in it. I didn't have any opinion about it, except for that I prefer grittiness over chunkiness. 😉

 Oh, and don't get me started on fragrance! It's super annoying how many products there are that are just overwhelmed with fragrance (I can't stand anything floral) 😐 I can totally see how the combo of abrasiveness + fragrance could be a major irritant. 
All that aside, I'm happy to hear this one worked out so well for you! I know I've heard plenty others here who have liked it as well. I'll definitely have to try it out soon! 😃

[greeneyedgirl107]

@Shosh85 Yeah, it really bugs me that I see many ingredients demonized yet so many people don't seem to mind the addition of fragrance.  

Sorry about the maskne.  That's one thing I've been able to avoid - go figure!

[Shosh85]

@greeneyedgirl107  Good for you on avoiding maskne! If I remember correctly, you work in healthcare?

I actually don't have any acne at the moment and fortunately don't have to wear a mask very often because I am a stay-at-home mom with two autistic kids (who won't tolerate mask wearing), so we don't really go anywhere, lol 😅 I mostly just use clay masks as a spot treatment, because my dry skin can't usually handle a full face of clay. 😉

[itsfi]

@greeneyedgirl107, we're clay mask twinsies! 😁 That Innisfree mask has been a staple in my rotation for the last 4-5 weeks! I alternate between using it as a spot treatment and with slathering it on all over my lower T-zone and jawline. 

[greeneyedgirl107]

@itsfi I totally trust your insight into masks!

[itsfi]

@greeneyedgirl107, I guess we’ll have to thank my acne / maskne here. Hahaha! 😆 Skincare is so hit or miss and trial and error. It’s nice to have each other and our collective experiences to draw on! 😃

[greeneyedgirl107]

@itsfi You're so right!

[itsfi]

Another vitamins mask from last week, with a strawberry theme! 🍓

Strawberries are a good source of a host of vitamins, including vitamins A, B1, B2, B6, B9 (folate), C & E.  Armed with that knowledge and inspired by the first strawberries from our strawberry plant (pictured right there), I reached for the Etude House 0.2mm Therapy Air Mask - Strawberry for @Kim888 's vitamins challenge last week. 

tl;dr: Soft, super thin (0.2mm) sheet mask soaked in a clear, slightly viscous watery ampoule-type essence with a slightly synthetic scent (sadly, resembling nothing at all like strawberries) that leaves skin hydrated with a dewy glow, making it an ideal mask to include in a skincare routine before applying makeup.

Sheet Mask:

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What Is It? This exceedingly thin (0.2mm) Etude House 0.2mm Therapy Air Mask - Strawberry is saturated in a clear, slightly viscous watery ampoule-type essence that claims to brighten and revitalize skin. There's a quickly dissipating synthetic scent to it that sadly does not resemble anything like strawberries at all.

What I Liked: Adherence on this mask is wonderful, as expected, given how thin and soft the material is. Fit isn't bad - it's too wide at the temples, but not so wide that it made it uncomfortable to leave it be and about an inch too long at the chin and jawline. I made the slightest incision to the lower inner corners of the eye openings, to help the mask lay flat against the skin.

Results-wise, my skin felt well hydrated after an half hour of wear. There's a slight tacky-to-the-touch feel to the skin even after the excess essence has completely absorbed. There's also a dewiness to my skin that makes my skin and foundation just look ... better. 

Area(s) for Improvement: It wasn't an issue for me, but alcohol is the 5th ingredient listed, so for those who are allergic, sensitive or just seeking to avoid alcohol in sheet masks (tagging @Shosh85, @lmaster @ather), this mask might be one to pass on. 

My Two Cents: The masks in the Etude House 0.2mm Therapy Air Masks would make for good sheet masks for daily use. One of my goals as I work towards the end of my sheet mask stash is to go through the ones I have from this range and decide which one(s) I like and which I will keep permanently in my collection for those periods when I want to do a little daily sheet masking. This strawberry varietal is one that would be very nice to use as part of the skincare prep before applying makeup. 

Ingredients:

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from etude (dot) com

WATER, DIPROPYLENE GLYCOL, METHYLPROPANEDIOL, NIACINAMIDE, ALCOHOL, GLYCERIN, HYDROXYETHYL UREA, BIOSACCHARIDE GUM-1, BUTYLENE GLYCOL, 1,2-HEXANEDIOL, FRAGARIA CHILOENSIS (STRAWBERRY) FRUIT EXTRACT(2,500ppm), ARGININE, HYDROXYETHYLCELLULOSE, ALLANTOIN, ACRYLATES/C10-30 ALKYL ACRYLATE CROSSPOLYMER, GLYCYRRHIZA GLABRA (LICORICE) ROOT EXTRACT, COPTIS JAPONICA ROOT EXTRACT, ZINGIBER OFFICINALE (GINGER) ROOT EXTRACT, CAMELLIA SINENSIS LEAF EXTRACT, DEHYDROACETIC ACID, SODIUM HYALURONATE, DISODIUM EDTA, DIPOTASSIUM GLYCYRRHIZATE, POLYGLYCERYL-10 LAURATE, POLYGLYCERYL-10 MYRISTATE, CAPRYLIC/CAPRIC TRIGLYCERIDE, BOSWELLIA SERRATA GUM, HYDROGENATED LECITHIN, BETA-GLUCAN, LAVANDULA ANGUSTIFOLIA (LAVENDER) OIL, EUCALYPTUS GLOBULUS LEAF OIL, PINUS PALUSTRIS OIL, CITRUS NOBILIS (MANDARIN ORANGE) OIL, CITRUS LIMON (LEMON) FRUIT EXTRACT, PHYTOSTERYL/OCTYLDODECYL LAUROYL GLUTAMATE, CERAMIDE NP, LIMONENE

Lip Care:

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The 2-in-1 aspect of the Kaja Strawberry Rose Balmy Bento Lip Balm + Scrub caught my eye. The top container consists of the lip balm, while the bottom houses the lip scrub. Both are lightweight in consistency. With the balm, you have to break through the product to really get the balm out.

The lip scrub, on the other hand, comes out easily. It has a jelly like consistency and contains very fine scrubby granules. The scrubbies here are too fine, in my min, be used on their own. The exfoliation it provides is extremely gentle, so if you have sensitive lips or just prefer a super gentle exfoliation, this Kaja balm + scrub set might be just what you're looking for. To me thought, the lip scrub would benefit from a lip scrubber, either in the form of an actual lip scrubber like the lip-shaped silicone one contained in the KNC Beauty lip scrub set or the Sephora Collection lip scrubber. Alternatively, a toothbrush would work just as well. 

Kaja Lip Bento Balm + Scrub Strawberry Rose 

[Shosh85]

@itsfi  Thanks for the heads up! I have this one, so it's nice to have an idea what I'll be getting myself into. 😉 I'm not totally opposed to using masks with alcohol, I just try to be careful how often I use them ...... although if this mask had a delicious strawberry scent, it would totally make up for the alcohol to me 😆 Glad this one was at least decent for you! I still have more from the line to try, but my most favorite has definitely been the snail one! 🐌

[itsfi]

@Shosh85, "deliciously strawberry scented sheet mask" will be on my list of masks to keep an eye out for this year. Can you imagine one of those paired with the Skinfood black sugar strawberry wash off mask? All we would need to round it out would be a strawberry scented hair mask. Okay, that'll be my mission for 2021. Find those two things. Got it. 😁

[Shosh85]

@itsfi  I'd love to find a good strawberry scented sheet mask, 🍓but oh, that Skinfood mask smells amazing! I haven't found a Strawberry hair mask, but I did just buy the new Watermelon hair mask from Garnier Fructis and it smells SO good! 

[itsfi]

Ooooouuuuh!!!! 😍😍 Did you pick up the large tub of the watermelon hair mask or the smaller sized one @Shosh85? I bet it smells amazing!!! 🍉

[Shosh85]

@itsfi  I got the large one because that's all they had - but that's ok, it'll definitely get used 😃🍉

[itsfi]

Lol @Shosh85! 😂 I’ve no doubt it will get used! 😆 I’ve only seen the large one in stores. If you love it, I may pick it up when I get through one of the larger sized hair masks I already have open.

[eshoe]

Hmmmm the Kaja looks cute for sure, @itsfi! The scrub sounds similar to the consistency of Bite Beauty Agave+ Weekly Vegan Lip Scrub 0.7 oz/ 20 g, but with much smaller granules. Kind of a challenge to use, given how thick and goopy it is. 

Your strawberry looks happy and healthy, too!

[itsfi]

@eshoe, the consistency of the Kaja is more of a jelly-like texture to it, not at all like the Bite scrub, or at least the versions of it that I've used - the older one, in a tube and stick form. I find that adding a little olive oil to the Bite scrub helps with its consistency and how easily it is to apply it over the lips.

[lmaster]

Thanks for the heads up @itsfi strawberry does sound delicious though 🤤