💕😌 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 💮

Spoiler

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:

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, 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

Spoiler

2022 Mask of the Week Challenge

Spoiler

2021 Mask of the Week Challenge

Spoiler

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  Not all the EH masks from this line have alcohol - out of the 12 I've tried so far, 6 have alcohol. Artemisia, Green Tea, Lemon, Pearl, Pomegranate and Tea Tree have alcohol- I think the serum in these are more watery. The masks I've tried from this line with milky serum don't have alcohol. I know there are a lot Innisfree masks from the "Real Squeeze" line also have alcohol too. 

[itsfi]

W for wrinkle care, white jade, Weleda, winter, and weightless 😊 

Leaders:

Spoiler

Leaders Insolution Collagen Therapy Skin Clinic Mask is a thin-ish cotton sheet that is heavily saturated in a clear, slightly viscous essence bearing that fresh, bright, signature Leaders sheet mask scent. Adherence is good and a tailored fit can be had with a few snips here and there to the length at the chin and to widen the mouth and eye openings.  With mask that have an anti-aging, or well-aging, claim like this one, I tend to modulate my expectations - it seems a little much to expect that a single use of a sheet mask will result in fine lines and wrinkles being diminished. Occasionally, I've experienced some firming with these types of sheet masks, but for the most part, if hydrated, brightened and more supple skin results from 30 minutes of wear, I consider it a win from sheet masks with similar claims. Here, the Leaders Collagen Therapy Mask delivers in those areas - my currently very parched skin slurped up the general amount of serum from this mask and my skin felt hydrated and more plump, bouncy, which makes sense given the ingredients in the top part of the INCI list including the start ingredient collagen (the water soluble variety) being listed at number 10. It also had tha fresh-faced, dewy glow that is common with using a sheet mask. This is a good every day mask and I wonder if consistent use over a continued period of time might yield more well-aging results. Sounds like that might be a mask worthy experiment for the new year.  Hmmm... In the meantime, this is one I like and would happily use again, but with my current list of masks I'm interested in trying (as well as the ones I know will inevitably pop up), it's probably not one that I will be picking up immediately.

 
Ingredients List:

Spoiler

from Leaders Cosmetics USA

Water, Methylpropanediol, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Dipropylene Glycol, Acer Saccharum (Sugar Maple) Extract, Chamomilla Recutita (Matricaria) Flower Extract, Portulaca Oleracea Extract, 1,2-Hexanediol, Hydrolyzed Collagen Extract, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Betaine, Xanthan Gum, Adenosine, Hydrolyzed Elastin, Sorbitan Isostearate, Polysorbate 60, Caprylyl Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Ecklonia Cava Extract, Artemisia Capillaris Flower Extract, Houttuynia Cordata Extract, Saururus Chinensis Extract, Fragrance, Sodium Hyaluronate, Arnica Montana Flower Extract, Artemisia Absinthium Extract, Achillea Millefolium Extract, Gentiana Lutea Root Extract, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5

Banobagi:  

Spoiler

The clear, viscous essence saturating the slightly thicker leaning Tencel sheet of the Banobagi White Jade Injection Mask bears a lightly prominent but dissipating perfume scent. Adherence was fine, though not the best or softest as far as Tencel masks are concerned. Fit was typical of most sheet masks being an inch too long at the chin and a smidge too wide at the temples, the latter excess not being something worth fussing over. Openings for the eyes and mouth were too narrow for my facial features but nothing a few incisions here and there didn't fix. 

The mask's brightening claims are supported by the INCI list - brightening: niacinamide (3rd), glutathione (6th), licorice root extract (7th), and vitamin C / ascorbic acid (11th). This mask also boasts some excellent ingredients for soothing/calming: bamboo water (4th), allantoin (10th)) and hydration: (glycerin (2nd) and milk protein extract (8th)). Around the 30-minute mark, I could feel the material covering my philtrum area beginning to dry up, which is fairly common, especially in the cooler seasons. There's also a slight tacky-to the-touch feeling that remains even after the essence has dried down and been absorbed into the skin. This is one of those masks that would be good to use as part of a makeup prep routine - skin feels soft, smooth and supple and at the same time, hydrated and with a fresh-faced healthy brightness. 

Ingredients List:  

Spoiler

from Amazon

Water, Glycerin, Methylpropanediol, Niacinamide, Bambusa Vulgaris Water, Glutathione, Glycyrrhiza Glabra (Licorice) Root Extract, Milk Protein Extract, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Allantoin, Ascorbic Acid, Carbomer, Xanthan Gum, Potassium Hydroxide, 1, 2-Hexanediol, Hydroxyacetophenone, Disodium EDTA, Fragrance

Weleda Skin Food Lip Balm is an all-natural, essential oils-based balm is a slightly thicker leaning emollient balm. This does contain lanolin so those sensitive or allergic to that ingredient will want to avoid this one. The lip balm feels nice on my lips and I find it to be hydrating and nourishing, making it nice to help winterproof the lips, though lasting power, while not bad, isn't the greatest - I found that I needed to reapply every 2-3 hours (though to be fair, I'm drinking water consistently during that time (or trying to) so there's some transfer). 

Eco Your Skin:  

Spoiler

One of the things that comes to mind when I think of winter are comfy, cozy blankets. There have been masks that I’ve used through the years that I’ve characterized as feeling like a comfy, cozy blanket. Well, the Eco Your Skin Face Blanket Mask literally holds itself out as being "like a cozy blanket for your face", so I haaaad to get it.

A 2-piece sheet mask, with one side infused with an oil serum and the other side resembling a velvety, dry mask, fit was good on the Eco Your Skin Face Blanket Mask - I didn’t have to make any adjustments (although the length of the nose was on the long side), but the mask’s adherence wasn't the greatest as far as the material for the nose area was concerned, which is a rarity for me. The mask wears comfortably for the entire 30 minutes. Immediately after removing the sheets, my skin feels lightly hydrated and moisturized, with a bit of suppleness to it. 

I've read that this mask can be worn overnight, which runs counter to what I've learned about the do's and dont's of sheet masking, which makes it an even more interesting trait, and one that I am adding to my curated list of my experiments for 2022 - I've already picked up a backup so it'll definitely be something I try out. Overall, this is a nice mask to have but without having tested out the results that may come with leaving it on overnight, it’s currently not one I would necessarily categorize as a must have mask.

 
Ingredients List:  

Spoiler

From Peach & Lily:  

Water/Aqua, Glycerin, Gelatin, Polyvinyl Alcohol, Sorbitol, Sodium Polyacrylate, Arbutin, Tartaric Acid,Butylene Glycol, Natto Gum, Ethyl Hexanediol, Disodium EDTA, PolySorbate 80, 1,2-Hexanediol,Camellia Oleifera Seed Oil, Adenosine, Aluminum Glycinate, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, rh-Oligopeptide-1, Sodium Hyaluronate, Phenoxyethanol, Fragrance/Parfum

Moroccanoil Weightless Hydrating Mask 8.5 oz/ 250 mL has a lightweight, whipped texture, white color, and a strong floral scent that remains, though more mildly, after rinsing out the product from the hair. The product thins out with water as it is applied to the hair, acts as a good detangler and leaves hair feeling soft, smooth and moisturized with a healthy shine and movement to it. The initial dose of fragrance on this one is a bit strong for my taste, but I do like the results from this hair mask. That said, I have so many hair products (and especially hair masks) to work through and am putting myself on a no buy for hair masks until I make a dent in my stash.

[missy94612]

@itsfi  

I am all for a 'face blanket' especially with this cold weather.

[itsfi]

Haha @missy94612! 🤣 I love soft, thin sheet masks that hug the contour of the face and feel like second skin. I usually have an expectation of that cozy cocoon feel if a mask is made of Tencel (or eucalyptus fibers). Or, when it's marketed as a "face blanket". Hard to turn down a "face blanket" mask, especially with my dry skin, but I hear ya, when it's cold, it just sounds so inviting!

[quspork]

"Face blanket" just sounds amazing. I think we need more face blanket marketing in the mask arena,  @itsfi. 😂

[itsfi]

@quspork, that is a brilliant strategy!! 💡 If I saw “face blanket” on a mask, I would, at the very least, stop to take a deeper look at it. 🧐 And the odds are the mask is coming home with me once I do that. 🤣

[lmaster]

@itsfi great variety for W week!! I'm with you,, I'm trying to get through masks in general before I buy more

[itsfi]

@lmaster, thank you! There’s always some letters of the alphabet that I can ger more masks in than others.

[Kim888]

@itsfi have you tried the Charlotte Tilbury Instant Magic Facial Dry Sheet Mask 1 mask ? The eco mask sounds sort of similar to that, I’m wondering if they are! I liked the Charlotte tilbury one but I found the scent a bit overwhelming so it would be cool to have another option. 

Instant magic is a big promise but it sounds like it lived up to the hype! 

[itsfi]

@Kim888, I have tried the CT dry mask, when it was first released. The side of the Eco Your Skin mask that faces out feels like the outside of the CT dry mask. The side of the Eco Your Skin mask that is meant to be applied against the skin, however, resembles a hybrid of a biocellulose mask and a traditional lotion/cream serum saturated sheet mask - like a biocellulose in that the serum is infused in the mask and not really noticeable until worn - there’s no serum oozing or dripping from the sheet. Like a traditional sheet mask in that when you apply it against the skin you can feel the serum / essence (as opposed with biocellulose masks where I don’t always feel the serum until after I removed the mask and feel some remaining atop my face). 

[Kim888]

Oh wow that sounds super interesting @itsfi!! Thanks for sharing !! 

[nuinui933]

@itsfi a warm cozy blanket is definitely wintery. The white jade one looks cool with part of the syringe glowing like that. Is it lit up on the packaging in real life?

[itsfi]

@nuinui933, this time of the year, I have blankets everywhere around the house. lol. I think that package on that Banobagi mask turned out that way because of the lighting in the room or maybe the flash from my camera, because it doesn't light up or glow like that in real life. I'll have to see if I have another one of these masks or if I have one of the other 3 varieties - and will try taking another photo. 

[Shosh85]

@itsfi  These all sound like some decent masks! The plump, bouncy, and dewyness of the Leaders mask sounds pretty nice! 😃

[itsfi]

@Shosh85, I was pleasantly surprised by the Leaders mask. I shouldn’t have been though - that brand has really been good to my skin over the years.

When I first started masking, Leaders probably made up a good 70-80% of the sheet masks in my stash; been thinking a lot recently about how to incorporate more of them back into my mask collection and still have a good mix of new masks or masks from new brands, without having a stash that is out of control - been there, done that and don’t want to do it again if I can help it. 😉 Ohhh, the decisions to be made. 🤣  I hadn’t tried this one until now; definitely one worth using again. 

[Shosh85]

@itsfi  Yeah, when I was new to masking, Leaders was one of my favorite mask brands, but after years of masking, that has changed. I still like them, they're just not a "love" anymore. I think that's due to the fragrance in most of the ones I've tried. My favorite Leaders mask so far is probably the "Juicy Pina Colada Bright Mask" - it's smells sooo good and has great results.

So, I'm sure you knew this was coming, 😉 but what has been your favorite Leaders mask? 

[itsfi]

I need to use that Leaders pina colada mask again @Shosh85! I remember it smelling really good! 

"So, I'm sure you knew this was coming, 😉 but what has been your favorite ..." 

😂🤣😂🤣😂🤣

Yes!! And I looooove that for as many years as we've been masking and posting here that we still ask that question. Hahaha! I have two favorites, in the order I discovered them: (1) Leaders Aquablend Oil Pocket Mask (Nourishing) - in the brown packet though the moisturizing/hydrating version in the blue packet is also nice and (2) Leaders 17V Derma Pibu Wang Mask - the one with the cat on it. This one isn't on the Leaders site anymore and on iHerb it says it's been discontinued. Huh? I wonder if they are redesigning the package though - my wishful thinking coming into play. Ugh, another mask being discontinued. 😣 I did find a set of 5 on Soko Glam site and while I wasn't planning on buying until I finished up with the sheet masks I recently hauled, I'm making an exception here if it's being discontinued! So to your question, I guess I don't have a favorite Leaders mask anymore. Sigh. 

This has (sadly) been discontinued for at least a year now...

What?!!! It looks like this one is discontinued too!!! WHAT?!!!

[Shosh85]

@itsfi  Oh, I loved that White Truffle Oil one too! I had no idea it was discontinued, but I guess I'm not too surprised! 😕

[itsfi]

@Shosh85, it was one of the first, if not the first, oil serum sheet masks I used. The good news is that more brands have oil serum sheet masks in their collections now. 

Yes, of course, these would be discontinued. Maybe I'll just start applying a reserve psychology approach to reviewing masks since there are some masks that are passes for me that continue to stick around while so many of the ones I consider favorites have gone on to be discontinued. 😆

[Kim888]

W is for Watermelon 

Spoiler

Creme shop watermelon and kombucha sheet mask. 

Like other creme shop masks, the fit was slightly large but the mask itself was soft and well saturated. This had a sweet watermelon scent. 

i liked this better than the other fusion one with matcha I tried. This one was non irritating and very hydrating. 

overall, nothing super exciting but a good staple mask, I would use again. 

 

[lmaster]

This one sounds great @Kim888 always nice to have a good staple when you need it