Feedback Wanted: TeamBIC’s 2023 Holiday Gratis Thread

[TeamBIC]

It’s the holiday season, BIC! ⛄❄️ This year, we gave select members a chance to unbox 10 days of Community Faves as a token of our appreciation for their participation in the Beauty Insider Community. Community Favorites are some of the most talked-about products among members, and we thought we would celebrate these tried-and-true holy grails by gifting them to some of you! 🎁

This thread is a place for those who are receiving these goodies from us to share their gratis – though this won’t be your traditional unboxing. 😉 Without giving too much away, we are highlighting 10 days’ worth of Community Faves, meaning that you’ll have 10 Sephora products to unveil across 10 days … should you choose to refrain from opening them all at once (no judgement either way 😄).

Though our recipients’ packages may take varying time to get delivered, they should all arrive before mid-December. 💙 While you’re free to begin unboxing your gratis as you wish when you receive it, we are challenging you to post photos and share your thoughts on each of the products according to the schedule below so we can all experience the unboxing magic together (starting with the gift labeled “Day 1”)! You can absolutely post product photos and reactions earlier if you like – we might just suggest hiding them behind a spoiler tab to keep the surprise alive for fellow recipients who are still on their unboxing journey. 🙏

• Day 1: Monday, 12/11
• Day 2: Tuesday, 12/12
• Day 3: Wednesday, 12/13
• Day 4: Thursday, 12/14
• Day 5: Friday, 12/15
• Day 6: Saturday, 12/16
• Day 7: Sunday, 12/17
• Day 8: Monday, 12/18
• Day 9: Tuesday, 12/19
• Day 10: Wednesday, 12/20

Happy holidays - we can’t wait to see your photos and hear your reactions to the products you receive! ✨ Hit the “Reply” button and don’t forget to use the “#” symbol to tag any Community Favorites you mention.

[itsfi]

Day 1: Holiday Gratis Unboxing 2023

Spoiler

I'm a fan of masks. Maybe an understatement? I have a special fondness for sheet masks, too, though lately I've been using more multi-mask packs and not masking as frequently as I have in the past, which in some years, has been every day. 

Full disclosure, I received this grapefruit mask in a previous gratis, late spring 2020. It's awesome that I received another one, and at this time of the year, late fall 2023. My skin type and concerns are different now than they were back when I first used it and this first gift has given me an opportunity to give this mas another go. Thanks so much @TeamBIC! 😍

Here's a quick rundown of how this mask performed compared to when I first used it in May 2020.
TL;DR: Performed pretty much the same as it did when I first received this mask, except that this go around, I did not experience any tingling and did not pick up the citrus scent I did previously. Results-wise, same as before - soft, supple, hydrated skin and a brightened, fresh faced complexion. 👍

Grapefruit Mask	Spring 2020	Fall 2023 (Holiday Gratis 10 Days of Unboxing)
Skin Type:	Combo - oily T-zone + dry cheeks	Normal to dry
Skin Concerns:	Dehydrated, acne-prone, with  clogged pores along jawline, redness on cheeks and around nose	Dehydrated, uneven tone, redness around nose
Material:	Soft, thin eucalyptus fiber	Soft, thin eucalyptus fiber
Adherence:	Good	Good
Fit:	Too long at chin; cut out for eyes and mouth slightly wider than most sheet masks	Too long at chin; opening for eyes & mouth are wider than most sheet masks, but requires some snips here and there for materials to lie flat at corner of eyes, nose & mouth
Essence / Serum:	Clear, slightly viscous liquid	Clear, slightly viscous liquid
Scent:	Soft burst of citrus, lingers slightly after applying mask	Fresh, clean scent, but didn't pick up any citrus notes; dissipated quickly - could not pick up on smell once sheet applied to face
Performance (10 minutes wear):	Slight tingling felt during the entire wear time; mild cooling effect after removing mask. Any excess serum absorbed quickly & easily.	Wore comfortably; did not experience any tingling this time. Excess serum absorbed quickly & easily.
Results:	Skin felt soft, lightly hydrated, with a little bounce to it. Complexion looked fresh faced, clear & bright.	Skin felt hydrated, soft & supple. Complexion had that brightened & more awake, refreshed look to it.

 SEPHORA COLLECTION Clean Face Mask Grapefruit 

 Wow, off to such a fun start. Excited to see what more we have in store! 

[fatimamummy]

OMG! @itsfi I love your photos! Your props are so beautiful, festive and on point. Your comparison reviews are very helpful to see they have improved the formula over time to reduce scent that I appreciate.

[itsfi]

Thank you, thank you @fatimamummy! This was a fun way to start off the unboxing!

[Cissy63]

@itsfi  Wonderful pictures!  And very through review 😃

[itsfi]

Thank you @Cissy63! A couple of my favorite things - photos and masks - all courtesy of the first day of gratis! What a fantastic gift! 

[Loretta55]

I’m also looking forward to seeing what other treats @TeamBIC has in store for us! Great notes! 

[itsfi]

Thank you @Loretta55; it's been great to see everyone's unboxing and thoughts on the goodies. 

[CookieGirl1]

@itsfi I want to eat your picture.  

[itsfi]

lol @CookieGirl1; thank you. Something to add to the list for the next set of groceries.

[JoSometimes]

Wooow @itsfi! You have some VERY detailed notes. I love your grapefruit themed photo. Kinda wish I had some actual grapefruit right now… 😋

[itsfi]

@JoSometimes, I did a fair amount of themed masking sessions. I still do but just not as frequently of late and keep my notes on  mask on a spreadsheet or in a sheet mask or skincare journal. Ahhh, grapefruit, only a grocery visit away! 🛒 I'm actually trying to think of what to do with all this grapefruit in the house - maybe a granita? Or maybe a grapefruit sauce of some sort over a protein for dinner?

[JoSometimes]

@itsfi If you have a lemon-butter-fish recipe you like, you could try substituting the lemon for your abundance of grapefruit. There’s also infused water if you have some other fruits lying around. 

[itsfi]

@JoSometimes, thank you. I tried grapefruit infused water a couple of times last month. I tend to do better with oranges or lemons or limes or all three combined when it comes to  citrus fruit infused water. The grapefruit taste didn’t come through as clearly. I may try it again.

[lmaster]

@itsfi I love how organized you are ☺️ sooooo visually appealing 

[itsfi]

@lmaster, thank you. You can probably appreciate this - the sheer number of sheet mask in a stash can make it overwhelming. 😆 Charts help, both for keeping track of how a mask performs - I’ve lost count of how many times I’d pick up the same mask over and over again only to realize “ohhh, this wasn’t one I wanted to use again / purchase again” 😜 😂 

[Buootiful]

Wonderful pictures as usual. Thanks for the detailed notes. I'm kinda scared to try the mask ☺️ @itsfi 

[itsfi]

Awww thank you @Buootiful! Scared because of the slimy-ness of a sheet mask or scared because of the possibility of tingling? Or some other reason?

[Buootiful]

I'm scared of it irritating my skin 😞 @itsfi 

[itsfi]

Oh @Buootiful, I understand. Are you or are you aware of any sensitivity to any of the ingredients? Or are you ordinarily sensitive or allergic to vitamin C or citrus?

[Buootiful]

@itsfi I'm scared of the vitamin c in the form of grapefruit. But I think I will use it as a hand mask😁.

[itsfi]

Using it as a hand mask is a fantastic idea @Buootiful!