Beauty Masks




Objective(s) & Context

  1. Develop the imagination and various perspectives on beauty.

  2. Develop critical-thinking skills with regards to the commercialization of beauty.

  3. Develop solidarity and collaboration throughout the group.

  4. Strengthen positive self-perceptions, self-esteem and body image.

  5. Experience a moment of relaxation and pleasure.

 

Duration

60 minutes

 

Group Size

12–20

Age Group

10-16 years old

 

Skills

Social, Critical-thinking, and Co-operative skills, Reflection

 

Format(s) and Technique(s)

Sharing, small group and large group work, reflecting, collaboration

 

Materials

Black board or flip chart

Chalk or markers

Towels

Napkins

Blender

Table

Table cloth

Avocado

Olive oil

Grapefruit

Lemon

Honey

Eggs

Peaches

Fork

Knives

Bowls

Chopping board

Sink access

Blanket or mattress

Radio and calm music CD’s

Garbage bags

 

Facilitation Tips

  • You may want to ask the group what their favourite quiet/soft/relaxing music artist is beforehand, in order to have music that the girls enjoy.

  • Uncover the supplies only when you are ready to begin making the recipes.

  • The recipes follow the activity.

 

Popular Education Prompts

  • The activity is useful for creating group solidarity and trust among the participants and with the facilitator.

  • This activity can also highlight participants’ perspective on beauty and uncover action strategies and alternatives to commercialized beauty that the participants can share with the group.

 

Leading the Activity: Steps to Take

Preparation:

  1. Arrange the space with the blankets or mattresses on the floor.

  2. Set up the stereo with quiet, relaxing music on pause, ready to play.

  3. Set up the material on the tables.

  4. Cover with blankets.

 

Workshop:

Part 1: Large group discussion (10 minutes)

  1. Write the word BEAUTY on the board.

  2. Discuss beauty by asking the group:

  • What is beauty?

  • When are we beautiful?

  • What products do we associate with beauty? Why?

  • What kind of beauty ideals do these products support? Is this realistic?

  • What is the content of some beauty products? (If possible, have examples of common beauty products to check the content).

  • How much do these products cost?

  • Do we need them to feel beautiful?

  • Is there something you would like to add to the discussion about beauty?

  • Is there a difference in the type of beauty that we are talking about now and the type of beauty that TV and magazines try to sell to us? What are these differences?

  1. Tell the group that we will now make our own inexpensive beauty products just for fun and to continue our learning.

 

Part 2: Masks preparation and application (20 minutes)

  1. Tell the participants that they can use a plastic bag to cover themselves during the activity.

  2. Divide the group into three smaller groups.

  3. Invite each group to follow a different recipe and create their own beauty mask.

  4. Invite the participants to apply the masks to one another, with emphasis on softness, confidence, and mutual respect. This is not the time to put lemon in someone’s eye!

 

Part 3: Relaxation (10 minutes)

  1. When everyone has applied their mask, invite the participants to have a moment of relaxation and reflection in silence with calm music.

 

Part 4: Washing (10 minutes)

  1. Ask the participants to remove one another’s masks.

  2. The participants can try another mask if there is time.

 

Part 5: Back in-group (10 minutes)

  1. Conduct a large group discussion. Ask the group:

  • How was the activity?

  • How did the activity make you feel?

  • Did it make you feel beautiful? Why or why not?

  • Do we need these products or these masks to make us feel beautiful?

  • How can we feel beautiful without them?

  • What do you remember from this activity?

  • What do you remember about beauty?

  • What are the differences between what we talked about in this activity and how beauty is presented on TV and in magazines?

 

Debrief

Ask the participants:

  • Do they have any remaining thoughts of questions about the activity?

  • Can they think of ways that they can share their new knowledge about beauty or take action against the commercialization of beauty?

 

Success Indicators

Participants are:

  • More aware about issues of beauty

  • Connecting with the other group members

  • Able to have different perspectives of beauty

  • Have developed their capacity to question the consumption of beauty products and find alternatives

  • Are laughing and smiling during the activity

 

Source: Geneviève Morand, Authentik Magazine and Spark Media.