Capsule Makeup Collection Challenge 2025

[itsfi]

Happy New Year, BIC! It's year 2 of the capsule makeup challenge. 

What is this challenge about?

It's a mix of curating a group of products that are "must haves" for you and your lifestyle and shopping your stash by putting your beauties to use and seeing what, if anything, you need to declutter from your stash and/or to fill out your collection. 

How does this work?

To add a little bit of fun and creativity to curating a makeup capsule, there will be a weekly theme or prompt on which that week's group of beauty products will touch upon. There's no need to have every single product for the week fit the theme exactlay. All you need is one product. And, truth be told, how that product fits into the weekly theme is subject to interpretation. Yours, primarily. So, please  feel free to be creative. For example, last year for "green" week, there were a host of possibilities for what it means for a product to be "green" - capsules that included one or more products that were (a) green in color; (b) "clean"; (c) contained in green packaging or that (d) cost a lot of "green" 💸💸💸 fit the bill. 😉 For more examples, you might want to check out last year's thread - Capsule Makeup Collection Challenge 2024 to see what beauty products others in the Community have used and posted about. 

When and where are/will the weekly themes posted?

The weekly themes are (or will be) included in the original post - under the section titled "Current Makeup Capsule Theme" or "Upcoming Makeup Capsule Theme". Occasionally, I will post a link to a separate post with the monthly themes.

▶️  CURRENT MAKEUP CAPSULE THEME   

Week 11 (March 10 - 16) - The Samples Makeup Capsule  and/or The "Attitude of Gratitude" Makeup Capsule

• Capsule Theme 1: The Samples Makeup Capsule - Got any makeup samples lying around that you've been wanting to try? Put together a capsule with one or more makeup samples. Here's your chance to shine a spotlight on your stash of samples. And, after you make your way through your samples, consider heading over to the Foil Challenge to share your thoughts on foils you've used up or on your way to using up via your samples capsule.

• Capsule Theme 2: The "Attitude of Gratitude" Makeup Capsule - Put together a capsule with one or more makeup product(s) for which you are thankful / grateful. It could be a product you love, a product that expresses who you are, that brings back a pleasant memory. It could be a product gifted to you or sent to you in PR, or a makeup product that helps you put together a look that expresses who you are, or that has special meaning to you. 

This theme comes from a prompt we did last year in connection with the respective Thanksgiving holidays in Canada and the US - makeup products I'm thankful for", but I thought, why not include a similar theme earlier in the year as well? The spirit of Thanksgiving or an attitude of gratitude doesn't need to be limited to once a year. 

OPTIONAL (month-long theme): We're having another month-wide theme in March in celebration of Women's History Month. For this month, in addition to the weekly themes, consider incorporating into your weekly capsules, one or more beauty products from a woman-founded / owned beauty brand. 

UPCOMING Makeup Capsule Themes: [Updated 3.9.2025]

Spoiler

🌷  Week 12 (March 17 - 23) - The "Spring Is In The Air" Makeup Capsule  

Spring has officially arrived (or will on March 20) and it's time to pull out those makeup products that give you those springtime feels. Maybe that means a pop of pastel to your eyes, or cheeks, or lips. Or, maybe your spring look is one you wear year round. Whatever the case may be, let's put together a capsule with one or more makeup products that makes you think of spring.

🎬  Week 13 (March 24 - March 30) -  The "Take 2" / Do Over" Makeup Capsule 

Was/Is there a previous capsule theme from this year's challenge that you'd like to give a second take, that you'd like to have a do over, be it because you loved the theme, or you have another way you want to approach the capsule, or you were unable to do a capsule the original week it was in the spotlight and you'd like another chance at it? Whatever the reason, here's your opportunity to create (or re-create) a capsule with one of this year's previous themes. Don't remember the capsule themes we've done to date? Check out the spoiler section for "Previous Makeup Capsule Themes" below. 

⏩  April Capsule Themes will be posted at or before the end of Week 12.

Previous Capsule Themes: [Updated: 3.9.2025]

Spoiler

1 - The "New Year, New-To-You" Makeup Capsule  
2 - The "Mocha Mousse" Inspired Makeup Capsule
3 - The "Favorite Feature(s) Focus" Makeup Capsule  
4 - The "How Low Can I Go?" Makeup Capsule
5 - The "Lunar New Year 2025 Zodiac Sign Lucky Colors" Makeup Capsule  

February 2025 Capsule Themes
6 - The "Black Founded/Owned Beauty Brand(s)" Makeup Capsule
7 - The "Dynamic Duo, Trusted Trio or Killer Combo" Makeup Capsule
8 - The "New York Fashion Week Inspired" Makeup Capsule and/or The "Celeb-Inspired" Makeup Capsule
9 - The Throwback Makeup Capsule
10 - The "International Women Founded / Owned Beauty Brand" Makeup Capsule and/or The Palette(s) Makeup Capsule

Additional FAQs

Spoiler

Why weekly? 
Years ago, beauty & lifestyle blogger Serein Wu, did a weekly series (on her blog and YouTube channel), Makeup Bag Monday, where she rotated her makeup bag each week with new product launches and makeup already in her collection. Every Monday, she shared the products she selected for the upcoming week and provided detailed makeup reviews on the makeup she used for the previous week. My reviews here will likely not be as detailed, but I will at least try to include a few thoughts about the products at the end of the week or beginning of the next week.  If weekly works for you, great. If not, feel free to join in based on what works best for you. 

Having a weekly capsule at the ready at (or near) the beginning of the week has also been helpful with making getting ready in the morning easier and more efficient, and that, has made it more fun too. It's also a great way for me to see how well a product performs with other products and that makes the decision to keep, donate, re-home or toss an item a lot easier. Also want to note that if the makeup for the week's capsule is not something you want to use for the entire week, that's fine, too. I generally use the makeup in the week's capsule 4-6 days during the week, sometimes more, sometimes less. 

When are the weekly themes posted?
I generally try to post the themes for the next month about two weeks before the start of that next month (so around the 15th of each month, give or take a few days), except that, for this month, weekly themes for weeks 2 thru 5 for January will be posted by or before end of the day on January 2. Weekly themes are updated at the end of the then current week (e.g., Sunday). This year, I will plan to update the weekly themes the Sunday before the start of the next week's theme, around 9pm Pacific / 10pm Mountain / 11pm Central / 12midnight Eastern Time.

What if I don't have enough products to fit the theme for a full face?

There's need for your entire makeup capsule to fit the weekly theme(s). Just one item will do. And, even if you don't have one that fits squarely within a theme, feel free to post your makeup capsule. We'd love to see what you're using and hear your feedback on the products as you put them to use - are they a favorite or a potential favorite? Are they just 'meh'? Or, is it time to declutter the item(s) from your stash?

Is there anything else I should include in my capsule?
It's all up to you what to include in your capsule. Some weeks, my capsule consists of completely different items than the week before. Other weeks, I've swapped out just a few items or have included additional items in one category of products - some of us refer to this as giving us options for the week. 

You may see reference to "fits." That was creatively coined by our fabulous @danielledanielle and refers to the bag or component that will hold the week's makeup and, specifically, does all the makeup for the week's capsule fit into the bag / storage component. You ca also include the makeup brushes and tools you use for application, if you wish.

[itsfi]

Week 11 (March 10 - 16) - The Samples Makeup Capsule  and/or The "Attitude of Gratitude" Makeup Capsule

This is one of two capsules I will put to use during the week - samples and (mostly) women-founded/owned beauty brands. I considered doing a capsule consisting of sample size and full size Dior products, but ultimately came up with this set of beauties. I have several fo the Dior foundation packets and and am doing some testing to see which, if any, of these items I will take with me on a couple of excursions later in the year. Will be back later to tag products and give my thoughts on certain items. 

• DIOR Dior Forever Glow Veil Makeup Primer 1oz / 30ml - some sample packets contain the primer; others do not. The majority of mine do and I like the Dior primer; it pairs nicely with the foundation in this packet.
• DIOR Dior Forever Skin Glow Hydrating Foundation is one of my fave foundations
• HAUS LABS BY LADY GAGA Triclone Skin Tech Hydrating + De-puffing Concealer with Fermented Arnica was in my top 5 concealers from last year and I'll use this to conceal some PIH (post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation aka dark spot after a pimple) and redness around my nose
• I'm going with Westman Atelier Vital Pressed Skincare Blurring Talc-Free Setting Powder Translucent to set. This'll be my first time using this setting powder. I have the Charlotte Tilbury Mini Airbrush Flawless Setting Spray 1.1 oz/ 34 ml as a backup. Or maybe I'll use both?
• For eyes, I'm going with a couple of sticks - Victoria Beckham in Trench and Bobbi Brown Long-Wear Waterproof Cream Eyeshadow Stick Golden Bronze. These two sticks are ones I can usually get away with not using a primer for my lids. We shall see if that holds true; if not, I'll use the concealer and setting powder to primer my lids.
• Through BALETTE ROYALE: Showdown of the Shadows, I've discovered that the Danessa Myricks Beauty Linework Paintbrush Fluid Liquid Eyeliner 0.034 oz / 1 ml has been a good one for me to do a mini wing. I want to practice a wing a couple of times this week. 
• Danessa Myricks Beauty Infinite Chrome Waterproof Micropencil Eyeliner Bronzite 
• HAUS LABS BY LADY GAGA B Structural Volumizing and Lengthening Mascara Black Onyx is still in the testing phases. I ended up reaching for other brands more last week and want to give it a decent trial.
• Kosas Air Brow Tinted Clean Volumizing Eyebrow Gel - I need to go back and see if this was included in @ather brow gel battle. I feel like she's used it before and liked it, along with other BIC members. Hoping these blister samples of the product haven't dried out. 🤞 
•  ISAMAYA 5 Point Lift Color Correcting Concealer with Caffeine Fair - my sleep pattern hasn't been great lately so my undereye area could use some help.
• All my cheek products this week will be from the Dior sample packet, which contains DIOR Forever Glow Maximizer Longwear Liquid Highlighter 014 Rosy (blush / blushlight); DIOR Forever Glow Maximizer Longwear Liquid Highlighter 013 Gold (highlighter); and DIOR Forever Glow Maximizer Longwear Liquid Highlighter 016 Bronze (bronzer / bronzelight). I have full sizes of 014 Rosy and 016 Bronze and now they'll work well for me. We shall see how 013 gold performs.
• Giving about-face Lip Fix Lip Primer a try - their eyeshadow primer works very well so I have high hopes for this one, but it'll be tough to beat MAC Prep + Prime.
• Another Dior sample packet, this time for lips. I love the formula for these - DIOR Dior Addict Shine Lipstick; shades are Dior 8, 100 Nude Look, 525 Cherie andd 720 Icone. I have 100 Nude Look and 720 Icone in full sizes so I will probably stick with the other two shades. I say "probably" because both are red or red-adjacent and I'm not sure I'm up for a week full of red lips, but we shall see. I can do a stain with them if I want a more toned-down red lip. 💄
• Perfumes are a plenty, but the sample sized one is Miss Dior Blooming Bouquet.

[danielledanielle]

I love all the Dior satchets! They are really nice for traveling, too @itsfi ... Work them foils!

[itsfi]

Satchets!!! That's a better name for them @danielledanielle. I feel like the only Dior products that I don't (currently have samples of are liners/pencils - for brow, eye and lip. Oh and powder, but I had one at some point way back when. 🤣  I do appreciate the generous amount of products in these satchets. 

Foils. Project Pan. Palettes. Etc. You'd think with all these things I need to work on using or using up, I wouldn't be inclined to buy more things. 😂 

[ather]

@itsfi  Wow that capsule is amazing! I love that you incorporated foils too! Such a great idea! Those Dior products look awesome! Great job! 

[itsfi]

@ather, I need to put these makeup samples to use. It's funny that I picked up full sizes before the samples with these Dior products. It's the opposite of Love At First Sample. And, yet, it's more my MO - I get a full size, love/like it a lot and then go for foil or deluxe sample sizes. Hahaha! It's nice to have them for trips or to just keep in my purse, in a desk for those moments when I need some makeup but didn't pack anything. I mean, suuuure, those moments don't come up too often but I do like to be prepared. 😂

[blackkitty2014]

Week 10 (International Women Owned brand):This was a truly no brained week. We have so many power houses. 

it’s official that I need a nude is my favorite palette from ND. Chantecaille Holiday duos are super great. I recommend them if you can get them on discount. VBB eyeliners are simply the best. I like them more than Chanel eye liners . Picture here is only one but of course I use more than 1 color 😘 I totally forget about I owe many many CT pop blushes. Picture here are only 3 but I pretty much used 7 different colors. Sorry I put them away and don’t want to dig any more stuffs out. Unrelated story: I dug all my makeup out to find my lost Hermes LE highlighter and still couldn’t find it. I must accidentally throw it away. I feel so dumb. It’s expensive as heck and I only swatch or wear it once.

[itsfi]

Gorgeous, gorgeous capsule @blackkitty2014‌‌ ❣️ I'm spying some significant dents in a couple of the shadows in ND I Need A Nude 😍 I love Natasha Denona eyeshadows; they're so good. Oh my goodness, is that the Chantecaille Bronze Glow Tint? It looks like you've almost polished it all off, wow! 

Okay, my heart sank when I read that you thought you might have inadvertently thrown out your Hermes highligher. Oh noooooo!  😢 Maybe you just misplaced it? Put it somewhere other than where you normally do? Maybe in a purse? Or your suitcase? Or, in another drawer? 

[blackkitty2014]

Thx you @itsfi . I’m looking the whole entire weekend for this but no luck. I even made my husband pulled all the drawers out to make sure it didn’t fall out due to overflow makeups. Now I can’t decide if I need to buy a replacement. Ugh

  

[danielledanielle]

I want to believe it's in a really weird place @blackkitty2014 .

I once found a pair of eyeglasses in my fridge, so you never know.

[blackkitty2014]

Thx you @danielledanielle @itsfi 

[itsfi]

Ugh is right; I'm so sorry @blackkitty2014. Oh, that's a hard one - that highlighter is a beauty and it's one of the limited edition ones, too. I don't have it but have swatched it when I've had the opportunity.  

[danielledanielle]

Capsule Battle Week

It's palette on palette.  Went in with more options than necessary.  As usual.   Couldn't take a panorama, so it's three pics

 

A lot went unused.  Sunday me is always like, let's be really creative.  Tuesday me is usually over everything 🤣

The wins: Danessa Myricks Beauty Groundwork: Defining Neutrals - Palette For Eyes, Brows, Face & Lips for brows, the lashes and my Pmg X for Balette Royale.

And ...

The Vice Lipstick Palette was put into play!  Yeah it's old... The were 4 untouched shades.  The other version of this I also had, but it was way more used.  I think I was in every pan, and it's been tossed 🥲🫡

There was only one bag for this week.  A foldable makeup bag from Amazon that is overpriced, even on sale.  BUT, it was the Fit. So, maybe worth it.

 

[itsfi]

If you're going for options, GO for options!!! 😀 There was a lot of oooh'ing and awww'ing on this end @danielledanielle as I was going through the beauties you set aside for this week. How do you like the Juvia's Place blushers? I've only tried their eyeshadows and lip products. 

[danielledanielle]

@itsfiSame, I think this is the only juvia's blush palette I have (?), I like it for the range of shades.  It's fickle /patchy, but I've used the Yoshiki Red (Koyudo ) blush brush with minimal problems so there's something to need stuff about how it's pressed vs the formula.  I just remember being disappointed when I first got it, so I haven't tried the blush duos and now I have too much blush, so 🤷🏽‍♀️

Saharan II... It's not this red, contrast is crazy in this pic

 

[itsfi]

Week 10 - (March 3 - 9) - The "International Women Founded / Owned Beauty Brand" Makeup Capsule and/or The Palette(s) Makeup Capsule 

Both themes in one capsule - a couple of palettes and all women-founded/owned brands, They all fit in one bag, along with this week's brushes - Danessa Myricks and Danessa Myricks x My Kit Co - I know there are some DM brush fans here (@CynthieLu @peculiarzmakeup) - the collab has some nice brushes. 

• MAKE UP FOR EVER HD Skin Face Essentials – Longwear Full Face Cream Palette 
• PAT McGRATH LABS Mini Eye Shadow Palette: Midnight Voyage - this may be swapped out later in the week for another eyeshadow palette, depending on what direction I go with an avant-garde eye look for the last week of the BALETTE ROYALE: Showdown of the Shadows 
• Bossy Cosmetics, a new-to-me, women-owned, Bob brand - lipstick in Focused; lip gloss in Empowered 
• Not pictured: Glossier Boy Brow Volumizing Eyebrow Gel-Pomade (another woman-founded beauty brand), SEPHORA COLLECTION Translucent Loose Setting Powder (I am slowly making my way through this jar; aiming to use it up before summer), and several mascaras (many, maybe even most, from women-founded/owned brands) which I'll be putting to the test this week and probably next as well. 👁

Pat McGrath Midnight Voyage Palette (Mini)

[danielledanielle]

These were very smart choices @itsfi , kudos for using a 6 pan, too

[itsfi]

@danielledanielle, it took me a while (read: days) to pare down products and finally arrive at this capsule - not having space to fit everything on my little table helped a lot. 🤣 I'm interested in seeing how the MUFE holds up in warmer weather (I'm thinking I'll be relying on a mattifying setting spray). So far, the MUFE has a place on the Travel Squad and I'm auditioning eyeshadow palettes, though I've a feeling there may be 2 of those that I take on the road. Or, I may just opt for a few eyeshadow sticks. 🤔 

[CynthieLu]

You've covered both sides of this theme very well @itsfi.👌 The palette's are both impressive! PMG's is mini but mighty, and the full face palette from MUFE has a lot of your face covered with it's range. 

Guilty 😊 I do like DM's brushes and supporting her brand when I can. I have 2 of her independently released brushes ( it would have been 3 but it only was released here once with a small inventory imo) and I like them. I feel like I'd love her collab with MKC but I've never splurged. Yet. 🙃

[itsfi]

@CynthieLu, I feel like this week's themes lend themselves to a lot of options. These worked out well.

[ather]

 I had planned to take out more than one capsule but time was not my friend! 

But here is my first capsule. This theme I have been looking forward to! I don’t always have enough items for all capsules but this one seems to be a winner for me. And how fitting!! I am excited to see what this week brings!