Capsule Makeup Collection Challenge 2025

[itsfi]

Hi there, BIC and happy spring! Whether (a) you're spring cleaning, or (b) returning to the office and wanting to use the makeup you have (new and old) or will pick up along the way, or (c) interested in putting together a collection (big or small) of "go to" or Top Shelf product for every day, the season, a special event or occasions, or just in general, or (d) for any other reason, please join us here at the Capsule Makeup Collection Challenge 2025. 

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 exactly. 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. This is about finding a set of makeup products that work for you and your lifestyle, whether already in your collection or waiting to be found by you. 

For me, I've found having a bag of makeup ready at the start of a week to be helpful in getting me out the door more efficiently, and feeling and looking put together. Some weeks my makeup bag has a minimalist look and feel; other weeks, the makeup capsule I've curated for use during the week resembles a more maximalist approach, with several products to choose from. There are weeks when I use the beauties in my capsule every day, and, there are weeks when I may add products into my existing bag of makeup during the week to meet my needs. 

How Can / Do I Participate?  

There are several ways you can participate - You can post a photo of the products you use or tag and list them, as you like. You can give someone's post a heart and / or ask questions about products in someone's capsule. You can post a different capsule every week or once a month or every once in a while, when a theme grabs your interest or draws your attention. 

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 20 (May 12 - 18) - The "Tailored For You" Makeup Capsule- The Met Gala will have occurred on May 5, with the theme "Tailored For You" inspired by the exhibit "Tailoring Black Style". For this week, curate a capsule with one or more products that are either "tailored for you" or that suits you impeccably and/or that caught your eye from the Met Gala or if you visit the "Tailoring Black Style" exhibit. 

Optional (month-long theme): May is Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) National Heritage Month and to celebrate, we're bringing back the optional month-long theme in addition to the weekly themes. So, if you're up for the challenge, consider doing a tie-in of both, be it one product that fits both capsule themes, or one or more product from the then current weekly theme below and one or more product from an AAPI founded or owned beauty brand.

Spoiler

Below is a non-exhaustive list of makeup brands founded or co-founded / owned or co-owned by Asian American Pacific Islanders (AAPI) - the brands listed are primarily ones that offer makeup / color cosmetics.  To the extent the founder's identify cannot be determined by the brand name, his/her/their name(s) will appear in parens next to the brand name. Brands with an asterisk (*) next to their name denotes that that brand is available at Sephora.

CLE Cosmetics (Lauren Jin)

CTZN Cosmetics (Aleena Khan, Aleezeh Khan, and Naseeha Khan)

Em Cosmetics (Michelle Phan)
Finding Ferdinand (Nhu Le)

* Glow Recipe (Christine Chang and Sarah Lee)

Jason Wu Beauty

Kimchi Chic Beauty (Kim Chi)

* Kulfi Beauty (Priyanka Ganjoo)

Live Tinted (Deepica Mutyala)

* Mango People (Sravya Adusumilli)

Meloway Makeup (Aiden Kim and Ash Kim)

* One/Size by Patrick Starrr

Orce Cosmetics (Yu-Chen Shih)

Ourself (Lauren Otsuki)

* Patrick Ta Beauty

Purlisse Beauty (Jennifer Yen)

Seraphine Botanicals (Sylvia Phann)

The Creme Shop (Theresa and Lawrence Kim)

* Tower 28 Beauty (Amy Liu)

U Beauty (Tina Craig)
* Velour Lashes (Mabel Lee)

* Wander Beauty (Divya Gugnani)

Yensa Beauty (Jennifer Yen)

UPCOMING Makeup Capsule Themes: [Updated 5.11.2025]

Spoiler

Week 21 (May 19 - 25) - The Vacation Makeup Capsule  

Alright, we're heading into Memorial Day weekend, often the kickoff to summer. Whether or not you're on vacay that week, assemble a capsule containing one or more of makeup products that are "must have" when packing for vacation.

Additional May Capsule themes can be found through the below link - 

https://community.sephora.com/t5/Makeup-Is-Life/Capsule-Makeup-Collection-Challenge-2025/m-p/7158267...

June capsule themes will be posted to the thread sometime during the Memorial Day weekend (most likely near the end of it).

Previous Capsule Themes: [Updated: 5.4.2025]

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 <Click on link ⬅️ for more detailed description of 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

March 2025 Capsule Makeup Themes <Click on link ⬅️ for more detailed description of capsule themes> 
10 - The "International Women Founded / Owned Beauty Brand" Makeup Capsule and/or The Palette(s) Makeup Capsule
11 - The Samples Makeup Capsule  and/or The "Attitude of Gratitude" Makeup Capsule
12 - The "Spring Is In The Air" Makeup Capsule
13 - The "Take 2" / Do Over" Makeup Capsule 

April 2025 Capsule Makeup Themes <Click on link ⬅️ for more detailed description of capsule themes> 
14 - The Spring Sticks Makeup Capsule
15 - The Flush of Color Makeup Capsule 
16 - The Spring Refresh Makeup Capsule 
17 - The “Green” Makeup Capsule 
18 - The Makeup-Artist-Founded/Owned Brand Makeup Capsule 

May 2025 Capsule Makeup Themes <Click on link ‌‌⬅️ for more detailed description of capsule themes> 
19 - The  Asian American Pacific Islander Founded / Owned Beauty Brands 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.

[danielledanielle]

Oooh, that's a Sephora Six right there @Mellmars1185 , what a way to come back

[Mellmars1185]

@danielledanielle Thank you so much! I am feeling motivated and refreshed!

[peculiarzmakeup]

Week 3 (January 13 - 19) - The "Favorite Feature(s) Focus" Makeup Capsule   

Psych has been my all time favorite show for over a decade I will go and rewatch the whole series. Juliet O’Hara is a detective in the show and I wanted to do an awe-inspired capsule on her style and look! 

The Fit

Makeup to Recreate this iconic character! 

Foundation 

Danessa Myricks Beauty Yummy Skin Soothing Serum Skin Tint Foundation with Peptides + Ceramides 2  

Concealer

Danessa Myricks Beauty Yummy Skin Lift & Flex Hydrating Concealer With Hyaluronic Acid & Caffeine 2  

Powder

Danessa Myricks Beauty Yummy Skin Blurring Balm Powder - Tinted Primer & Foundation  

Blush 

MERIT Flush Balm Cream Blush Stockholm  

Bronzer

MERIT Bronze Balm Sheer Sculpting Bronzer Quince  

Mascara 

Rare Beauty by Selena Gomez Perfect Strokes Universal Volumizing Mascara Black  

Eyeshadow

Danessa Myricks Beauty LIGHTWORK VI The Freedom Palette: Magnetic, Customizable, Stackable Palette with Illuminating Pigments for Eyes, Face &amp; Lips  (pink on the eyes) 

Eyeliner 

Danessa Myricks Beauty Linework Paintbrush Fluid Liquid Eyeliner 0.034 oz / 1 ml  

Highlighter 

MERIT Day Glow Dewy Highlighting Balm  

Eyebrows

Rare Beauty by Selena Gomez Brow Harmony Flexible Lifting and Laminating Eyebrow Gel 0.15 oz / 4.5 g  

Hair 

Straigtener 

I do not have all the products with me but will update the post with the look when I’m back home! 

Fashion 

Blazer 

Sunglasses 

Very formal 

Jules always has a very flushed look naturally and with makeup I thought this would be a good fit for her and I’d love to try 

love this idea! 💡 ❤️

[Mellmars1185]

@peculiarzmakeup Great capsule! I have to admit I have not seen the movie. How are you liking the Danessa palette? Is there a shade that you reach for the most?

[peculiarzmakeup]

It’s a really great show I think there style is so cool in it but it’s very early 2000’s I just love how she does her makeup in the show 🙂 Great question! I really love the green in the pallete and the light-medium brown I think those are my two faves 🤩 so many possibilities with this pallete tho that’s what I like about it 🙂 @Mellmars1185 

[CynthieLu]

Oooh you took this capsule and went on such a fun run with it. @peculiarzmakeup And how fitting that you have the perf bag for everything. 💙💛

I'll confess, I've never seen this show. You've piqued my interest thou with your genuine enthusiasm for it. I think I'll see if it's on any of my current streaming services. 😀

[peculiarzmakeup]

Thank you! It always makes me so happy that show I’ve seen every episode like 100 times haha 🤣 but I thought she would be a great character to represent ❤️ 🍍 @CynthieLu 

[CynthieLu]

I love shows that are are so good you can watch them over and over. @peculiarzmakeup Like something you can always count on to bring a grin to your face. 

[peculiarzmakeup]

It’s very funny and clever and a lot of references and it’s always a good time watching it! I know that’s truly the best ❤️ @CynthieLu 

[itsfi]

This is such a fun capsule @peculiarzmakeup, made more so by your love of Psych. That’s awesome you have a blueberry Psych bag!

[peculiarzmakeup]

Thank you so much! I really love psych! And haha I found that online I thought it was cute 🙂 @itsfi  I appreciate it. ❤️

[ather]

I’m back! I am forcing myself to participate again! For many reasons! 

 

I have had my makeup across my dresser for a long time. And it seems to drive me nuts. So I am going to pick out what items I can use (the capsule) and as I use the items I will put them back in the bag and tuck it away in a drawer! Win win! 

This week favs:

LAWLESS Set The Stage Hydrating Primer Serum  

Summer Fridays Sheer Skin Tint with Hyaluronic Acid + Squalane Shade 2  

SEPHORA COLLECTION Bright Future Gel Serum Under Eye Concealer  

Rare Beauty by Selena Gomez Soft Pinch Liquid Blush  

Saie Glow Sculpt Multi-Use Cream Highlighting Blush Quartzglow  

REFY Brow Sculpt Shape and Hold Gel with Lamination Effect 0.28 oz/ 8.5 mL 

MERIT Solo Shadow Cream-to-Powder Soft Matte Eyeshadow  

Rhode peptide lip treatments 

It was so hard to pick out all the items but I did my my makeup this morning and I was very happy how it turned out! Can’t wait to see what tomorrow looks like! Maybe next capsule I will add a few different blushes! 

[Mellmars1185]

@ather Welcome back! I am glad you are happy with your choices. It can sure help having items picked out when you are getting ready. The Saie highlighter looks so pretty! What shade of Merit shadow do you use?

[CynthieLu]

Definitely a win win @ather Having a tidy dresser top is a perk and it will hopefully make getting ready in the morning easier too.  You'll have everything you need in one place. 😄

Your Lawless Primer looks like you've done a good job on it, do you think your replace it when it's done?

[peculiarzmakeup]

Amazing capsule! I love all your choices and your beautiful photo! It’s fun to put these capsules together and check in with the themes! This is amazing 🤩 cute Sephora bag 🙂 @ather 

[ather]

@peculiarzmakeup  Thank you! I love putting a capsule together! I am also trying to be a minimalist with my makeup but I still have plenty! 

[peculiarzmakeup]

I love this idea! And I can relate ❤️ @ather 

[itsfi]

Ooooh, these are beauties @ather and I looooove that bag! This is the first I've seen one like that - it looks like a great size and I mean, gotta love those black-and-white Sephora stripes! 😍 I feel like Lawless is an underrated brand - I forgot they had a primer - is it one you would repurchase?

[ather]

@itsfi  thank you! 😊 the bag was a gift! It’s a great size! I can fit lots of items in it! I have repurchased it in the past. I would definitely repurchase again. I have a few others in DS size so I think I would use up what I have. It’s a good one but I would say more of a light moisturizer. I like how light it is and it plays well with my makeup! 

[itsfi]

Week 3 (January 13 - 19) - The "Favorite Feature(s) Focus" Makeup Capsule    

Okay, BIC beauties! Here we are, Week 3. For this week, I'm taking inspiration from the feature film, The Devil Wears Prada, with my lips being the primary focus; hence, the extra products. I also have some extra options when it comes to foundation and bronzer this week. 

On another note, I'll be posting an outfit board on the The Fit, The Fab and The Face: Outfit and Inspo Thread   later this week. I'm actually thinking of wering an outfit inspired by TDWP on a weekly or every-other-week basis through the end of February. Hmmm... 

Without further adieu, the beauties for this week's makeup capsule:

Complexion: 

• Primer:  Dr. Jart+ Mini Cicapair™ Tiger Grass Color Correcting Treatment 0.5 oz/ 15 mL  🐐 - I've been wearing just this and some bronzer as my base on the weekends. It's a long-standing GOAT product in my collection. [GOAT = Greatest Of All Time]

• Foundation: I wasn't feeling ready to break open my Prada foundation just yet. Last year, I set aside a couple of foundations (and other products) that I purchased 1-3 years ago but that I've yet to really use. For the sake of keeping to using what I have two, my plan is to hold off on any new foundation purchases until I've opened and started using at least one of those foundations, regularly.

• This week I'll be using either the Gucci 24 Hour Full Coverage Luminous Matte Finish Foundation   or the Chanel Ultra La Teint Ultrawear All-Day Comfort Flawless Finish Foundation. Both have a luminous matte finish; both are beautifully packaged and marvelously formulated. It's less a throwdown between the two as it is a way to see the coverage each provides and from there, I'll figure out which future throwdown category they'll be part of.

• Concealer: DIOR Backstage Concealer . Unless something comes along this year to change my mind, I'm feeling like the concealers I currently rotate through are ones I'm happy with - i.e., I don't feel like there's a slot to be filled to round out my concealer collection. I know, I know; just wait - someone's going to release something that makes me rethink this. lol.

• Setting Powder: I mean, just because I'm not including my Prada foundation in this week's capsule doesn't mean I'm foregoing all my Prada beauty products this week. 😝 Let's see how Prada Beauty Reset Rebalancing Refillable Setting Powder  holds up this week.

Eyes: 

• Primer: NARS Pro-Prime™ Smudge Proof Eyeshadow Base Original  

• Eyeshadow: Yves Saint Laurent Couture Mini Clutch Eyeshadow Palette 100 Stora Dolls  - I agree with @blackkitty2014, this is so pretty and wears well. Part of my project pan this year.

• Eye Liner: Dior Diorshow On Stage Liner Waterproof Felt Tip Liquid Eyeliner - 24h Intense Color 781 Matte Brown wears really well; it doesn't get nearly as much attention as it should.

• Brows:  TOM FORD Fiber Brow Gel 02 Taupe  - I forget how well this performs until I use it and then I think "why don't I reach for this more often? I don’t have many brow gels / pomade but the ones I do have are good. I’ll do a brow throwdown a la @ather at some point but I’m not sure there will be many declutters.

• Mascara: Yves Saint Laurent Lash Clash Extreme Volume Waterproof Mascara Black  - one of my top 5 mascaras - they're all waterproof.n

Cheeks: 

• Bronzer: I'll alternate between the Victoria Beckham Beauty Bronzing Brick and  TOM FORD Soleil Glow Bronzer 02 Terra . Both can serve as eyeshadow as well, if I want something with a little more warmth than Stora Dolls

• Blush: I'll be using one of the Westman Atelier lipsticks as blush.

Lips:

• Liner: Chanel lip pencil Nude Brun - this is a good match for the natural color of my lips

• Lip Balm: CAY SKIN Isle Lip Balm SPF 30 with Sea Moss and Aloe Stem Cells  - this stuff is good!!! And, it has SPF.

• Lip Stain: Victoria Beckham Beauty Bitten Lip Tint Je'Taime - I'm including this stain to pair with the MERIT Signature Lip Lightweight Lipstick Ginger  to get a certain color for this week's The Devil Wears Prada inspired outfit/look

• Lipstick: Westman Atelier Lip Suede Hydrating Matte Lipstick Trio - this will be the first time I put this trio to use; it was very generously gifted to me by someone who I hoped picked a set up for herself. 💝

NOTE: This is a larger capsule than I intended, but at the same time, it seems fitting for this week's theme. If I were not looking to use some of the products with creating an outfit inspired by The Devil Wears Prada, I would only have one foundation and bronzer and probably a total of 3 or 4, instead of 7, lip products.

The Fits:

It all fits neatly in this Dior pouch that includes two compartments - one for brushes and tools, and another for the products.

 

Revisiting Week 2 Capsule:

Spoiler

My favorite products and the one that gives me some pause from last week's capsule involve the eye products. 



Undecided: 

The Cosnori Perfect Setting Mascara is the item giving me pause. The staying power on this mascara is marvelous; I actually had to put in some extra effort (though still being gentle as it's the eye area and I don't have a lot of lashes to lose). The hiccup with this one isn't in the formula but with the fact that it only shows up on my lashes when the light hits it at a certain angle and then it shows up a very light brown, almost a beige/taupe-brown shade. I have very dark lashes so this isn't best suited for me. I may give it a try as a brow tint another day. Hmmm... that seems like it could be promising. Stay tuned.

The Standouts: 

The Cle de Peau eyeshadow quad and the Danessa Myricks Bronzite are further evidence (not that I needed it) that there are gems just waiting to be reached for in my existing bevy of beauties. These CdP shadows are so silky smooth - I really should have put this quad to use long ago, like when I purchased it, before it was discontinued. Lesson learned. Again. This, I'm sure, will be a theme in this year's makeup capsule challenge.

Same goes for the Danessa Myricks Beauty Infinite Chrome Waterproof Micropencil Eyeliner Bronzite  . I used it a few times last year; put it to use more this week and wow! The shade is beautiful. The product glides on and can easily create a thin, but not too thin, line. Aaaaaaand, I was able to draw a decent eye wing with it. On my eyes!!! Which never happens. This will be making appearances in future capsules, for sure. 

Question for a few of the folks here who do an amazing winged eyeliner - ahem, @peculiarzmakeup @CynthieLu @danielledanielle, do you have  preference for formulation when you do a winged liner look - pencil? Liquid liner? Powder eyeshadow? 

[Mellmars1185]

@itsfi Amazing capsule! How did the WA lippie wear as a blush? Do you have a favourite shade out of the three?