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 25 (June 16 - 22) - The "Welcome, Summer!" Makeup Capsule - The official start of summer this year is June 20 and to kick it off, show us one or more of the makeup beauties that you'll being using for your hot girl (or guy) summer look! AND, be sure to check back later for a crossover prompt that will be an additional part of this week's summer slay theme.

Optional Monthly Theme: In addition to (or in lieu of) the current week's theme, we're having a month-long theme for June as well in keeping with Pride month. So, if you'd like to go with or include this optional theme, then include in your curated capsule, one or more product(s) from a LGBTQ+ founded/owned beauty brand. 

Spoiler

Below is a non-exhaustive list of LGBTQ+ founded/owned brands with primarily makeup offerings. Credit for most of the brands in this list are from 2024 articles from Allure and Byrdie. Brands with an asterisk (*) beside their names are available at Sephora and/or Sephora at Kohl's. To the extent the founder(s)/owner(s) are not readily discernible by the brand name, their name(s) will appear in (parens). If there are brands that should be included, please let me know.

about face (Halsey)
Flower Beauty (Drew Barrymore)
Formula Z Cosmetics (Zach Dishinger)
* Freck Beauty (Nasera Alayon)
Jason Wu Beauty
Jecca Blac
Kevyn Aucoin Beauty
KimChi Chic Beauty
* Makeup by Mario (Mario Dedivanovic)
* OleHenriksen

* One/Size by Patrick Starrr
* Patrick Ta Beauty
Sappho (JoAnn Fowler)
* Tom Ford Beauty
Trixie Cosmetics (Trixie Mattel)
W3ll People (Shirley Pinkson)

UPCOMING Makeup Capsule Themes: [Updated 6.16.2025]

Spoiler

Week 26 (June 23 - 29) - The "My Best Self" Makeup Capsule - This week's capsule finds inspiration in a few sources. Feel free to draw from any of these as you put together a makeup capsule with one or more products that make you feel like the best version of your current self because we are always changing, growing, and getting better!

Self-Care Month starts on June 24 and shines a spotlight on the importance of self care, with a focus of encouraging all to take/make time to focus on our well-being, undertaking activities that help us to feel better, mentally, emotionally, socially, spiritually, and in our homes, workplaces, etc. There are a host of ways to curate a capsule this week, including:

💄Self Expression - If makeup is a form of self expression or self-care, show us the go to product / products that express who you are and/or holds a special self-care meaning for you. If you're comfortable sharing your look, consider posting to the Gallery or What are you wearing in 2025??

🎶Song and Slay - Curate a capsule with one or more makeup products inspired by a song. It can be a song that reminds you of summer, a makeup look worn by your favorite musical artist, and/or a look inspired by the theme(s) for the summer cheek challenge (coming soon). Speaking of song, if there's an artist or song(s) you're listening to and loving this summer, let us know at the 🎶✨Song of the Day and Music Thread!✨🎶.

😎Your Sizzling Signature Summer Style - Are there products you reach for during these longer, warmer days? Some tried and true favorites for a 'no-makeup' makeup look. Or, beauties that give you that bronzed goddess glow? Pull 'em out for a capsule that captures your sizzling signature summer style! If you have a fab outfit to go with your summer makeup look, stop on by the The Fit, The Fab and The Face: Outfit and Inspo Thread and show us your outfit of the day!

NOTE: Themes for July will be posted by or before the first part of Week 26.

Previous Capsule Themes: [Updated: 6.16.2025]

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
20 - The "Tailored For You" Makeup Capsule
21 - The Vacation Makeup Capsule
22 - The Musician Founded / Owned Beauty Brand Makeup Capsule

June 2025 Capsule Makeup Themes <Click on link ‌‌⬅️ for more detailed description of capsule themes> 
23 - The Love Is Love Makeup Capsule 
24 - The Sleeping Beauties Makeup Capsule and/or The "Shop My Stash 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.

[Mellmars1185]

@CynthieLu Thank you! I was debating on the Danessa Myricks Beauty Groundwork: Defining Neutrals - Palette For Eyes, Brows, Face & Lips vs the PATRICK TA Major Headlines Double-Take Crème & Powder Blush Duo She's So LA . I chose the PT because I can fit larger brushes into the pan. Hopefully I can make it work 🤞

[CynthieLu]

We believe in you! @Mellmars1185 I really like that duo btw. I was so close to grabbing that shade when it released, it seems like the most versatile one from the line up. ✨🤎

[Mellmars1185]

@CynthieLu Thanks! It looks like he is releasing some new shades too!

[CynthieLu]

Yeees, that red is something else 🤩 @Mellmars1185 

[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