Capsule Makeup Collection Challenge 2025

[itsfi]

Happy fall, BIC! 🍂🍁  Whether having a set of makeup products all picked out in advance makes it easier to get ready in the mornings or if you're looking for a fun way to use the new-to-you and tried-and-true products in your collection, welcome!! 👋 Please feel free to join in weekly or as a theme suits your style or piques your interests. We love seeing and being inspired by what beauties everyone is using. 💋

 

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 discovered (or, in some instances, re-discovered) by you. 

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  [Updated 10.5.2025]

Week 41 (October 6 - 12) - The Beauty Brands Supporting Mental Health Awareness Makeup Capsule and/or The Makeup Artist at Sephora Makeup Capsule

A few options for capsule themes this week. Curate a capsule made up of one or more product(s): 

(a) from a makeup brand that supports or promotes mental health awareness* (in honor of the first full week of October being established by Congress in 1990 as Mental Health Awareness Week); and/or

(b) from "'new and breakthrough brands from beauty experts" at Sephora**. See spoiler below for more details and disclosures pertaining to both prompts.

Spoiler

Makeup Brands Supporting Mental Health Awareness*
Maybelline entered into a 5-year partnership in 2024 with the WHO Foundation to expand access to mental health services across the globe.

Rare Beauty by Selena Gomez "donates 1% of sales to the Rare Impact Fund (also founded by Selena Gomez), which aims to raise $100 million over 10 years to increase access to mental health resources."

Urban Decay entered into a 3-year partnership with the Cybersmile Foundation in 2021 to introduce a new campaign to raise awareness about online bullying and promote digital wellness. It appears the partnership may have concluded last year and I was not able to locate information to confirm that the partnership had been extended. 

* The list was compiled based on an online article titled "10 Must-Know Beauty Brands That Empower Mental Health Initiatives" from Who What Wear, statements found on brand websites and information obtained through various online searches.  

The Makeup Artists Edit at Sephora**
Makeup | Sephora
Charlotte Tilbury

Ciele (Nikki DeRoest)
Danessa Myricks Beauty
Fara Homidi
Huda Beauty (Huda Kattan)
Hung Vanngo Beauty
Isamaya (Issamaya Ffrench)
LYS Beauty (Tisha Thompson)
Makeup by Mario (Mario Dedivanovic)
m.ph by Mary Phillips
One/Size by Patrick Starrr
Pat McGrath Labs
Patrick Ta
Refy (Jess Hunt and Jenna Meek)
Violette fr. (Violette Serrat)

Westman Atelier (Gucci Westman)

** On the Sephora page(s) for The Makeup Artist Edit, the brands Make Up For Ever and Natasha Denona are not listed, but Charlotte Tilbury is listed among the group. Based on that arrangement and in absence of any further information I could find, I have assumed "new and breakthrough brands" to mean beauty brands having been around for less than 12 years as of 2025 (Charlotte Tilbury was founded approximately 11 years and 6 months ago in 2025). Accordingly, I have also included Pat McGrath Labs in the list above as PML has been around since approximately 2015, or 10 years. 

 UPCOMING Makeup Capsule Themes: [Updated 10.5.2025]

Spoiler

Week 42 (October 13 - 19) - The Indigenous People's Day Makeup Capsule, The Canadian Thanksgiving Makeup Capsule, and/or The Samples 2.0 Makeup Capsule

A few options this week for makeup themes. To celebrate October 13's Canadian Thanksgiving Day and Indigenous People's Day, put together a look with one or more product(s) from a Canadian or Indigenous founded or owned makeup brand (see spoiler below for non-exhaustive list).

Spoiler

Canadian founded/owned makeup brands - brands with an asterisk (*) next to their name can be found at Sephora:

19/99 Beauty

Attitude

Birch Babe

Bite Beauty

* Cheekbone Beauty (Sephora Canada)

Elate Beauty

Evio Beauty

* Hung Vanngo Beauty (Sephora US & Sephora Canada)

* Ilia (Sephora US & Sephora Canada)

Jason Wu Beauty

Lise Watier

* MAC Cosmetics (Sephora Canada)

Marcelle

* Nudestix (Sephora US & Sephora Canada)

* The Ordinary (Sephora US & Sephora Canada)

Selfcare by Bloom

Tok Beauty

I don't know about you but I've got some makeup samples that could use my attention, both to keep my pile of samples more manageable and also to see if there might be something I'd like to pick up during the upcoming holiday / year end sales. Now's a good time to put those samples to use and maybe head on over to the Foil Challenge if you finish up a foil in the process. In the name of research! Always good to make an informed purchase, right?! Who knows, it could be Love At First Sample!!! 🥰!

For additional prompts, check out October Makeup Capsule Themes 

Previous Capsule Themes: [Updated: 10.5.2025]

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
25 - The "Welcome, Summer!" Makeup Capsule
26 - The "My Best Self" Makeup Capsule

July 2025 Capsule Makeup Themes <Click on link ‌‌⬅️ for more detailed description of capsule themes> 
27 - The Indie Brands Makeup Capsule and/or The Canadian Founded/Owned Brands Makeup Capsule  
28 -  The Multi-Taskers / Repurposed Makeup Capsule and/or The "On The Go: Summer Edit" Makeup Capsule 
29 - The Sizzling Summer Samples Makeup Capsule
30 - The Pop of Color: Summer Edit Makeup Capsule

August 2025 Capsule Makeup Themes <Click on link ‌‌⬅️ for more detailed description of capsule themes>
31 - The (Lip)Sticks (aka Lips + Sticks) Makeup Capsule
32 - The Athlete Founded / Owned / Endorsed / Influenced Beauty Brand(s) Makeup Capsule
33 - The Savvy Savings and/or Spectacularly Splurge-y Makeup Capsule 
34 - The Gifts (With Purchase) Makeup Capsule and/or The Gift-Worthy Makeup Capsule
35 - The Palettes Makeup Capsule

September 2025 Capsule Makeup Themes <Click on link ‌‌⬅️ for more detailed description of capsule themes>
36 - The Workhorse(s) Makeup Capsule
37 - The "Summer Favorites" Makeup Capsule 
38 - The LatinX Founded/Owned Beauty Brands Makeup Capsule 
39 - The Runway / Red Carpet Inspired Makeup Capsule

October 2025 Capsule Makeup Themes <Click on link ‌‌⬅️ for more detailed description of capsule themes>
40 - The FALL into Color 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.

[CynthieLu]

You picked a beautiful and mighty capsule for this theme. @Mellmars1185  You got a multi tasker there with your Pat Ta duo. It's doing some heavy lifting here. 💪 

[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!