Capsule Makeup Collection Challenge 2025

[itsfi]

Hello 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 as a theme suits your style or piques your interests. We love seeing and being inspired by what beauties everyone is using. 💋

Here we are, last month of 2025, and we have a couple more capsules to squeeze in before the year is over. We've been doing weekly capsules but for this last month, we're going to switch to 2-week periods. That said, if you like the weekly format, there are options this month that you can choose to do, to keep up with a rotating weekly capsule.

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 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 11.30.2025]

Switching things up a bit with the cadence for our capsules as we head towards closing out 2025 with the makeup capsule challenge. For the last month of the year, we are going to go with 2-week capsule periods.

😍  Weeks 49 - 50 (December 1 - 14) - The "Out With the Old, In With the New" Makeup Capsule
Curate a capsule with one or more makeup product(s) that shines a spotlight on any or all of the following. Or, if you prefer a weekly capsule, you can pick two different themes from the ones listed below (or mix-and-match) for the first two weeks of December.
 
*  oldies but goodies in your collection: those beauties that (a) are tried and true, ride or die, HG; (b) have been neglected in your stash longer than they should (maybe they need to be tossed - this could be your way of determining whether it's time to let them go / declutter them); or (c) have been discontinued (but maybe should be brought back)

*  new or new-to-you goodies you picked up recently: here's another opportunity to use those beauties you purchased.

*  old, as in soon-to-be outgoing: This can be a capsule inspired by mocha mousse, the 2025 Pantone Color of the Year or a trend from earlier this year, whether in beauty or fashion, or otherwise.

*  new, as in incoming: inspired by ??? Cloud Dancer, the 2026 Pantone Color of the Year (which is typically announced during the first week of December). This theme will be updated once that announcement has been made. Cloud Dancer is described by Marie Claire as "a perfect shade match to a stark white cloud in the sky."

BONUS: One way you might go about assembling your capsule for weeks 49 & 50 is to go through your makeup stash. With it being so close to the end of the year, this might be a chance to do take stock of what you have and use this challenge as a way to decide whether something should stay or go. Feel free to share some or all of your beauties to the 2024 - Twelve Months of Beauty Inventory thread. If you decide to let go of some items, consider posting to the Show Me Your Declutters! or Empties - V2 threads, or both.

As you go through your stash, you might also consider what, if any, products you might want to make part of a panning project or shop/use your stash challenge next year. If you're new to panning, check out Pan It! - 2025 Challenge to get some ideas while we wait for the new year (and the new 2026 pan it! challenge thread) to arrive. I'll post the winter edition of the Shop / Use my stash around mid-to-late December.

UPCOMING Makeup Capsule Themes: [Updated 11.30.2025]

Spoiler

☃️  Weeks 51 - 52 (December 15 - 31) - The "Holiday Glitz & Glam" Makeup Capsule and/or The "Best of 2025" Makeup Capsule

Put together a capsule consisting of one or more makeup product(s) that aligns with one or the other (or both) of the themes.

*  🌟  Holiday Glitz & Glam: Shine a spotlight on one or more of the beauties you love to use to get glammed up for the holidays.

*  🏆  The Best of 2025: Curate a capsule with one or more makeup product(s) that made (or would make) your "best of" list for 2025. Alternatively, assemble a capsule that includes your favorite (or mix of favorite) theme(s) from this year makeup capsule challenge.

[NOTE: I will provide a sneak preview of a couple early 2026 makeup capsule themes during the week of December 22. 😲]

Previous Capsule Themes: [Updated: 11.30.2025]

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
41 - The Beauty Brands Supporting Mental Health Awareness Makeup Capsule and/or The Makeup Artist at Sephora Makeup Capsule
42 - The Indigenous People's Day Makeup Capsule, The Canadian Thanksgiving Makeup Capsule, and/or The Samples 2.0 Makeup Capsule
43  - The Global Makeup Capsule
44 - The "Baubles, Palettes & Sticks" Makeup Capsule

November 2025 Capsule Makeup Themes <Click on link ‌‌⬅️ for more detailed description of capsule themes>
45 -  The "Sweater Weather" Makeup Capsule
46 - The "Collabs & Crossovers" Makeup Capsule and/or The "Sleeping Beauties 2.0" Makeup Capsule 
47 - The "Take 2 / Do Over" Makeup Capsule 
48 - The "Thing(s) I'm Grateful For" Makeup Capsule

December 2025 Capsule Makeup Themes <Click on link ‌‌⬅️ for more detailed description of capsule themes>

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. If weekly works for you, great. If not, feel free to join in based on what works best for you. 

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]

Lol  @danielledanielle the last bit made me giggle. She had you at hello. 😂 Ok ok thou, I was just kinda curious but that make sense. I've never traveled into the land of intense scents but I can see where that would make layering challenging. 

[itsfi]

That’s an impressive Uoma collection @danielledanielle! Have you tried the loose setting powder? 

[danielledanielle]

Oh yeah, that's one of their heroes @itsfi 

They also have a hydrating one, that I have but haven't tried, meant to do it over last summer, but I started layering setting spray into my foundation  and it worked well enough.

[blackkitty2014]

Great idea to throw in some perfume @danielledanielle. I will copy you 😘

[danielledanielle]

@blackkitty2014 I copied someone else from last year (I think @cianni ) so we're both just thieves 🤣🤣

[blackkitty2014]

Well but we smell fabulous @danielledanielle 😘

[peculiarzmakeup]

Beautiful capsule I love how you still have this brand a shoutout very neat. I love your addition of fragrances in your capsule and the fit is fitting! Amazing 😎 @danielledanielle 

[danielledanielle]

Thank you @peculiarzmakeup 

[ather]

@danielledanielle  Wow this is an amazing lineup! 

[danielledanielle]

Thanks @ather 

I am peacocking a bit, but this is also the time to display the contributions of black beauty.  Everything here was Sharon Chuter.  They only thing I didn't purchase before the buyout was their blushes.  There are multiple "hero"/well performing products here and this was a brand that was only around for a short time.  To develop so many products is nothing short of amazing.

IMO hero products are:

Baby Brow Fro To go and the Baby Brow Fro (not pictured, I've used mine up)

Black Magic Allure and Freedom Palette

Boss Gloss

Bad@$$ lipstick

Trippin' Smooth Setting powder

Drama Bomb Mascara

Stay Woke Concealer

  I love Sephora, but on their page they put "changing" the industry.  Mere semantics and possible miscommunication with, but it's wrong.  It's continuing to change the industry...Black entrepreneurs have been ever present.  Literally one of the first millionaires for hair care was a black woman.  Madame CJ Walker.

/Soapbox

[blackkitty2014]

The Lunar New Year week: please don’t kick me out of the classroom 😂🤣 I’m behind again. For Lunar New Year, I’d like to feature lots of red and gold. Chanel Reve D’Orient looks beat up (yes it is old) but it’s one of my all time favorite. I still try to hit pan sometimes this year.

x-post the lipstick challenge of these lipstick swatches 

PS I will try to take picture of this week capsule  tomorrow 😘 It’s pretty much PMG lip eye and cheek 😘

[CynthieLu]

The red and gold theme is so eye catching @blackkitty2014 😍

[Mellmars1185]

@blackkitty2014 Wonderful Lunar New Year capsule! ❤️💛❤️✨️

[Samtian]

@blackkitty2014 Whoo those are some stunning reds!

[itsfi]

These are beautiful @blackkitty2014,. Your swatches and photos on the lipstick board have both helped to dissuade me from a lipstick and nudged me to add a few to my list. 😂 

My eyes first went to the Chanel quad and mu first though was “she’s going to pan one (or more) of those.

[peculiarzmakeup]

Such a beautiful capsule love the swatches and how you organized your lippies, such beautiful shades 😍 @blackkitty2014 

[blackkitty2014]

Thx you @peculiarzmakeup @ather @danielledanielle 🌹

[ather]

@blackkitty2014  This is such a great capsule! 

[danielledanielle]

I love that PMG casing @blackkitty2014 🫶🏽

[peculiarzmakeup]

Week 6 (February 3 - 9): The "Black Founded/Owned" Beauty Brand(s) Makeup Capsule - 

 

 

Danessa Myricks Beauty

This brand has grown near and dear to my heart. Danessa cultivates such a beautiful community for everyone to find their perfect shade and I absolutley love the vision behind these products. Speaks to tremendous authenticity and creativity! I love each product I have used! 

My Faves

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

Danessa Myricks Beauty Lift and Flex Concealer 2

Danessa Myricks Beauty Yummy Skin Glow Serum with Hyaluronic Acid & Niacinamide Fresh Pressed  (pink and main squeeze) can’t wait to try juice boost

Danessa Myricks Beauty Yummy Skin Blurring Balm Powder - Tinted Primer & Foundation 2 

Lightwork Freedom Pallete 

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

Danessa Myricks Beauty Dewy Cheek & Lip Palette Dew It Undercover 

Danessa Myricks Beauty Yummy Face 2.0 Teardrop Kabuki Complexion Brush 

54 Thrones 

Another fantastic brand with the most soothing skin care. Love their set am looking forward to trying more from this brand as it has been a staple in skincare 

❤️❤️❤️

[Mellmars1185]

@peculiarzmakeup Beautiful photos. I love how colourful this capsule is!