Capsule Makeup Collection Challenge 2025

[itsfi]

Summer is officially here, BIC! 😎 And we’ll have some easy breezy weekly capsule makeup prompts over the next few months to match the season. Whether having set of makeup products at the ready each week makes it easier to get ready in the mornings, or if you're looking for a fun way to shop your stash / use what you already have (or what newness that you pick up along the way), 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  

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, shining 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 makeup capsule this week with your self-care and wellness in mind, 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 up for sharing your look, consider posting to the Gallery or @ What are you wearing in 2025? thread.

🎶 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!✨🎶 Also, check out the Summer Cheek Challenge 2025: A Song & A Slay 

😎 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!

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 6.24.2025]

Spoiler

For upcoming makeup capsule themes, check out July 2025 Makeup Capsule Themes

Previous Capsule Themes: [Updated: 6.22.2025]

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

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]

@danielledanielle, the face edition set is beautiful. I initially had my eye on that but I had another face brush set on the way at the time so that helped me refrain and go with this one. 😆 

Her 1.0 is great - I’ve picked up two now - my justification is that one is for blush and the other for bronzer.  

[danielledanielle]

I feel like that's fair.  @itsfi , I justified one for travel since it barely picks up product.. it's the perfect travel complexion brush.  Justified a second one for regular use, then I misplaced it and was was like....a third is needed. Logic - No, no need to look for the lost one, which I did find .. unopened and put somewhere else again.  "Just get a third 😑😂, you can't remember things, so why struggle?"

I have Danessa Myricks Beauty Yummy Face 2.0 Teardrop Kabuki Complexion Brush , haven't hit a match in that one just yet.  Like @Mellmars1185 , it picks up A LOT of product.  I know it's great with her blurring balm, but I've tried that twice and get little whiteheads, so that's a no for me ... What are y'all tried and Trues, Danessa and non-Danessa, for that one @itsfi @CynthieLu @peculiarzmakeup 

[peculiarzmakeup]

I really love it I use it for the skin tint mostly I haven’t tried powder tho that’s a good idea. Sorry to hear that it didn’t go well. @danielledanielle 

[itsfi]

@peculiarzmakeup, after you've had time to test it out with powder (no rush at all), I'm curious to know how it goes for you. I tried it with the powder foundation in my Dior palette and got some kick back when I dipped it straight into the product. It worked fine when I applied the powder onto my skin with my fingers and then blended out with the kabuki. 

[peculiarzmakeup]

Definatley gonna try it sounds fun 🙂 @itsfi 

[itsfi]

It's early February @danielledanielle; the odds are very high that I will pick up a 3rd of the all over complexion brush myself, and designate it for foundation or powder (and then a fourth will be needed so those two category of products can have their own DM 1.0 😉)

With respect to the teardrop kabuki brush, I know there are many here (and outside of BIC) who love it for applying the balm, but I prefer the 2.0 brush with certain liquid foundations. I prefer picking up and applying the universal balm with my fingers, especially around the corner of my nose. I've also used a flat blush (like the Sephora Collection #99 or a larger concealer brush like BK Beauty 114) for applying it and that has worked well though with that paintbrush type of brush, I find I have to use my fingers to really get the balm around my nose.

The density and size of the teardrop kabuki works well for a quick application of liquid foundations that may take a little extra effort to spread with my fingers across the center or butterfly zone of my face. Foundations that are not necessarily heavy but that lean creamier and some with a more full coverage finish - the 2.0 allows to be spread the product more evenly and quickly - I'm thinking of products like Cle de Peau The Foundation - a little can go a long way and it's lightweight in feel compared to other cream foundations but spreading it across my face is helped by the DM 2.0. Similarly, Estée Lauder Double Wear Stay-in-Place 24-Hour Longwear Foundation spreads more evenly for me with the 2.0 - I apply the product onto my skin and then use the teardrop kabuki. This has been great for larger sections of my face like my cheek area but the pointed tip of the 2.0 also works well for getting the liquid / cream foundation around the corner of my nose.  As you know, you can apply the product directly onto the brush but I personally get better results if I apply the foundation onto my face and then use the brush. 

Also, whether it be skincare, foundation or skincare-makeup hybrid products, the DM 2.0 is very good at spreading products that contain heavier oils and really helping my skin absorb, take it in, more quickly than if I just applied it. It helps the product absorb into the skin rather than sit on top of it. U Beauty The Super Tinted Hydrator is a good example - it's a lovely product but it feels like it sits on top of my skin for a while, and once it starts to settle in it looks better but there's still a lot of glow. This, in part, I suspect is due to my skin probably not being as dry as the product is targeted for and, in part, because it contains argan oil which has historically not been a great fit for the face on my skin in terms of absorption. The Daness Myricks teardrop brush helped with working the product into my skin instead of the product feeling like it's just sitting on top of my skin.

@peculiarzmakeup @CynthieLu 

[Mellmars1185]

Week 6 (February 3 - 9): The "Black Founded/Owned" Beauty Brand(s) Makeup Capsule - This week I chose mostly items from this category. I didn't have a setting powder/spray or mascara. Some items are not pictured as I thought of them later as substitutes for certain items.

Danessa Myricks Beauty Groundwork: Defining Neutrals - Palette For Eyes, Brows, Face & Lips - I plan to use this as eyeshadow, liner and possibly experiment as a bronzer. I am a little concerned about my bronzer brush fitting into the pan sizes. I am open to suggestions. Incase this does not work as a bronzer, I have included some blonzer shades below.

Danessa Myricks Blurring Balm Powder Flushed in Spiced Latte

Fenty Beauty by Rihanna Cheeks Out Freestyle Cream Blush 10 Rosé Latte 

Danessa Myricks Beauty Yummy Skin Blurring Balm Powder Flushed - Matte Color for Cheek & Lip Jubilee Fenty Beauty by Rihanna Cheeks Out Freestyle Cream Blush 01 Fuego Flush 

Danessa Myricks Beauty Yummy Skin Blurring Balm Powder Lowlighter Soft Glow Highlighter Lowkey 

Fenty Beauty by Rihanna Match Stix Color-Adaptive Cheek + Lip Stick Strawberry Pop 

Fenty eaze drop' lit All Over Glow Enhancer

Danessa Myricks Beauty Yummy Skin Blurring Balm Powder - Tinted Primer & Foundation 3 

Fenty Beauty by Rihanna Gloss Bomb Cream Color Drip Lip Cream Fenty Glow 

Fenty Beauty by Rihanna Cheeks Out Freestyle Cream Blush 09 Cool Berry 

Danessa Myricks Beauty Yummy Skin Lift & Flex Hydrating Concealer With Hyaluronic Acid & Caffeine 6 

Fenty Beauty by Rihanna Trace'd Out Longwear Waterproof Pencil Lip Liner Satin Panty 

Fenty Beauty by Rihanna Trace'd Out Longwear Waterproof Pencil Lip Liner RIRI 

Fashion Fair Iconic Lip Shaper Liner Warm Taupe 

* i have added the Fenty Beauty by Rihanna Eaze Drop Stick Blur + Smooth Tint Stick Foundation 9 and shade 7. I want to see what my skin likes best. I have only used the DM blurring balm in the warmer months.

I have also added some other Fenty glosses

Additional items (not in the capsule theme)

Kosas Cloud Set Baked Setting & Smoothing Talc-Free Vegan Powder Feathery 

ONE/SIZE by Patrick Starrr Ultimate Blurring Setting Powder Universal Translucent 

Yves Saint Laurent Lash Clash Extreme Volume Mascara (mini)

Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Flawless Waterproof Setting Spray 3.3 oz / 100 ml 

Spoiler

The fits

 

[CynthieLu]

Aaaah it's a fabulous capsule and collection of Black Owned and Founded brands @Mellmars1185. I still look at groundwork that palette with a window shop mentality from time to time. 😉 Do you still use it often?

[Mellmars1185]

@CynthieLu Thank you! I don't use the palette often. I think it is because I have been dipping into the PATRICK TA Major Dimension III Matte Eyeshadow Palette for eyeshadow looks. I definitely need to give this one some more love. I am looking forward to using it this week. I am wondering if it would be a good palette for travel.

[CynthieLu]

Ahhh it might be a good travel companion @Mellmars1185 I can only imagine you wouldn't have you worry about cracking any pans? 

[Mellmars1185]

@CynthieLu True! I also have a Make Up For Ever Face Palette that I have not opened yet. I missed usng it in the "How Low Can You Go" challenge. I think I make need to figure out how to test it out before I go away.

[CynthieLu]

Using anything for the first time when your traveling is a little risky. When do you leave? I hope you have a little time to test it out before you go. You must be excited! ❤️

[Mellmars1185]

@CynthieLu Thanks ! I leave in less than 2 weeks. I will probably test it out this weekend (if i make time!)

[CynthieLu]

Ooh so close! That's exciting! I hope you have a wonderful time. 🩷 @Mellmars1185 

Has it been awhile since you've gone on a trip like this? 

[Mellmars1185]

@CynthieLu Thank you. Yes about a decade!

[CynthieLu]

Ooh wow! @Mellmars1185 that's incredible that you get to go again. It really has been a long time.  😃

[itsfi]

Gorgeous products for this week's capsule @Mellmars1185! I'm excited to try the Danessa Myricks Beauty Yummy Skin Blurring Balm Powder - Tinted Primer & Foundation 3 - how do you apply it - fingers? brush? beauty sponge? A combo of those? 

For your bronzer, is there one shade from the Groundworks palette that will work for you or will you blend a couple of shades? If the latter, you could use a brush or another tool to pick up both shades and then mix/warm up on the back of your hand or one of those mixing trays and then use your regular bronzer brush to pick up the blended shade for application. That might be an option if your brush is too large for the pans.

How are you liking the ONE/Size powder? 

[Mellmars1185]

@itsfi Thank you! Yes I am excited to dip back into Danessa Myricks Beauty Yummy Skin Blurring Balm Powder - Tinted Primer & Foundation . In the past I used the scoop to scrape the product out and I would warm it up with my fingers a bit to soften it and I would also apply and blend with my fingers. I did pickup the Danessa Myricks Beauty Yummy Face 2.0 Teardrop Kabuki Complexion Brush . I didn't find it as effective as applying with fingers. Maybe it was user error? I found that I was picking up a lot on the brush and needed to dip in a lot to get the amount of coverage that I was looking for. I will probably experiment with it this week and see how it goes.

Great idea for the bronzer! It is similar to the method I use for the DM Blurring Balm Powder. I do have a tool I can dip into it with. I am open to mixing different shades but I will probably start with the shade 'desert'.

I like the O/S powder. I definitely works on my combo/oily leaning skin. Although, this time of year I don't need as much powder for oil control. I have been using it with a brush instead of a powder puff so I use less product. Last week I enjoyed using the Laura Mercier powder. It got the job done!

[danielledanielle]

For the pan size in groundwork, this is my best brush for contour .  It's Sonia G's jumbo worker, listed as an eye brush, but definitely multipurpose.

The brush head is 2 cm, so a bit smaller than an inch.  So you're looking for a dense, tightly packed small brush head.  You likely have a large eyeshadow brush or highlight brush that size.  Or an angled concealer could work, too @Mellmars1185 

Love all the BoBs 🫶🏽🙌🏽

[Mellmars1185]

@danielledanielle Thank you very much! Would you the small 2 cm brush to apply and then use a larger brush to blend? I am wondering how to diffuse a bronzer application 😊

[danielledanielle]

That makes sense to me @Mellmars1185 , you could do that.   I just use that brush only, but it makes sense to diffuse the powder with a bigger brush.  I'm not sure if that works with the putty/cream side

I would use SEPHORA COLLECTION PRO Blush Brush #99 for putty and stamp