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.

[peculiarzmakeup]

@itsfi  I saw somewhere you asked about the Danessa Myricks Beauty Beauty Oil with Gold Leaf 1 oz/ 30 mL  or I was dreaming lol my notifications are acting a little funky. I like it but it’s not necessarily my fave I’ve used it a few times and it’s in my closet that’s where I store my makeup. I may have answered this already I am studying for a huge exam and my brain is melting. I wouldn’t repurchase but I think it’s lovely that it’s in her collection ❤️ 

[itsfi]

@peculiarzmakeup, thank you! You did let me know how the oil has been working for you!!! 😊 Sending well wishes for good and productve study times and quality breaks and rest between study sessions! 

[ather]

@itsfi  Wow!! 🤯 I love how you took the time and really thought this out! New brushes squeeeeeee how are they? This capsule is amazing! 

[itsfi]

Thanks @ather! I've been enjoying my capsules so far and this year, I challenged myself to keep my capsules (on average) between 8-12 products, which means some weeks I'll have 5 or 6 items in my makeup capsules and other weeks, it'll be 15-18 if I want more options or have different events on my schedule to take into account.

The brushes she created on her own are all good; my favorite of those three is probably her first brush because it's so versatile - Danessa Myricks Beauty Yummy Face 1.0 All Over Complexion Brush - For Foundation, Blush, Bronzer & P... (though the Danessa Myricks Beauty Yummy Face 2.0 Teardrop Kabuki Complexion Brush makes my foundation application go so quickly when I use more creamy, full coverage formulations - not often). 

Of the brushes that I have from her collab with MyKitCo., I've been enjoying these two - 

The tip of the top brush is really great for pinpoint concealing of acne dark spots that are healing. Mine take a long time to heal so depending on where they are on my face, I sometimes like to use concealer over them and the brush tip is helpful. It reminds me of the pinpoint concealer brush in Kevin Aucoin's first line of brushes - I loved that brush (I still love it, it's just been discontinued). 

The bottom brush is a nice all over foundation brush that works well with a host of formulations. I usually like to apply my lighter coverage foundation and skin tints with my fingers but sometimes reach for a brush if I'm just wanting to do a very quick pass over and I don't want to get my fingers full of makeup.

[CynthieLu]

I really appreciate the presentation of your capsule @itsfi from the photos, to the organization of your product break downs. It really feeds the curious part of my brain that is hungry for all things makeup/beauty related. 🙏🩷

[itsfi]

@CynthieLu, thank you. BIC is definitely the right place to be to feed our beauty related hunger. 😀

[CynthieLu]

It keeps us coming back again and again 😉 @itsfi 

[peculiarzmakeup]

Gorgeous Capsule! That’s amazing to have Danessa’s brush set. I really admire the quality of them they are constructed so beautifully for their purpose and focus! The chart you made is so meaningful you really gave each product an amazing representation of how it shows up in your routine. Amazing photo. I appreciate your thoughts and how you elegantly and mindfully you pick out the tried and true fits for you! Amazing read! @itsfi  ❤️ 

[itsfi]

@peculiarzmakeup, I have all 3 of the brushes she has available at Sephora. Last year, I picked up the starter edition of her brush set collab with MyKitCo. It was part of someone's haul, maybe @danielledanielle? and includes some great brushes. 

"... mindfully you pick out the tried and true fits for you!" Thank you, that's so good of you to say. I have a lot of products, even with my no/low buys and donating and decluttering beauty items over the years, so I have a large pool of beauties to choose from. This challenge and just shifting my focus on different things has been helpful in keeping me focused (errrr, most of the time 😅) on going through and using what I do have. I'm motivated by the idea of having a collection of tried-and-true products and a selective handful of new or new-to-me I pick up from season to season. That's the goal; fingers crossed we keep making progress towards that! 🤞

[danielledanielle]

Good memory @itsfi  I think the Danessa set was the official end of my lowbuy.  I have the face edition, and I've kept myself from getting the detail eye brushes, thankfully.

But her Danessa Myricks Beauty Yummy Face 1.0 All Over Complexion Brush - For Foundation, Blush, Bronzer & P... is such a fantastic brush.

[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.