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.

[ather]

@itsfi  Awesome recap! Only one nay that’s good!!! 😊 those lip colours are beautiful! 😍 

[itsfi]

@ather, thanks so much. I love that I have fewer "nays"; and the ones that I have had are really because the products are not suited for me. The formulations themselves are fine; it's just not a good fit, which happens. I love the lippies this week. 💗 I'm going to have to do more lipstick battles this year if I'm going to whittle down my stash. 

[peculiarzmakeup]

I really love the idea of the checkin at the end of the week. It was nice to read about what helps you determine if a product is a good fit for you or not and why. I think it’s so helpful to picture it and put in perspective of how it plays out in real time. Such a beautiful summary! And oo this weeks challenge is so neat I have an idea in my head about how to make it happen. Thanks for your honest input and reflections they are always appreciated ❤️ @itsfi 

[itsfi]

@peculiarzmakeup, I love hearing about how people in the Community use their products. I fully appreciate that some pick up items as collectibles, but for those who use products regularly (or semi-regularly as I know that with a larger collection of treats it can be hard to use everything regularly), it's great to learn what works and doesn't work for folks. And it's also nice to see the looks created if/when those are posted. Sometimes a product might not perform well one way but when used another way, it's amazing!! 

[PrettyPaint]

@itsfi That's interesting that shade 3 of the yummy skin blurring balm works better for you than the universal shade. I think I've only tried the universal, and I never gave it a full chance to see how it performed. I think I still have it somewhere, so I need to look through my stash and see whether it's still ok to use (not sure how old it is). It seems like such a versatile product, but maybe so versatile that I'm not quite sure how to use it. 🙂

[itsfi]

"It seems like such a versatile product, maybe so versatile that I'm not quite sure how to use it." 

Yes @PrettyPaint; that is an excellent description. It took me a while to put it to use because I wasn't altogether sure how to start to go about it. It's so odd that the tinted version works so nicely for me, even as I still am not altogether sure how to best use the universal/clear version. I use the tint just like I would a foundation and voila, it works beautifully - I get a blurred / slightly air brushed look. I wonder if I've been applying a base product that doesn't pair well with the universal/clear version; hmmmm... an experiment to be done another day. If you have a chance at another time to try out the universal shade again, I'd be interested in your take on it. 

[PrettyPaint]

@itsfi I'm on a search to find it. I organized my makeup a few weeks ago, but my organizational scheme may not have been very effective. I sorted things by product category, but I must have put this in a really weird place (maybe because it's multi-purpose) because I can't seem to find it. 

[itsfi]

I was just talking to another BIC'er about organizing and not being able to find things @PrettyPaint! It happens, a lot more than you think. Love that you organized by category but that can definitely make it a challenge when you have multi-purpose products, like the DM - is it a primer? A setting balm? Skincare? 

Impressed and inspired by you organizing your makeup. I need to do that - either to jump start the spring cleaning process for the year ... or perhaps to continue with the spring cleaning project of 2024?? Hahaha! In my mind, it is a big endeavor as I am hoping to declutter things; not just things that have already been open but also products I haven't even gotten to and don't foresee being able to anytime soon - they deserve a better home. 

[PrettyPaint]

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

Fenty Beauty by Rihanna Gloss Bomb Universal Lip Luminizer Fuchsia Flex  

-I was inspired to buy this gloss based on posts here, and it's such a fun, pigmented shade. 

Fenty Beauty by Rihanna Eaze Drop Stick Blur + Smooth Tint Stick Foundation 1  

-I've had this for a while, but I'm just now starting to use it. So far I like it, though I think my skin might be a little dry at the moment and may work better during the summer. I also purchased the wrong shade (it's much too light). 

Fenty Beauty by Rihanna Fenty Cheeks Suede Waterproof Powder Blush Sundress Szn  

-I love the peachy shade of this blush, and it's nice and pigmented. 

PAT McGRATH LABS Skin Fetish: Sublime Perfection Blurring Under Eye Powder  

-Great brightening setting powder for under the eyes. 

I absolutely love Danessa Myricks palettes, though I can't tag them (they were limited edition, I believe). Pictured are her lightwork palettes in Volumes IV and V. I love their versatility, and they are just so enjoyable to use. 

[ather]

@PrettyPaint  Great capsule choice! 

[PrettyPaint]

@ather Thank you so much.

[peculiarzmakeup]

Gorgeous capsule! Fenty beauty definatley makes great glosses I have to get around to trying some of her other products! Ah those palletes are so lovely! The variation of shades and colors and how she labels them with names is so neat! I love how you honor these products in your capsule they are all lovely! @PrettyPaint  ❤️

[PrettyPaint]

@peculiarzmakeup Thank you so much! I really love the DM palettes - they are just a joy to use. 🙂

[peculiarzmakeup]

Yes! So much variety and different looks that can be created it’s really so neat ❤️ @PrettyPaint 

[itsfi]

Oh wow, what an amazing capsule @PrettyPaint! 😍 Danessa Myricks palette are so breathtakingly beautiful. I primarily play in the browns/nudes/neutrals sandbox but her eyeshadow shades are gorgeously vibrant and the sparkle are marvelous - in the pan and on the lids. I'm happy to hear your thoughts on the Fenty blush and the Pat McGrath eye powder. I've had my eyes on them for a while but haven't purchased, in part because I'm still working through some similar products and also I wanted to hear more feedback on them. Do you find the blush to be waterproof? Or water-resistant, longwearing?

[PrettyPaint]

@itsfi The Fenty blush is longwearing. I wouldn't say I tend to have trouble with blush fading throughout the day in general, but this one definitely is still visible when I remove my makeup at the end of the day. 

I wasn't sure how to answer your question about whether it's waterproof, so I gave it a try. I tried it on my arm, though, to avoid messing up the rest of my makeup. 🙂 I applied a pretty large amount with a brush, and then I put my arm under water for 20 seconds. It definitely looks like not too much came off, so I'd say it's quite water resistant! 

before waterafter water

[itsfi]

Ahhhhh!!! Thiiiis is incredible @PrettyPaint. Thank you so much for doing this and posting - above and beyond!! Appreciate it a lot! Now, the hard part - which shade to pick up; I do wish the stores carried the entire shade range. This color looks so pretty on you. 😍

[PrettyPaint]

@itsfi Thank you so much! I think they would be good to see in person if possible; I didn't realize the full shade range isn't carried in stores. From the online photos, I think some of the shades would probably be too pigmented for me. 

[danielledanielle]

Week 6: Uoma Beauty All in

No longer black owned 🥲, but forever founded (Sharon 🙌🏽), decided to break open some of my unused items alongside the tried and true.  No time like the present.

The only thing I couldn't find was one of the other Sharon C products, which was the sister line at Walmart, and I must've used the blue mascara from the "Salute to the Sun" release as well as the afro.disiac liner

I also might have a lip from the Coming2America one.... But this is more than enough.

Uoma doesn't have a setting spray or an eye primer, so the concealer and setting powder are acting as eye primer and my TirTir/Skindinavia combo is still in effect

Since nothing's sold here, let me know if there's something you're curious about, because I'm not about listing all the names 🤣😭

The Fit

 

Also included fragrance

 

Fenty Beauty by Rihanna Fenty Eau de Parfum  

World of Chris Collins African Rooibos Eau de Parfum Travel Spray 0.3 oz / 7.5 ml eau de parfum spray  

Older travel versions of World of Chris Collins Long Kiss Goodnight Eau de Parfum Travel Spray 0.3 oz/ 7.5 mL and World of Chris Collins Harlem Nights Eau de Parfum Travel Spray 0.34 oz / 10 ml  

Mini of Long Kiss Goodnight and Lost in Paradise

BROWN GIRL Jane Carnivale Eau de Parfum Travel Spray .34 oz / 10ml eau de parfum spray  

[PrettyPaint]

@danielledanielle I love the shades in the Freedom palette. I did a search, and it looks like it's sold out at most places unfortunately! 

[danielledanielle]

@PrettyPaint, oof. I  tried finding it too 

It was a special release, part of the "Pull up for Change" movement, which I think the founder is still a part of, but I don't know if the brand is aligned with it anymore.  The Elaine lipstick is a part of it too, which I couldn't find again and I broke a tube 🥲