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.

[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 spra... 

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 🥲

[PrettyPaint]

@danielledanielle Awww....that's too bad that it's no longer available. Sorry that your lipstick broke! 😢

[danielledanielle]

Awww, thank you.  The Uoma bullets are prone to this, so I did buy two thankfully.  If this one breaks, I'm smooshing it back together 🤣 @PrettyPaint 

[CynthieLu]

Gorgeous capsule! @danielledanielle Could you tell us more about the pallete's and the quads? 😍 

[danielledanielle]

@CynthieLu 

The Quads from her sister line, which I think is defunct now, Uoma by Sharon C.  They pack a punch and are nearly true to color for me, which is saying a lot.  With something like a yellow and a green, it's usually going to be an issue.  A lot of greens look dirty on me depending on what is in the base, and a lot of yellows -- don't show up at all.  I use eye primer regardless, so I am pretty nit-picky on those colors in particular.  If I see a yellow or green (or dark purple) in something, I expect it to show on me muted and usually use a white base to make them pop. I don't have to do that here, sometimes I opt too, but it is nice to not have to.  They are powdery, but they blend well.  I also used the orange and red this week as blushes, and the orange one works out nicely, doesn't last all day, but subs in.  I wouldn't use the red as a blush again, lol, kinda patchy.

The palettes are the Allure palette and the Freedom palette.  The Freedom (black and white casing)  palette is one of my favorite palettes, it has 3 duo chromes, and each shade is named after an important Black figure.  Kind of like how all the Bad@$$ lipsticks are named after someone.  So it hits that nice space where it performs well, and has a pop culture or personal aesthetic to it.  The shimmers do have fallout, so that's my main complaint.  The Allure (multi colored casing) palette is my wearable version of Natasha Denona's Yucca (which I ended up getting later, but whatevs) or skin to ABH's subculture.  I has a grungy, emo feel to it.  The mattes are super powdery like the quads, and while I don't mind the tetxture, I do know a complaint is that the shimmers are chunky.  They work well together and separately.  They have 10 pans each.

[CynthieLu]

That was a good read @danielledanielle thank you for taking the time to go in depth on those. 🙏  I think I've seen one of these before at Shoppers Drug Mart ( Allure palette I think) and I need to go back and investigate what they carry from Uoma. I want to see Freedom in person if I can, I mean it's your favorite, I want to see it irl now. 😃

[Mellmars1185]

@danielledanielle Great capsule. I don't think I have tried anything from Uoma. I am curious about the Chris Collins perfume. After everything, I have not tried any of his scents. 

[danielledanielle]

@Mellmars1185I get what you mean, but any fragrance is genderless, but the scents are usually more herbaceous or bodied vs something that's floral, sweet out light, although I feel like Lost in Paradise and Long Kiss Goodnight have a sweetness to them Chris Collins is comparable to Kilian's On the Rocks IMO vs something more gourmand or candied.  Or think Tom Ford Fabulous or Oud vs their Vanilla ones.

At Sephoria, I was advised to not layer them, but I really like Harlem Nights with the Fenty Fragrance.  I do not like the Fenty but itself, it has this patchouli note I hate, but something like Harlem Nights (my guess is the Rum) just knocks out the Fenty patchouli-ness enough

[Mellmars1185]

@danielledanielle Very true. Thank you for the clarification. I am going back to edit that post. 

[danielledanielle]

@Mellmars1185, you didn't need to. TBH, that is always a question that's going to be asked about scents/fragrance at some point.  His line is interesting, because I think most people would automatically categorize all the accents as "masculine" but I've worn four of them and was never told I smelled a certain way.  The question just leads me to think there's just an expectation of what people think one should pick, that's all and I don't want people to avoid a really good line because they thought it was "too ______" something.  I didn't intend for you to edit, just wanted to highlight CC's versatility.

[Mellmars1185]

@danielledanielle Thank you. It gives me a new perspective. I think maybe in the past, scents were marketed a certain way, so I think I subconsciously categorized scents that way. I am open to trying all scents. And you are right, I had assumed that Chris Collins scents were masculine (whatever that means). Now, I am very curious to smell the fragrances 😊.

[itsfi]

That's a fab idea for a pairing @danielledanielle. I have been trying to find just the right pairing of vanilla with the Fenty fragrance. I'll have to give Fenty + Chris Collins Harlem Nights a try one of the days ... note to self!

[danielledanielle]

Fenty by itself 😑

Jazz Club + Fenty 😊

Harlem Nights + Fenty 😍

@itsfi 

If I still had whispers in the Library, that would also probably be good, but that got smashed against a tile floor, so I can only wonder 😓

[itsfi]

Oooh, thanks for those recommendations @danielledanielle. I have both those scents in discovery sets and will try them both.  Patchouli is one of those notes for me that in some fragrances work so well 😘 and in others just don’t work at all with my body chemistry. 😩 

Oh noooo, it got smashed!!! 😱🥺

[CynthieLu]

I've never really considered this but reading it made so much sense. Scents are genderless. Tiny mind blown moment 🤯 @danielledanielle @Mellmars1185 

Can I ask why they advised you not to layer that scents in particular?

[Mellmars1185]

@CynthieLu Yes I agree about the mind blowing moment. I am learning.

[danielledanielle]

@CynthieLu, I think it was just preference. I have not tried layering any Chris Collins with another Chris Collins scent. I think it would be overwhelming.  His line has a boldness and depth to it, but as I'm accumulating fragrances, I've been pairing them up to A. use them & B. have a bespoke/signature scent to me.

Also the rep....she was drop dead gorgeous, so I probably would've agreed with everything she said at that moment 😂