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 17 (April 21 - 27) - The "Green" Makeup Capsule
It's green week, folks! Let's put together a "green" capsule for Earth Day (April 22). What exactly does "green" mean? Here, at the capsule makeup challenge, "green" can mean a bevy of things, including, but not limited to, one or more of the following types of product(s):  

* the color green, be it the color of the product itself or the packaging 
* eco-friendly
* makeup coming in at a savings - whether you picked it up on sale or a product is budget friendly or economical
* clean, be it clean at Sephora,  or some other definition of clean
* beauties that have left / leave my wallet with a little less green in it 
* your definition of "green"

UPCOMING Makeup Capsule Themes: [Updated 4.23.2025]

Spoiler

Week 18 (April 28 - May 4) - The Makeup-Artist-Founded/Owned Brand Makeup Capsule 

Is there a makeup artist that you've followed or admired. Here's a chance to celebrate the makeup artists whose work have caught your eye - curate a makeup capsule made up of one or more products from a makeup-artist founded / owned beauty brand. [See below spoiler for non-exhaustive list of makeup brands that fall within this category.

Spoiler

Below is a non-exhaustive list of makeup brands founded or owned by makeup artists.

beautyblender
Bobbi Brown
Charlotte Tilbury
Ciele Cosmetics
Danessa Myricks
Em Cosmetics
Half Magic
Huda Beauty
Isamaya
Jason Wu
Jones Road
Kevyn Aucoin Beauty
Lisa Eldridge
MAC Cosmetics
Makeup By Mario
Make Up For Ever
NARS
Natasha Denona
One/Size by Patrick Starr
Pat McGrath Labs
Patrick Ta Beauty
Pixi
Rokael Beauty
Uzo
Wayne Goss
Westman Atelier

Previous Capsule Themes: [Updated: 4.20.2025]

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 

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]

Week 12: Spring is In the Air Makeup Capsule

I have a trimmed down makeup capsule this week; it's a combination of last week's "attitude of gratitude" theme and this week's springtime prompt - smaller than I originally envisioned for either theme and without any eye makeup. The primary reason for the latter is that I'm nursing an injured eye - I'll be fine, but I'm avoiding eye makeup (except for Glossier Boy Brow) until it heals and will be trimming back some more on my off-hours screen time this week so as to not cause it additional strain.

COMPLEXION:

• Testing out the new MILK MAKEUP Hydro Grip 12-Hour Hydrating Gel Skin Tint 4 this week. I went in to get color matched, the last activity I had left for the New Beauty Insider Challenge! - beauty scan. Thank you to Amy at the Union Street store who took a scan of my face and I was matched to shades 4 and 5. My eye went to 5 when I saw the display and swatched the product onto my hand. Both shades work - 5 evens out my tone with just a hint of extra color, and 4 adds a brightness to my complexion in a natural way.  wear skin tints year round so it's not exactly spring-specific for me but lighter formulations like this Milk tint do see an uptick in sales and use when the weather warms up. 
• I'll use HAUS LABS BY LADY GAGA Triclone Skin Tech Hydrating + De-puffing Concealer with Fermented Arnica to cover the redness around my nose - spring is in the air which means allergy season is underway, and to conceal a couple PIH spots. PIH = post inflammatory hyperpigmentation - the dark spot(s) that can follow a healing zit. The Haus Labs is a beautiful concealer - one of my top concealers. Thankful that I discovered it through last year's capsule challenge.
• SEPHORA COLLECTION Translucent Loose Setting Powder - I am getting closer and closer to using this up each day 👍 and will be incorporating it into various capsules this year until I do. It was part of a gratis package from @TeamBIC - thank you! a while ago and I've been steadily working my way through it. I have to thank @Mellmars1185 for getting me back into using loose powders - seeing her work through the now discontinued YSL loose powder (the new formulation is just not the same - I may reach for mine after I use up this SC powder). 

CHEEKS:

I owe my blush purchases and usage to BIC on so many different levels.This week's trio is representative of the various ways BIC has enabled / inspired me to pay more attention to my cheeks over the years. 

•  I was first introduced to the MAKEUP BY MARIO SoftSculpt Transforming Skin Enhancer®   through Team BIC's summer gratis package. This one is in a lighter shade which is more fitting for my complexion this time of year; the one from the gratis package will come out to play later in the year (and hopefully see pan at some point). 
• This Yves Saint Laurent Make Me Blush 12H Blurring Liquid Blush 57 Coral Clash screams spring to me - it's very pretty and cheerful. It's not really a shade I normally gravitate towards and am grateful to the YSL rep for suggesting and applying it to my cheeks at SEPHORiA 2024: Atlanta, and even more thankful to a BIC beauty for gifting this to me. 💝 
• Rare Beauty by Selena Gomez Positive Light Liquid Luminizer Highlight Mesmerize is another gift from another BIC beauty that I'm thankful for. It's the few, maybe the only, come to think of it, rose gold highlighter I have in my collection and it's a gorgeous one. 😍

LIP:

• What?! I'm going with just one lip product for the week?!! And in a softer shade of pink that I don't typically wear. Yep, I'm going to try keeping to the about-face Cherry Pick - The Mini (Pink Pina) all week long. If I find myself in need of more variety, I'll probably reach for some lip liners or tinted lip balms I've been meaning to reach for / test out.

FRAGRANCE:

A thank you to the lovely @cianni  for intro'ing fragrance to the capsule challenge last year. I have two for this week.

•  #Valentino Donna Born In Roma Eau de Parfum Travel Spray 0.33 oz/ 10 mL was part of last year's holiday gratis from TeamBIC and a lovely piece of the swag bag from SEPHORiA (I think it was from NYC?)
• I picked up Ellis Brooklyn MYTH Eau de Parfum as a souvenir of a trip to Maui 5+ years ago. It was a much needed getaway then and serves as a reminder to me to carve out time for getaways through the year, even if it's not to a tropical island. 

Week 11 Recap 

Everything was good, if not great, with last week's samples capsule, particularly the Dior. Prior to setting aside these items for last week's capsule, I had in semi-regular use, all but maybe 3 of the samples in full size form 💗. I love how much product Dior included in these blister packets - it allows me to put the product to (much) more than one use, giving me a better idea of how it will fit into my makeup routine(s) and whether it's something I'd want to have in a full size. Merci beaucoup, Dior!  All but one of the samples I used were hits, with just one that was just okay for me, with that having to do with my personal taste rather than the formuation or color payoff. The gold glow maximizer is a beautiful shade but it's just not a shade I tend to reach for very often so a full size wouldn't make sense for me - it's a stunning gold with lovely shimmer to it. I love that is packs in the color as it would translate gorgeously on many skin tones.  

Each of the sample blisters of the Kosas Air Brow Tinted Clean Volumizing Eyebrow Gel also contained a lot, and I mean, A LOT, of product. I've had this sample card for some time and was concerned the product might have dried up. It did not. The shades are very pigmented and I need to use a light hand - my previous experience with this product has mainly been with the clear gel version. Shade-wise, taupe and/or one of the mid-tone ashy brown shades are probably the best match. My eye brow hairs are dark but if I match the brow shade head on, the look is a little too intense for my liking so I tend to go with shades that can blend well into my natural brow color without drawing too much attention to them. I've liked a couple of Kosas items and this product is promising, @ather.  I'll need to pin down the shade I like best but I see why it has such a fan following. 

[CynthieLu]

This is a beautiful presented capsule, you make such lovely ones! @itsfi I hope your eye injury heals quickly and with no complications. 🤕 

How do you like Ellis Brooklyn MYTH Eau de Parfum 3.4 oz / 100 mL eau de parfum spray?

[itsfi]

@CynthieLu, I like the EB Myth fragrance. I have it in various sizes and formulations since discovering it on vacation 5 years ago.

[CynthieLu]

I haven't thought about it in a awhile, seeing it in your capsule brought back a memory. I remember getting a sample size forever ago. I do I know I liked it, but I can't recall what it even smelt like. I have a few scents on my list to smell in store. I think I'll revisit this one and add it to the list. @itsfi. My curiousity has been sparked. 🐈

[Mellmars1185]

@itsfi Great capsule! Did you see Givenchy has a new setting powder coming out?? Do you like having setting powder in your makeup routine?

[itsfi]

The pressed powder, yes, @Mellmars1185? When I saw it on the product page, my first thought was whether you’d seen it. And then I wondered if the formulation was more like the older version of the loose that was so well loved by so many. I’m kinda tempted to give it a try, but  I might wait though to get more info on the formulation. What about you - think you’ll pick up the new YSL?

Thanks so much for asking - I have been liking a setting powder. For day to day, I’m generally good with one or the other (a setting spray or a setting powder) but layering both (and in some cases, using a hydrating mist as well) is the best combination for me. 

Out of curiosity, what are your current go to setting powders? 

[Mellmars1185]

@itsfi I think I will also wait on the YSL pressed powder. I have a backup of the old formula still and I am currently loving my Kosas Cloud Set Baked Setting & Smoothing Talc-Free Vegan Powder Feathery . Maybe once I have made a dent in my current collection a bit more I will try it out! I am curious how it preforms.

I also use a loose setting powder and hydrating setting spray. I am currently using ONE/SIZE by Patrick Starrr Ultimate Blurring Setting Powder Universal Translucent . It is great for my oily skin. To bring back some glow after loose setting powder, I am using Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Flawless Waterproof Setting Spray 3.3 oz / 100 ml . If there are any areas that need blurring or blending I will go back in with the Kosas after the setting spray dries.

[itsfi]

@Mellmars1185, that looks like a sound trio. The CT spray is a classic. I'm hoping to narrow down my "must have" setting sprays this year - I doubt I will have just one. 🤣 3 would be ideal (a waterproof version, a hydrating one, and one that is alcohol free), but a max of 5. We'll see how that goes; I have these ideas but sometimes there are just too many great products. And then with setting powders, 2 or 3 there would be good, max - a loose powder, a pressed powder, and maybe a placeholder for one I'm testing. Again, the plans in my head don't always come to pass exactly as I envision it. For the sprays, I have a waterproof and a hydrating one I really like so that should give me some focus, "should" being the operative word! 

[Mellmars1185]

@itsfi Your plan makes complete sense to me! I currently am using a Waterproof setting spray for evenings out where I don't want my makeup to budge and the CT. I have to say I have many other setting sprays in my stash but I alwayd go back to the CT as my go to. I think my strategy is to try a new one once my CT is finished. We shall see how many I get through before I cave and go back to CT...or maybe I will find a new favourite!

[itsfi]

@Mellmars1185, have you tried the combo of the Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Flawless Waterproof Setting Spray 3.3 oz / 100 ml and Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Flawless Finish Refillable Setting Powder?

[Mellmars1185]

@itsfi I actually have not. Have you? 

[itsfi]

I've paired those two setting products a couple of times @Mellmars1185, way back when, and my recollection is that it was good. Our chat is making me want to try that pairing again in a future capsule - thank you! I may incorporate those two Charlotte Tilbury setting products in my routine for next week (Week 14) or the last week of April for the makeup-artist-founded/owned theme. Or, for both weeks!!

[Mellmars1185]

@itsfi Ohh great idea! I am interested to hear how it goes if you decide to do it!

[ather]

@itsfi  This is a great capsule!!! I love the bag!!! Interesting about the Kosas. I haven’t tried the tinted but I felt the same about the clear! The Milk makeup tint sounds perfect!  I love the extra usage of foils!!! Great job!

[itsfi]

A little goes a looooong way with the Kosas tinted brow gel, @ather; I was surprised because I thought I only picked up a small amount of product. There’s a ton of product in the sample blisters too so I need to figure out a way to keep the open sample blisters from drying out. 🤔 

I was surprised too by the Milk skin tint. Their previous foundation / tint wasn’t a good fit for me and I haven’t had the best results with some of their other makeup items but this new tint has been a hit!! I know, another tint. But I reach for those types of foundation most often for every day especially in spring and summer so it would be put to good use. 

[danielledanielle]

Week 12: The Miranda Priestly Edit AKA Bougie Spring

I wanted to do a lux capsule and then remembered @itsfi  DWP looks and was like, " there's a wayyyy"

Spoiler

 

 

I tried to stick with fashion houses, but there's some things I already had opened.  Also, trying to keep things at a minimum with brands.  I asked myself "would Miranda wear this or be friends -ish with these brands?" I left out VBB because I felt that would be more of a Jacqueline brand 🤣

Spoiler

I think I put too much time and thought into this, but it's the little things that you've gotta do at times

 The fit :

This poor victim is a Tartan + Twine valet.  I felt a valet made sense.  It held a lot more than I expected.  In theory I could've put some of the lips in there.  The Bloomie's bag is keeping my lippie together and J'adore for scents and lashes

This little gem is matching my work tote, plus I felt like I should be extra because Miranda is, so I added some fude to the equation.

[itsfi]

A bevy of Bougie Brilliance, @danielledanielle. J'adore Dior so your luxe choices definitely get two thumbs up from me. As do the Gucci, Valentino, Tom Ford, et al.  Ahhhh, seeing Kevyn Aucoin in the mix warms my heart. 💞 And, of course, gotta include one (or two or ...) fude brushes. 

Yes, yes, a valet in a capsule inspired by The Devil Wears Prada? Absolutely a must. 🤣 Will this Boujie Spring curation inspire aThe Fit, The Fab and The Face: Outfit and Inspo Thread worthy Miranda Priestly-esque ensemble?

btw, yes to the Jacquelline Follet reference - need to add her to my list of TDWP inspired looks to try. 

P.S.  What are your thoughts on the Paco Rabanne perfume?

[danielledanielle]

The Paco Rabanne smells like what I think a rich lady smells like, 😂, it's floral, yet kind of ol' school @itsfi 

[itsfi]

Week 11 (March 10 - 16) - The Samples Makeup Capsule  and/or The "Attitude of Gratitude" Makeup Capsule

This is one of two capsules I will put to use during the week - samples and (mostly) women-founded/owned beauty brands. I considered doing a capsule consisting of sample size and full size Dior products, but ultimately came up with this set of beauties. I have several fo the Dior foundation packets and and am doing some testing to see which, if any, of these items I will take with me on a couple of excursions later in the year. Will be back later to tag products and give my thoughts on certain items. 

• DIOR Dior Forever Glow Veil Makeup Primer 1oz / 30ml - some sample packets contain the primer; others do not. The majority of mine do and I like the Dior primer; it pairs nicely with the foundation in this packet.
• DIOR Dior Forever Skin Glow Hydrating Foundation is one of my fave foundations
• HAUS LABS BY LADY GAGA Triclone Skin Tech Hydrating + De-puffing Concealer with Fermented Arnica was in my top 5 concealers from last year and I'll use this to conceal some PIH (post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation aka dark spot after a pimple) and redness around my nose
• I'm going with Westman Atelier Vital Pressed Skincare Blurring Talc-Free Setting Powder Translucent to set. This'll be my first time using this setting powder. I have the Charlotte Tilbury Mini Airbrush Flawless Setting Spray 1.1 oz/ 34 ml as a backup. Or maybe I'll use both?
• For eyes, I'm going with a couple of sticks - Victoria Beckham in Trench and Bobbi Brown Long-Wear Waterproof Cream Eyeshadow Stick Golden Bronze. These two sticks are ones I can usually get away with not using a primer for my lids. We shall see if that holds true; if not, I'll use the concealer and setting powder to primer my lids.
• Through BALETTE ROYALE: Showdown of the Shadows, I've discovered that the Danessa Myricks Beauty Linework Paintbrush Fluid Liquid Eyeliner 0.034 oz / 1 ml has been a good one for me to do a mini wing. I want to practice a wing a couple of times this week. 
• Danessa Myricks Beauty Infinite Chrome Waterproof Micropencil Eyeliner Bronzite 
• HAUS LABS BY LADY GAGA B Structural Volumizing and Lengthening Mascara Black Onyx is still in the testing phases. I ended up reaching for other brands more last week and want to give it a decent trial.
• Kosas Air Brow Tinted Clean Volumizing Eyebrow Gel - I need to go back and see if this was included in @ather brow gel battle. I feel like she's used it before and liked it, along with other BIC members. Hoping these blister samples of the product haven't dried out. 🤞 
•  ISAMAYA 5 Point Lift Illuminator Fair - my sleep pattern hasn't been great lately so my undereye area could use some help.
• All my cheek products this week will be from the Dior sample packet, which contains DIOR Forever Glow Maximizer Longwear Liquid Highlighter 014 Rosy (blush / blushlight); DIOR Forever Glow Maximizer Longwear Liquid Highlighter 013 Gold (highlighter); and DIOR Forever Glow Maximizer Longwear Liquid Highlighter 016 Bronze (bronzer / bronzelight). I have full sizes of 014 Rosy and 016 Bronze and now they'll work well for me. We shall see how 013 gold performs.
• Giving about-face Lip Fix Lip Primer a try - their eyeshadow primer works very well so I have high hopes for this one, but it'll be tough to beat MAC Prep + Prime.
• Another Dior sample packet, this time for lips. I love the formula for these - DIOR Dior Addict Shine Lipstick; shades are Dior 8, 100 Nude Look, 525 Cherie andd 720 Icone. I have 100 Nude Look and 720 Icone in full sizes so I will probably stick with the other two shades. I say "probably" because both are red or red-adjacent and I'm not sure I'm up for a week full of red lips, but we shall see. I can do a stain with them if I want a more toned-down red lip. 💄
• Perfumes are a plenty, but the sample sized one is Miss Dior Blooming Bouquet.

[danielledanielle]

I love all the Dior satchets! They are really nice for traveling, too @itsfi ... Work them foils!

[itsfi]

Satchets!!! That's a better name for them @danielledanielle. I feel like the only Dior products that I don't (currently have samples of are liners/pencils - for brow, eye and lip. Oh and powder, but I had one at some point way back when. 🤣  I do appreciate the generous amount of products in these satchets. 

Foils. Project Pan. Palettes. Etc. You'd think with all these things I need to work on using or using up, I wouldn't be inclined to buy more things. 😂