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 23 (June 2 - 8 ) - The Love Is Love Makeup Capsule - This week's prompt is inspired by both (1) Pride month which will also serve as an optional monthly theme in addition to the other weekly capsule themes this month and (2) Danessa Myricks Beauty Love is Love All Over Face Palette  (which I'm hoping to finally put to use this week). For this week, curate a capsule containing one or more products that are from LGBTQ+ founded / owned makeup brand(s). 

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 6.1.2025]

Spoiler

Week 24 (June 9 - 15) - The Sleeping Beauties Makeup Capsule and/or The "Shop My Stash Makeup Capsule - Time to shop your stash! Look through your makeup beauties and choose one or more product(s) that haven't gotten as much love or attention, items that have been "sleeping" in your drawers, bins, makeup bag, etc. You never know what gem(s) you might find or rediscover. The product(s) for this week capsule can include full size, deluxe size or foil samples in your stash. Summer is a good time to revisit the beauties in your stash. If you finish up a foil sample or two with your products this week, let us know what you thought of the item here and/or on theFoil Challenge  thread.

This theme resonates with me a lot as I've been trying to work my way through the products in my collection, and decide whether it's something I'll use and is worth keeping or if it's time to let it go (donate, gift or toss). I suspect I may find a product or two in the process that I'll want to make part of the Shop Your Stash Challenge: The Summer Edition (coming soon).

For additonal upcoming capsule prompts, check out June 2025 Makeup Capsule Themes.

Previous Capsule Themes: [Updated: 5.25.2025]

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> 

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.

[caitbird]

@itsfi  fabulous "green" capsule! Love your creative definition of "green", haha! I always enjoy reading your detailed breakdown of your capsule products, why you chose what you did and how they performed for you. Also, you're reminding me that I need to get with the program re: Project Pan this year - I'm so behind (again!) 😭 Hoping to post to Pan It! - 2025 Challenge  thread this week!

[itsfi]

lol, it was a fun way to go about "green" - had to bring it back this year @caitbird! Never too late to jump on board a project pan. Looking forward to seeing and hearing about your progress there and on the seasonal shop my stash challenges, which reminds me, I need to give my spring selections some more attention. 😬 It's all a work in progress...

[Mellmars1185]

@itsfi Stunning green capsule! How are you liking the new Givenchy pressed powder? Do you have a preference between the loose and the pressed? The Dior Contour palette is pretty. I have never seen in before! I should try your idea of combining the Fenty Beauty by Rihanna Gloss Bomb Stix High-Shine Gloss Stick N-10 - C U in Maui   with another gloss. It is a pretty shade, but I am finding it too sparkly on it's own.

[itsfi]

@Mellmars1185, I like the Givenchy pressed more than the new, reformulated loose. Compared to the older version of the Givenchy loose, the pressed is similar, but not exactly the same; both are wonderful! The Dior contour palette is from a ways back; it'd be great if Dior re-released it. 

Oh yeah, 100% agree - the color of C U in Miami is gorge, but it's got its own sparkle party going on. Pretty, but it's too much for me for an every day look. Because of how intense and how much sparkle is in it, I just lightly dab it on my lips and then liberally layer the creamier lip color over it. A heads up though - be sure to carry that creamier, non sparkly color with you. Even as that was wearig down / wearing off, the sparkle in the Fenty was still around. Having it with me allowed me to reapply after I ate a meal or to touch up throughout the day, to keep the sparkle at a volume I could handle. 

[Mellmars1185]

@itsfi Thanks for the feedback. Yes I noticed that the sparkle from the Fenty stays on similarly to the Holiday Dior Sequin Liquid Lipstick.

[danielledanielle]

Oooh, that gives me an idea 💡 @Mellmars1185 

Sparkle City 🌆 here I coooooome

[Mellmars1185]

@danielledanielle I am looking forward to hearing (or seeing) more about his idea!

[PDXXXX]

Ooh; there are some goodies in there @itsfi ! I'm curious to try the Armani Concealer now. I like your version of, "green."

[itsfi]

@PDXXXX, I have a good amount of redness around my nose and along my cheeks, and for some reason, it's a lot more lately. 😟 The Armani Power Fabric is high coverage so a little is all I need; I like that the consistency is on the thinner side even with it being a fuller coverage concealer. I used to pair it with the Armani LSF (keeping it in the family, lol) but now, I find I reach for it more when I use lighter coverage or skincare/makeup hybrid base products. 

Hahaha, I stretched that definition of "green" last year and it's stuck. 🤣 I love it, it's fun. I thought about adding the Prada green tinted setting powder to actually add a bit of green to the capsule. Ha! The CdP and a couple of the Dior purchases have some vibes to them similar to some of our fashion finds - that Dior contour palette in particular. I had that on my radar for many years, so finding it made for a spectacular surprise - at an outlet store made it even better. Good memories. 

[PDXXXX]

@Ipshi definitely always cancelling out red in those areas as well. Some of the packaging in your capsule like the Dior and YSL are just so pretty too. Pretty packaging alone won't do it for me but it *does* feel so extra special when it's there. Just checking out the Dior summer makeup line-up and this compact in particular has me in awe - reminds me of something you would have in your stockpile:

)

[itsfi]

@PDXXXX, I was doing so well and then the redness came back hard. 😏 Not sure if it's the weather or what, but I'll be diving back into my skincare (and makeup) to see how to calm it down. 

100% agree - I much less swayed these days with the packaging alone, or even with a new collection coming out, but if I do pick up some newness and the presentation is stunning, you are so right, it does feel extra special. Oh, the summer Dior cheek compacts are beautiful - inside and out. Do you think you'll pick one up? 

[PDXXXX]

@itsfi I'm on the fence just for the reason you nailed - gorgeous compact but unsure about the bronze shade. Have you used any of the Dior bronzers? The stand-alone bronzer compact is also lovely. I just don't always love Dior face and eye products as much as their lip colors. Ugh, yes; the red flush is always an issue on my end as well. I had a very hard time with it last fall and it is coming back now so maybe it's seasonal? I'm reaching back for my azelaic acid, which I know you're familiar with, and also not using foundation or mixing it to dilute when I do. I definitely feel your pain!

[itsfi]

Oh, do you have one of the Dior standalone bronzers from this year @PDXXXX? The jumbo sized ones? I think I have, I'm pretty sure I have an older Dior bronzer, but it's not from this year's oversized collection. The most recent one I have is from one of last year's limited edition ones. Yeah, I'm with you - the Dior lip products and foundations are usually a standout for me; hit and miss with the eyes, especially since the reformulation. Yeah, I pulled back out my azaleic acid products as well as some toner/serums that have worked for me in the past. Gotta tone this redness back down! 😁

[PDXXXX]

I just got the Dior jumbo bronzer in light last week @itsfi. My favorite prior was the Jones Road Bronzer and I also like the Makeup by Mario liquid bronzer. I like the jumbo (I better as it's huge). The only thing I would say is it runs warm and like a lot of Dior products as you mentioned with their eye shadows I sometimes feel it doesn't pick up a lot of product (I guess the flip side being it's buildable and you're not at risk of over applying). And the compact is of course lovely. Ugh, I so feel you on the red skin. I'm using the discontinued Avene Antirougeurs cream and it's helping a lot. I feel like I always think I've found a new holy grail skin product for redness and sensitivity, and then end up going back to Avene. I hope your own calms down soon!

[danielledanielle]

Week 17: The Clean and Literal Green Capsule

 

The fit:

I did have a green 💚 colored bag, but it's full of lip masks. It would not have survived.

Forgot to take a pic of the Wicked bag, which has a green tint to it.  It held everything else 🙌🏽

[itsfi]

Seeing all your makeup for this capsule laid out her makes me think of a makeup artist’s table @danielledanielle 😍

Oh, those Prada palettes. As much as I like the wearability of the shades in the recently releases eyeshadows, there’s something about those original releases that I

adds a wow factor - the bold colors in them look so fun. Seeing yours is making me want to move up my play date with all the Pradas I have, including pairing the newer and older palette. 🎨 

about the Kulfi shadows, what’s been your go to way to apply them - fingers, brushes, a combo of both? 

[danielledanielle]

@itsfi,R/T prada I think it's the bold color + shimmer option that makes them fun.  That, and the OGs are inspo based on their prints (?), that release just seemed really thought out and then the newer ones having the color shifty shade is 🤌🏽🤌🏽. There are already a lot of color shifty shades in makeup, yes, but having it in a luxe option + quad is just really nice.

For the Kulfi, finger is best IMO.  They are really wet feeling, but brushes are still an option.  I have a Bisyodo brush that I use for pot shadows like this one, I like that brush for a putty like Supergoop Shimmershade

.A concealer brush, the paintbrush like ones... Like SEPHORA COLLECTION PRO Concealer Brush #45 are usually good with this type of product for my eyes.   I have an old Bare Minerals concealer brush that's very finger like, I use it sometimes with eye primer but I imagine it'd work for the Kulfi, too.

[itsfi]

Week 16 - The Spring Refresh Makeup Capsule   

When it comes to my makeup, my spring refresh will be about incorporating more blush in my daily looks (which will work out just fine as I seemed to have picked up more blushers in the last couple of months than I have perhaps in the previous year alone 🤣). I often just add a touch of bronzer to my cheeks for my every day look. I've experimented more with my other cheek products thanks to this makeup capsule challenge, the products that I've been fortunate to receive in gratis (thank you, @TeamBIC!) and some of the cheek challenges - it's not just fun to see what the BIC beauties create but also inspiring and motivating. 😍

Here are the goodies that make up this week's spring refresh makeup capsule, a mix of oldies but goodies and a few of the newness I picked up during the spring savings event. 

• MILK MAKEUP Hydro Grip 12-Hour Hydrating Gel Skin Tint  - the coverage on this one is more than a skin tint, more like light-to-medium, and buildable for more coverage. I typically wear skin tints without a primer underneath but my skin has been experiencing more redness of late (thank you, seasonal allergies) so I'm including Dr. Jart+ Mini Cicapair Color Correcting Treatment SPF 30 15 mL/ .50 fl oz  (🐐) in this week's capsule, as I suspect there will be more days than not that I will need it.
• DIOR Backstage Concealer 2N  mainly for redness around my nose and a spot-concealing a couple of dark spots. 
• Doing my eyes will be easy peasy with Thrive Causemetics Brilliant Eye Brightener (shade: Q) all over the lid and Danessa Myricks Beauty Infinite Chrome Waterproof Micropencil Eyeliner Bronzite  to line and in the outer V on days I want a little more depth. 
• MERIT Brow 1980 Volumizing Tinted Eyebrow Gel-Pomade  - the shade I have (Neutral) predates the shades that make up the current tint range. Glossier & Tom Ford are my current go to's for eye brow tinted gels/pomades. I had planned on doing throwdown with all my tinted brow products but think I will swtch things up a bit - I'll battle out all the non-Glossier & Tom Ford ones to see how they fare vis-a-vis one another and then, do another round of comparisons with the top 2 from that group and the Glossier & Tom Ford ones. Making a note to self to gather aaaaalll the brow gels/pomades I have in my stash. 
• Mascara?? I just realized I don't have a mascara in this capsule. 🤔 That was an oversight on my part. I guess we'll see what I end up going with this week.
• Going with my trusty MAKEUP BY MARIO SoftSculpt Transforming Skin Enhancer®  for some all over warmth with the Light shade and maybe more emphasis on the cheeks with the Medium (gratis) shade. 
• For blush, it's Meet Me In Miami week at the Spring Cheek Challenge 2025: Style Awakening - I plan to mix a couple, maybe even a few, blushers to get the shade I want for that fun theme. The base shade will be  Rare Beauty by Selena Gomez Soft Pinch Matte Bouncy Blush Worth , a more muted neutral blend of soft terracotta coral, nude, and the sliiiightest rosy brown hint that can be easily built up. I'll be testing out other shades to pair with it this week - right now, I'm thinking about adding (1) Danessa Myrick Valentine (gratis), the pink shade from the Pat McGrath Nirvana in Bloom Divine Blush, Bronze, and Glow Trio, or Haus Labs Hibiscus and (2) Tower 28 Samo Spritzer. Final decision and results will post to the cheek challenge thread.
• Lips will be a mix of Fenty Beauty by Rihanna Gloss Bomb Stix High-Shine Gloss Stick N-10 - C U in Maui  and about-face Cherry Pick Lip Color Butter (shade: Pink Pina)
• Fragrance: Touchland Peachy Lychee Power Essence Body & Hair Fragrance Mist Peachy Lychee  has grown on me and it makes a very soft and pretty fruity floral scent for spring. Thanks to @cianni 👋for including fragrance in her beauty capsule last year - it's such a great add! 

The Fits: has a Miami vibe to it with the fun colors. If I'm remembering right, this is from Virtual Sephoria 2021? Was it 2021? 🤔 My goodness, time flies by. Excellent call on including "the fits" @danielledanielle - I love seeing folks' makeup bags. 

Fenty C U in Miami + about-face Pink Pina

[danielledanielle]

C U in Miami, I see what you did there  @itsfi

I like this bespoke blush in progress...

Also, that  MILK MAKEUP Hydro Grip 12-Hour Hydrating Gel Skin Tint 15 keeps poppingup in your posts... Is it approaching🐐 status?

[itsfi]

It could not have worked out better with Fenty C U in Miami @danielledanielle!! The teensy bit of the pink-rose hue in the Fenty come through more on my lips and with the coral/orange in it, the lip gloss balm has this sunset like shift on my lips with the spaaaaahhhhhkle (less noticeable with the about-face Barbie pink balm but I like that the about-face tones down the sparkle a little. 

I pulled some other blush shades to play with tonight as I try to customize a Meet Me In Miami hue 😄

I'm really liking the MILK skin tint. It won't replace my current skin tint loves and 🐐🐐 but it will be joining them at the "her favorite skin tints" on the top shelf. I have to go through 2 tubes of this for it to get GOAT status, and there's a lot in this tube. The buildable light-to-medium coverage makes it very versatile for me - I can get it to the medium (the light end of medium) with some layers if I need and on my dry skin the glow from it looks like a healthy glow and not like I fell into a grease pit. Yes, the sun has not come out today and there's a lot of grey but I'm hopeful for how it'll hold up later in the season. 

[danielledanielle]

Week 16: Meet Me in Miami + Spring Break Refresh

We've got corals, pinks reds, oranges.  It's spring break, even though I'm still in a winter coat.

Fragrance corner, I've paired Sunflower Pop when PHLUR Missing Person Eau de Parfum and I'm proud of myself.  I guessed that this would work, and it's so soft and feminine.  @blackkitty2014 have you tried this yet? (Also 🫶🏽 @TeamBIC for both)

 

Fit Check : 85% of this fit into the ipsy bag.  I learned my lesson when the little airplane charm came off 😮.  Grabbed the Fenty pouch from last week

Speaking of which:

Blush Crush Flush Week

Fit

Also, this week , I'm battling my brush tip liners.  It's Isamaya vs Danessa.  Feeling cute, might post later to Beauty Product Battles, Throw Downs and Showdowns IDK

ISAMAYA Micro Eye Liner- Precision Liquid Eye Liner Ink  

Danessa Myricks Beauty Linework Paintbrush Fluid Liquid Eyeliner 0.034 oz / 1 ml