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 12.14.2025]

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 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. 😲]

UPCOMING Makeup Capsule Themes: [Updated 12.14.2025]

Spoiler

A sneak preview of a couple early 2026 makeup capsule themes during the week of December 22.

Previous Capsule Themes: [Updated: 12.14.2025]

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>
49 & 50 - The "Out With the Old, In With the New" 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. 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.

[ather]

@itsfi  Oooo a new way to use the glazing milk!! Hmm so you use it before you put the Dior stick on? Or after the foundation stick? I wonder if it would work as well with my merit foundation stick? Is it so good you would purchase it to use it this way! 

I have been using my glazing milk every night. I use my eye cream than the glazing milk and then the Summer Fridays Jet Lag Deep Hydration Serum null but in the old version. And then the RBC. And I have been walking up with glass skin every day! It’s been so good!!! But adding the glazing milk to my makeup routine could be great too!  

Although I am travelling home at the end of the month and it’s very humid there. I may need to change up my routine. Any suggestions? 

[itsfi]

@ather, if you use the glazing milk in your skincare routine, I'd continue doing that. Go through skincare routine per usual and when it comes time to doing makeup, then on the back of my hand, I add a little bit of the Rhode Glazing Milk and a few swipes of the DIOR Forever Skin Perfect 24H Multi-Use Foundation Stick # (or any foundation stick, including the MERIT The Minimalist Perfecting Complexion Foundation and Concealer Stick), mix those 2 together and then apply a thin layer of the mix to the face 👍 I've applied this Hailey Bieber hack with my fingers, a beauty sponge, and a foundation brush. For me personally, I prefer applying with my fingers or a foundation blush. 

There's an article on Byrdie that includes a review using the LYS Beauty Triple Fix Blurring and Hydrating Skin Tint Foundation Stick - if you do a search for "Hailey Bieber's Glowy Foundation Hack Gave Me Glazed Skin in Seconds" it should pull up a link to the article. 

[ather]

@itsfi  Ooooo I’ll check this out! And try it! I bet it will make my skin look so dewy! 

[itsfi]

@ather, yaaaay for travel! I tend to go for lighter products all around (cleansers, moisturizers, sunscreens, etc.) when traveling to humid places, but I still do include a more rich moisturizer because my skin will get dry from airplane travel (and if I'm in heavily air conditioned rooms). I also tend to have less products in my routine when I travel to humid climates. If I'm going on  longer trip to a humid location, I have a harder time packing "lightly" because I have this thought in the back of my head "what if I need ..." 🤣 I may need to work on getting over that. OR, maybe I need to take more vacations to tropical settings so I can learn what my travel essentials are - now that sounds like a fun homework assignment. I will see if I can narrow it down for a future trip and will post to Travel Essentials - what are your must-haves when traveling? and tag you. Right now, the "must haves" are:

• oil based cleanser (one that is lighter in consistency)
• water based cleanser
• face mist - going to give Tower 28 Beauty Mini SOS Daily Hypochlorous Acid Spray for Breakouts & Redness 1 oz/ 30 mL (gratis) a go on the next trip to humidity 😉
• serum
• moisturizer - gel based or oil-free ones are often recommended, but I typically just go for a lightweight moisturizer. For me personally, gel-based ones haven't worked out so well on their own and I end up needing to mix in an oil (yes, even in humdity) because my skin gets really dry from air travel (and if it's business travel, then also heavily air-conditioned conference rooms)
• SPF - right now, the sunscreen travel team (for humidity) includes: 

Summer Fridays ShadeDrops Mineral Milk Sunscreen SPF 30 1.7 oz / 50 mL - thanks so much for recommending this way back when. I like that it's lightweight, easy to spread and absorb, no whitecast and is effective in all climates and conditions. 🐐 

LIGHTSAVER Tinted - Activated Mineral Face Sunscreen Broad Spectrum - SPF 33 1.69 oz / 50 ml - this worked well on the last humidity vacay spot. I'm experiencing more redness so this alone won't cover it but it'll reduce its appearance. I'll use concealer or Tower 28 Beauty SunnyDays SPF 30 Tinted Sunscreen Foundation if I feel the need to do so.

SEPHORA COLLECTION Daily Mineral Sunscreen Cream SPF 30 1.7 oz. / 50 ml for body - I picked up some backups when they went on sale and there was a points promo

COOLA Scalp &amp; Hair Sunscreen &amp; Color Protection Mist with SPF 30 is a 🐐 as well either in addition to a hat or on days when I'm not wearing a hat. 

[ather]

@itsfi  This is a great list! I’m going for 7 days. Not a tropical place but humid! SPF will be a must! Hmm I may try and pack on the lighter side! But I think you’re right. Pack 2 moisturizers one thicker for travel! I thought about bringing some masks. And maybe a couple for my mom to test out too! Me and little man will share a suitcase! I’ll check out the travel thread. I have my hotel overnight bag down to a science. But maybe I’ll get my suitcase out and start to pack and see what I need!! I like to see things. 

[itsfi]

Week 23 - The Love Is Love Makeup Capsule

I had to do some editing of this week's palette but these are (most of) the makeup items I'll be reaching for this week.

COMPLEXION:

• Primer: ONE/SIZE by Patrick Starrr Mini Secure The Sweat Waterproof Mattifying Primer 0.33 oz / 10 mL - I won't use this everyday, relying instead on my SPF as a primer, but this one from One/Size does live up to its name. 

• Foundation: Tom Ford Traceless Soft Matte Foundation (discontinued) 

• Concealer: MAKEUP BY MARIO SurrealSkin® Awakening Concealer 

• Setting Products: I'll switch up between ONE/SIZE by Patrick Starrr Mini On 'Til Dawn Mattifying Waterproof Setting Spray, MAC Fix+, and KimChi Chic Beauty Puff Puff Pass Set & Bake Powder 

EYES:

• Primer: about-face Shadow Fix Eye Primer (not pictured)

• Eyeshadow: Wayne Goss Imperial Topaz The Luxury Eye Palette 

• Eye Brow Gel: Tom Ford Fiber Brow Gel (discontinued)

• Eye Liner: Jason Wu Beauty Felt Tip EyeLiner 01 Intense Black (top) and Makeup by Mario Master Mattes Brightening Pencil - Light I (waterline). I'll also try the shades from Danessa Myricks Beauty Love is Love All Over Face Palette (not pictured) as liner for some evenings out.

• Mascara: Kevyn Aucoin The Volume Mascara, after curling lashes with Kevyn Aucoin Lash Curler

CHEEKS:

• Blush: Tom Ford Creme Blush - 01 Cafe Rose (Rosy Nude) (limited edition)

• Bronzer: MAKEUP BY MARIO SoftSculpt Transforming Skin Enhancer® 

LIPS:

• Primer: MAC Prep + Prime

• Lip Liners: MAC Cool Spice or Freck Beauty MAKEOUT CLUB Nude Muse Lip Liner Shade 05 

• Lip Balm: about-Face Cherry Pick Lip Color Butter (Kiwi Fuzz) and OLEHENRIKSEN Pout Preserve Hydrating Peptide Lip Treatment Cocoa Crème - chocolate brown tint + rich... (I'll be using the shimmer version)(gratis)

• Lipstick: Tom Ford Lip Color Matte Lipstick (100 100) (from the Cafe Rose Collection) and Tom Ford Lip Color Matte Lipstick (02 Rose Petal) (from the Cafe Rose Collection)

The "Fits":  

The white puffy bag I picked up at a local boutique during a Small Business Saturday sale a year or so ago. The pin I found at a local store as well, though I can't recall when exactly. Had the idea to pair them together the other night. Not everything fit but most did.

[CorgiMommy]

@itsfi great capsule collection plus the puffy white bag is sweet

[itsfi]

@CorgiMommy, thank you. It’s been 23 weeks of great capsules from folks on this thread. Helpful to work through products too. The DIY pouch for the week has worked out well. 

[danielledanielle]

I miss Kevyn Aucoin at Sephora 🥲 @itsfi , And that white puffy bag is so cute 🥰 with the added pin.

This is a solid edit, so I'm curious as to what you left out 🤔

[itsfi]

Same @danielledanielle; same. I like many of the new items that the brand has released since his passing but he had some amazing products too before. 

Oh, that puffy bag gets treated with kid gloves; I have a way of getting makeup all over things that are white - bags, clothes, etc. - almost instantaneously after I pull them out to use/wear. It's like a special talent I didn't ask for. 😂 

Awww, thank you. My original plan was to do an all Tom Ford makeup capsule, inspired by your Beauty Ice Breakers and the phenomenal job @blackkitty2014 does with panning / using up her TF products. That's one of the things I have in mind for a future "one brand" capsule theme - loved @Mellmars1185's suggestion last year for that one and will be bringing it back before the summer is over. I think I can also do an all MAC capsule, maybe.

Other things I left out included -

• Kevyn Aucoin contour powder and mascara,
• some more Makeup by Mario products (I'm somewhat close to being able to do a full face with his line),
• Patrick Ta blush that is more of a bronzer shade on me,
• Mara Beauty tinted lip balm,
• Artist Couture eyeshadow palette,
• Jason Wu lip gloss, and
• OleHenriksen sunscreen as primer (it's been a staple for me for a few years in the summer - sun protection, vitamin C and brightening/radiance in one product).

I'm using all Wayne Goss brushes (not mentioned in my original post - ack!) this week but thought about using some MAC and Kevin Aucoin brushes as well. 

[danielledanielle]

If it helps I meant to mention Wayne Goss, then I forgot.  Then thought, I'll use his brushes and mention it then.  Then.. did something else 😂, you compiled enough, so props to that. There's always someone to mention unmentioned unintentionally.

Brushes were MyKitco that I used, which I think are pretty great.  They have sooooo next unique shapes for eye brushes.  I don't have any of their face brushes outside of the Danessa ones.

[itsfi]

💯, the Danessa x MyKitCo brushes are really good @danielledanielle. I don’t have all of them (should I add “yet” 😆), but the ones I do from the collab are 👍🏼 

[danielledanielle]

Week 23: Love is Love...❤️🏳️‍🌈

And really, we should all be grateful to the LGBTQIA folx.  From fit, bake, to yas, to slay.

 

We've got Marc Jacobs, Tom Ford, Freck, One/Size, PHLUR, Kevyn Aucoin and allies in Danessa, Fenty, Fashion Fair, MAC and Gaga.

The Fit 

Spoiler

 

 

[itsfi]

Ahhhh TOM FORD Vanille Fatale 1.7oz/ 50mL is such a beautiful fragrance @danielledanielle. Fabulous choices for the week's capsule. Which mascara is that in the prismatic tube?

[danielledanielle]

The Star wars green 💚 one PAT McGRATH LABS Dark Star Volumizing Mascara 0.43 fl oz / 13 mL @itsfi 

[itsfi]

That Pat McGrath green mascara must look stunning on you! There were a lot of beauties in the Star Wars collection @danielledanielle.

[itsfi]

Week 22 - The Musician Founded / Owned Beauty Brand Makeup Capsule

COMPLEXION:

🌿  Primer: Tatcha Mini Liquid Silk Canvas: Featherweight Protective Primer 0.35 oz/ 10g, for my AAPI founded beauty brand tie-in 

🎧  Foundation: about-face The Performer Skin-Focused Foundation

🎤  Concealer: HAUS LABS BY LADY GAGA Triclone Skin Tech Hydrating + De-puffing Concealer with Fermented Arnica 

🎼  Setting Spray: Rare Beauty by Selena Gomez Mini Always an Optimist 4-in-1 Mist 1.18 fl oz / 35 mL 

🎵  Setting Powder: KimChi Chic Beauty Puff Puff Pass Set and Bake Powder - perhaps not a musical artist who might be nominated for a Grammy or AMA award but she's a performer

EYES:

🎵  Primer: Choice between R.E.M. Starlet Matte Liquid Eyeshadow (NVM)* and Victoria Beckham Beauty Eyewear Eyeshadow Sticks (Trench)

🎶  Eyeshadow: GXVE BY GWEN STEFANI Eye See in Color Clean Multidimensional Eyeshadow Palette Simple Kind Of Life, simple but on my skin tone the shades serve as a nice base or veeeery light wash of color) and Victoria Beckham Beauty Eyewear Eyeshadow Sticks (Caramel) to add more depth

🎼  Eyebrows: Victoria Beckham Beauty Babyblade Eyebrow Pencil (Taupe) - I have fuller brows and taupe shades are good for filling in the sparser spaces without making my brows look super done up 

🎹  Eye Liner: HAUS LABS BY LADY GAGA Clear Cut Waterproof Liquid Eyeliner Black Onyx and on certain days with an extra line with SEPHORA COLLECTION Sephora Colorful® Waterproof Eyeshadow & Eyeliner Multi-Stick 16 Army Green Matte a la Victoria Monet's look on the docuseries Faces of Music

🎸 Mascara: Choice of  HAUS LABS BY LADY GAGA B Structural Volumizing and Lengthening Mascara Black Onyx and Gireatick 4D Silk Fiber Maascara* 

CHEEKS:

🎼  Blush: Rare Beauty by Selena Gomez Mini Soft Pinch Liquid Blush Hope 

🎤  Blush/Bronzer: HAUS LABS BY LADY GAGA Color Fuse Longwear Hydrating Glassy Lip + Cheek Blush Balm Stick Glassy Clov... 

🎵  Bronzer / Contour: Rare Beauty by Selena Gomez Warm Wishes Effortless Cream Bronzer Stick 

🎙  Highlighter: Fenty Beauty by Rihanna Diamond Bomb All-Over Diamond Veil How Many Carats?! (gratis) and if/when I need a more dialed down glow, Fenty Beauty by Rihanna Killawatt Freestyle Highlighter Mean Money/Hu$tla Baby 

LIPS:

🎧  Primer: about-face Lip Fix Lip Primer

🎙  Lip Liner & Lip Gloss: Fenty Beauty by Rihanna Chocolate Cherriez 2-Piece Lip Set + Pouch 

🎷  Lipstick: Fenty Beauty by Rihanna Gloss Bomb Stix High-Shine Gloss Stick N-10 - C U in Maui 

🎹  Lip Balm: about-face Cherry Pick Lip Color Butter (Pink Pina)

Here's the color I get when I blend the liner, lipstick, lip balm and lip gloss together: 

These lip products all work very well together; in fact, for a couple of them, they wear better together than on their own. I can make the color more sparkly with C U in Maui. More creamy and pink with Pink Pina, and more glossy and of a red velvet brownie dark red cherry hue with the Fenty liner and gloss.

The "Fits":

Possibly my favorite part of this capsule is the fits! Shout out to @danielledanielle for bringing to our attention the collection containing the Fenty Beauty by Rihanna Chocolate Cherriez 2-Piece Lip Set + Pouch - it'll take me a while to get through that liner and gloss but I wouldn't mind seeing both as a permanent part of the Fenty line. 

* trying out product for first time (beyond a patch test and preliminary wear test) with this capsule

[danielledanielle]

@itsfi, took me a sec to realize that was the inside of the bag, that's such a good pic/shot!

This whole capsule is, shall I say, harmonious 🎶🎵

Cherry Amour ❤️ I love that gloss bomb.  They haven't really done a red, there's MVP, and some of the cream, but I consider those berries vs red.  I wouldn't be surprised if it came back at least once 🤞🏽🤞🏽

[itsfi]

Thanks so much @danielledanielle. I had another photo that would have slotted between the up close shot and the full shot of the bag that had I included it, would have made the connection more clear. Ahhh, I'll take harmonious; that's a lovely compliment, thank you. I had fun with this week's theme, though I took a slightly different approach to putting all the pieces together. 

I would love to see this gloss bomb come back; it really is such a beautiful shade. I ffeel like it and Ami Cole Romance lip oil are deeper reds that work for me - though I am excited to see Ami Cole's new color, Victory. 

[itsfi]

RECAP - Week 21 The Vacay Makeup Capsule

I've been doing most of my recaps of the previous week's capsule products in my post for the current week's capsule, mainly because I haven't had many products that I've decluttered this year, but also for time and ease of convenience. The former I suspect may be because (or I like to tell myself it is because) I did a significant bit of decluttering with last year's capsules and I'm being much more (muuuuuch more) highly selective when it comes to my beauty spend - well, I am as far as everything but fragrance and sunscreen this year 🙄 but that latter one is fine as I tend to go through them. That said, the recap from this past week feels like it warrants its own post. 

The prompt for last week's capsule focused on one or more products that were vacation / travel-worthy, and I used it as an opportunity to test a small handful of products to see if they would, in fact, be something I'd like to take with me (and would take with me) on my next trip. It was, my all accounts, a rather minimalist capsule and compared to my experience with overpacking for my last trip, it was a very streamlined group of beauties. I did test out other makeup not included in last week's capsule - I had made some purchases so it was all for science, I tell you! 😉😂 [Oh, and @ather, I put Tower 28 Beauty OneLiner® Lip Liner + Eyeliner + Cheek Pencil Draw Me to the test as an eyeliner, and so far, so good! 👍 Testing it out as an eyeshadow today and want to give it a try as a bronzer so I'll have more thoughts over the next week / week-and-a-half.]

Here are the results from last week's vacay makeup capsule. First, the standouts, and the items I will be taking with me on my next vacation.

Dr. Jart+ Mini Cicapair Color Correcting Treatment SPF 30 15 mL/ .50 fl oz is a tried-and-true product for me.  It's great for concealing redness and works beautifully on its own or as a primer. There are days when I just apply this over my sunscreen, curl my lashes, and swipe on a lip balm, and I'm out the door. I really like the line and it's great the brand has products that provide similar results in different formulations, making it likely that there's something for most everyone. 

ONE/SIZE by Patrick Starrr Mini Secure The Sweat Waterproof Mattifying Primer 0.33 oz / 10 mL does what it says. There was only one day when it was warmer, and slightly humid which is not typical here this time of year, and this held up quite nicely. Interested to see how this will hold up in a warmer climate.

MAKE UP FOR EVER HD Skin Face Essentials Long-Lasting Full Face Cream Palette really helps to cut down what I bring with me as it gives me so many uses - base makeup, blush, highlight, bronzer, contour. I can also customize my base shade too, which may come in handy. 

Tower 28 Beauty SunnyDays SPF 30 Tinted Sunscreen Foundation is a year-round GOAT 🐐 product for me. It's more of a skin-tint-plus when it comes to coverage which is what I need 99.9999999% of the time. 

Dior Forever Natural Velvet Transfer-Proof Compact Foundation is great on its own or to set my makeup. It has more coverage than my other loved non-translucent powder (Sephora Collection Microsmooth Powder). I typically bring this powder with me in the palette it is a part of, but ... 

... after putting my MacGyver skills to the test (that safety pin sure came in handy 😅), I removed the powder from the palette, and with very little damage to it and the palette 🙌. 

The powder has really been the item I use when I reach for the Dior Fall/Winter Ready-To-Wear Palette so I'm keeping the powder and decluttering what remains of the palette. While the blush makes a nice topper, I have more than my fair share of blushersm and this one, like a couple of the eyeshadows here have developed hardpan. Can I fix that? Sure. Probably. But it doesn't feel like it would be worth the effort based on how old it is and how little I use all but the powder. The glosses I have used when I reach for this palette but that is more to get the most wear out of the palette as I can. The shades have also become grittier over the last month or so, and the sparkle/glitter in them is showing up more than I prefer (and more than I thought was in the glosses themselves to begin with). So, the pressed powder foundation aside, it's time to go our separate ways. 👋

[PrettyPaint]

@itsfi I think I have that same Make Up For Ever palette, but I've been bad about using it consistently. I can see how it would work nicely on vacation, but I haven't been traveling much lately. In terms of base makeup, does it work pretty nicely as a foundation or even a concealer? I think I've mainly just used the blush and bronzer shades. I probably need to start using it more frequently, as I'm not sure how long it will keep given it's a cream product.