Capsule Makeup Collection Challenge 2025

[itsfi]

Happy fall, BIC! 🍂🍁  Whether having a set of makeup products all picked out in advance makes it easier to get ready in the mornings or if you're looking for a fun way to use the new-to-you and tried-and-true products in your collection, welcome!! 👋 Please feel free to join in weekly or as a theme suits your style or piques your interests. We love seeing and being inspired by what beauties everyone is using. 💋

 

How does this work?

To add a little bit of fun and creativity to curating a makeup capsule, there will be a weekly theme or prompt on which that week's group of beauty products will touch upon. There's no need to have every single product for the week fit the theme exactly. All you need is one product. And, truth be told, how that product fits into the weekly theme is subject to interpretation. Yours, primarily. So, please feel free to be creative. This is about finding a set of makeup products that work for you and your lifestyle, whether already in your collection or waiting to be discovered (or, in some instances, re-discovered) by you. 

How Can / Do I Participate?  

There are several ways you can participate - You can post a photo of the products you use or tag and list them, as you like. You can give someone's post a heart and / or ask questions about products in someone's capsule. You can post a different capsule every week or once a month or every once in a while, when a theme grabs your interest or draws your attention. 

When and where are/will the weekly themes posted?

The weekly themes are (or will be) included in the original post - under the section titled "Current Makeup Capsule Theme" or "Upcoming Makeup Capsule Theme". Occasionally, I will post a link to a separate post with the monthly themes.

▶️  CURRENT MAKEUP CAPSULE THEME  [Updated 11.2.2025]

Week 45 (November 3 - 9) - The "Sweater Weather" Makeup Capsule

I don't know about you but autumn weather is settling in and I find myself reaching more for my thicker sweater and coats. Let's embrace the warm and cozy autumn vibes in our makeup choices this week by curating a capsule made up of one or more products that complement the fall season and your unique individual style, be it by way of a product's texture, tone or hue. 

Don't feel like you need to limit yourself to your makeup either when it comes to sweater weather season. If you have some fall fashions to go with your fall face, be sure to head on over to the The Fit, The Fab and The Face: Outfit and Inspo Thread to show off your seasonal outfit of the day. 

UPCOMING Makeup Capsule Themes: [Updated 11.2.2025]

Spoiler

Makeup Capsule Themes for November can be found here.

Previous Capsule Themes: [Updated: 11.2.2025]

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>
 

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.

[danielledanielle]

Week 38 - Latinx Founded.

I didn't want a full Rare Beauty one like last year (nothing wrong with that btw, just wanted to rotate in other things).  I struggled because there's not as many Latinx founded bands where I shop.  🫤

I was able to include 

• Caroline Herrera 
• Poundcake (it's black, latinx and queer owned 🙌🏽)
• Melt
• And rare, of course 
• Beautyblender*

*Not pictured.  It has a little holder and place in my routine.  I have an insane amount of blenders as someone who has a lot of brushes, but they do work really well and when I don't want to use a brush, usually after wash day, I use a beautyblender.  Speaking of brushes, their wing man brush is a fabulous brush , I regret not having multiples of it. 

 

Fit Check 

Spoiler

I thought, easy fit... But that Melt palette made me work.  There's always one 😞

 

Week 37 - Summer Lovin'

 

You've seen these all before.  And you know the fit is fitting.  Eats.  Goated.  Hella HG. 10/10. No notes. No crumbs 😂🤣

[itsfi]

Week 38 - I mean, this is a pretty darn good capsule for someone who struggled. Oh, I didn't know beautyblender made a wing man brush (says the gal who does not need any more brushes) . *adds to "to do" list - "research beautyblender wing man brush" 😚  Love that RB bag, it holds so much.

I go through phases, it seems, with how I like to apply my base makeup - some stretches it's all about fingers, others it's brushes all the time and then other times, I can't be without my beauty sponges. I should be better about mixing it up. 

Me being nosy, what's the compact (?) at the bottom, next to the travel size perfume next to the NARS?

[danielledanielle]

No need to apologize, I zoom in on stuff all the time 🤣 @itsfi 

The gold case? Gucci Velvet Matte Lipstick 123 - Auroral Amber 

Compact... Rare Beauty by Selena Gomez Positive Light Silky Touch Highlighter Flaunt 

[itsfi]

Thank you @danielledanielle! I would have been 1 for 2 - got the Gucci but thought the compact was the new One/Size finishing powder. 

[danielledanielle]

HOMG, you're right.  You're 2/2,: that is the new one/size.. I...I can't read sometimes, I thought you meant the previous week, sorry 😂 @itsfi 

[itsfi]

lol, all good. How do you like the One/Size finishing powder @danielledanielle?

[danielledanielle]

I hated it first day, because I made the mistake of putting on as setting spray was drying, so it oxidized.  Didn't do that again.  It's giving blurring with the new Danessa spray.  This is a combo I'll continue, and hopefully be able to work in Danessa Myricks Beauty Yummy Skin Blurring Balm Powder -Universal Primer Universal Radiant at some point or a sample of the glow serum.

Right now, I'm over sharing 'cause I wanna get into this, my base prep is Danessa Myricks Beauty Yummy Skin Mattifying Water Powder Serum with Niacinamide and Hyaluronic Acid... in my laugh lines and forehead, maybe cheeks , then Fenty Beauty by Rihanna Hydra Vizor Mineral SPF 30 Refillable Moisturizer #Gucci Hydrating Silk Priming Serum 1 on the laugh lines/upper cheeks... Then, weird but it works Danessa Myricks Beauty Colorfix - Multi-Use Eye, Cheek & Lip Waterproof Liquid Pigment Nude 6 as spot concealer with #Lancôme Teint Idole Ultra Wear Care & Glow Foundation​ with Hyaluronic Acid 425C .  Then lock it in with the new dream team.  This is courtesy of the Danessa "Always Be Famous" (title ?) and now I'm losing minutes every morning doing this 😂.  Love it, though

[itsfi]

Ahhhh, it (One/Size) + DM setting spray is giving blurring @danielledanielle? Woah. I felt like I got really good blur effect with just the Danessa Myricks spray so I'm sitting here going 😲😲😲 I find myself going to the the O/S finishing powder every time I'm in the store and I don't even have it on my list of things to check out (or more like check out again). 🤣 Hmmm... I do love the new DM setting spray so I may need to look into that pairing, but, yes, made note and underlined it thrice!!! Make sure the DM setting spray has fully set before applying the O/S finishing powder! Have you tried the DM setting spray with other finishing powders in your collection? 

[danielledanielle]

Not yet, this week I'm using just the one size.  I think I still have an hourglass one, if I do end up trying it, I'll get back to you @itsfi 

[itsfi]

@danielledanielle, thanks. That’s the combo I’m using at the moment - it’s helping me get some use out of the Hourglass Mini Ambient® Lighting Powder Dim Light for my Pan It! - 2025 Challenge 

[itsfi]

Week 37 - love seeing the tried-and-true faves @danielledanielle! I spy some of the "good stuff" being brought out too, just as you said with this being the year you put 'em all to use. What's the lipstick (?) next to the Makeup by Mario eyeshadow, on top of the NARS?

[itsfi]

Week 37 - The "Summer Favorites" Makeup Capsule  

There have been many loved makeup products this summer, but these are probably the ones I've relied on the most, for every day as well as special occasions/events. Two different (but similar) capsules this week.

No Muss, No Fuss, Quick & Easy, The Bare Minimum:

My makeup in the summer months is fairly simple and straightforward unless I have something going on that day that I want to look a little more made up or I'm trying out a particular product / look (usually the latter). 

🐐  Tower 28 Beauty SunnyDays SPF 30 Tinted Sunscreen Foundation because on good skin days, I just need a teensy bit to cover the redness around nose and even tone on my cheeks, and on bad skin days, it's an easy, peasy base that I know won't further irritate my skin.

😘  HAUS LABS BY LADY GAGA Triclone Skin Tech Hydrating + De-puffing Concealer with Fermented Arnica because it conceals everything I need it to conceal. 

💖  HAUS LABS BY LADY GAGA Color Fuse Longwear Hydrating Glassy Lip + Cheek Blush Balm Stick Glassy Clov... (not pictured) has been the find of the summer, and possibly the year depending on how often I reach for it this fall.

🐐  Glossier Boy Brow Volumizing Eyebrow Gel-Pomade  

🌻  Makeup by Mario Master Mattes® Long-Wearing Cream Eyeshadow - Mauve (too new-ish to tag)

😘  Makeup by Mario Master Mattes Brightening Pencil - Light 1 (discontinued) for lower lashline - to make me look more alert and awake

🎁  Pound Cake Cake Theory Lip Tone Equalizing Oil - Browning (gifted by a generous friend) - it'll be this on its own, over Haus Labs Glassy Clove or the reddish brown lip combo below this week. I'm just keeping it fairly simple and low key this week.

"I just need my makeup to not budge" summer capsule:

🍃  Urban Decay Face Bond Self Setting Waterproof Foundation - I put this through the steam room, sauna and whirlpool test last year and it passed so it's one of my go-to's when I don't want to stress about whether I need to touch up my face (which is really always, but some days even more so). 

😘  Haus Labs concealer

🍂  LYS Beauty Triple Fix Loose Talc Free Translucent Setting Powder (for forehead and cheeks)

🍁  Laneige Neo Blurring Powder (on the nose and chin only, unless it's really warm out or I'm oily everywhere, then everywhere)

🐐  Gucci Brume de Beauté Beauty Mist 2.7 oz / 80 mL (not pictured) - for some extra hydration with the mattifying products I have with this capsule and to melt all my makeup together

😘  ONE/SIZE by Patrick Starrr On 'Til Dawn Mattifying Waterproof Setting Spray 

🐐  Glossier brow gel

😘  Makeup by Mario brightening pencil

🌺  Danessa Myricks Colorfix Stix - Multi-Use Pearl Pigment Stick for Eye, Cheek & Lip Duo #6 (too new to tag) - just the metallic side - Celeste. I'm not getting on well with the foils on these sticks when it comes to my lids.

👁  Shiseido Eyelash Curler  

💋  Prep lips with Typology Lip Peel + Rhode Peptide Lip Treatment (the untinted version - one of my Top 3 products from the brand). Lip color is a combination of Fenty Beauty by Rihanna Trace'd Out Longwear Waterproof Pencil Lip Liner Brown'd Out  + HAUS LABS BY LADY GAGA Color Fuse Longwear Hydrating Glassy Lip + Cheek Blush Balm Stick Glassy Clov... + Rare Beauty by Selena Gomez Positive Light Luminizing Lip Gloss Blaze. More info on the lip combo at Lips on Lock 🔐: List Your Lip Combos 💄👄 

The "Fits": All the products for both capsules fit just fine in this one puffy makeup bag.  

[danielledanielle]

Stop making me want stuff @itsfi  😂

Your no fuss no muss set, do you feel like you can also build on it, like if you were going out later, add a little something something and touch up the base? I feel like it does.

It's also a Sephora Six!! 🙌🏽

[itsfi]

Ahhhh, it is a Sephora Six @danielledanielle, woohoo!!! Yes, yes, the no muss, no fuss set serves as a good base for small touch ups as well as a more made up look. Like with this other Sephora Six: The Sticks Set (or Sephora Six plus one, if you add an eyeliner).

• Amp up the base with DIOR Forever Skin Perfect 24H Multi-Use Foundation Stick 
• Highlight cheeks with Westman Atelier Mini Petite Lit Up Cream Highlighter Stick Nectar 
• Blonze with HAUS LABS BY LADY GAGA Color Fuse Longwear Hydrating Glassy Lip + Cheek Blush Balm Stick Glassy Clov... 
• Play up eyes with Danessa Myricks ColorFix Stix Duo #4 Apollo & Artemis and Duo #6 Celeste & Nova - I reach for the metallics more often but am trying to learn how to best use the foils on my lids
• I have DIOR Diorshow Overvolume Extreme Volume Mascara Overblack in the photo but if it's going to be long night, I'd probably go with DIOR Diorshow Iconic Overcurl Waterproof Mascara Black 
• Lips would be Haus Labs Glassy Clove. 
• If I were to line my eyes, it would be with a liquid liner, either Danessa Myricks Beauty Linework Paintbrush Fluid Liquid Eyeliner 0.034 oz / 1 ml or Mizon Liquid Vegan Eyeliner.

[danielledanielle]

Nods, takes notes 📝 @itsfi 

[danielledanielle]

Week 36 - Wurkhouse 

How can I not have Danessa Myricks Beauty Groundwork: Defining Neutrals - Palette For Eyes, Brows, Face & Lips  Groundwerk in this capsule.  It's in the name! It does everything!  Danessa Myricks Beauty Linework Paintbrush Fluid Liquid Eyeliner 0.034 oz / 1 ml tagging along, too 

I also decided to put in some wurkhouse brushes, such as my Omnia brushes, MAKEUP BY MARIO F4 Dual-Ended Foundation and Face Brush ,and the Summer Fridays blush brush.

Fit check for the wurkhouse errrraaaaaa

Spoiler

 

This is a sack bag from Amazon, so not great if you're kind of chaotic, you can carry all the things and then recklessly search for them. 🤣 BUT, it does have a couple of organization features such as a brush pocket and a zipper compartment.  The best thing is that it has a little flap, so that also keeps things from flying out as easily.

 

Week 35 - The Palette Capsule 

I edited well (enough) where I didn't pull out every palette.  There's a lot of Urban Decay, because UD had me in a chokehold... Currently, they are having an identity crisis.  There's def some decent releases, but the fun?? 

UD:

Lo-Fi lip powder

Naked Honey Palette 

Backtalk Palette 

Vice Lipstick Palette 

Vice Lipsticks in Psycho, 714, ?

Fit

Spoiler

 

 

[itsfi]

Week 36 - You and dual-ended brushes are becoming a thing, @danielledanielle ! Would Groundwork be your desert island palette? Or, one of them? 

Ooh, I've wondered about those sack makeup bags - so they do work! 😅 I can see that coming in handy when packing at the last minute. 

Is that Prada mascara next to EB travel perfume?

[danielledanielle]

Groundwerk definitely is a dessert island palette @itsfi .  It does everything, even lips, although that's not my preference for it. 

I've used it for:

• Blush
• Concealer
• Eye primer 
• Contour
• Bronzer
• Eye liner
• Eyeshadow 
• Lip liner

I think the only other palette like that in my collection would be UD backtalk 

Double ended brushes and myself are complicated 🤣.  They are great in practice, but frustration hits for storage, travel, and cleaning.  I am trying to justify these two, and force use them.  I have at least six of these nuisances (🤣) and the only one that gets used regularly is the VBB Concealer brush.  F4 was in rotation, but then I saw reviews of it falling apart, so I'm iffy on it.

[itsfi]

Woah, that is definitely a workhorse @danielledanielle! Love a multifunctioning palette! Yeah, I remember reading about the MBM F4 - the falling apart issues had to do with newer ones, right? Hopefully it was just a bad batch? I feel like I have an older version, like around when he first released it and I don't recall having any issues with it. 🤔

[itsfi]

Week 35 - I was happy to see those UD palettes from back in the day @danielledanielle. I remember that UD Vice lipstick palette - I went back and forth and back and forth on whether to pick it up. They definitely seem to be trying to get their footing with who they are. Edited to add: Okay, that bag looks roomy, I like it!

Oooh, let's talk smells. 😆 Is that Phlur vanilla nectar? Which Atelier Cologne is that one? I miss AC.

[danielledanielle]

That's the TS of oud saphir, which opens up leathery and berry like.  That doesn't get paired, she stands alone

The phlur is #PHLUR Mini Caramel Skin Body & Hair Fragrance Mist 3 oz / 90 ml spray to included to pair with EB Queens Caramel @itsfi , which wasn't a bad pairing, I just don't remember being wowed by it. 

Now EB Queens Caramel+ KILIAN Paris Angels Share Eau de Parfum with Tonka Bean & Cinnamon , 🤌🏽🤌🏽🤌🏽🤌🏽