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.

[itsfi]

I don't often get headaches from scents (well at least not until recently) but wow, that one was a doozy! I'm actually a bit hesitant about reaching for it again @danielledanielle. 

Yeah, I do much better with a smaller / mid-size capsule. Tried something new but I think I'll stay in my 10-15-ish products range. 😂 It's more comfortable for me.

[itsfi]

Week 41 - The Beauty Brands Supporting Mental Health Awareness Makeup Capsule and/or The Makeup Artist at Sephora Makeup Capsule

I pulled several items for this week's capsule but ultimately whittled it down to this lot, which is a mix of beauties that fall into both of this week's prompts.

COMPLEXION:

💚  Urban Decay Face Bond Self Setting Waterproof Foundation 

🍂  MILK MAKEUP Hydro Grip 12-Hour Hydrating Gel Skin Tint 

🎨  LYS Beauty Triple Fix Brightening Concealer because breakouts keep happening on my chin!!😖😞

🎨  LYS Beauty Triple Fix Setting Powder primarily for the oiliness on my nose & to set the concealer

🎨  Danessa Myricks Beauty Yummy Skin Liquid Blurring Balm Mattifying Setting Spray

EYES:

🎨  LYS concealer + LYS setting powder to prime lids (and setting powder to set under eye concealer)

🎨  Makeup by Mario Master Mattes® Long-Wearing Cream Eyeshadow - Mauve

🎨  Hung Vanngo Beauty Soft Velvet Creamy Kohl Eyeliner - Taupe in the crease & outer V for a soft smokey look 

💚  Urban Decay 24/7 Inks Easy Ergonomic Liquid Eyeliner Pen Zero 

💚  Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Instant Eraser Multi Use Concealer - 004 Color Corrector

🍂  Valentino Brow Trio Eyebrow Liner 

🍂  DIOR Diorshow Iconic Overcurl Waterproof Mascara Black 

CHEEKS:

💚  Rare Beauty by Selena Gomez Soft Pinch Matte Bouncy Blush Worth 

🎨  ciele blush & PROTECT SPF 50+ liquid blush June 

🎨  MAKEUP BY MARIO SoftSculpt Transforming Skin Enhancer® 

LIPS:

💚  Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-On Waterproof Eyeliner Pencil Beige Flag to slightly overline lips 

💚🎨  Lip pairing 1: Rare Beauty by Selena Gomez Kind Words Lip Liner - Admired (limited edition) with Hung Vanngo Beauty Creamy Matte Longwear Lipstick with Hyaluronic Acid - Call My Agent

💚🍂  Lip pairing 2: Maybelline Lifter Liner Lip Liner Pencil with Hyaluronic Acid - On It with Rokael Beauty Rebirth Tinted Whipped Lip Oil - Ecstasy

💚  Rare Beauty Positive Light Luminizing Lip Gloss - Blaze

FRAGRANCE:

💚  Rare Beauty Rare Eau de Parfum with Vanilla and Caramel - I'll wear this on its own as well as layered with a few of the perfumes in the fragrance discovery sets that I'm trying to work my way through as part of the Shop Your Stash / Use Your Stash Challenge: Fall 2025 🍂🍁. If I find a combo worth repeating, I'll post to Olfactory Overtures: The Fragrance Layering Thread 

The "Fits":

🎨  I probably pulled out an additional 10-12 products than what's pictured above (than what I'll ultimately reach for this week) but everything fit in this fun, green, polka-dot print mesh bag from Ciele, which was a promo gwp in the spring - it was the reason I made an order. I think they brought it back recently and it may still be available.

[danielledanielle]

Week 41: Rare Beauty x "The Leftovers "

This barely fit, but I'm a determined gal 💪🏽

Spoiler

  

Week 40: Fall into Color (faaallll into the gaaaaappp was what I called this week) 

Fit check for the autumn eraaaaaaa

Spoiler

Almost! 

Week 39: Feeling Fashionable, IDK might delete later

[itsfi]

@danielledanielle, Rare Beauty, Armani, Makeup by Mario, & Fenty have been staples in your capsules this and last month. The Rabanne Fame Couture packaging is perf for the runway/red carpet inspired capsule.

Hmmm ... any particular reason you're thinking about deleting your week 39 capsule?

[danielledanielle]

The repeats are half laziness, half use the good stuff 😂 @itsfi 

[itsfi]

Week 40 - The FALL into Color Makeup Capsule 

Going with some burgundies and browns for my fall colors this week, with a mix of tried-and-true and new-to-me beauties.

COMPLEXION:

• Tower 28 Beauty SunnyDays SPF 30 Tinted Sunscreen Foundation 🐐
• Armani Beauty Power Fabric + Longwear Matte Concealer, one of my favorite concealers
• LYS Beauty Triple Fix Setting Powder - to set, especially my nose and chin area
• PAT McGRATH LABS Skin Fetish: Glass 001 Legendary Glow Setting Spray 3.38 fl oz/100 mL - I get a good amount of dewiness from the Tower 28 SunnyDays but I've been experiencing a little bit of dryness in certain areas and this'll amp up the hydration and glow in those spots.

EYES:

• NARS Pro-Prime™ Smudge Proof Eyeshadow Base (not pictured)
• Yves Saint Laurent Couture Mini Clutch Eyeshadow Palette 100 Stora Dolls - part of my Pan It! - 2025 Challenge - good for wash of color, every day and smokey eye looks
• Makeup by Mario Master Mattes Brightening Pencil  - Light 1 (discontinued) for lower waterline to brighten up the eye area
• L'Oreal Paris Voluminous Original Mascara Deep Burgundy - though sparse they be, my lashes are very dark and brown doesn't show up on them, but this burgundy does. Using a tip 😉 shared by one of the YSL reps at SEPHORiA 2023 NYC, I just use this on the tips of my lashes. Will probably be using this off and on this entire month as it's beginning to dry out (and probably nearing the end of its shelf life).
• Tom Ford Fiber Brow Gel (not pictured) to keep my brows in place

CHEEKS: 

• ciele blush & PROTECT SPF 50+ liquid blush June is one I've had in my stash for a while but I don't often use it. This may be the first time it's appeared in a capsule. It's described as a warm burgundy. I love that it can be easily sheered out or built up, depending on my preference - usually sheered out. It gives a nice just-got-back-in-from-a-walk-in-the-crisp-autumn-air flush. 
• MAKEUP BY MARIO SoftSculpt Transforming Skin Enhancer® lightly dabbed in just a few places gives my complexion a healthy toasty warmth.

LIPS:

• I initially picked up Melt Cosmetics Slick Waterline Eye Pencil Ivory as a potential back up for the Makeup by Mario eyeliner but it's just not the same. It have, however, found that it works rather nicely to outline/carve out my lips. This with a tapered crease blush to blend it out is chef's kiss. 
• Been loving the combo of the Hung Vanngo Beauty Accentuating Longwear Lip Liner Fill It In and Hung Vanngo Beauty Creamy Matte Longwear Lipstick with Hyaluronic Acid Wildest Dreams, the latter being a color I did not think I could pull off based on the swatches online or on my hand. Somehow it works, epecially with the liner. And using the Melt Ivory pencil first makes the pairing standout even more! 
• If my lips are feeling a bit more parched than usual, I'll pop on just a smidge of the Tatcha The Kissu Lip Treatment 0.34 oz / 10ml on my lips for some hydration and slip.
• Another option if I want to default to my lip balms will be to reach for the Dior Lip Glow Butter Hydrating Lip Balm 104 Black Cherry - not really burgundy, but burgundy-adacent? I bought it and do like it, so I'm gonna put it to use, and this week is as good a time as any.

The "Fits": 

Keeping with the burgundy color theme, I went with bag that can double as a mini tote purse that was part of the promo / swag from Hanni at SEPHORiA 2024 Atlanta, Georgia

If I get my act together and the weather cooperate, I should have pop of burgundy (maybe a couple pops) in one of my outfits this week for the The Fit, The Fab and The Face: Outfit and Inspo Thread, to go with the pops of burgundy in this week's makeup capsule.

[itsfi]

Week 39 - The Runway / Red Carpet Inspired Makeup Capsule 2.0

This second makeup capsule inspired by the runway and red carpet is a celebration of the makeup artists whose works pull the gorgeous runway / red carpet looks together. This group of beauties features makeup artist founded / owned brands at Sephora and a sneak preview into a future capsule theme. 😏

• ciele prime & PROTECT SPF 30+ Smoothing Primer 
• PAT McGRATH LABS Skin Fetish: Sublime Perfection Weightless Foundation is underrated
• Charlotte Tilbury Beautiful Skin Medium to Full Coverage Radiant Concealer with Hyaluronic Acid works beautifully as concealer or a foudation substitute
• ONE/SIZE by Patrick Starrr Mini Ultimate Blurring Setting Powder mainly for my nose which has just been an little extra shiny of late
• Danessa Myricks Beauty Mini Yummy Skin Liquid Blurring Balm Mattifying Setting Spray (too new of a release to tag at the moment) - quickly becoming a favorite - it's not as drying as the One/Size mattifying spray (which isn't as drying as I thought it might be or could be) so I can use it over consecutive days without worrying about the drier parts of my face, and I also like the non-aerosol mister on the Danessa Myricks spray more. Time will tell if it replaces the One/Size, time meaning next summer  or another tropical vacation, but the latter is unlikely to happen this year, so next summer it is.
•  MAKEUP BY MARIO SoftSculpt Transforming Skin Enhancer® - a favorite of mine to add some "natural" warmth to my complexion
• Westman Atelier Mini Petite Lit Up Glassy Gel Highlighter Stick Nectar for a little glow
• Danessa Myricks Beauty Colorfix Stix Duo 6 - the metallic Celeste shade for a quick & easy wash of color that I can build up if desired
• MAKEUP BY MARIO Master Pigment Pro™ Eyeliner Pencil The Perfect Brown mainly for a bit of extra color in the outer V and maybe to line upper lashline only
• I had options for lips this weekend, with the recently (or for some, finally) restocked Huda Beauty Lip Contour LIp Stain Soft Brown on Saturday and for Sunday, the combo of Hung Vanngo Beauty Accentuating Longwear Lip Liner in Fill It In, a medium rose brown that is a lovely MLBB shade for my lips when diffused, and Hung Vanngo Beauty Longwear Lipstick Wildest Dream, deep nude shade that I didn't think would work but somehow does, with or without the liner.

The "Fits" for this second capsule comes courtesy of a grey, puffy bag from Dermalogica (part of a giveaway at Ulta Beauty World)

[itsfi]

Week 41 (October 6 - 12) - The Beauty Brands Supporting Mental Health Awareness Makeup Capsule and/or The Makeup Artist at Sephora Makeup Capsule

A few options for capsule themes this week. Curate a capsule made up of one or more product(s): 

(a) from a makeup brand that supports or promotes mental health awareness* (in honor of the first full week of October being established by Congress in 1990 as Mental Health Awareness Week); and/or

(b) from "'new and breakthrough brands from beauty experts" at Sephora**. See spoiler below for more details and disclosures pertaining to both prompts.

Spoiler

Makeup Brands Supporting Mental Health Awareness
Maybelline entered into a 5-year partnership in 2024 with the WHO Foundation to expand access to mental health services across the globe.

Rare Beauty by Selena Gomez "donates 1% of sales to the Rare Impact Fund (also founded by Selena Gomez), which aims to raise $100 million over 10 years to increase access to mental health resources."

Urban Decay entered into a 3-year partnership with the Cybersmile Foundation in 2021 to introduce a new campaign to raise awareness about online bullying and promote digital wellness. It appears the partnership may have concluded last year and I was not able to locate information to confirm that the partnership had been extended. 

* The list was compiled based on an online article titled "10 Must-Know Beauty Brands That Empower Mental Health Initiatives" from Who What Wear, statements found on brand websites and information obtained through various online searches.  

The Makeup Artists Edit at Sephora
Makeup | Sephora


Charlotte Tilbury

Ciele (Nikki DeRoest)
Danessa Myricks Beauty
Fara Homidi
Huda Beauty (Huda Kattan)
Hung Vanngo Beauty
Isamaya (Issamaya Ffrench)
LYS Beauty (Tisha Thompson)
Makeup by Mario (Mario Dedivanovic)
m.ph by Mary Phillips
One/Size by Patrick Starrr
Pat McGrath Labs
Patrick Ta
Refy (Jess Hunt and Jenna Meek)
Violette fr. (Violette Serrat)

Westman Atelier (Gucci Westman)

** On the Sephora page(s) for The Makeup Artist Edit, the brands Make Up For Ever and Natasha Denona are not listed, but Charlotte Tilbury is listed among the group. Based on that arrangement and in absence of any further information I could find, I have assumed "new and breakthrough brands" to mean beauty brands having been around for less than 12 years as of 2025 (Charlotte Tilbury was founded approximately 11 years and 6 months ago in 2025). Accordingly, I have also included Pat McGrath Labs in the list above as PML has been around since approximately 2015, or 10 years. 

Week 42 (October 13 - 19) - The Indigenous People's Day Makeup Capsule, The Canadian Thanksgiving Makeup Capsule, and/or The Samples 2.0 Makeup Capsule

A few options this week for makeup themes. To celebrate October 13's Canadian Thanksgiving Day and Indigenous People's Day, put together a look with one or more product(s) from a Canadian or Indigenous founded or owned makeup brand (see spoiler below for non-exhaustive list). 

Spoiler

Canadian founded/owned makeup brands - brands with an asterisk (*) next to their name can be found at Sephora:

19/99 Beauty

Attitude

Birch Babe

Bite Beauty

* Cheekbone Beauty (Sephora Canada)

Elate Beauty

Evio Beauty

* Hung Vanngo Beauty (Sephora US & Sephora Canada)

* Ilia (Sephora US & Sephora Canada)

Jason Wu Beauty

Lise Watier

* MAC Cosmetics (Sephora Canada)

Marcelle

* Nudestix (Sephora US & Sephora Canada)

* The Ordinary (Sephora US & Sephora Canada)

Selfcare by Bloom

Tok Beauty

I don't know about you but I've got some makeup samples that could use my attention, both to keep my pile of samples more manageable and also to see if there might be something I'd like to pick up during the upcoming holiday / year end sales. Now's a good time to put those samples to use and maybe head on over to the Foil Challenge if you finish up a foil in the process. In the name of research! Always good to make an informed purchase, right?! Who knows, it could be Love At First Sample!!! 🥰!

Week 43 (October 20 - 26) - The Global Makeup Capsule - Curate a capsule with products from beauty brands around the globe. 

October 24 is United Nations Day. 2025 marks the 80th anniversary of the United Nations - that's 8 decades of striving to "promote peace, human rights, social progress and sustainable development worldwide". (from "The United Nations at 80: Building Our Future Together" found at the United Nations website)

Bonus Challenge: To celebrate the UN's 8 decades, put together a capsule of eight (8) products that you'd score a 10! Or, for the maximalists among us, go for 24 products that are 10s in your book (10.24 = United Nations Day).

Week 44 (October 27 - November 2) - The "Baubles, Palettes & Sticks" Makeup Capsule

The INSPO: Halloween & Ro-Sham-Bo / Rock-Paper-Scissors

Curate a capsule consisting of one or more of the following:

• baubles - - think trinkets, knickknacks. In the beauty arena, they might be something like mini glosses, mascaras, etc. or sparkly, decorative pieces like  gemstones, oversized lashes, etc.
• palettes - ummmm, palettes!!! duos, trios, quads, quints, mega palettes, mini's, midi's
• sticks: foundation sticks, eyeshadow sticks/stix, blush sticks, contour sticks, lip crayons, lipsticks, ALL the sticks 

As always, if you're so inclined, consider posting looks you put together with these capsules to the Cheek Challenge Fall 2025: Feed Me, Slay More and/or What are you wearing in 2025?? threads.

[itsfi]

Week 39 - The Runway / Red Carpet Inspired Makeup Capsule

It's been very warm the last couple of days that my makeup for the last two days just consisted of the HAUS LABS BY LADY GAGA Triclone Skin Tech Hydrating + De-puffing Concealer with Fermented Arnica on two healing post-acne dark spots on my chin, the SEPHORA COLLECTION Microsmooth Multi-Tasking Baked Face Powder Foundation and Gucci Brume de Beauté Beauty Mist 2.7 oz / 80 mL all over my face, Tower 28 lash curler and Peptide Lip Tint Nourishing Glaze - rhode | Sephora PBJ on my lips. Probably one of my most minimalist looks.

Our moderate temperatures are back today and should stick around through the rest of the week so I'm back with my makeup capsules. I have two on deck for this week, inspired by runway / red carpet. 

Anna Sawai Emmy 2025 Red Carpet Inspired Makeup Capsule

As one of Dior's brand ambassadors, Anna Sawai's makeup look for the 2025 Primetime Emmy Awards (at which she was a presenter having won the previous year) was all Dior and she, of course, looked amazing.  

Her makeup included pieces from the current collection, including the new Dior blushers and the Rouge Dior On Stage Lipstick - DIOR | Sephora. The products in both ranges are absolutely gorgeous! 😍 I'm holding off just a little longer on picking up anything (though I have played with several of the products - and they are every bit as fantastic as they look!) so I'll be making do with what I currently have. For a little bit of extra fun, I tried laying out one of my capsules for the week like a makeup table for getting ready for the red carpet, so ta da ..

I have a handful of other products that I forgot to include in the photo. A few too many products to list or try to tag. I'll probably hang on to what I have in my stash, except for a few unopen duplicates and a possibly a couple of items pictured, unless I'm convinced this week that they should stay. 

• DIOR Rouge Dior Forever Transfer-Proof Lipstick 505 - Forever Sensual - it's too warm, too orange leaning, too matte for my liking. That said, if I can find a liner & gloss to make this work, I *might* keep it. It's a big might. If I decide to pass on this, I'll try to rehome it first. 
• DIOR Dior Forever Glow Veil Makeup Primer 1oz / 30ml - I have an unopen duplicate that I'll rehome - it'll be forever before I even use up the bottle that's already open.
• Blush - Debating whether to keep the Dior Rouge Blush 556 Cosmic Coral (limited edition) - I don't have a similar shade in my collection and it's the older Dior formulation (which I prefer over the new powder formula). 
• DIOR Diorshow On Stage Crayon Kohl Liner 529 Beige - I have an unopen duplicate of this liner that I didn't even know I had until gathering the products for this capsule. 😲 The unopen extra will be rehomed or donated. I also have a new, unopen full size DIOR Diorshow On Stage Crayon Kohl Liner 099 Black that was a promo gwp that will be donated or rehomed.

The "Fits": 

I probably could have jammed everything into two but they, along with my Dior tools, are much more comfy distributed among these three bags.

I will probably have another capsule this week but will include that in a separate post if I actually end up putting it to use. 

[danielledanielle]

I'm going to come back and comment more, but is it weird that I love Anna's face? Like, I clicked on it immediately @itsfi 

Ok, I'm finally back, after many weeks 🤣

I love an all brand, makes me wanna find that "one brand challenge" thread.  Your pic reminds me of photos on the heater of All Things Dior , almost like we're backstage.  It's perfect.

Also Anna's face, it's a face ripe for soft glam makeup, which is definitely a Dior thing.. all her features lend to soft glam [IMO] where nothing is over exaggerated, it's just very elegant and looks like it was effortless.  I think that's why when I see her face, I'm always kind of enraptured.

[itsfi]

Week 38 - The Hispanic and LatinX Founded/Owned Beauty Brands Makeup Capsule 

This is what I gathered Sunday night - I know I have a few more Rare Beauty products, concealer and several lip products, but we'll stick with this. I was going to go through an exercise of whittling down the capsule in this post but decided just to keep all these beauties in this week's capsule. Instead of whittling down, I'll aim to use every piece at least a couple of times and whittle out a few items by the end of the week. There's a couple that are past their prime and I don't reach for them often enough to justify keeping them any longer.  Okay, without further adieu, let's see what we have for LatinX founded/owned beauty brands

Complexion:

• Rare Beauty by Selena Gomez Positive Light Tinted Moisturizer 
• Ere Perez Color Corrector may come in handy for mixing with the tinted moisturizer to get me a slightly darker shade for concealing some pesky post-acne dark spots.
• Setting Powder - it's a warm week here so I am going to need some sort of setting powder. I don't have any from a LatinX brand and will use ONE/SIZE by Patrick Starrr Mini Ultimate Blurring Setting Powder.
• Rare Beauty by Selena Gomez Mini Always an Optimist 4-in-1 Mist 1.18 fl oz / 35 mL (not pictured)

Eyes:

• Primer is gonna need to happen this week, and I'll use the Ere Perez color corrector and O/S loose powder for a DIY primer. If that doesn't work, it'll be NARS pro primer.
• Eyeshadow - I'll rotate between Rare Beauty by Selena Gomez All of the Above Weightless Eyeshadow Stick Adventure and Reina Rebelde Wet Dry Eye Shadow Quad Azteca
• Eyeliner will be either Besame Cosmetics 1930 Cake Mascara, Eyeliner & Brow Definer or one of the shadows from the RR quad. Will try the Melt Slick Waterline Pencil for the waterline.
• We'll try the Besame Cosmetics 1930 Cake Mascara, Eyeliner & Brow Definer for mascara and brows too.  

Cheeks:

Okay, we got options here people. Very richly pigmented options, so my blending skills will be put to the test this week. 😬

• Cheek Palette (Blush, bronzer & highlighter): Reina Rebelde On Your Face Contour + Color Trio Coqueta
• Blush: I'll choose among Rare Beauty by Selena Gomez Soft Pinch Liquid Blush Virtue (gratis), Rare Beauty by Selena Gomez Soft Pinch Liquid Blush Happy, and Rare Beauty by Selena Gomez Soft Pinch Matte Bouncy Blush Worth 
• Highlight: One or a mix of any combo of: Rare Beauty by Selena Gomez Positive Light Liquid Luminizer Highlight Enlighten Rare Beauty by Selena Gomez Mini Positive Light Liquid Luminizer Enchant Rare Beauty by Selena Gomez Mini Positive Light Liquid Luminizer Exhiliarate Rare Beauty by Selena Gomez Positive Light Liquid Luminizer Highlight Mesmerize (generously gifted)

Lips:

Options here as well (and no one's surprised)

• Lip Liner: Dominque Cosmetics Creamy Fill & Define Lip Liner Crush (discontinued), Rare Beauty by Selena Gomez Kind Words Lip Liner Admired (limited edition), Rokael Beauty Redefined Lip Shaper Marked
• Lip Gloss: Reina Rebelde Lip Brilliance Virgencita
• Other Lips: Ere Perez Lip Crayon Grace, Rare Beauty by Selena Gomez Soft Pinch Tinted Lip Oil Stain Delight, Rare Beauty by Selena Gomez Lip Soufflé Matte Cream Lipstick Kindness, Rokael Beauty Lip Oil Ecstasy  - thank you to @peculiarzmakeup for introducing me/us to this brand

Fragrance:

• DedCool 01 "Taunt" Eau de Parfum Travel Spray 0.5 oz / 15 ml eau de parfum spray - my favorite Dedcool fragrance

Fingernails:

I have a set of press-ons from the LatinX owned brand, Chillhouse and may try wearing them over the weekend. I used to do my nails every week, sometimes swapping out color and nail art two or three times each week, but have gotten out of that routine for a year or so now in an effort to strengthen and lengthen (and strengthen!!!) my nails. I have regular polish on them now but if I feel up to it, I may try out the Chillhouse ones (it'll be the first time I use the brand) on Saturday and report back next week.

The "Fits":

Rare Beauty - it's soft, poofy and holds a lot. What more could I ask for?

[itsfi]

Week 38 Recap & Declutter

The products in last week's LatinX capsule went pretty well, with most items sticking around for weeks to come and a surprise repurposed product in the form of the Melt Cosmetics Slick Waterline Eye Pencil Ivory. I originally purchased this thinking it might be a good replacement for the discontinuted Makeup by Mario Light I eye pencil that has been my HG, go-to waterline liner. I like how creamy the product is, but the shade isn't right and it applies too chalky on my waterline. It can be a smidge chalky if I'm heavy handed with it when I use it to overline my lips slightly but since I end up blending out the line with a blender brush anyways, it doesn't really matter all that much. What does matter is that it has been working very well in that capacity and has now become a mainstay in my stash for that purpose. 🙌 A shop-you-stash success story in a way.

All other products in the photo above are being donated or rehomed, except for the Rare Beauty lip souffle Happy, which I'm tossing as it's probably at or near the end of its shelf life. 

Both Ere Perez products are fine but I don't reach for them often, or the color corrector at all other than for these capsules. The lip crayon I must have either brought back into the fold or it's another duplicate I didn't realize I picked up again, again. 

There are others similar products I like more than the Rare Beauty eyeshadow stick; I actually thought I had decluttered it previously. The color is pretty but the application is not as smooth as other similar products in my collection. The Rare Beauty tinted moisture just happens to find itself in a sea of tinted moisturizers or skin tints that I reach for a lot more often. Better for it to go to a home where it will be used more.

[kate0grey]

I have long wanted to make a capsule of essential products, and I have acne-prone skin and always worry when choosing new cosmetics.

[danielledanielle]

Me too @kate0grey .  I still struggle with this.  I try to look at it as an experiment.  So, I'll patch test complexion products on specific parts of my face first .  Then after two or three tests, I'll apply it to all desired areas.  It also helps to just introduce 1 product at a time, but I'm guilty of sometimes introducing 2 at once.  If I get a reaction, I'll skip the new item for 1&2 days to see if there's a difference. 

For acne, I find that aloe or cica (asiatica centella) are helpful for me (go to VT cica sheet mask pack or # ) in particular) the cysts I get when I'm reacting to something.  As of late,The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% Serum for Oily Skin is also helpful, but not always.  I think it's the zinc at play, but only for specific forms of acne.

I also use LED (nightly) and DDG pads twice a week or as needed.  If you want to try the DDG pads, US side there's sometimes a black Friday deal and there's a vault currently Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare Alpha Beta® Universal Daily Peel Pads 60 Treatments 

[itsfi]

I can relate @kate0grey. My acne is a little more under control these days but there was a (long) stretch of time where it was (or felt like it was) a constant daily struggle. I tried all sorts of products, some worked, some made my acne worse. I 💯 agree with @danielledanielle about introducing one product at a time and that skincare prep is a key component. 

What, if any, makeup (or skincare) product(s) have you found helpful or that have worn well on your skin throughout the day? Also, how would you describe your skin type? Combo? Oily? Dry? Normal? 

These days, my skin is usually normal to dry but combo in the warmer months. I breakout every so often around my chin (cystic acne usually) and occasionally get a pimple on my nose.  In the past, I would experience breakouts over various parts of my face. 

Here’s what has worked for me:

Skincare:

• Exfoliate once a week (if my skin is running on the oilier side, I will exfoliate 2x a week but that 2nd exfoliation will be concentrated only on my oilier parts of my face or where my pores are congested/clogged - I alternate between AmorePacific Treatment Enzyme Cleansing Foam and EADEM Cashmere Peel Milky Exfoliant & Hydrating Essence — Daily AHA + PHA Formula with 9% Azelaic, L... depending on what’s going on with my skin. In the past when my acne was more intense and my skin could handle stronger forms of acids, I would use Paula's Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Exfoliating Toner for Clear Skin and Paula's Choice Skin Perfecting BHA 9. The BHA 9 I would use as a spot treatment on zits. 

• I’ve found products with zinc to be helpful for me and use La Roche-Posay Serozinc Face Toner for Oily Skin with Zinc after cleansing on the parts of my face that are prone to acne breakouts.

• Wash Off Masks: innisfree Super Volcanic Pore Detoxing Clay Mask with AHAs + Oil Control ​ 3.38 oz / 100 ml - there's also a swirl mask (I can't tag it but Sephora carries it as well) - it comes in a tube and is a mix of a clay mask and gel hydrating mask. It is more hydrating than the Super Volcanic AHA clay mask - not that the AHA clay mask is drying, but the innisfree swirl mask has more hydrating properties. The Ordinary Salicylic Acid 2% Masque is very gentle. Origins Mini Clear Improvement™ Active Charcoal Mask to Clear Pore 1 oz/ 30 mL 

• Sheet Masks: for full face sheet mask, Mediheal Madecassoside Essential Sheet Mask Blemish Repair or Mediheal Teatree Essential Mask. Or for redness, the sheet mask danielledanielle recommended above - that entire Dr. Jart Cicapair line is excellent for calming redness. For toner pads that can be used as masks, Mediheal Mediheal Madecassoside Toner Pads. They also make a TeaTree version. You can cut them to fit certain parts of your face if there are areas that are more prone to acne.

Makeup:

• I tend to keep it light foundation-wise most days - if I use a medium coverage foundation, I'll sheer it out. I used to wear full coverage foundation all the time, but found it wasn’t the best fit for my skin when it came to my acne. 
• Use concealer on breakouts - I found that using a smaller pinpoint tip brush helps with concealing acne - it takes more time to apply though. 
• Find a feature to highlight to make makeup fun as well as functional (conceal blemishes). This came in handy for me when I had a lot of acne - it was nice to associate makeup with something other than concealing my acne.

Foundation:

• look for formulations that are oil-free, non-comedogenic - not a guarantee that it won't irritate your skin but the likelihood is reduced
• for skin tints/tinted moisturizers/BB creams - Tower 28 Beauty SunnyDays SPF 30 Tinted Sunscreen Foundation is my go to, but I also like the newest one by MILK MAKEUP Hydro Grip 12-Hour Hydrating Gel Skin Tint. Both are listed as being non-comedogenic. 
• Medium finish - Urban Decay Face Bond Self Setting Waterproof Foundation or Armani Beauty Luminous Silk Natural Glow Foundation or HAUS LABS BY LADY GAGA Triclone Skin Tech Medium Coverage Foundation with Fermented Arnica - the Urban Decay & Haus Labs foundations are noted as being non-comedogenic.

Concealer:

• My current go to is HAUS LABS BY LADY GAGA Triclone Skin Tech Hydrating + De-puffing Concealer with Fermented Arnica  but I’ve used the following in the past with good results

Armani Beauty Power Fabric + Longwear Matte Concealer 

NARS - NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer with Hydrating Medium Coverage or NARS Soft Matte Complete Full Coverage Longwear Concealer with Hyaluronic Acid 

NATASHA DENONA Hy-Glam Brightening & Hydrating Medium to Full Coverage Crease Proof Serum Concealer 

The Haus Labs, Armani and both NARS concealers are listed as being good for acne/blemishes.

[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?