Capsule Makeup Collection Challenge 2025

[itsfi]

Summer is officially here, BIC! 😎 And we’ll have some easy breezy weekly capsule makeup prompts over the next few months to match the season. Whether having set of makeup products at the ready each week makes it easier to get ready in the mornings, or if you're looking for a fun way to shop your stash / use what you already have (or what newness that you pick up along the way), 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 7.27.2025]

Week 31 (July 28 - August 3) - The (Lip)Sticks (aka Lips + Sticks) Makeup Capsule
July 29 is National Lipstick Day, a favorite holiday among the beauties in this community. To celebrate, curate a capsule with one or more stick products and one or more lipsticks. It doesn't have to be a newly purchased lipstick; it could be one of your favorites or a shade you come across while shopping your stash.

 UPCOMING Makeup Capsule Themes: [Updated 7.27.2025]

Spoiler

Click for August 2025 Capsule Makeup Themes

Previous Capsule Themes: [Updated: 7.27.2025]

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 - 

Additional FAQs

Spoiler

Why weekly? 
Years ago, beauty & lifestyle blogger Serein Wu, did a weekly series (on her blog and YouTube channel), Makeup Bag Monday, where she rotated her makeup bag each week with new product launches and makeup already in her collection. Every Monday, she shared the products she selected for the upcoming week and provided detailed makeup reviews on the makeup she used for the previous week. My reviews here will likely not be as detailed, but I will at least try to include a few thoughts about the products at the end of the week or beginning of the next week.  If weekly works for you, great. If not, feel free to join in based on what works best for you. 

Having a weekly capsule at the ready at (or near) the beginning of the week has also been helpful with making getting ready in the morning easier and more efficient, and that, has made it more fun too. It's also a great way for me to see how well a product performs with other products and that makes the decision to keep, donate, re-home or toss an item a lot easier. Also want to note that if the makeup for the week's capsule is not something you want to use for the entire week, that's fine, too. I generally use the makeup in the week's capsule 4-6 days during the week, sometimes more, sometimes less. 

When are the weekly themes posted?
I generally try to post the themes for the next month about two weeks before the start of that next month (so around the 15th of each month, give or take a few days), except that, for this month, weekly themes for weeks 2 thru 5 for January will be posted by or before end of the day on January 2. Weekly themes are updated at the end of the then current week (e.g., Sunday). This year, I will plan to update the weekly themes the Sunday before the start of the next week's theme, around 9pm Pacific / 10pm Mountain / 11pm Central / 12midnight Eastern Time.

What if I don't have enough products to fit the theme for a full face?

There's need for your entire makeup capsule to fit the weekly theme(s). Just one item will do. And, even if you don't have one that fits squarely within a theme, feel free to post your makeup capsule. We'd love to see what you're using and hear your feedback on the products as you put them to use - are they a favorite or a potential favorite? Are they just 'meh'? Or, is it time to declutter the item(s) from your stash?

Is there anything else I should include in my capsule?
It's all up to you what to include in your capsule. Some weeks, my capsule consists of completely different items than the week before. Other weeks, I've swapped out just a few items or have included additional items in one category of products - some of us refer to this as giving us options for the week. 

You may see reference to "fits." That was creatively coined by our fabulous @danielledanielle and refers to the bag or component that will hold the week's makeup and, specifically, does all the makeup for the week's capsule fit into the bag / storage component. You ca also include the makeup brushes and tools you use for application, if you wish.

[itsfi]

Week 31 - The (Lip)Sticks (aka Lips + Sticks) Makeup Capsule

12 sticks / stick-like products for this week's capsule (along with some supporting non-stick items), with just one (1) new-to-me item this week. My primer, setting product(s) & backup lip products will be non-sticks; none are pictured above.

Complexion:

*  Primer - I'll use sunscreen for my primer and the one I've been reaching for a lot lately is the ISDIN Eryfotona Ageless Ultralight Tinted Mineral Sunscreen SPF 50 1.7 oz / 50 ml  

*  Foundation - My favorite foundation stick, DIOR Forever Skin Perfect 24H Multi-Use Foundation Stick  

*  Concealer - If the foundation stick isn't enough, I'll go in with the Victoria Beckham by AugustinusBader Concealer Pen, primarily to conceal redness around my nose and a couple of spots

*  Contour (nose) - rom&nd Lip Mate Pencil (05 Taupey Shade) has been repurposed in my collection as a nose contour stick and occasionally, to carve out the corners of my lips and cupid's bow

*  Setting Products - I was undecided on setting products when I put this capsule together. I'll play it by ear this week, though the L'Oreal Paris Infallible 3- Second Setting Mist with Microfine probably won't be one I'll consider using - I haven't been able to get it to work right on me, and the smell doesn't make me want to put much more effort into it. 😔

Eyes:

*  Eye shadow: Going again with Danessa Myricks ColorFix Eyeshadow Stix (Duo 6 Celeste / Nova), but just the metallic Celeste shade. At least for most this week. I'll spend a couple of days playing with the other shades I picked up as well. For science. 😉🔬

*  Eyeliner: Danessa Myricks Beauty Linework Paintbrush Fluid Liquid Eyeliner 0.034 oz / 1 ml  for the upper lash line. My trusty Makeup by Mario Master Mattes Brightening Pencil  - Light 1 (discontinued) for the waterline - I know we're all probably tired of seeing this in my capsules, but it helps me look less tired or not at all so ... 

*  Brows: L'Oreal Paris Faux Brow Ultra Fine Double-Brush Tip Brow Filling Pen - at heart, I'm a brow gel girl as they're so quick & easy but I do lie this brow pen and am slowly, but surely, getting used to it.

*  Mascara: I'm passing on mascara this week 😲, but will curl my lashes, with either the Tower 28 lash curler or the Shiseido Eyelash Curler , which reminds me that I need to swap out the pad soon. 

Cheeks:

*  Blush: HAUS LABS BY LADY GAGA Color Fuse Longwear Hydrating Glassy Lip + Cheek Blush Balm Stick Glassy Clove  has become quite the oft reached for blush/blonzer this summer, for my lips and cheeks. 

*  Bronzer: MERIT Bronze Balm Sheer Sculpting Bronzer Leo  hasn't popped up much for this year's challenge but was thinking about it as I was sifting through some of my bronzers while weighing which ones might find a place in my current top 5 for the Summer Cheek Challenge 2025: A Song & A Slay 

*  Contour: Fenty Beauty by Rihanna Mini Match Stix Matte Contour Skinstick Amber  is a good contour shade for me. This is actually the Snackz size, which I think is smaller than the mini? 

*  Highlight: Westman Atelier Mini Petite Lit Up Cream Highlighter Stick Nectar  - I like that the shimmer & shine on this one is subtle. 

Lips:

*  Lip liner + color: ILIA Lip Sketch Hydrating Lipstick + Lip Liner Crayon Gala : Crayons are essentially sticks, right?! 😅 I want to say that this was part of the swag bag from Ulta Beauty World (UBW), or I might have received it when I visited their booth? This will be the first time I use this lip pencil stick.

Tools: Tools this week are my fingers 🖐 unless I reach for a setting powder. I may also use the flatter side of  SEPHORA COLLECTION PRO Blush Brush #99  to blend out my foundation if I feel the need to sheer out the formula with the Rhode Glazing Milk - this + stick foundations has really been a good pairing for me @ather 👍

The "Fits":

Admittedly, I don't have too many products in this week's capsule, but they all fit in this clear Tartan + Twine bag, which was either part of the swag bag or something I picked up at a booth at UBW. 

It's long without being too long (all my Danessa Myricks ColorFix Stix can fit easily inside), roomy, and I can see what I have in here. 

[ather]

@itsfi  Wow! Impressive capsule! I love that you have an item for any looks you want to do this week! And they fit in a small bag! So cute! I love that the Glazing milk helps with stick foundation! I haven’t tried quite yet. But I should. I’m fairly tanned right now so my colours might not work for me. But I need to put a stick capsule together!! 

[itsfi]

@ather, the Rhode glazing milk + foundation stick combo is a good one. She posted (or I thought I saw a post) about a blending trick using her new mist, but I haven't read it yet. Do you have a bronzer or bronzing drops you could mix with your foundation to match your more tan complexion?

Oooouh, yes!!! I'd love to see your makeup stick capsule - I love how well curated your capsules are; they are very much you. 😍

[danielledanielle]

No pics, but this week I'm going lipstick and fragrance stick-y

We've got

By Rosie Jane DYLAN Perfume Oil .23 fl oz / 7 ml  

By Rosie Jane JAMES Eau de Parfum Travel Spray 0.33 oz / 10 ml eau de parfum spray  (but oil)

I even have #Maison Margiela 'REPLICA' Beach Walk Eau de Toilette with Coconut Milk & Musk as a rollerball (she's vintage)

NEST New York Golden Nectar Eau de Parfum Travel Spray 0.27 oz/ 8 mL  but roller

And if I can find By Rosie Jane Dulce Perfume Oil .23 oz / 7mL  , she'll be added as well

Lipsticks:

OG Nars Cruella Pencil & Train Blue

PAT McGRATH LABS Dramatique Mega Lip Pencil Flashbulb Fuchsia  

Plus MAC Film Noir

Fenty Beauty by Rihanna Gloss Bomb Oil Luminizing Lip Oil 'N Gloss Rose Amber  (not a stick, but I'm sticking with her)

Plus other things I'm stuck on

Danessa Myricks Beauty Groundwork: Defining Neutrals - Palette For Eyes, Brows, Face & Lips  

Danessa Myricks Beauty Mini Pastel Dream Freedom Palette  

Danessa Myricks Beauty Yummy Skin Blurring Balm Powder Flushed - Matte Color for Cheek & Lip Creme Bruelee  

[itsfi]

Ahhh, the Fenty lip oil 'n gloss @danielledanielle, I love that formula 💗.  Ooouh, by Rosie Jane Dulce, I hope you find it - such a marvelous scent, on its own and layered. A huge "YES!!" to the OG NARS lip sticks!! Those two pretties will look smashing on you.

[itsfi]

Here we are, capsule themes for August 2025

💄 Week 31 (July 28 - August 3) - The (Lip)Sticks (aka Lips + Sticks) Makeup Capsule (Note: This is a carry over from a theme that started at the end of July)
July 29 is National Lipstick Day, a favorite holiday among the beauties in this community. To celebrate, curate a capsule with one or more stick products and one or more lipsticks. It doesn't have to be a newly purchased lipstick; it could be one of your favorites or a shade you come across while shopping your stash.

🎾🏀🏐🚲⛸  Week 32 (August 4 - 10) - The Athlete Founded / Owned / Endorsed / Influenced Beauty Brand(s) Makeup Capsule  

We're seeing more and more beauty brands investing in women's sports, be it with more advertisement by beauty brands at sporting events (mens and womens), and female athletes starting their own beauty brands, serving as spokespersons for beauty brands, or endorsing (officially or unofficially) beauty brands and products, inspiring and influencing beauty lovers of all ages to seek out those brands/products. Even renowned beauty retailers 😉😉 are investing in women sports teams - ahem, Sephora and the Golden State Valkyries. 

To celebrate these partnerships, let's use this week to put together a capsule of one or more product(s) from brands founded, owned or endorsed (officially or unofficially) by a female athlete. It could be something from Serena Williams'  brand Wyn Beauty collection, a skin tint or eyeshadow from Maria Sharapova's Supergoop, sunscreen from EleVen by Venus Williams, that Fenty Beauty by Rihanna Invisimatte Instant Setting + Blotting Powder  Simone Biles was seen using to touch up her makeup at the Paris Olympics, or Suni Lee's favorite makeup combinations from OleHenriksen, MUFE and/or Makeup by Mario. There are so many possibilities

🛍  Week 33 (August 11 - 17) - The Savvy Savings and/or Spectacularly Splurge-y Makeup Capsule 

 What makeup products do you prefer or are you more drawn to - affordable beauties or luxe labels? Or maybe your style consists of a carefully curated mix of both? Let's put together a makeup capsule this week that speaks to your proclivity towards savvy savings or spectacular splurges. Or both. 

💝  Week 34 (August 18 - 24) - The Gifts (With Purchase) Makeup Capsule and/or The Gift-Worthy Makeup Capsule

A couple of capsule themes this week; there may even be some overlap between the two prompts. 

• For The Gifts (With Purchase) Makeup Capsule, put together a capsule with one or more makeup products that were a gift with purchase or that was part of a promo; even perhaps something you purchased or received as a GWP in connection with Rouge Appreciation Days 2025. Bonus challenge: if you purchased something just to get that specific gwp, consider sharing about it on the I DID IT FOR THE GWP! 🛍 thread.  

• For The Gift-Worthy Makeup Capsule, assemble a capsule with one or more makeup items that either (a) would make a great gift or (b) was actually gifted to you. 

🌟  Week 35 (August 25 - 31) - The Palettes Makeup Capsule

I'm going to have to look back at my notes, but this may the first time we've had a palettes theme for a capsule. For this last week of August, let's curate a capsule with one or more palettes. Bonus challenge - use only palettes (or just one palette) for this week's capsule. 

[Mellmars1185]

@itsfi Great themes! Thank you for sharing! I would love to get back into this fun challenge.

[itsfi]

Jump on in anytime @Mellmars1185. 😊 We'd love to see you on here! 

[itsfi]

Week 30 - The Pop of Color: Summer Edit Makeup Capsule

Two capsules this week - I'll rotate between a bronzier face and a pop of pink. A couple of beauties will fit into both looks. Products marked with an asterisk (*) are ones being used in this capsule challenge for the first time (though I may have worn them before this week).

Look 1 - Pop of Color: Summer Bronze

Complexion:

• Underpainting with Armani Luminous Silk Liquid Bronzer (shade 100) for a little warmth and glow
• Urban Decay Face Bond Self Setting Waterproof Foundation  made its way onto the favorites / HG list from last year's capsule challenge. It's still a fave - I love that it is self-setting and long-wearing.
• Another favorite / HG from last year is HAUS LABS BY LADY GAGA Triclone Skin Tech Hydrating + De-puffing Concealer with Fermented Arnica  - it works just as well for concealing a blemish (or post-pimple hyperpigmentation) as it does for brightening the under eyes
• Setting it all in place with PAT McGRATH LABS Skin Fetish: Glass 001 Legendary Glow Setting Spray 3.38 fl oz/100 mL , my current favorite for a dewy finish 

Eyes: 

• Danessa Myricks ColorFix Stix (Duo 6 - Celeste / Nova)* (I'll be able to tag this beauty one day... 🤞) - it's a gorgeous duo; the Celeste shade makes for marvelous one-and-done color for my lids. Fret not, Nova has a place in this capsule as well (see "Cheeks").
• To line the eyes, it'll be CLIO Waterproof Pen Liquid Eye Liner* for the upper lash line and Makeup by Mario Master Mattes Brightening Pencil - Light 1 (discontinued) for the lower waterline. The Makeup by Mario was one of the most oft used during last year's challenge and it continues to be a strong, well loved product. I haven't found a suitable backup / replacement.
• Brows will be either Glossier Boy Brow Volumizing Eyebrow Gel-Pomade  or L'oreal Faux Brow Hair-Like Brow Filling Pen (Dark Brunette)
• I'll curl my lashes with the Tower 28 Eyelash Curler (not pictured) and coat them with DIOR Diorshow Iconic Overcurl Waterproof Mascara Black  

Cheeks:

• The Nova shade from Danessa Myricks ColorFix Stix Duo 6 will be my highlighter for this capsule - it applies and shows up a lot softer and more subtle than swatched (or than how it shows up on the lids)
• HAUS LABS BY LADY GAGA Color Fuse Longwear Hydrating Glassy Lip + Cheek Blush Balm Stick Glassy Clove  is my current go-to when I want that sunburned / sunkissed effect - a great blonzer for the summer

Lips:

• Prepping lips with Typology Lip Peeling Gel - this really does make a difference in how a lip product applies and wears on my lips. I can see more lines, less smoothness when I don't use this as part of my lip prep routine. 
• Never thought I'd like a lip stain. The I tried Huda Beauty Lip Contour Lip Stain (Soft Nude)*. I will use this to line and fill my lips for the most part.
• Occasionally, I may top the lip stain with either Facile Lip Jelly Hydrating Glossy Peptide Treatment * in Clove or Cognac. Or, I may wear them on their own. Or lined with Rhode Contour Lip Pencil (Balance) (coming fall).

"Fits": This week's "fits" is one of my favorite makeup bags, from the Drunk Elephant booth at Sephoria 2024 (Atlanta, Georgia).

Look 2 - Pop of Color - Hot Pink 

Complexion:

• The mix of Eminence Organic Skin Care Tinted Moisturizer (Vanilla Latte)* (discontinued), Glow Recipe Watermelon Glow Niacinamide Hue Drops Serum Sun Glow * and L'Oreal True Match Lumi Glotion 902* does justice to my ever so slight, soft-olive-leaning tan, all while adding a lovely radiance to my complexion. Shout out to @caitbird for using the L'Oreal Lumi Glotion a couple months ago and sharing how well it mixes with her foundation. I'll continue to use this and a lighter shade of it throughout the year.
•  Haus concealer because it's the Haus concealer. 😍
• Setting with SEPHORA COLLECTION Microsmooth Multi-Tasking Baked Face Powder Foundation  🐐 and/or L'Oreal Infallible 3-Second Setting Mist

Eyes:

• Love how the Makeup by Mario Master Mattes Long-Wearing Cream Eyeshadow (Mauve) (not tagging for some reason) self sets. This shade has a good mix of clay pink and taupe to give my lids a pop of color to make my eyes look more alert and awake.
• Lining the upper lashes with the Danessa Myricks Beauty Linework Paintbrush Fluid Liquid Eyeliner 0.034 oz / 1 ml  and the lower waterline with the discontinued Makeup by Mario Light I.
• Brows and mascara are the same combo as the bronzy look capsule - Glossier Boy Brow and Dior Iconic Overcurl Diorshow Waterproof

Cheeks:

• Ami Colé Desert Date Cream Blush & Lip Multistick Hibiscus  and MAKEUP BY MARIO SoftSculpt Transforming Skin Enhancer®  were the popular pair for last year's capsule challenges and they're making another appearance this week - Hibiscus wears beautifully on its own but the blend of these two also make for a really nice sunburned blonzer look. 💗

Lips:

• Preppring again with Typology Peeling Gel
• Charlotte Tilbury Super Nudes Lip Cheat Contour Duo Lip Liner Tan  makes for a nice base to apply Tower 28 Beauty ShineOn Lip Jelly Hydrating Non-Sticky Lip Oil XOXO  (gratis) over. Tower 28 XOXO wears beautifully on its owne for a pop of summer color.

The "Fits": Another favorite "fits" - a gift from a sales associate I've worked with for years. Summer feels, from the design and color to the terrycloth material.

Recap - Week 29: 

Samples week was a good one for me; well, good in that I liked pretty much every sample packet I used. The not so good part is that I liked pretty much every sample packet I used. 💸😅 I have plenty of full size YSL beauties, some I need to reach for more often, so I won't be picking up anything new anytime soon - my wallet breathes a sigh of relief. 😉 

• Revisit: L'Oreal Infallible 3-Second Setting Mist will see another week. I'm not so sure about it - I really like the satiny/natural finish but while the mist itself is fine, it is distributted in a slightly more aggressive manner than I care for, and it has a very noticeable and distinct (not in a good way either) scent. I'll incorporate it again with one of the capsules this week and decide whether it will stay or go.

• Repurpose: If I were judging it on its own as a lip liner or to fill in my lips, the Rom&Nd Romnd Lip Glow Pencil, 05 Taupey Shade would be out of my collection - I'll spare everyone my melodramtic description of the color on my lips and just say that it does not complement my complexion / natural lip color. That said, it does work very well as a way to very faintly overlining the lips contour or to carve out my lip shape after applying lip color - blending the color is much easier and less patchy on me than using a nude or beige color liner. It also has made for a nice, subtle nose contour. This stays and will be repurposed.

• Return (to stash): LAWLESS Forget The Filler Definer Lip Liner   #L and the L'oreal Faux Brow Hair-Like Brow Filling Pen will circle back into my stash. I may, at some point, before the end of summer (which here is early-to-mid October) pick up a different, slightly lighter, shade of the brow pen. The Lawless will be part of a throwdown with other similarly shaded liners.

• Rehome: tarte maracuja juicy lip plumping oil with hyaluronic acid cinnamon   will be either gifted or donated.

• Release: I may change my mind at rehome the SEPHORA COLLECTION Beauty Amplifier Clear Universal Waterproof Lip Liner 0.04 oz/ 1.2 g   as well but right now, I'm thinking about just tossing it. It just didn't work for me. 

[Sunnysmom]

Lots of good info and products here @itsfi , thank you. I’m interested in the Typology Lip Peeling Gel. I’ve not noticed that before. Sounds like you really like it. 😊

[danielledanielle]

Week 29: Summer Camp with a Sample 

I'm on a contouring kick, so I'm in the Mocha Mousse/Neutral phase that usually kicks in Aug/Sep 😂🤷🏽‍♀️. For Summer Cheek Challenge 2025: A Song & A Slay , I wanted a bonfire kind of look, so as smoky neutral and copper/terracotta made sense

Also, I lied to myself about tossing some things, working on whittling them when and maybe then toss.  For some reason I can't kick Too Faced Chocolate Soleil Melting Bronzing & Sculpting Stick Chocolate Caramel  .. it's so orange on me, but works as a blush? That, or I'm fooling myself.  I think Iconic London Sheer Bronze Liquid Bronzer  might go because I'm too tanned for it at this point 🤔🤞🏽🤞🏽

Skin is being fickle , yay hormones, so not too many samples, but I might give the supergoop and Danessa a go this week.

The Fit:

Almost! Wanted to use these Wicked bags for the longest and give Big Orange a rest. 

[itsfi]

@danielledanielle, it's not easy letting go of things, even if we have many things. Sounds like you may be able to repurpose the Too Faced? Do you think it may be leaning orange because you have a tan from your vacay/staycay? 

I'm biased but I think neutrals/mocha mousse color families are year-round friendly. 😉

[danielledanielle]

@itsfi , nope not my tan, it's just straight orange

[itsfi]

Week 29 - The Sizzling Summer Samples Makeup Capsule  

I've been looking forward to this week's capsule for some time. It's a great way for me to work through some samples - foils, deluxe, travel-size, etc. and more often than not, I find a beauty that really works for me. Excited to see if that will be the case with this week's beauties. My wallet is not so excited as I'm going with a (mostly) Yves Saint Laurent theme with my samples capsule. 

Complexion:

- Primer: Yves Saint Laurent Touche Eclat Blur Face Primer Blur Primer Gold  is a popular primer and one I enjoy (though I prefer the discontinued silver version). It blurs imperfections and gives a boost of radiance to the complexion. I have gone through a full size over the year, and love when YSL includes these deluxe size samples as a gwp (or its available with a promo code). 

- Foundation/Concealer: I'll treat these two types of products and, namely, the Yves Saint Laurent All Hours Foundation  and Yves Saint Laurent All Hours Creaseless Precise Angles Concealer  interchangeably this week, for the most part. Historically, I've had a challenge finding a good match with YSL foundations (the undertones) but we'll see. The cult classic Yves Saint Laurent Touche Eclat All Over Concealer I'll use for the inner corner of my eyes and outer corners of the nose. I'm actually surprised how well the blister packets have held up as I've been using this off and on for a bit. 

- Setting Powder: Yves Saint Laurent YSL All Hours Hyper Blur Loose Setting Powder  - I have it in the shade 04 and the Yves Saint Laurent All Hours Hyper Finish 24H Multi-Use Natural Matte Powder 1  

- Setting Spray: Deviating (ever so slightly) from the YSL with the L'Oreal Setting Spray - YSL Beauty is part of L'Oreal's luxury division; hence, the slight deviation from YSL. I'm on the fence with this one but am going to give it another week. More detailed thoughts on the spray are in the recap below of last week's capsule products. 

Eyes: 

- Primer: Most days this week, it'll be a combination of the concealer and setting powder for my eye primer. 

- Eyeshadow: Going with the beautiful Yves Saint Laurent Couture Mini Clutch Eyeshadow Palette 100 Stora Dolls  #, a Pan It! - 2025 Challenge product and one of my favorite eyeshadow palettes. The colorway is gorgeous and this quad performs quite beautifully - for everyday looks as well as for nights out.

- Eye Liner: I don't have a YSL eyeliner sample.Or even a full size YSL eyeliner for that matter. Hmmm... All good. For the most part, I'll use one of the shadows from the Stora Dolls quad on the days I feel like eyeliner when I'm not otherwise testing (or feeling like testing) the MAKEUP BY MARIO Master Pigment Pro™ Eyeliner Pencil The Perfect Brown .

- Eye Brows: L'Oreal Paris Faux Brow Waterproof Eyebrow Color Pen with Hair-like Tip, another instance of keeping it in the family. I was color matched to Dark Brunette at Ulta Beauty World this past spring. I'm really familiar with the ease of tinted brow gels so it takes me a little more effort to get used to this one, but I really like it. This shade can still work on my hair, even as it's gotten lighter, but I may check out the next lighter shade, Brunette, at some point this summer. 

- Mascara: It's gotta be Yves Saint Laurent Lash Clash Extreme Volume Mascara Noir , a fave among many of the BIC beauties. The deluxe sample size was a well sought after product at the previous two Sephorias and I'm happy to see that the brand has put out a mini version. I have this in blue (which was one the star products from Sephoria 2023 in New York) and the waterproof version which may come out if needed.

Cheeks:

- Blush: I was really giddy when I found this blister sample packet of the Yves Saint Laurent Make Me Blush 12H Blurring Liquid Blush .

- Bronzer: No sample size but I do have a full sizes of their loose and pressed powder bronzers.

- Highlighter: I didn't think I had a YSL highlighter (full or sample size) but the Yves Saint Laurant Nu Glow in Balm has a slight sheen to it that could work. This was part of the gwp's.

Most of my products this week will be sample size YSL products, with the exception of the Stora Dolls quad. Of the "extra"s that I may reach for, I'm going to try to limit it to just the setting spray and the YSL powder. 

Lips: 

I have a few sample packets and deluxe sample sized YSL lippies to play with this week. I'll primarily stick to one sample packet and probably the mini  Yves Saint Laurent Candy Glaze Lip Gloss Stick 44 Nude Lavalliere  - this one was a promo gwp but it's also available as part of the It's Giving Nude Lip Makeup Value Set - Sephora Favorites | Sephora

Okay, someone help me here - did YSL ever make lip liners? I feel like they had to? At least a red and a nude shade? Tagging @blackkitty2014  - YSL had lip liners back in the day, right?! 

I clearly do not have a YSL lip liner in my current collection. Ordinarily I would just forego liner for the week, but since lip liners are in my summer shop my stash challenge, I went through my stash (which has grown even more, ather) and pulled out a few lip liners to give a go this week.

- Lawless Forget the Filler Definer Liner (Pink Slip) 

- rom&nd Lip Mate Pencil (05 Taupey Shade) - don't even remember when this was purchased. Sigh.

- Sephora Prime Universal Lip Liner (discontinued?) - I do remember when this was available. This predated Sephora rebranding their color cosmetics line as Sephora Collection.  It was a long time ago. A loooong time ago. Le sigh. 

- tarte maracuja juicy lip liner maracuja juicy lip liner Rosy Brown  

The "Fits":

I love this week's makeup bag, also from YSL Beaute - the shape, structure and the quilting. And, that it comes with a mirror. This was a step up gift from earlier in the year. The quilting design got me. It pairs beautifully with the quited cushion packaging on many of the recent YSL products. 

This will hold the samples and the full size products that will be primarily reached for this week. Yes, I may be even happier about putting this bag to use than using the YSL products, and I'm pretty excited for playing with all the products in this week's capsule. 

***

RECAP of last week's capsule:

Week 28's more minimalist (but fairly all encompassing) capsule worked well for me. I did occasionally pull out other products to use (or try for the first time) last week, but kept to my capsule for most of it. I'll be quick with this recap, focusing primarily on the new(er)-to-me item from the capsule.

Spoiler

- BASMA The Foundation Stick for Hydrating, Buildable Coverage and Natural Finish  #: after the Dior foundation stick, this is currently my #2 fave foundation stick. I feel like that says a lot. Oh, and it being packaged in a briiiiight pink tube make it easy to find.

- Makeup by Mario liquid eyeshadow: I was not expecting to like this as much as I do. It's got some great staying power (8-10 hours) on my oily, hooded lids. Mauve, too, has ended up being such great color for my lids, far, far better than I could have imagined

- L'Oreal Eyebrow Liquid Pencil: I like it more and more as I've gottem more accustomed to using it to fill in my brows. Might see if a lighter shade will be an even better match for my now lighter hair.

- L'Oreal Setting Spray: I'm on the fence with this. On the fence leaning towards the "it's fine but not a fave" side" - having it in the same capsule as the One/Size didn't help so, for the time being, it'll be my only setting spray in this week's capsule.

- Lip Liners: The 5 liners from last week's capsule were all fine, some I really liked. I'm setting aside Fara Homidi Doux and Tom Ford Re-See for a later and larger throwdown of pink / light dusty rose lip liners - both were pulled for the shades. The new Tom Ford liners have one of the best staying powers among lip liners, but the Re-See shade seems to be pulling chalky on me which it didn't before, and I'm not sure if maybe it's because I have a little more color to my complexion at the moment. I have TF liners in other shades and don't have the chalky issue with them so we will see. 

All other products from last week's capsule, including the "fit" bag, fall in either the "loves" or "likes" category with maybe a couple inbetween them.

Let's see if I can use up any of these samples for the Foil Challenge thread.

[blackkitty2014]

@itsfi @I’m not sure about YSL lip liners. I imagine they would have them back in the day. I saw some on Macys website the other day but I’m not sure how long ago they was released 

[itsfi]

@blackkitty2014, back in the day sounds right. I feel like they had them at some point, but probably at a time before YSL hit my radar - I was big on Chanel for a time; still am, but I've since ummmm, diversified 🤣 my luxury beauty collection. 

[danielledanielle]

@itsfi , OOOooh I like the YSL theme this week.  Theme within a theme.  🥰 And the bag, of course!    I feel like some of the lux brands give really good samples that you can get multiple uses of.  I feel like ysl, Armani, Dior and Gucci do this well.

[itsfi]

Yes, a theme within a theme @danielledanielle, heehee! I don't know if it's good or bad that I can insert the "one brand or all the brand" theme into other themes within the capsule challenge, but I've told myself to try to do so if I think I can. Putting together the capsules is fun but the theme within a theme ups the fun quotient and the challenge. 😉

Oh I love when I can get multiple uses out of samples - it's so helpful when assessing how an item works for you. I've lucked out to have some generous sales associates I've worked with as well. The down side of getting some really good samples from the luxe or prestige brands can be that I end up really liking a product and then I find out how much it'll cost me to continue liking it. 🤣

[itsfi]

Week 28 - The Multi-Taskers / Repurposed Makeup Capsule and/or The "On The Go: Summer Edit" Makeup Capsule 

My capsule for most of the week will be a combo of the two themes, with a mix of tried-and-true treats and newer-to-me beauties. The MUFE again plays several roles for this week's capsule. I thought I would be able to get it in with 6 (or fewer) products but clearly, that did not happen. 😅 Here are my "on the go summer multi-taskers" ~

COMPLEXION:

Primer + Foundation:

I've been trying my hand at being a mixologist of sorts since coming back from vacation when it comes to my base, to try to get a good shade match. 

Mix on the back of my hand, a little dab of Glow Recipe Watermelon Glow Niacinamide Hue Drops Serum Sun Glow  and Victoria Beckham Beauty Priming Moisturizer - Golden for their warmer, deeper tones and moisture) and BASMA The Foundation Stick for Hydrating, Buildable Coverage and Natural Finish  (the first time I'm showcasing it in a capsule but not the first time I've used it) - I purchased this earlier in the year as the shade I had is better suited for my winter to mid-to-late spring complexion. This shade is actually a pretty good match for me now - it's like past Fi knew what future Fi would need. Ha! 

 

I've been needing more moisture as my skin has understandably become a lot more dry since being back. To keep my skin moisturized and happy, I've been adding a drop or two of Good Molecule Squalane Oil to the foundation mix. It adds a nice slip to my base without altering the hue, which makes application a breeze. Oh, and did I mention how GLOWY it makes my complexion? This must be what they mean by glass skin. 

Setting Products: 

For powder, it'll be Prada Beauty Reset Rebalancing Refillable Setting Powder  

I've been spending part of the year battling out my primers and setting products, mainly my setting sprays. My lower T-zone (nose & chin) tend to lean oilier this time of year so it'll be a good opportunity to try out the ones geared towards oil control or with mattifying properties. This week, it's the ONE/SIZE by Patrick Starrr Mini On 'Til Dawn Mattifying Waterproof Setting Spray   vs. L'Oreal Infallible Setting Mist - the latter claims 36-hour wear but I will not be putting that particular claim to the test this week (or possibly any week). 

CHEEKS:

The MAKE UP FOR EVER HD Skin Face Essentials – Longwear Full Face Cream Palette  will be my "go to" for concealer, blush, highlight, bronzer and contour. This palette really is quite versatile and was a magnificent multi-tasker when I was on vacay, and now, as well. I'll swap this out a couple of days this week for a few other bronzers from my collection for the Summer Cheek Challenge 2025: A Song & A Slay.

EYES: 

My initial plan was to just take the Tower 28 Beauty Lash Curler to my lashes for my whole eye makeup look this week, buuuuut we had a last minute change of plans, courtesy of the Makeup by Mario Master Mattes Longwearing Eyeshadow Stick (not sure why this won't pull up to tag) ariving earlier than expected and turning out better than I expected - I inadvertently added this shade to my cart instead of one of the brown shades from the collection. I didn't realize this until after I received confirmation that it was the mauve shade on its way here. I decided to see how it looked and the mauve shade is better than I could have even hoped. It's a keeper, color-wise and has been performing well over the long holiday weekend, but we'll see how it performs this week.

LIPS:

The lips are where I'll have the most options. In addition to a couple of the shades in the MUFE palette, my go-to combo's this week consist of these treats for a variety of nude and rosy / rosy-pink lips, with a focus on the lip liners as they are part of my Shop Your Stash Challenge: Summer 2025. 

 

• Rhode Peptide Lip Shape - Balance
• Rokael Beauty Lip Shaper - Marked
• Rokael Beauty Whipped Lip Oil - Ecstasy

• Rhode Beauty Lip Peptide Balm - Unscented to prep and prime lips
• Yves Saint Laurent YSL Loveshine Lip Oil Stick 44 Nude Lavalliere  from the Sephora Favorites It's Giving Lip Value Set , a fantastic Sephora Favorites set btw 
• Givenchy Lip Liner 8 Parme Silhouette  
• TOM FORD Long Wear Lip Liner Re-See  
• Fara Homidi Smudge & Contour Lip Pencil Doux  

The Rhode and Rokael Beauty lip shapers have a creamy formula; the Givenchy, Tom Ford and Fara Homidi have a waxier one; they take after the traditional pencil liners.

The "Fits": 

This Valentino brush case is pretty spectacular. Makeup brushes & lip liners stay put in the elastic bands; and, this beauty is roomy, more so than it looks.  I pushed it a little a lot trying to include the L'Oreal and the ONE/Size setting sprays and for a minute there, it was like trying to zip up my luggage, but with a little Tetris-magic here, and some pinching and squeezing there, it all fit! 

Brushes are:

C'mon, just a little more to go. We can just squeeeeeze a little bit more ...

[danielledanielle]

👏🏽👏🏽 @itsfi , love a challenging fit!!  😂

How's the Fara Homidi, really? I wonder about that brand (and Sarah Cereal) with their price points.  Tea, ☕ plz

Yeah, why 36 hours?  Your skin needs to breathe, like anything past 16 hours makes me wonder, what kind of life do you think I'm living??

Here for the Basma.  Underrated. Props to past itsfi.  I'm going to get that olive shade I was matched with someday.