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 9.14.2025]

Week 38 (September 15 - 21) - The LatinX Founded/Owned Beauty Brands Makeup Capsule 

LatinX Heritage Month, runs from September 15 to October 15, and is a time to celebrate Hispanic and LatinX culture and experience in the US. Let's honor the LatinX beauty community by curating a capsule made up of one or more products from a LatinX founded or owned makeup brand. NOTE: A non-exhaustive list of brands that fall within this criteria is listed in the spoiler below.

Spoiler

Below is a non-exhaustive list of beauty brands (with color cosmetics as its primary focus) founded or owned by members of the LatinX community. Brands with an asterisks (*) next to their name can be found at Sephora / sephora.com. To the extent the identity of the LatinX founder / owner may not be clear in the brand name, said founder / owner's name will be noted in parens. If I missed a brand you feel should be included, feel free to PM me, thank you.

Artist Couture (Angel Merino)

Axiology (Ericka Rodriguez)

* beautyblender (Rea Ann Silva)

Bésame Cosmetics (Gabriela Hernandez)

Carolina Herrera

Dominique Cosmetics (Christen Dominique)

Elaluz by Camila Coelho

Ere Perez

Luna Magic (Mabel and Shaira Frías)

* Melt Cosmetics (Lora Arellano, co-founder)

PDL Cosmetics (Patricia de León)
Pound Cake (Johnny Velazquez, co-founder)

* Rare Beauty by Selena Gomez

Reina Rebelde (Regina Merson)
Rokael Beauty (Rokael Lizama)

Sigma Beauty (Dr. Simone Xavier)

Treslúce Beauty (Becky G) 

[Optional]: Keep this theme going for the entire duration of LatinX Heritage Month by including one or more makeup products from LatinX-founded/owned brands in your capsule in addition to the weekly themes.

 UPCOMING Makeup Capsule Themes: [Updated 9.14.2025]

Spoiler

Week 39 (September 22 - 28) - The Runway / Red Carpet Inspired Makeup Capsule 

Doing a little catch up here - New York Fashion Week (NYFW) will have taken place earlier this month as will the Primetime Emmy's. Were there any looks that went down the runway or walked the red carpet that caught your eye? Either this year or in years past? Put together a makeup capsule inspired by a favorite runway or red carpet look. Don't feel like you have to stop at your makeup. If you find inspiration for an outfit from the runway or red carpet, head on over to the The Fit, The Fab and The Face: Outfit and Inspo Thread and share your outfit of the day!

NOTE: September's NYFW will give us a preview of what is to come for  spring/summer 2026, and if there's a look you loved, curate away! As this week is the official start of fall, feel free to curate a makeup capsule based on runway looks from February's NYFW, which was all about this upcoming fall/winter 2025.

Additional weekly capsule themes for September can be found here: September Capsules Described.

Previous Capsule Themes: [Updated: 9.7.2025]

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 

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]

Fenty by itself 😑

Jazz Club + Fenty 😊

Harlem Nights + Fenty 😍

@itsfi 

If I still had whispers in the Library, that would also probably be good, but that got smashed against a tile floor, so I can only wonder 😓

[itsfi]

Oooh, thanks for those recommendations @danielledanielle. I have both those scents in discovery sets and will try them both.  Patchouli is one of those notes for me that in some fragrances work so well 😘 and in others just don’t work at all with my body chemistry. 😩 

Oh noooo, it got smashed!!! 😱🥺

[CynthieLu]

I've never really considered this but reading it made so much sense. Scents are genderless. Tiny mind blown moment 🤯 @danielledanielle @Mellmars1185 

Can I ask why they advised you not to layer that scents in particular?

[Mellmars1185]

@CynthieLu Yes I agree about the mind blowing moment. I am learning.

[danielledanielle]

@CynthieLu, I think it was just preference. I have not tried layering any Chris Collins with another Chris Collins scent. I think it would be overwhelming.  His line has a boldness and depth to it, but as I'm accumulating fragrances, I've been pairing them up to A. use them & B. have a bespoke/signature scent to me.

Also the rep....she was drop dead gorgeous, so I probably would've agreed with everything she said at that moment 😂

[CynthieLu]

Lol  @danielledanielle the last bit made me giggle. She had you at hello. 😂 Ok ok thou, I was just kinda curious but that make sense. I've never traveled into the land of intense scents but I can see where that would make layering challenging. 

[itsfi]

That’s an impressive Uoma collection @danielledanielle! Have you tried the loose setting powder? 

[danielledanielle]

Oh yeah, that's one of their heroes @itsfi 

They also have a hydrating one, that I have but haven't tried, meant to do it over last summer, but I started layering setting spray into my foundation  and it worked well enough.

[blackkitty2014]

Great idea to throw in some perfume @danielledanielle. I will copy you 😘

[danielledanielle]

@blackkitty2014 I copied someone else from last year (I think @cianni ) so we're both just thieves 🤣🤣

[blackkitty2014]

Well but we smell fabulous @danielledanielle 😘

[peculiarzmakeup]

Beautiful capsule I love how you still have this brand a shoutout very neat. I love your addition of fragrances in your capsule and the fit is fitting! Amazing 😎 @danielledanielle 

[danielledanielle]

Thank you @peculiarzmakeup 

[ather]

@danielledanielle  Wow this is an amazing lineup! 

[danielledanielle]

Thanks @ather 

I am peacocking a bit, but this is also the time to display the contributions of black beauty.  Everything here was Sharon Chuter.  They only thing I didn't purchase before the buyout was their blushes.  There are multiple "hero"/well performing products here and this was a brand that was only around for a short time.  To develop so many products is nothing short of amazing.

IMO hero products are:

Baby Brow Fro To go and the Baby Brow Fro (not pictured, I've used mine up)

Black Magic Allure and Freedom Palette

Boss Gloss

Bad@$$ lipstick

Trippin' Smooth Setting powder

Drama Bomb Mascara

Stay Woke Concealer

  I love Sephora, but on their page they put "changing" the industry.  Mere semantics and possible miscommunication with, but it's wrong.  It's continuing to change the industry...Black entrepreneurs have been ever present.  Literally one of the first millionaires for hair care was a black woman.  Madame CJ Walker.

/Soapbox

[blackkitty2014]

The Lunar New Year week: please don’t kick me out of the classroom 😂🤣 I’m behind again. For Lunar New Year, I’d like to feature lots of red and gold. Chanel Reve D’Orient looks beat up (yes it is old) but it’s one of my all time favorite. I still try to hit pan sometimes this year.

x-post the lipstick challenge of these lipstick swatches 

PS I will try to take picture of this week capsule  tomorrow 😘 It’s pretty much PMG lip eye and cheek 😘

[CynthieLu]

The red and gold theme is so eye catching @blackkitty2014 😍

[Mellmars1185]

@blackkitty2014 Wonderful Lunar New Year capsule! ❤️💛❤️✨️

[Samtian]

@blackkitty2014 Whoo those are some stunning reds!

[itsfi]

These are beautiful @blackkitty2014,. Your swatches and photos on the lipstick board have both helped to dissuade me from a lipstick and nudged me to add a few to my list. 😂 

My eyes first went to the Chanel quad and mu first though was “she’s going to pan one (or more) of those.

[peculiarzmakeup]

Such a beautiful capsule love the swatches and how you organized your lippies, such beautiful shades 😍 @blackkitty2014