Capsule Makeup Collection Challenge 2025

[itsfi]

Hi there, BIC and happy spring! Whether (a) you're spring cleaning, or (b) returning to the office and wanting to use the makeup you have (new and old) or will pick up along the way, or (c) interested in putting together a collection (big or small) of "go to" or Top Shelf product for every day, the season, a special event or occasions, or just in general, or (d) for any other reason, please join us here at the Capsule Makeup Collection Challenge 2025. 

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 found by you. 

For me, I've found having a bag of makeup ready at the start of a week to be helpful in getting me out the door more efficiently, and feeling and looking put together. Some weeks my makeup bag has a minimalist look and feel; other weeks, the makeup capsule I've curated for use during the week resembles a more maximalist approach, with several products to choose from. There are weeks when I use the beauties in my capsule every day, and, there are weeks when I may add products into my existing bag of makeup during the week to meet my needs. 

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  

Week 17 (April 21 - 27) - The "Green" Makeup Capsule
It's green week, folks! Let's put together a "green" capsule for Earth Day (April 22). What exactly does "green" mean? Here, at the capsule makeup challenge, "green" can mean a bevy of things, including, but not limited to, one or more of the following types of product(s):  

* the color green, be it the color of the product itself or the packaging 
* eco-friendly
* makeup coming in at a savings - whether you picked it up on sale or a product is budget friendly or economical
* clean, be it clean at Sephora,  or some other definition of clean
* beauties that have left / leave my wallet with a little less green in it 
* your definition of "green"

UPCOMING Makeup Capsule Themes: [Updated 4.23.2025]

Spoiler

Week 18 (April 28 - May 4) - The Makeup-Artist-Founded/Owned Brand Makeup Capsule 

Is there a makeup artist that you've followed or admired. Here's a chance to celebrate the makeup artists whose work have caught your eye - curate a makeup capsule made up of one or more products from a makeup-artist founded / owned beauty brand. [See below spoiler for non-exhaustive list of makeup brands that fall within this category.

Spoiler

Below is a non-exhaustive list of makeup brands founded or owned by makeup artists.

beautyblender
Bobbi Brown
Charlotte Tilbury
Ciele Cosmetics
Danessa Myricks
Em Cosmetics
Half Magic
Huda Beauty
Isamaya
Jason Wu
Jones Road
Kevyn Aucoin Beauty
Lisa Eldridge
MAC Cosmetics
Makeup By Mario
Make Up For Ever
NARS
Natasha Denona
One/Size by Patrick Starr
Pat McGrath Labs
Patrick Ta Beauty
Pixi
Rokael Beauty
Uzo
Wayne Goss
Westman Atelier

Previous Capsule Themes: [Updated: 4.20.2025]

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 

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.

[nafiyad]

this is the best

[CynthieLu]

Ooooh your collection is just so beautiful!  @itsfi I just popped in after the pictures on the main page drew me here. That's a sweet red bag from Valentino ❤️ and you filled it nicely. I was hoping that the D'ior foundation stick would make the cut for your Stick Week capsule. One day I'm going to pick that up. 🙂

[itsfi]

@CynthieLu, thank you. The Dior foundation stick is fabulous! It's probably my most oft-reached for foundation stick at the moment, though that could change when the weather gets really warm. 

[danielledanielle]

(Yes, two separate replies were needed ) @itsfi 

The Valentino bag gives me peace (?) ... IDK, I'm a strange one.  It makes me aspire to be elegant, streamlined, and the red just pops

R/t products...I like the choices, with some I'm eyeing, but I will not ask because it'll make me want them with a sale afoot 😂

[itsfi]

I get what you mean about the Valentino makeup bag @danielledanielle  - I feel more calm for some reason just looking at all the products laid out and some in the elastic band. I'm sure those bands were meant to hold brushes (that I don't recall Valentino Beauty having in its collection 🤔), but you know, we do what we need to make things work for us. 😉 

Thank you, that's kind of you to say. I felt a little rushed with putting this capsule together - my own fault, as I knew what the prompt was. It is less cohesive than the one I did last week for the Jacqueline Follet inspired look. That being said, I've pulled items from it (with some add-ons) for the couple of TDWP inspired looks I hope to get to for the week - did one yesterday I need to post and, weather permitting, I'll get to the other one(s) too. 

"It makes me aspire to be elegant, streamlined," - ummmm, have you seen your suit-looks?! You're already there. Those are elegant and streamlined. And, lovely color pops (and prints too!) 

[danielledanielle]

 

@itsfi 

[itsfi]

😂🤣😂 

Yesssss @danielledanielle!!! That's the scene. The line. The look. The judgment. 😆 

P.S. I wish my bangs would look like that.

[danielledanielle]

I have to have this gif at the ready this time of year, so np.  Bangs are the devil, but they cooooulllddddd look like that .. Curl mousse and flexirods? 🤔 @itsfi 

[itsfi]

I hadn't even thought of curl mousse @danielledanielle - thank you for that rec! Something to research ... and add to my shopping list for the savings event. 😲  Ahhh, but first, I will dig through my bin of random products / samples to see if I have something that will fit the bill. I have to say there's a really, really good chance I'll find something that will. (and, maybe that can be another opportunity for me to do some spring cleaning through that bin 😅). 

[danielledanielle]

Week 14, AKA STICKWEEK THE REKINDLING

I EDITED THIS TIME 😂

I originally thought Ami x Fenty, but I decided to torture myself give another go with some others, like NARS Total Seduction Smudge-Proof Eyeshadow Stick (I'm going  to get you to work!!) and the LYS Beauty Higher Standard Cream Glow Blush Sticks 

The fit

I don't think y'all know, know the power of the Ami Bag, she's that girl

 

[caitbird]

@danielledanielle so. many. sticks! 😍 (also, that bag is amazing!)

[curlychiquita]

I love the idea of “Stick Week”, @danielledanielle! I used to live Weatman Atelier stick makeup products when I used to travel for work more pre-COVID.

[danielledanielle]

Oh, those are great sticks, I can imagine a WA version would work nicely for STICKWEEK @curlychiquita 

[itsfi]

That AC bag for me is more about when, not if, @danielledanielle. I saw that the brand did another vote/poll for its next lip oil. I thought they were going to have a new brick red shade in January based on last year's votes. If that's something that is still going to happen, I would definitely pick up the new shade, along with the makeup bag. It looks fabulously roomy 😍

[danielledanielle]

@itsfi Yeah, that's why when Ami Colé Hydrating Lip Treatment Oil Happy came out, I was annoyed and confused.. Like where was the one that was promised?!?!?  Where it go?

Maybe it's still in development, or coming out in a pair..like it'll be offered like the midnight duo was offered. 🤔

Now that I think of it, I'm more annoyed, that's 3 shades before that one!!!!

If fate aligns, they usually do a sale or GWP around Memorial Day, I think.  At one point, the bag was a GWP, but there was nothing I needed that got to the spend total 😔, but it was such a good promo that I've obviously thought about it.. To this moment.

[itsfi]

I'm hoping it is still in development @danielledanielle. I'm a little bummed that there's been radio silence on it (at least that I know of), but now there's also been another vote for presumably another lip oil. I asked one of the reps at SEPHORiA ATL and the response was "we have a red already, Romance." I tried clarifying it was a new brick red that was crowdsourced but that didn't help. I'm going to keep being hopeful that a brick red lip oil will be released by the brand this year. I mean, how often is it that I (!!) of all people am wanting for a particular brick red lip color?! 😅

[itsfi]

Week 13 - Take 2 / Do Over Makeup Capsule Recap

😍  The beauties making up my base makeup this past week were the standouts from Week 13's Take 2 / Do Over Makeup Capsule - the pairing of the Typology T12 Tinted Serum - Type 2 Light and Chanel Les Beiges Water Fresh Complexion Touch produced the right color, coverage and finish. Setting it with DIOR Forever Natural Velvet Matte Compact Foundation (the pressed powder product in the Dior Fall/Winter Ready-To-Wear Palette) sealed it all together! 

🏡  Chanel N°1 Lip and Cheek Balm - Red Camellia is a beautiful shade, but, even when worn as a stain, it leans more pinky-red / slightly fuschia-red on my lips than I like. I've sanitized it and will be re-homing it to someone who will give it the attention it deserves.

❓  Anyone know how (or IF) there's a not-too-complicated a way to remove the dispensing component from this deluxe size GUERLAIN Parure Gold 24K Radiance Primer 1.2 oz / 35 mL - it's a nice primer and I'd love to be able to get to the last itty bitty bit. I'm wondering if a pair of pliers might do the trick but that seems a little drastic. 🤔 The bottle is made of glass so I can't cut into it or poke a hole in the bottom. 

[danielledanielle]

@heartsmyface 

@blackkitty2014 

[danielledanielle]

Week 13: Danessa x Fenty , Take 2

I wanted to do a bigger Danessa, but it was a hectic start to the week, so I pulled this together and a couple of others were added mon/Tuesday .  I forgot to lay everything out, but I snapped the Fit. 

Heavies are Danessa Myricks Beauty Groundwork: Defining Neutrals - Palette For Eyes, Brows, Face & Lips , Mini Light work III, Light work VI, Danessa Myricks Beauty Yummy Skin Blurring Balm Powder Flushed - Matte Color for Cheek & Lip Creme B... , Danessa Myricks Beauty Yummy Skin Lift & Flex Hydrating Concealer With Hyaluronic Acid & Caffeine 10 .......
No Danessa Myricks Beauty Linework Paintbrush Fluid Liquid Eyeliner 0.034 oz / 1 ml ...I know, I'm working through some liners ATM

Danessa Myricks Beauty Vision Flush Blush, Eyeshadow and Lip Color Grapewas added midweek

The Fenty is Fenty Beauty by Rihanna Pro Filt’r Soft Matte Longwear Liquid Foundation and the Mattemoiselles 🥲

Week 11: Samples Week

 

 inside the bag

 

Fit

 

[itsfi]

Oh yeah, you, Danessa and Fenty!! Move over you muskateers, there's a new trio in town, @danielledanielle ‌‌❣️ That newest Lightwork palette 💗 

Those are some great makeup samples you have - I'm super impressed with (and inspired by) how organized your samples are. Mine are in bags and not in any organization, at all. Hahaha! Have you discovered a foundation you've really liked from those foundation sample sets?

[danielledanielle]

I unfortunately learned that my skin doesn't like Shiseido Synchro Skin Self-Refreshing Foundation SPF 30 or the Nars tinted at this point @itsfi , I dunno what cause the breakouts because I wore them back to back, and there was such a good amount of product where I could've gotten more uses.  I wanna believe it's the Shiseido more so than the Nars, but 🤷🏽‍♀️

I didn't get to the Danessa because I needed a skin break, I'm learning to maybe not deviate too much, like literally one new complexion product two days in a row and then rest.