Capsule Makeup Collection Challenge 2025

[itsfi]

Hey there, BIC! It's year 2 of the capsule makeup challenge. 

What is this challenge about?

It's a mix of curating a group of products that are "must haves" for you and your lifestyle and shopping your stash by putting your beauties to use and seeing what, if anything, you need to declutter from your stash and/or to fill out your collection. 

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 exactlay. 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. For example, last year for "green" week, there were a host of possibilities for what it means for a product to be "green" - capsules that included one or more products that were (a) green in color; (b) "clean"; (c) contained in green packaging or that (d) cost a lot of "green" 💸💸💸 fit the bill. 😉 For more examples, you might want to check out last year's thread - Capsule Makeup Collection Challenge 2024 to see what beauty products others in the Community have used and posted about. 

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 12 (March 17 - 23) - The "Spring Is In The Air" Makeup Capsule  

Spring has officially arrived (or will on March 20) and it's time to pull out those makeup products that give you those springtime feels. Maybe that means a pop of pastel to your eyes, or cheeks, or lips. Or, maybe your spring look is one you wear year round. Whatever the case may be, let's put together a capsule with one or more makeup products that makes you think of spring.

OPTIONAL (month-long theme): We're having another month-wide theme in March in celebration of Women's History Month. For this month, in addition to the weekly themes, consider incorporating into your weekly capsules, one or more beauty products from a woman-founded / owned beauty brand. 

UPCOMING Makeup Capsule Themes: [Updated 3.16.2025]

Spoiler

🎬  Week 13 (March 24 - March 30) - The "Take 2" / Do Over" Makeup Capsule 

Was/Is there a previous capsule theme from this year's challenge that you'd like to give a second take, that you'd like to have a do over, be it because you loved the theme, or you have another way you want to approach the capsule, or you were unable to do a capsule the original week it was in the spotlight and you'd like another chance at it? Whatever the reason, here's your opportunity to create (or re-create) a capsule with one of this year's previous themes. Don't remember the capsule themes we've done to date? Check out the spoiler section for "Previous Makeup Capsule Themes" below. 

⏩  April Capsule Themes will be posted at or before the end of Week 12.

Previous Capsule Themes: [Updated: 3.16.2025]

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
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
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

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.

[ather]

@danielledanielle  This is a great capsule! So many choices! Do you have a favourite duo? 

[danielledanielle]

Oooh, that's hard.  Like this edit itself was already a task 🤣 @ather .  Going to have to think about it 🤔

[blackkitty2014]

Drum roll for Black Owned Beauty Brand please. I have way too many PMG palettes but I just pick a random one and make sure I used every single shades in the palette last week. I forgot how many PMG lipsticks I have. I think I still have about a dozen of brand new PMG lipsticks balm/gloss/lipsticks besides the ones I already used. Sigh 😮‍💨 

Here are the swatches of my PMG lippies; from left to right (right is closest to my hand) Flesh 7, Executive Realness, Love Supreme, Rose Quartz Astro gloss, Soft Core, Rose Divine Rose gloss, 1995 top and Dream Scape gloss and the last one is just 1995+Dream Scape

[ather]

@blackkitty2014  Wow you have so much PMG!! 

[itsfi]

Beautiful swatches @blackkitty2014! Which Pat McGrath eyeshadow palette is that one? The colors are lovely.

[blackkitty2014]

Thx you @itsfi . It’s mothership IIII Subversive. I bought it when she first came out with 3. And the rabbit hole keeps getting bigger and bigger and deeper and deeper 😘

[danielledanielle]

It's so pretty, fuchsia and rose colored with a touch of gunmetal @blackkitty2014 

[blackkitty2014]

Thx you @danielledanielle ❤️

[itsfi]

Checking in early with my recap from this week's Black founded/owned beauty brand makeup capsule. 

Nothing was an absolute miss (just not my preference) but there are a couple of beauties I am on the fence about, as well as some fabulous standouts (see spoiler, below 👇). 

Spoiler

🙌  Yay: 🙌

• Danessa Myricks Beauty Yummy Skin Blurring Balm Powder - Tinted Primer & Foundation - the tinted version agrees with me so much more than the universal shade which is just so odd. 🤔 I have it in Shade 3 and I love how it smoothes, evens tone, and blurs.

• Lip pairing 💋: I really enjoyed the color from sandwiching the Beauty Bakerie Lip Whip Matte - Versailles between layers of The Lip Bar Vegan Lip Gloss - Girl Boss. 👍 This dynamic duo will be one I continue to pair together moving forward. The pink tones in TLB Girl Boss keeps the mauve tones in Beauty Bakerie Versailles from leaning too grey on my lips, a plus. The BB Lip Whip i more hydrating than most liquid lipsticks but TLB gloss adds a little extra hydration and slip. 

• Pat McGrath Labs Divine Blush + Bronze + Glow Trio - Fleurever Nude has been a palette I've been iffy about but I think I've gotten the hang of it, both in terms of when it works best for my skintone (cooler seasons and now, mid-to-late winter) and how to apply it best. I went back and forth on whether this stay or goes, but I've made a decision - it stays. 
  
  

Nay:

• Danessa Myricks Beauty Yummy Skin Glow Serum with Hyaluronic Acid & Niacinamide Fresh Pressed just doesn't suit me. It has a great list of ingredients, and, at some point, I might pick it up in the new pinkier tint and the bronzy one, but the original is one I'll pass on to someone who will get more out of it. 

Meh, It's Ohhhhkay(?):

• Beauty Bakerie Bite Size Lip Whip - Syruptitious - is pretty but leans more rust hued than I prefer. I have a couple other similarly situated lip colors in my stash. That said, this will be part of a rust-hued lip throwdown. 

• LYS Beauty Lash Confidence Curling & Lengthening Clean Mascara Influential will also be part of a product batttle, focusing on non-waterproof mascara - this will be a longer-term battle as I'll want to put teh various mascaras through a couple of seasons. The product is fine and I am happy with how it performed when I set my oily eyelids with powder beforehand.I'm just not sure whether it stands out enough for me as someone who prefers waterproof mascara. I'll continue to use this one to test it, along with other similar products. 

Week 7 Makeup Capsule Theme and Cross Collab Challenge: 

This week's theme is about pairings or combos that you love or work beautifully for you. 

Week 7 (February 10 - 16): The "Dynamic Duo, Trusted Trio or Killer Combo" Makeup Capsule -  

Are there certain product or shade pairings that you love or that just work beautifully for you? Let's build a makeup capsule around them. Here's your chance to shine a spotlight on the dynamic duos, trusted trios, or killer combos that are go-to's for your everyday and/or special occasion look(s).

[OPTIONAL]: In addition to the Week 7 theme, if you are up for a cross-collab challenge, consider incorporating an eyeshadow palette in this week's capsule to weave together the look in the ... wait for it ...  BALETTE ROYALE: Showdown of the Shadows challenge. I've seen several phenomenal eye shadow palettes from folks in the last few weeks that I think would make fierce contenders in the shadow showdown! There are a few ways to take part in both challenges. Edited to add [2.10.2025] - The Balette Royale theme is Nature. See thread (link above) for more details.

My plan is to try to incoporate an eyeshadow palette into my weekly capsules that also fit into the Balette Royale challenge. Some weeks it'll be seamless and other weeks, I my have a slightly different capsule that I'll use either on the weekend or one day during the week to do the Balette Royale challenge.

@peculiarzmakeup @PrettyPaint @blackkitty2014 @PDXXXX @caitbird @ather @CynthieLu @danielledanielle @Mellmars1185 

Ohhh, and remember, you can always post your beautiful faces and looks for the Community to see, including on any of the following threads:

What are you wearing in 2025?? 

100 Days of Lipstick Challenge 

100 Shades of Eyeshadow Challenge 

💖 100 Days of Eyeliner Challenge 🌈 

and, of course, the Gallery! 📸  Or, if you have a head-to-toe look, be sure to stop on over to theThe Fit, The Fab and The Face: Outfit and Inspo Thread 

[ather]

@itsfi  Awesome recap! Only one nay that’s good!!! 😊 those lip colours are beautiful! 😍 

[itsfi]

@ather, thanks so much. I love that I have fewer "nays"; and the ones that I have had are really because the products are not suited for me. The formulations themselves are fine; it's just not a good fit, which happens. I love the lippies this week. 💗 I'm going to have to do more lipstick battles this year if I'm going to whittle down my stash. 

[peculiarzmakeup]

I really love the idea of the checkin at the end of the week. It was nice to read about what helps you determine if a product is a good fit for you or not and why. I think it’s so helpful to picture it and put in perspective of how it plays out in real time. Such a beautiful summary! And oo this weeks challenge is so neat I have an idea in my head about how to make it happen. Thanks for your honest input and reflections they are always appreciated ❤️ @itsfi 

[itsfi]

@peculiarzmakeup, I love hearing about how people in the Community use their products. I fully appreciate that some pick up items as collectibles, but for those who use products regularly (or semi-regularly as I know that with a larger collection of treats it can be hard to use everything regularly), it's great to learn what works and doesn't work for folks. And it's also nice to see the looks created if/when those are posted. Sometimes a product might not perform well one way but when used another way, it's amazing!! 

[PrettyPaint]

@itsfi That's interesting that shade 3 of the yummy skin blurring balm works better for you than the universal shade. I think I've only tried the universal, and I never gave it a full chance to see how it performed. I think I still have it somewhere, so I need to look through my stash and see whether it's still ok to use (not sure how old it is). It seems like such a versatile product, but maybe so versatile that I'm not quite sure how to use it. 🙂

[itsfi]

"It seems like such a versatile product, maybe so versatile that I'm not quite sure how to use it." 

Yes @PrettyPaint; that is an excellent description. It took me a while to put it to use because I wasn't altogether sure how to start to go about it. It's so odd that the tinted version works so nicely for me, even as I still am not altogether sure how to best use the universal/clear version. I use the tint just like I would a foundation and voila, it works beautifully - I get a blurred / slightly air brushed look. I wonder if I've been applying a base product that doesn't pair well with the universal/clear version; hmmmm... an experiment to be done another day. If you have a chance at another time to try out the universal shade again, I'd be interested in your take on it. 

[PrettyPaint]

@itsfi I'm on a search to find it. I organized my makeup a few weeks ago, but my organizational scheme may not have been very effective. I sorted things by product category, but I must have put this in a really weird place (maybe because it's multi-purpose) because I can't seem to find it. 

[itsfi]

I was just talking to another BIC'er about organizing and not being able to find things @PrettyPaint! It happens, a lot more than you think. Love that you organized by category but that can definitely make it a challenge when you have multi-purpose products, like the DM - is it a primer? A setting balm? Skincare? 

Impressed and inspired by you organizing your makeup. I need to do that - either to jump start the spring cleaning process for the year ... or perhaps to continue with the spring cleaning project of 2024?? Hahaha! In my mind, it is a big endeavor as I am hoping to declutter things; not just things that have already been open but also products I haven't even gotten to and don't foresee being able to anytime soon - they deserve a better home. 

[PrettyPaint]

Week 6 (February 3 - 9): The "Black Founded/Owned" Beauty Brand(s) Makeup Capsule - 

Fenty Beauty by Rihanna Gloss Bomb Universal Lip Luminizer Fuchsia Flex 

-I was inspired to buy this gloss based on posts here, and it's such a fun, pigmented shade. 

Fenty Beauty by Rihanna Eaze Drop Stick Blur + Smooth Tint Stick Foundation 1 

-I've had this for a while, but I'm just now starting to use it. So far I like it, though I think my skin might be a little dry at the moment and may work better during the summer. I also purchased the wrong shade (it's much too light). 

Fenty Beauty by Rihanna Fenty Cheeks Suede Waterproof Powder Blush Sundress Szn 

-I love the peachy shade of this blush, and it's nice and pigmented. 

PAT McGRATH LABS Skin Fetish: Sublime Perfection Blurring Under Eye Powder 

-Great brightening setting powder for under the eyes. 

I absolutely love Danessa Myricks palettes, though I can't tag them (they were limited edition, I believe). Pictured are her lightwork palettes in Volumes IV and V. I love their versatility, and they are just so enjoyable to use. 

[ather]

@PrettyPaint  Great capsule choice! 

[PrettyPaint]

@ather Thank you so much.

[peculiarzmakeup]

Gorgeous capsule! Fenty beauty definatley makes great glosses I have to get around to trying some of her other products! Ah those palletes are so lovely! The variation of shades and colors and how she labels them with names is so neat! I love how you honor these products in your capsule they are all lovely! @PrettyPaint  ❤️