Capsule Makeup Collection Challenge 2026

[itsfi]

Hello, BIC! 👋 This is the third year of the Capsule Makeup Collection Challenge. Whether you're looking for a fun way to use the new-to-you and tried-and-true products in your collection or if having a set of makeup products picked out in advance makes it easier to get ready in the mornings, welcome! 

Please don't hesitate to jump right on in from the get-go, or feel free to take part during a week when the theme suits your style or piques your interests. We love seeing and being inspired by what beauties everyone is using. 

▶️  NOW PLAYING: CURRENT Makeup Capsule Theme: [Updated 2.1.2026]

Week 5 (February 2 - 8 ) - The Black Founded/Owned Beauty Brands Makeup Capsule and/or The "Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic and Paralympic Inspired" Makeup Capsule

Curate a capsule with one or more products from any of the following (or any combination of the following):

• a black founded or owned makeup brand in celebration of the 100th anniversary of Black History Month; and/or
• an Italian makeup brand in honor of the host country for the 2026 Olympics / Paralympics; and/or
• a makeup brand representing the spirit of the Olympics / Paralympics, sponsoring the Olympics / Paralympics, or endorsed by an athlete competing in the Olympics / Paralympics; and/or
• a makeup brand from one or more country/countries represented at the Olympics / Paralympics.

(Optional) -  In keeping with last year's capsules, we'll have on occasion, an optional month-long capsule theme for anyone interested. Like last year, February will be the first month with an optional month-long theme. For those interested, either in addition to the weekly themes this month or in lieu of any one or all of the weekly things, incorporate one or both themes from Week 5 into the weekly capsules for February. You can use the same capsule, or curate a new one every week, or add new products (based on a Week 5 theme whether or not that product was included in Week 5) into the then current week's theme. 

Spoiler

Below is a non-exhaustive list of brands that have a portfolio primarily focused on makeup falling within the week's theme(s). There will undoubtedly be others and some that I've missed (apologies in advance); this list is again non-exhaustive. If there's a brand in your collection that falls within one or both themes, we'd love to see it / them in your capsule(s). Brands with an asterisk (*) next to its names are available in store or online at Sephora US or Sephora at Kohl's. If the founder or owner of the brand is not readily distinguishable by the brand name, that information is noted in parens next to the brand name.

Black Founded / Owned Makeup Brands 

AJ Crimson Beauty

*Ami Cole (Diarrha N'Diaye-Mbaye)

Balaeyon (RaeDawn)

Beauty Bakerie (Cashmere Nicole)

BLK/Opal (Desiree Rogers and Cheryl Mayberry McKissack)

Bossy Cosmetics (Aishetu Fatima Dozie)

*Cay Skin (Winnie Harlow)

Cecred (Beyonce)

Damone Roberts

*Danessa Myrick Beauty

Dehiya Beauty (Dr. Mia Reddy)

D'Lashes (Dionne Phillips)

*Eadem (Marie Kouadio Amouzame, co-founder)

*Fashion Fair (Eunice Johnson (original founder), Desiree Rodgers and Cheryl Mayberry McKissack)

*Fenty Beauty by Rihanna

Gloshood (Sienna Brown)

Juvia's Place (Chichi Eburu)

Keys Soulcare (Alicia Keys)

Lamik Beauty (Kim Roxie)

*LYS Beauty (Tisha Thompson)

Marie Hunter Beauty

Mented Cosmetics (KJ Miller and Amanda E. Johnson)

Mintty Makeup (Junior Mintt)

*Pat McGrath Labs

Pound Cake (Camille Bell, co-founder)

*Range Beauty (Alicia Scott)

Relevant: Your Skin Seen (Nyakio Grieco)

The Lip Bar (Melissa Butler)

*Topicals (Olamide Olowe)

Uoma Beauty (Sharon Chuter)

WYN Beauty (Serena Williams)

Italian Makeup Brands

*Armani Beauty

*Gucci Beauty

Kiko Milano

Nabla Cosmetics

*Prada Beauty

Rodin Olio Lusso

*Valentino Beauty

As always, feel free to post your looks here or on other threads in the Forum, including, but not limited to the What are you wearing in 2026?? thread. 

⏩  UPCOMING Makeup Capsule Themes [Updated 2.1.2026]

Spoiler

Week 6 (February 9 - 15) - The "Perfectly Paired" Makeup Capsule 

Are there certain product or shade pairings 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).

Additional weekly themes for February can be found here.

Frequently Asked Questions

Spoiler

What is a makeup capsule?

A makeup capsule is a collection of makeup products curated by you with the intent of simplifying your makeup routine without compromising quality or functionality. It typically includes essential products that can be used to create a variety of look. A makeup capsule can reduce clutter, help save time getting ready in the morning or for events, and provide you with a streamlined and versatile makeup wardrobe tailored to work for you, your budget and lifestyle. While makeup capsules generally include a few pieces, the size of your capsule collection is ultimate up to you.

Why a makeup capsule challenge?

Many of us here have a robust collection of makeup and it can be difficult to pare that down to a handful of pieces for capsule. This challenge, with its weekly themes, is meant as a fun way to try your hand at curating a makeup capsule for yourself. Each week you'll have an opportunity to go through your collection, identify one or more product(s) that fits the weekly theme (all you need is one product for this challenge), and put together a makeup look with that and other products.

The challenge is also another way to use your stash, allowing you a chance to discover products you might have missed out on or re-discover past favorites.

For more info on this challenge, check out the previous years' challenges:  Capsule Makeup Collection Challenge 2025 
Capsule Makeup Collection Challenge 2024 

[itsfi]

Not sure what happened, my post disappeared 🤔 We'll try it again. 

Week 5 - The BOB Makeup Capsule

I wanted to go for a one-brand makeup capsule for this week's black founded/owned beauty theme and I can pretty much do a basic look with one brand, namely LYS Beauty, but added a few extra based on my preference for a little more option and variety. A couple of these beauties are appearing in the capsule challenge for the first time but only one is actually new(ish) to me. 

Complexion:

• Primer (Face): I'll mainly be using skincare as primer this week. My skin has been keeping pretty well moisturized but if it needs more I'll add a layer of Bobbi Brown Mini Vitamin Enriched Face Base Moisturizer & Primer with Vitamin C + Hyaluronic Acid 0.... as a primer. It's been my winter primer for a decade, maybe even longer than that. @PDXXXX, I think you asked somewhere about how/where this fits in my skincare-makeup routine? I use it like a traditional primer. It's worked very well sandwiched between my sunscreen and foundation; I don't recall it ever pilling regardless of whatever skin tint or foundation I've paired with it. 
• Foundation: LYS Beauty Triple Fix Blurring and Hydrating Skin Tint Foundation Stick is very creamy, easy to blend. I can wear a few different shades depending on the time of year. It says it's medium coverage but I find it to be medium-plus. I tend to go for lighter coverage bases so on days that I use this as my base I'll mix it with rhode Glazing Milk Ceramide Facial Essence 4.2oz/124ml both because it works well to do so and because I'm really really close to using up the Rhode. 
• Foundation/Concealer: Most days this week I'll use LYS Beauty Bright Start Creamy Buildable Coverage Airbrush Concealer which I've really been enjoying - these shades lean ever slightly more warm than the corresponding foundation. It has both a sponge tip applicator (removable) and a nose tip applicator. Creamy and buildable; the coverage on this is actually much more than I expected. It's more than the brand's foundation stick but I don't feel the need to thin it down with another product as the consistency is thinner. 
• Setting / Finishing Powder: I'll rotate between LYS Beauty Triple Fix Setting Powder Resilience and LYS Beauty True Enlightenment Soft Focus Skin Finisher Powder 
• Setting Spray: My two main setting sprays for the month of February will be PAT McGRATH LABS Skin Fetish: Glass 001 Legendary Glow Setting Spray 3.38 fl oz/100 mL  for when I want maximum dewiness and Danessa Myricks Beauty Mini Yummy Skin Liquid Blurring Balm Mattifying Setting Spray 1.7 oz/50 mL which is one of my top 5 setting sprays and will be repurchased in the full size when I finish this canister or when the spring savings event happens, whichever comes first. The DM setting spray and the LYS Soft Focus Skin Finisher Powder make an excellent combo. I may be going with that for the rest of the week. 🏆

Eyes:

Keeping it simple with my eye looks this week as my eyes were a little sensitive the last couple of weeks and are just now feeling back to normal.

• Eyeshadow: Danessa Myricks Beauty Colorfix Stix - Multi-Use Pearl Pigment Stick for Eye, Cheek & Lip but just the metallic shades in Duos 1, 4 & 6 - Mystic Taupe, Apollo & Celeste, respectively. Love a good eyeshadow stick and these are definitely good ones. Easy peasy to apply, stays on all day long, no creasing, even on my oilier lids and without primer. Celeste is my go-to. 
• Mascara: LYS Lash Confidence Volume + Length + Curl Clean Mascara is one of small few non-waterproof mascara that my lashes can handle. I'm actually almost done with this one (though admittedly it is past the general PAO for mascara and even past the grace period I typically allot myself beyond that if it passes the sight, smell and performance test). Since I prefer waterproof mascara and am trying to keep my stash of non-waterproof versions to a minimum (of 2-3 at any one time), I won't repurchase. 

Cheeks:

• Blush: LYS Beauty Higher Standard Satin Matte Cream Blush Self Love 
• Bronzer: LYS Beauty No Limits Cream Bronzer and Contour Stick Harmony 
• Highlight: LYS Beauty Aim High Cream Highlighter Stick Brave  - I have the mini versions of the bronzer and highlighter from the LYS Beauty Mini Glow Worthy Light Bronzer and Highlighter 2-Piece Set Harmony/Brave 
• Contour: Fenty Beauty by Rihanna Match Stix Matte Contour Skinstick Amber (in the snackz size) - the neutral grey undertone in this one is just right for me.

Lips:

• Lip Liner: LYS Beauty Speak Love Lip Liner Pencil Romantic  a neutral-toned, muted, dusty rose. Creamy but not too creamy, deposits a good amount of color. I initially was worried about how sharpening the triangular shaped pencil would go but it's been easy peasy and I get the cleanest pencil shavings from this liner. If I wasn't intentionally trying to pare down my stash of lip liners, I'd pick up a few more colors.
• Lip Balm (Clear): Beneath Your Mask Remedy Conditioning Lip Balm - this is constantly out of stock so I'll use this sparingly but it is lovely. 
• Lip Balm (Tinted): EADEM Le Chouchou Exfoliating + Softening Peptide Lip Balm Bissap Glaze - deep plum berry EADEM Le Chouchou Exfoliating + Softening Peptide Lip Balm Boba Bounce - rich soft brown EADEM Le Chouchou Exfoliating + Softening Peptide Lip Balm Burnt Malai - milky desert rose  all in mini sizes from a limited edition set
• Lip Goss: PAT McGRATH LABS LUST: Lip Gloss Bronze Divinity (gratis) - one of my favorite glosses from PML; actually, one of my favorite glosses period.

Tools:

• Brushes: Primarily LYS Beauty, but I have the MAC 171S for use with Fenty Amber for jawline contouring and SEPHORA COLLECTION PRO Blush Brush #99, SEPHORA COLLECTION Essential Brush - 06 Multitasker Face, and Sephora Collection PRO Bruh #47 - is this being / has this been discontinued?
• Beauty sponge: Beauty Bakerie 🐐 looooove these! 

Fragrance:

• Going with Fenty Skin Vanilla Flowers - kicking myself for not picking it up in the larger size. 

I don't have a LYS bag other than this tote which is larger than I need for this capsule, so I've placed the makeup for this week's BOB capsule in a separate smaller makeup bag and included that and my bin with all my makeup produts for February (see below) in the LYS tote.

Image Credit: LYS Beauty direct

My February pool of products is a mix of Pan It! - 2026 Challenge beauties (Tower 28 blush Samo Spritzer and YSL eyeshadow quad Stora Dolls), makeup from Black founded/owned brands and some items from this winter's shop your stash challenge (Fenty lipstick sample card which I'm also hoping to use up for the Foil Challenge - I'm aiming to go through the majority of shades in a lip sample packet every quarter). None new to me but a couple are new to the makeup capsule challenge, such as the Fara Homidi lip products and the Tom Ford foundations. 

[missjeanie]

@itsfi I swear I had read this already?  I have to say, I have similar bins on my counter as well.  I just can't keep track otherwise.  

[itsfi]

See, I thought so too but I went to get coffee and when I got back to edit the post (to tag the blush after checking the shade) it wasn't there? So I just put it up again, tagged the blush and then was able to tag another product that didn't show up the last time. I dunno @missjeanie, I'll just go with it.

Yeah, these bins have worked wonders!!! Having a bunch of makeup items to rotate through during the month has proven better / easier for me than I thought and this bin is the best way to keep it all together when I have a mix of brands, which will be the majority of the time. 

I'll have try to remember to keep an eye out for when these bins go on sale - $1 is tough to beat for something so functional. 

[danielledanielle]

Look at you with that half filled lip gloss @itsfi !!!

The aesthetics here are 💯 cozycore, and IDK if cozycore is a thing, but you made it a thing anyway

[itsfi]

I forgot I had worked through so much of it. It's a good topper especially for more drying matte lipsticks or for making colors that are too bold for me more wearable. I was holding off on picking up another Bronze Divinity to see if another shade would restock so I could pick up both and maybe a couple other things @danielledanielle, but now I'm thinking there will be no restock of OOS shades. 😞

[missjeanie]

I think this is going to be a monthly capsule for me!  Like @danielledanielle I thought it would be fitting to try and include some PMGL.  I'll use this along with my project pan items as my main stash for the month.  It might look like a lot of similar lip products but ... they end up in my purse and then live there for a few months so I need a steady stash to grab from.

Spoiler

- PMGL Shadows.  I chose these two so that I have both neutral and pink options for the month of love. I don't wear much shadow wise lately so I'm going to force myself to use these each at least once.
-Fenty Colour Corrector. TBH... not my favourite formula, we'll see if we can put a serious dent in it this month.
-Concealers -- Both the Fenty and the DM are decent shade matches.  I'm going to try the PMGL to see if I can get away with it this month.  It may not get used since it's quite a bit darker.
-Blush.  I chose these two Ami Colé blushes since they're a different shade than the more coral toned in my project pan.  I love the formula.
-Base.  The Fenty is almost empty.  I really enjoy it and would consider purchasing again if I didn't have 20 open foundations.  May choose to see if I can finish this off this month.  The DM and Uoma are two that I haven't spent much time with so I'm hoping to decide how I like them this month.
-Brows.  I'm more of a tinted brow gel gal, but am going to try and work in the pencil a bit this month.  

Spoiler

I think I have a good mix here of glosses, balms, stain, and actual lipsticks.  The lip pencil was brand new in the box so we'll see how I like it, but if the swatch is an indication it'll be longwearing!

[danielledanielle]

Lip migration patterns are a real thing 🙃 @missjeanie , all season long from counter to purse to makeup bag to "how did you get here...."

I love the moodiness of this capsule

[missjeanie]

Bahahhahha @danielledanielle I'm currently auditing a fund that is set up for monitoring the migration pattern of some kind of fish.... I'm now going to read these reports and think of each fish as a different lipstick migrating alllll around my house, car, office...

[itsfi]

That 6-pan palette is one of my fave PML products @missjeanie. I'm having a hard time not hoarding my PMLs. At the same time, I want to play with several to see which ones may need back ups. ☹️ That's a pretty set of lip products to choose from this month! 😍 What shade is that Fenty lip stain?

[missjeanie]

@itsfi I thought I may want to stock up on a few things as well.... but then saw that I actually have more than I'll go through in my lifetime, including several products not even opened yet.  Why???? Why do I not use these things when I buy them?  That said... Should a sale come along.....

lol The Fenty stain is probably my favourite of the bunch Fuchsia Wife.  

[itsfi]

lololol - "Why???? Why do I not use these things when I buy them?"

I'm going to assume that's a rhetorical question @missjeanie. Mainly because I don't know the answer and If I did, or if I do in the back of my mind know the answer, it would be an indictment of my own failure in using my things when I buy them and ... ummmm ... I'm not quite ready to indict myself for that just now. 😜😂

I'm not usually a fan of fuschsia as a lip shade on my lips but that is one gorgeous color!!! 

Fenty Fuchsia Wife ... added to list! 🗒 I always see them on the display and think about picking up one but never know which one to get. Now I do. 

[missjeanie]

@itsfi I tell myself I'm going to use up a few things before opening new ones... We see how well that has been working out.

I actually find that the Fenty lip stains look super bold when I swatch and they can look quite bold on the lips, but they also sheer out nicely and leave behind a light stain.  I see them on sale quite often and may one day pick up a back up.  I like it that much.  I'm also curious to swatch the new Leneige lip stains as well. 

[itsfi]

The Laneige are worth swatching @missjeanie; I get that swatches on the arm are going to translate differently than on the lips but many of the shades swatched differently on me than I expected them to; not differently as in bad, just ... differently, lol. For example, the nude beige shade looks just that in the bottle but on my arm it leaned much more warm with a slight peachy nude hue. The cherry red in the tube looks exactly what I expect a cherry red to look like - bright and red. Dotting it on my arm, that's the color I get. Spreading it? The color is a red for sure and it's pigmented and bold but it looks wearable. This is coming from someone who often slowly backs away or runs from reds because she's a scaredy cat (notwithstanding my profile pic). The rosy brown shade leaned much more warm than I thought but the darker brown shade had a pretty plummy brown tone to it. All that to say, worth having a swatch party.

[missjeanie]

@itsfi Sounds like I'll need to hit up a store and do some lines while I get my NEW Beauty Insider Challenge - Passport to Beauty - February Beauty 2026 face scan done!

[BrushWithFate]

This week my beauty focus is all things eyes!!

Rare Beauty by Selena Gomez Lash & Brow Essentials Duo Makeup Gift Set 

Fenty Beauty by Rihanna Fine Linez Precision Gel Eyeliner​ 

Charlotte Tilbury Eye Smudger Brush 

PATRICK TA Eyeshadow Brush 

PATRICK TA Major Dimension II Rose Eyeshadow Palette 

SEPHORA COLLECTION Sephora Destinations™ Eye Palette Southern Charm 

Anastasia Beverly Hills Mini Spice Eye Palette 

tarte tartelette™ Amazonian clay matte eyeshadow palette '

tarte quick stick™ waterproof eyeshadow & liner 

[itsfi]

@BrushWithFate, what color Fenty liner are you using this week?

[BrushWithFate]

Trace'd Out Longwear Waterproof Pencil in Coal Blooded Bored Heaux

Fenty Beauty by Rihanna Trace'd Out Longwear Waterproof Pencil Lip Liner Coal Blooded 

[danielledanielle]

🙌🏽Those are two of my favorite children 🤣 @BrushWithFate 

[missjeanie]

@BrushWithFate Looks like you'll be set with some very pretty eye looks!

[danielledanielle]

5....4 ...3...2...1....

Week 5 aka BHM Week 1

Homage to Dame McGrath 

Finally cracking open PAT McGRATH LABS MOTHERSHIP XII Eyeshadow Palette: Petalmorphosis 🫶🏽🙌🏽

There are some non PMG stragglers here, but that's because I'm trying to Shop Your Stash Challenge: Winter 2026 ❄️ vs having to open up anything, and that's since of the Fenty items 

Fenty Beauty by Rihanna Soft’Lit Naturally Luminous Hydrating Longwear Foundation , Fenty Beauty by Rihanna We're Even Hydrating Longwear Waterproof Concealer and so on 

We all are riding with BoB fragrances all month long

World of Chris Collins Lust Oud Delice Parfum with Dark Chocolate, Hazelnut and Orris 1.7 oz / 50 mL... 

World of Chris Collins African Rooibos Eau de Parfum Travel Spray 0.3 oz / 7.5 ml eau de parfum spra... 

BROWN GIRL Jane Carnivale Eau de Parfum Travel Spray with Mango .34 oz / 10ml eau de parfum spray 

Fenty Beauty by Rihanna Fenty Parfum Hair & Body Mist 1 oz / 30 mL spray and Fenty Beauty by Rihanna The Mista Hair + Body Fragrance Mist 3 oz/90 mL 

World of Chris Collins Harlem Nights Eau de Parfum Travel Spray 0.34 oz / 10 ml 

Harlem Perfume Co. Langston Eau de Parfum Travel Spray with Tonka Bean and Chocolate .30 OZ/10 ML ea... 

World of Chris Collins Forbidden Apple Croque Moi Eau de Parfum Travel Spray 0.34 oz/10ml eau de par... (once I find it 😞)

World of Chris Collins Lost in Paradise Eau de Parfum Travel Spray 0.34 oz / 10 ml eau de parfum spr... 

Fit Check 

Spoiler

She did her best

 Week 4: Music Founded, AKA Fenty Week

This was a fun week, did I use everything? No.  Did I like all the options? Of course! 

Fenty Beauty by Rihanna Killawatt Foil Freestyle Highlighter Penny4uthots was also cracked open.  It's too deep as a highlight for me, but a blush and a shadow transition 🙌🏽

Face Card, Face Brush 

Fit Check

Spoiler

Could've swapped this out, but loved the flatlay for mise en place 

🙃🫠

Fragrance, leaning into past sage @itsfi advice and included Dior and some advent fragrances

Week 3, Maximimal

I tried six, and then it became sixish

Fit Check 

Spoiler

Big Beis had to step in for baby Béis 

 

 

Week 2, Golden Week aka Let's get fancy

Week 1 , Shopping the Stash 

Fit Check 

Spoiler