Capsule Makeup Collection Challenge 2026

[itsfi]

Hello, BIC! 👋 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 to the Capsule Makeup Collection Challenge!

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. For more information on the challenge, check out the FAQs a little further down this post. ⤵️

▶️  NOW PLAYING: CURRENT Makeup Capsule Theme: [Updated 5.3.2026]

Week 18 (May 1 - 10)  The  AAPI Founded / Owned Beauty Brands Makeup Capsule 

To celebrate May's Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) National Heritage Month, let's put together a capsule with one or more products from an AAPI  founded or owned beauty brand.

Spoiler

Below is a non-exhaustive list of makeup brands founded or co-founded / owned or co-owned by Asian American Pacific Islanders (AAPI) - the brands listed are primarily ones that offer makeup / color cosmetics. To the extent the founder(s) identity cannot be determined by the brand name, his/her/their name(s) will appear in parens next to the brand name. Brands with an asterisk (*) next to their name are available at Sephora and/or Sephora at Kohl's
 
CLE Cosmetics (Lauren Jin)
CTZN Cosmetics (Aleena Khan, Aleezeh Khan, and Naseeha Khan)
Em Cosmetics (Michelle Phan)
* Glow Recipe (Christine Chang and Sarah Lee)
* Hung Vanngo Beauty
Kimchi Chic Beauty (Kim Chi)
* Kulfi Beauty (Priyanka Ganjoo)
Live Tinted (Deepica Mutyala)
* Mango People (Sravya Adusumilli)
Meloway Makeup (Aiden Kim and Ash Kim)
* One/Size by Patrick Starrr
Orce Cosmetics (Yu-Chen Shih)
Ourself (Lauren Otsuki)
* Patrick Ta Beauty
Purlisse Beauty (Jennifer Yen)
Seraphine Botanicals (Sylvia Phann)
The Creme Shop (Theresa and Lawrence Kim)
* Tower 28 Beauty (Amy Liu)
U Beauty (Tina Craig)
* Wander Beauty (Divya Gugnani)
Yensa Beauty (Jennifer Yen)

OR, if you're just having too much fun with the goodies you picked up during the Spring Savings Event, keep on using your newness. Or, put together a makeup capsule incorporating both of the week's themes.

[OPTIONAL] MONTHLY THEME (May 2026): Include one or more makeup products from an AAPI-founded or owned makeup brand in each of your makeup capsules this month.

⏩  UPCOMING Makeup Capsule Themes [Updated 5.3.2026]

Spoiler

Week 19 (May 11 - 17) The Fashion-Inspired Makeup Capsule 

"Fashion's biggest night" aka The Met Gala will have occurred on May 4, following on the heels of the premiere of The Devil Wears Prada 2, the sequel to one of the most well known fashion-industry-inspired films. Curate a makeup capsule with one or more makeup products from launched by a fashion house or fashion designer and/or inspired by any of the following: 

* looks worn by attendees at The Met Gala, this year or past year's

* looks from The Devil Wears Prada 2 (or the original if so desired)

* looks inspired by this season's red carpet looks

* looks inspired by your inner fashionista

[NOTE: A non-exhaustive list of fashion houses / fashion designers with makeup lines will be posted before the end of Week 18].

***

Additonal makeup capsule themes for May 2026 can be found here.

⏪  Previous Makeup Capsule Themes [Updated 3.22.2026]

Spoiler

For a list of makeup capsule themes from previous weeks, check out the following:

❄️ Winter 2026 Makeup Capsule Themes - for weekly themes from January, Febuary & March

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs):

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 makeup stash, allowing you a chance to discover products you might have missed out on or re-discover past favorites. If you're looking to use or work through more of your beauty collection beyond just makeup, the Shop Your Stash Challenge: The Spring 2025 Edition or Pan It! - 2026 Challenge may be worth a look.

For examples of what capsules folks have put together in previous makeup capsule challenges, check out:  Capsule Makeup Collection Challenge 2025 
Capsule Makeup Collection Challenge 2024 

[danielledanielle]

@itsfi , firstly, speedy recovery.  Two, I think picking multitasking products was more less is more, because the maximalist in me cannot.  (Can you tell I'm struggling with this week's theme 🤣?)

[itsfi]

Thank you so much @danielledanielle; this last stretch is going painfully slow on the recovery front. I actually have little to complain about as the entire duration hasn't been very long, other than that tiredness before all the symptoms hit. It just takes so much longer to do things. I will be putting these 6 through a Sephora Six - Fast & Furious Edition run, but that'll be later in the week when I don't feel the need to take a break so often. 🤣

For this week's theme for my maximalist friends, I'm thinking:

• go for palettes or center your capsule around 1 or 2 palettes that you feel you'd be happy with option-wise for the week; if they're palettes that can multi-task, even better
• OR, take some creative license with the less = one brand and expand the definition of brand to mean one brand and its parent company
• OR, go with one brand = one brand ambassador, like RiRi - you get your Fenty and your Dior 😉 

[danielledanielle]

New Year, Week 1

I put in a few things from Shop Your Stash Challenge: Winter 2026 ❄️ and the newer stuff was NARS Talc-Free Powder Blush Mad Love and ISAMAYA Lip Liner- Universal Lip Liner Tonka 

Also some fragrances that I should pay to Advent Calendars 2025 - Let the Unboxings Begin!! 

Plus new to me Sol de Janeiro Cheirosa 91 Rosa Charmosa Body & Hair Perfume Mist 8 oz/240 mL and newish Nette Thé Vanille Eau de Parfum Travel Spray with Matcha and Salt .33 / 10 mL eau de parfum spray 

Fit Check 

Spoiler

 

Golden

I think the thought process was ... glowing. Golden. A bit bougie + ✨ ✨ ✨ 

And trying to pan some things

Spoiler

Surprisingly HAUS LABS BY LADY GAGA Precision Sculpt Shaping Balm Contour Stick Silhouette is done 🙃😮, I need to look up when I got it, because that was really fast.  I did use it pretty much everyday, so there's that. 

ETA: purchased 11/7/25, so gives two months just about with heavy use

Advent fragrances up next

Spoiler

 

Fit Check , why three... Why not? I wanted to use the lipstick one for awhile, it's small though and the Béis one has so many compartments.

Spoiler

[curlychiquita]

I love a golden capsule, @danielledanielle! I have yellow undertones and gold is often my go to color.  Great work using up the Haus Labs contour stick, too!

[itsfi]

Oh wow 👀, you did some good work on that Haus Labs contour stick @danielledanielle. 👏 Impressive that you used it pretty much everyday. Is it something you will repurchase? Very nice work on the Fenty Stunna lip paint - there's a ton of product in that bottle!! 

[danielledanielle]

@itsfi I bought another in spite of its short life🙃🤣, Haus Labs on the Shop app gives deals pretty often, plus I got a small amount of for a review, so if there's any HL HGs, Shop is the way to go.

It's hard to finish a Stunna, so TY

[itsfi]

"hard to finish a Stunna" - before seeing your post @danielledanielle, I would have said it's near impossible!!! First, the product is pigmented so you just need a little and then there's the sheer amount of product in that tube. Goodness! Brava to you! You deserve a huge pat on the back for the progress you've made.

Good to know about HL and Shop, ty. 🗒 From past capsules and working on whittling my collection, I'm finding I have quite a few favorites among the Haus Labs brand - concealer, blush sticks, foundation, lip oils. I did like her older formulation bronzers too and now there's an asterisk on the contour stick on my list. Would you say you like the HL contour stick more than the Fenty contour stick? Or are they different enough to not make it fair to compare them?

[itsfi]

Week 2 - The "Glowing & Golden" Makeup Capsule (Part 1)

My quick takeaways from the red carpet looks for the Critics Choice Awards and the Golden Globes Awards can be summed up as follows:

• demi matte or satin finish with a healthy, natural looking soft flush of color to cheeks
• skin looked luminous without being overly wet, sparkly or looking like a strobe light
• more so at the Critics Choice Awards, eyes generally took a minimalist approach, some appeared to even skip mascara, and possibly eyeshadow, too, or, at least had that "no makeup" makeup eye look thing going
• particularly at the Golden Globes, many hairstyles harkened back to Old Hollywood Glamour or having a thoughtful structural element to them; that aesthetic seemed to run through many of the makeup and fashion aesthetics as far as what caught my eye. 
• statement lips ranged from bold and vibrant reds and corals to soft pinks to toasty milky nudes and browns.

Product Details:

I gathered most of these items after the Critics Choice Awards with a few tweaks in the beginning minutes of the red carpet for the Golden Globes. I was going from room to room trying to juggle watching both the latter and the NFC Wild Card game. There were a lot of looks from the Golden Globe Awards Show that caught my eye after I had put this capsule together, so I'm going to call an audible 🏈 and will be adding a few different products over the weekend this week aim to put together a capsule for some looks inspired by some of the glam from the Golden Globes red carpet at a later date. I caught a cold the latter half of Week 2 and was sans makeup until yesterday, so I'll circle back to a Golden Globes inspired look at another date. Posts will be made at some point to other threads wtihin the Forum. [ETA (1.19.2026) strikethroughs & underline text] 

Spoiler

Complexion:

Primer (Face): Touch in Sol Icy Sherbet Primer (🥘)

Foundation: Rotating between two skincare-makeup hybrids - Cle de Peau The Foundation (🥘) and Typology Tinted Serum. Both offer a lightweight tint to the complexion, the CdP providing a more dewy glassy finish and the Typology a more radiant satin finish. While both offer just the hint of color (true tints they are), the Typology provides more coverage than the CdP but both are easily layerable.

Concealer (Blemishes & Redness): The probably soon-to-be-discontinued Armani Beauty Power Fabric + Longwear Matte Concealer (🔥). I really like this concealer but it appears that it may be undergoing a reformulation à la the Luminous Silk Foundation. If there's going to be a new reformulated version, I'm going to want to compare it to this original so I will be slowing down on my usage of this after this month. 

Concealer (Undereyes): Victoria Beckham by Augustinus Bader The Concealer Pen (🔥) - her eyeliners get a ton of raves but my eyes have a more challenging time with pencil or gel eyeliners in general. Of the products from her collection that I've used, it's her lip products, bronzer, highlighter stick, brushes, and this concealer pen that are the standouts for me so far. 

Setting Product(s): SEPHORA COLLECTION Microsmooth Multi-Tasking Baked Face Powder Foundation  (not shown)(🔥) and for days when I want a more glowy finish, PAT McGRATH LABS Skin Fetish: Glass 001 Legendary Glow Setting Spray 3.38 fl oz/100 mL (🔥).

Eyes:

Eyeshadow: Bobbi Brown Long-Wear Waterproof Cream Eyeshadow Stick Golden Bronze (🔥) is an oldie-but-goodie for me. It's one of  those "love at first sample" products where I've never actuallypurchased a full size because I've always managed to find my way to a deluxe sample size or mini by way of a gwp. 

Eyeliner (Upper lash line): Heme Liquid Eyeliner 01 Black

Eyeliner (Waterline): Makeup by Mario Master Mattes Brightening Pencil  - Light 1 (discontinued) (🔥)

Brows: Merit Brow 1980 Volumizing Pomade Neutral (limited edition) (discontinued)

Mascara: I'll go without mascara most days as many did at the Critics Choice Awards but for days when I want to give my paltry lashes some oomph, it'll be courtesy of Yves Saint Laurent Lash Clash Extreme Volume Waterproof Mascara Black (🔥) this week.

Cheeks:

Blush: Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer Cream Blush Provence - if I wasn't holding the line on expanding my collection arbitrarily, I would pick up more shades in this line. The formulation, consistency and sheer to buildable coverage suits me. I get flushed veeeery easily and have mild rosacea flare ups on occasion so blush isn't a product I tend to get super excited about but I like this LM blush a lot. One of my favorite beauty discoveries from 2025. 😍

Bronzer: Armani Beauty Luminous Silk Glow Liquid Bronzing Drops for underpainting and MAKEUP BY MARIO SoftSculpt Transforming Skin Enhancer®  (🔥) as a traditional bronzer, both will be used sparingly as I'll primarily be focusing more on contouring this week. It's not that I can't use both a bronzer and contour but for me personally, it'll be easier for me to practice / work on contouring if it's just that and a little wash of color with blush. 

Contour: It was Fenty Amber stick last week and SEPHORA COLLECTION Cream Contour Stick  this week. It's too early to say if I have any favorites for contour but I can say that while I haven't created that totally snatched, defined look for my nose, cheeks or jaw line, I have been able to get some definition to those features and, on one occasion, enough for a couple of people who don't notice these things to say "wait, did you do something different? ... you look a little different, you look like you did something different ... you did something different, didn't you?!" 😅

Lips:

Lip Contour: Melt Cosmetics Eyeliner Ivory. Currently, this year's go-to for my lip contour.  I considered picking up another one during Melt's year-end sale when it was 50% off but I was good and held off on the idea that lip contouring is something new(ish) for me and I'm not sure if it'll be something I keep up with in the long haul and also because I was trying to be good about sticking to a low buy. 

Lip Liner: Going with a variety of hues for options this week:

• Pink: TOM FORD Runway Matte Lip Liner Pencil for Sculpted Definition Re-See - the Tom Ford Runway lip liners are one of, if not the, longest wearing lip liners on the market. It leans a bit dry as a result. This is not my favorite shade from the line, it's more chalky than dusty pink on me but paired with the right lip product it's not so bad
• Red(ish): Rare Beauty Kind Words Matte Lip Liner - Admired is a long-wearing brown-toned rosy red liner. I like this liner paired with softer neutrals, nude or brown lip shades as it creates a wearable red for me.
• Rosy Nude: MAKE UP FOR EVER Artist Color Pencil Long-Lasting Lip Liner 606 Wherever Walnut has a huge fan base for a reason
• Plum: Saie Lip Liner 101: Creamy & Nourishing Lip Pencil Tease is brown-toned plum
• Nude/Neutral/Beige/Brown: rhode Peptide Lip Shape Contouring Lip Shaper Lean - warm medium brown is a mid-tone brown; warm-ish toned. I'm not fond of these lip shapers as the contour liners they're intended to be; for me, they work better as a fill shade, on their own or topped with a clear gloss.

Lip Balm: Rhode Peptide Lip Treatment Peppermint Glaze (limited edition)

Lip Gloss: Choice between MAKE UP FOR EVER Super Boost Moisturizing & Plumping Lip Gloss 06 Wherever Walnut, a soft, muted neutral rosy nude, or Gucci Hydrating Plumping Lip Gloss 509 Rosso Ancora, a sheer but buildable pinky-red gloss. For the weekend, I may see what kind of color and shine I get with layering the Gucci over (or even under) the new DIOR Lip Glow Oil Hydrating High-Shine Gloss 104 Black Cherry. 🤔

Tools

Makeup Brushes: Going with the MAKEUP BY MARIO Mario's Essential Cosmetic Brush Set. I picked the set up last year and I've really been enjoying these brushes. The bristles are soft (but not too soft); I like the shorter handles and that they're not double ended.

Lash Curler: Shiseido Eyelash Curler Eyelash Curler (🔥)

Fragrance(s)

Lake & Skye Discovery Set (🛒) from Shop My Stash Winter Edit

emoji key
🏆  fits the Glowing & Golden capsule theme
🎉  a new to me product or a product making its first appearance in this challenge
🐐  GOAT (Greatest Of All Time) product 
🔥  Top Shelf / Favorite
🥘  Pan it! Challenge item
🛒  Shop Your Stash: Winter 2026 item

The "Fits":

For being as compact as they are, both the pouch that comes with the Makeup by Mario brush set and the YSL case hold quite a bit of products. The fragrance vials can fit into either if I removed them from the box but keeping the intact will make it easier for me to remember to use them for Shop Your Stash. 

[PDXXXX]

I love your product reviews @itsfi . I've been curious about the Typeology Serum Foundation for some time and this is the first I've gotten a nice comparison of it. I'm so curious about the possible Armani reformulations as well. I haven't tried the Luminous Silk reformulation yet but am nervous they'll come for my beloved Luminous Silk concealer next! We shall see..

[itsfi]

Thank you for your kind words @PDXXXX. Jotting down some notes / mini reviews is helpful for me especially if there comes a point when I'm trying to decide whether to repurchase, or even whether to pass on or declutter something. It took me a few uses to get the hang of it, but I'm liking it a lot - I didn't realize how much I've used it. 

Oh, the new LSF!! Did you see that we can now add 3 samples with a minimum $25 purchase - there are some exclusions but the product(s) purchased need not be foundation. You probably have several foundations you love and are working on but just a FYI for the next time you go shopping. This code stacks so you can add the samples along with a promo gwp offered at the time of purchase.

So far, it looks like your beloved LSF concealer is safe and I'm keeping my fingers crossed for you. 🤞 I'm holdig off on breaking mine open and hoarding it! 😅 Based on the product pages at Sephora and other retailers, it looks like the Armani Power Fabric foundation and concealer are the next to either go away / go for purposes of being reformulated. I'm hoarding what I have of those items too; the concealer I'm going to slow down my usage as I want to have something to compare a new one to, if, in fact, a new formulation is coming. 

[PDXXXX]

Ooh - thanks for the LSF reformulation sample tip @itsfi ! Yes, now is the time to hoard!! It's so hard when a staple product goes poof 😞

[itsfi]

Week 1 - The "New Year, New-To-You" Makeup Capsule and/or The "Mentally Minded" Makeup Capsule 

For the new year, going to take a different approach to my makeup capsules, at least on a trial basis for the first three months. I'll go into more details about that in a reply to this post but for my first capsule of the new year, I went with these beauties for a mix of the two themes.

Product Details:

Spoiler

Complexion:

Primer (Face): Going to try the Rare Beauty Long-Lasting Setting Spray (💪🏼) as a primer or Bobbi Brown Vitamin Enriched Face Base Primer Moisturizer (🐐) for days I reach for the UD foundation.

Foundation: Urban Decay Face Bond Self Setting Waterproof Foundation (medium-to-full coverage) (🔥) or Tower 28 Beauty SunnyDays SPF 30 Tinted Sunscreen Foundation (🐐), the latter of which I'm including in this capsule as I'm a handful of uses from finishing the tube. 

Concealer: Charlotte Tilbury Beautiful Skin Medium Coverage Liquid Foundation with Hyaluronic Acid (💪🏼) 

Setting Powder: KimChiChic Beauty Puff Puff Pass Set and Bake Powder (Ivander) (💪🏼)  

Setting Spray: Rare Beauty Always An Optimist 4-in-1 Prime & Set Mist or Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Flawless Setting Spray (💪🏼) - Both are fine enough, just not among my Top 5 setting sprays. I decided last year that I'd keep both in my collection and try to use them up by end of 2026, which means I need to keep them in the rotation, so here we are.

Eyes:
Primer (Eyes): NARS Pro-Prime Smudge Proof Eyeshadow Base (🐐) - this holds some sentimental value for me as it was one of the first, if not THEE first eyeshadow primer I used. 

Eyeshadow: Yves Saint Laurent Couture Mini Clutch Eyeshadow Palette - Stora Dolls (🥘)

Eye Liner (upper lash line): Heme Shade Liner 00 Shadow

Eyeliner (lower lash line): Makeup by Mario Master Mattes Brightening Pencil - Light 1 (discontinued) (🔥)

Mascara: Dior Diorshow Iconic Overcurl Waterproof Mascara (🔥) - one of my current top 2 favorite mascara

Brows: either L'Oreal Faux Brow Eyebrow Tint Double Brush Brow Pen - Dark Brunette (Ulta Beauty World) or Merit Brow 1980 Volumizing Tinted Eyebrow Gel-Pomade - shade is a limited edition color from a holiday set a couple of years ago. I'm close to finishing it and will be rotating it in capsules to get more use out of it as I work my way through the final use.

Cheeks:

Blush: Tower 28 Beauty GetSet & Blur + Set Matte Powder Blush - Samo Spritzer (💪🏼🥘) - we'll be seeing this in a lot of capsules this year. Powder blush is a challening product for me to pan and I need to keep it in the rotation in the first few months as I try to build a habit of reaching for it.

Contour: Fenty Beauty by Rihanna Match Stix Contour Stick - Amber (💪🏼) - this is the Snackz size (love this size) - I'm going to try to learn how to contour this year, at least that's the plan. Got distracted last year from really digging deeper into it so we'll be seeing contouring products coming through my capsules a lot more often this year.

Lips:
Lip Contour: Melt Cosmetics Slick Waterline Eye Pencil (Ivory) - is one of the products I've purchased with the hope of being a suitable replacement for when I've finished the Makeup by Mario Light I liner generally work well as lip contour. Love being able to repurpose products.

Lip Liner: Rare Beauty Admired (part of limited edition holiday set from a couple of years ago) or Maybelline Lifter Liner Lip Liner Pencil with Hyaluronic Acid - On It (strong)

Lipstick: HUNG VANNGO BEAUTY Creamy Matte Longwear Lipstick with Hyaluronic Acid - Call My Agent or Sephora Collection (discontinued) (🎉)

Lip Balm: rhode Peptide Lip Treatment Nourishing Glaze - Peppermint Glaze (limited edition, December 2024) (discontinued) (🛒) or OLIVIAUMMA Glow Ceramide Liptox Napa Valley (🎉). I've been reaching for this Oliviaumma balm at least 4 times a week for the last couple of weeks - nourishing, wears comfortably & fairly long for a lip balm, and the color is gorgeous! 😍

Tools:

Going with the SEPHORA COLLECTION 8-Piece Pro Face and Eye Brush Set (limited edition) (🎉)

emoji key

💪🏼fits the Mentally Minded themeI
🎉a new to me product or a product making its first appearance in this challenge
🐐  GOAT (Greatest Of All Time) product
🔥Top Shelf / Favorite

🥘 Pan it! Challenge item
🛒Shop Your Stash: Winter 2026 item

The Fits:

And they all fit nicely, snugly, in one of my favorite makeup bags, this puffy one from Rare Beauty (💪🏼) - it reminds me of a puffy winter coat.

[miss8]

Hey, @itsfi 😋 How Is That Setting Powder: KimChiChic Beauty Puff Puff Pass Set and Bake Powder In #Lavender Working For You 🛍 #IWannaTry

[itsfi]

@miss8, it's worth a try, good for baking and setting. They make mini versions of all the shades now as well.

[miss8]

@itsfi , I Look For Her All The Time In Store 👝 She's Not Around Like She Use To Be In The Days Of #SEPHORAatJCPENNEY 😪

[caitbird]

@itsfi  great collection of products, and cute bag - it does look like a winter puffer coat! Thank you for keeping this challenge going - I need to inventory and organize my makeup, but I will try to participate as I can!

[itsfi]

Yep, feel free to join whenever you're up for it @caitbird. It's been a good (and fun, creative) way for me to go through products and see in practical ways what's a good size makeup capsule for me. Or what makes sense from an actual use perspective which, in turn, has had the effect of helping me curb my spending, and not just on beauty items; well, most of the time, lol. 

[itsfi]

Going to take a slightly different approach to my capsules this year, at least for the first three months of the year, on a trial basis: 

• Instead of curating my weekly capsules from my entire makeup collection, at the beginning of the month, I'll put together a group of products that I'll use as my pool of products from which I will curate my weekly capsules for that month. This monthly pool of products will be larger in size than a typical weekly capsule but much smaller than my entire collection.  My intention here is to provide myself some opportunities to see what size capsule (and what number and mix of each category of products - foundation, blush, eyeshadow, lipstick, etc.) gives me the variety I need to put together a variety of looks. 

• I may elect once a month to curate a one of the weekly capsules with products from one brand (or 80%) of my capsule from one brand. I'm including this option to offer up a change from what will be the new capsule routine and also to provide me an opportunity to use all my products from one brand for looks throughout a particular week. Other than when I started wearing a semi-full face of makeup for the first time (and didn't really have any products except for a few (6 or 7) products from one brand), my makeup look has never been made up of just one brand. I'm not sure how many brands I can do this with but I guess we'll find out. We'll also find out if I can see myself just having my makeup (or most of it) be from one brand. 

I'll assess how this new approach is working out for me at the end of March; if it's something I'd like to continue with, I'll extend the trial run for another 3 months. If not, then I'll go back to curating my weekly capsules as I have in the past, pulling products from the whole of my collection.  Why extend it just for 3 months? That would take me through June. I tend to wear less makeup in general in July, August and September so my makeup routine/looks don't require more than a handful of pieces. I'll probably come up with something different for those months, but haven't really thought through that. 

The pool of products I will draw from (for the most part) for January's capsules: 

I will occasionally swap out something from this set for another similar product, either to meet a capsule them, to work towards using up a product, or for some other reason. I'll keep those instances to a minimum because I really do want to see what a good "capsule" size for me would be. For January, we have 41 products which took me by surprise; at the same time, I look at these items and feel like I could have added a couple of more products. 😬 

[caitbird]

@itsfi  I'll be interested to hear how this new approach to curating your capsules works for you! 

[itsfi]

I'll keep you posted @caitbird; I'm interested to see how things play out for the rest of January and also the first 3 months of the year. 

[itsfi]

A list of past, present and future (for the current month and occasionally, a portion of the next month) capsule themes can be found below. [Updated: 4.19.2026]

May Makeup Capsule Themes

Spoiler

Week 18 (May 1 - 10)  The  AAPI Founded / Owned Beauty Brands Makeup Capsule 

To celebrate May's Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) National Heritage Month, let's put together a capsule with one or more products from an AAPI  founded or owned beauty brand. [NOTE: See spoiler below for a non-exhaustive list of beauty brands that fall within this category. For purposes of this makeup challenge and to not overwhelm this space, the brands listed will be ones whose primary product stock is makeup (vs hair care or skincare).] 

Spoiler

Below is a non-exhaustive list of makeup brands founded or co-founded / owned or co-owned by Asian American Pacific Islanders (AAPI) - the brands listed are primarily ones that offer makeup / color cosmetics.  To the extent the founder(s) identity cannot be determined by the brand name, his/her/their name(s) will appear in parens next to the brand name. Brands with an asterisk (*) next to their name are available at Sephora and/or Sephora at Kohl's
 
CLE Cosmetics (Lauren Jin)
CTZN Cosmetics (Aleena Khan, Aleezeh Khan, and Naseeha Khan)
Em Cosmetics (Michelle Phan)
* Glow Recipe (Christine Chang and Sarah Lee)
Kimchi Chic Beauty (Kim Chi)
* Kulfi Beauty (Priyanka Ganjoo)
Live Tinted (Deepica Mutyala)
* Mango People (Sravya Adusumilli)
Meloway Makeup (Aiden Kim and Ash Kim)
* One/Size by Patrick Starrr
Orce Cosmetics (Yu-Chen Shih)
Ourself (Lauren Otsuki)
* Patrick Ta Beauty
Purlisse Beauty (Jennifer Yen)
Seraphine Botanicals (Sylvia Phann)
The Creme Shop (Theresa and Lawrence Kim)
* Tower 28 Beauty (Amy Liu)
U Beauty (Tina Craig)
* Wander Beauty (Divya Gugnani)
Yensa Beauty (Jennifer Yen)

[OPTIONAL] MONTHLY THEME: Include one or more makeup products from an AAPI-founded or owned makeup brand in each of your  makeup capsules this month.

Week 19 (May 11 - 17) The Fashion-Inspired Makeup Capsule 

"Fashion's biggest night" aka The Met Gala will have occurred on May 4, following on the heels of the premiere of The Devil Wears Prada 2, the sequel to one of the most well known fashion-industry-inspired films. Curate a makeup capsule with one or more makeup products from launched by a fashion house or fashion designer and/or inspired by any of the following: 

* looks worn by attendees at The Met Gala, this year or past year's

* looks from The Devil Wears Prada 2 (or the original if so desired)

* looks inspired by this season's red carpet looks

* looks inspired by your inner fashionista

[NOTE: A non-exhaustive list of fashion houses / fashion designers with makeup lines will be posted before the end of Week 18].

BONUS: have a look inspired by The Devil Wears Prada 2 (or the original)? Consider heading over and showing us your curated look over at the Fit Fab Face Thread.

Week 20 (May 18 - 24) The  Mental Health Awareness Makeup Capsule 

May is Mental Health Awareness month. Let's put some more attention to the need for mental health awareness by putting together a capsule made up of one or more makeup product(s) from a makeup brand recognized for supporting mental health awareness

Spoiler

Makeup Brands Supporting Mental Health Awareness*
Haus Labs by Lady Gaga+

Kiehl's*

KimChiChic Beauty*
Maybelline*^
Rare Beauty by Selena Gomez^
 

+ Lady Gaga and her mother founded the Born This Way Foundation, an organization that "empowers and inspires young people to build a kinder, braver world that supports their mental health and wellbeing."

* Included in Forbes' October 10, 2025 (updated December 15, 2025) online article titled "Beauty and Fashion Brands Supporting Mental Health"

^ Identified in Who What Wear's online article titled "10 Must-Know Beauty Brands That Empower Mental Health Initiatives"

*^ Recognized in both the Forbes and Who What Wear publications for its support of mental health and mental health awareness 

Week 21 (May 25 - 31) The Musical Artist Founded / Owned or Inspired Beauty Brand Makeup Capsule

The American Music Awards are taking place May 25. Let's put together a makeup capsule:

* with one or more makeup product(s) from a beauty brand founded or owned by a musical artist; and/or 

* inspired by your favorite musician, music video or song; and/or 

* inspired by one or more of the makeup looks or trends seen on the red carpet for the AMAs (this year or past year's) or from an after-party look.

April Makeup Capsule Themes

Spoiler

Week 13 (March 30 - April 5) - The "Makeup You Are Mad For" Makeup Capsule and/or The "Easter Inspired" Makeup Capsule

A couple of themes to choose from this week.

• Are there any products you've been crazy about? Any recent purchases you've been wanting to put to use? Or a few tried-and-true products that you find yourself reaching for week after week? In a nod to March Madness 🏀, here's a chance to create a capsule around those beauties you're mad for. 
• Alternatively, curate a capsule with one or more makeup products inspired by the Easter holiday.*

* For some, Easter makeup evokes soft, romantic feels. Or fresh, vibrant vibes. Some looks have been centered around dewy skin, pastel eyeshadows, and a soft flush of color on the cheeks. Other trends have included shimmery eyeshadows; soft, light natural foundation; and bright, glossy lips. These are just examples. Whatever Easter makeup means to you, go for it!

Week 14 (April 6 - 12) - The Baked Makeup Capsule and/or The International Day of Pink Makeup Capsule

More choices for this week's capsule inspo:

(a) In celebration of National Bake Week, curate a capsule with one or more baked makeup product(s) and/or with products that you use to bake your face; 

(b) In honor of International Day of Pink, put together a capsule made up of one or more pink hued makeup product(s); 

(c) Assemble a makeup capsule with one or more product(s) that fit within the themes described in items (a) and (b), above.

Week 15 (April 13 - 19) - The "On The Go" Makeup Capsule and/or The Spring Savings Event Makeup Capsule

Option A: Assemble a capsule with your on-the-go makeup products. "On the go" can mean any one or combination of the following:

• portable makeup designed for busy lifestyles
• multi-tasking products
• a handful of makeup essentials that effortlessly take your look from day to night
• travel or mini sized makeup products
• palettes
• stick makeup
• stackable products 

"On-the-go" makeup can be defined by size (mini or travel, etc.) or number (15 products, 10, 8, etc.) or structure (stackable, stick, etc.) or a mix of these elements. What makes a capsule an "on-the-go" capsule depends on you and your lifestyle. Show us what "on-the-go" makeup means to you.

Option B: Alternatively, if you're not feeling the on-the-go theme, curate a capsule made up of one or more makeup product(s) purchased during the Spring Savings Event.

Option C: Can't choose or don't want to? No problem. Put together a capsule with one or more makeup products that fit both the themes of Option A and Option B.

Week 16 (April 20 - 26) - The "Going Green" Makeup Capsule and/or The Spring Savings Event 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"

Week 17 (April 27 - May 3) - The Makeup-Artist-Founded/Owned Beauty Brand Makeup Capsule and/or The Spring Savings Event Makeup Capsule

Is there a makeup artist that you've followed or admired? Here's a chance to celebrate the makeup artist(s) whose work has/have caught your eye - curate a makeup capsule made up of one or more products from a makeup-artist founded / owned beauty brand. [NOTE: A non-exhaustive list of makeup brands that fall within this category will be posted the week prior.]

Spoiler

Spoiler

Artist Couture (Angel Merino)

beautyblender (Rea Ann Silva)

Benefit Cosmetics (Jean and Jane Ford)

Bobbi Brown

Charlotte Tilbury

Christina Choi Cosmetics 

Danessa Myricks Beauty

Em Cosmetics (Michelle Phan)

Estée Lauder

Fara Homidi

Freck Beauty (Remi Brexton, co-founder)

Glamazon Beauty (Kim Baker)

Half Magic (Donni Davy)

Huda Beauty (co-founded by Huda Kattan, and Mona and Alya Kattan, now owned by Huda Kattan)

Hung Vanngo Beauty

Isamaya
Jones Road (Bobbi Brown)

Jungsaemmool (Jung Saem Mool)

Kevyn Aucoin Beauty

KimChi Chic Beauty (Kim Chi)

Laura Gellar

Laura Mercier

Lisa Eldridge
Lunar Beauty (Manny Gutierrez)

LYS Beauty (Tisha Thompson)

m.ph by Mary Phillips

Make Up For Ever (Dany Sanz)

Makeup by Mario (Mario Dedivanovic)

Melt Cosmetics (Lora Arellano and Dana Bomar)

NARS (François Nars)

Natasha Denona 

Nudestix (Jenny, Taylor and Ally Frankel)

ONE/SIZE by Patrick Starrr

Pat McGrath Labs

Patrick Ta

Peripera (created by Clio Cosmetics which was founded by Han Hyun-Oak)

Pixi (Petra Strand)

RMS Beauty (Rose-Marie Swift)

Rokael Beauty (Rokael Lizama)

Sculpted by Aimee (Aimee Connolly)

stila (Jeanine Lobell)
Surratt Beauty (Troy Surratt)

Sweed Beauty (Gabriella Elio)

Violette_FR (Violette Serrat)

Wayne Goss

Westman Atelier (Gucci Westman)

The original post will generally be updated with new weekly theme(s) by or before 9pm Pacific Time on the Sunday before the start of the new week/theme.