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 5.10.2026]

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

Spoiler

Below is a non-exhaustive list of fashion houses with makeup lines. 

* Anna Sui Beauty

* Armani Beauty (Georgio Armani, co founder)

* Burberry Beauty (original 2010 makeup line launched by then creative director Christopher Bailey, fashion house founded byThomas Burberry)

* Carolina Herrera 

* Céline Beauty (developed by creative director Hedi Sliane, fashion house founded by Céline Vipiana)

* Chanel (Gabrielle "Coco" Chanel)

* Christian Louboutin

* Dior Beauty (Christian Dior)

* Dolce & Gabbana Beauty (Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana)

* Dries Van Noten

* Givenchy (Hubert de Givenchy)

* Gucci Beauty (2019 relaunched beauty line developed by creative director Alessandro Michele (2014 line developed by Pat McGrath), fashion house founded by Guccio Gucci)

* Hermès Beauty (makeup line designed by Gregoris Pyrpylis, brand developed under direction of Agnès de Villers and Pierre-Alexis Dumas, fashion house founded by Thierry Hermès)

* Jimmy Choo (makeup line developed by creative director Sandra Choi, fashion house founded by Tamara Mellon and Jimmy Choo)

* Louis Vuitton Beauté (makeup line developed by creative director Pat McGrath, fashion house founded by Louis Vuitton)

* Marc Jacobs Beauty

* Prada Beauty (beauty line developed by Miuccia Prada and Raf Simmons, Lynsey Alexander and Ines Alpha; fashion house founded by Mario Prada)

* Rabanne Beauty

* Tom Ford Beauty

* Valentino (2021 makeup line influenced by creative director Pierpaolo Piccioli, fashion house founded by Valentino Garavani)
*  Victoria Beckham Beauty

* YSL (Yves Saint Laurent)

[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.

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)

⏩  UPCOMING Makeup Capsule Themes [Updated 5.10.2026]

Spoiler

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

***

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 

[itsfi]

lol, the VBB concealer has been a pleasant surprise @danielledanielle. I don't know if they still offer it but they did have samples (possibly for purchase? or perhaps as a gwp) of the concealer shades. I haven't yet tried the concealer as a substitute for foundation but it's on my list of "to do's"

[danielledanielle]

Week 6: Dynamic Duos....A love letter 💌, Black Owned Brands 🫶🏽🙌🏽, featuring 2+ products from:

• Pat McGrath Labs 
• Fenty 
• Uoma & Uoma by Sharon C
• Ami Colé 
• Ace Beauté 
• Fashion Fair 
• Mented Cosmetics 
• Beauty Bakerie
• The Lip Bar 
• Wyn Beauty 
• Juvia's Place 
• Lys Beauty 
• Poundcake Beauty 

 

And the fragrances are all month long: 

• World of Chris Collins Lust Oud Delice Parfum with Dark Chocolate, Hazelnut and Orris Travel Spray 0... 
• BROWN GIRL Jane Carnivale Eau de Parfum Travel Spray with Mango .34 oz / 10ml eau de parfum spray 
• Fenty Beauty by Rihanna The Mista Hair + Body Fragrance Mist 3 oz/90 mL 
• Fenty Beauty by Rihanna Fenty Eau de Parfum 
• World of Chris Collins African Rooibos Eau de Parfum Travel Spray 0.3 oz / 7.5 ml eau de parfum spra... 
• 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... 

[itsfi]

Ahhhh, that PML setting spray, glowy or more glowy? 😍 Wait, didn’t I read somewhere that it can cause you to breakout sometimes @danielledanielle ? 🤔 That’s a lovely playlist of fragrances for the month. 

[danielledanielle]

@itsfi , yes, that's the PAT McGRATH LABS Skin Fetish: Sublime Perfection Longwear Blurring Setting Spray 3.38 oz/100 mL that breaks me out (I think)

ETA: it's glowy.  I use it on the sides of my face, and to set body glitter

[KrysTevanne]

GOD BLESS

 

[itsfi]

Oh, you have some lovelies in your makeup capsule @KrysTevanne. And, that bag is one of my favorite Fenty bag. I low key stalked her site and Ulta's to see if it woud return. 😆 It did and I made sure to not miss out again when it did! 🛍 Is the Daness Myricks the universal primer or one of her tinted versions? 

That Gucci bronzer is a beauty! Love that the formula is easy to blend and build up (or sheer out), and I mean, that packaging!!! 😍

[KrysTevanne]

GOD BLESS

Yes! GOD IS GOOD! They are truly divine.

Love the idea for the Makeup Capsule, btw.

I got the Fenty bag at her Mystery Event w/ Sephora! 
It is the Universal balm lol

Agreed on the Gucci! 

I humbly ask GOD to anoint our makeup capsules so we can all be beauties inside &&& out! 😊🤍☪️✝️

[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 EADEM Le Chouchou Exfoliating + Softening Peptide Lip Balm Boba Bounce EADEM Le Chouchou Exfoliating + Softening Peptide Lip Balm Burnt Malai  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. 

[ather]

@itsfi  This is an amazing capsule! 

[itsfi]

Ahhh, thank you @ather. It’s been helpful to work through what I already have and it has also helped to inform me on what makes a good beauty purchase for me personally. I feel like I started doing this capsule challenge with one or two goals or ideas in mind and I’ve actually gotten quite a few more things out of it. 👍🏻 

[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.