Capsule Makeup Collection Challenge

[itsfi]

Hello, BIC Beauties! If the idea of makeup capsules piques your curiosity, or you're interested in seeing what's in the beauty collection or weekly makeup bag of your fellow BIC beauties, jump right on in - with questions, comments or a capsule of your own to share.

To add a fun take on putting together a makeup capsule, I've included theme(s) for the weekly capsule - some weeks, I have enough products in my stash (eek!) to make a whole capsule based on the prompt; other weeks, I have just one or two items that fit neatly within theme.

Whether you find yourself in the same place or somewhere in between, jump right on it and share your weekly makeup capsule. Check out the FAQ section below ⤵️ for more info on this challenge.

CURRENT MAKEUP CAPSULE THEME:   

Week 52 (December 23 - December 29) - The Holiday Glam Makeup Capsule and/or  The "2024 Makeup Capsule Collection" Makeup Capsule - Some options for us to close out the makeup capsules for 2024 (or to kick start 2025)!

Show us the beauties you use when you want to add glitz and glam (or, that up the glitz and glam element) to your makeup look.

and/or 

Curate a bag with your go-to, GOAT, ride-or-die products that would make up your ultimate makeup capsule collection (for 2024). If it's too much to put together a creme de la creme capsule or if you're at your best with options, consider putting together a makeup capsules of one or more favorites you discovered (or re-discovered) in 2024. 

Upcoming Makeup Capsule Themes: [Updated 12.21.2024] Take a sneak peek at the weekly themes to come. 

Spoiler

Week 1 - 2024/2025 - to be posted the week of December 23, after the Christmas holiday. HINT: Think newness for the new year, or to usher in the New Year. 😉

Previous Makeup Capsule Themes: [Updated 12.23.2024]

Spoiler

1 - The First (of the Year) Makeup Capsule

2 - The Quick & Easy Winter Edition Makeup Capsule

3 - The $20 USD ($27 CAD) & Under Makeup Capsule

4 - The "On the Go!" Makeup Capsule

5 - The Best of January 2024 Makeup Capsule

6 - The Black Owned / Founded Beauty Brand Makeup Capsule

7 - The Lunar New Year - Year of the Dragon Makeup Capsule and/or The "Things I Love" Makeup Capsule

8 - The "BIC Inspired" Makeup Capsule

9 - The Best of February 2024 Makeup Capsule and/or The "On The Chopping Block" Makeup Capsule 

10 - The International Woman Owned / Founded Beauty Brand Makeup Capsule

11 - The "One Brand" or "All The Brands" Makeup Capsule 

12 - The "Springing Forward" Makeup Capsule and/or The Pops of Color Makeup Capsule 

13 -  The Fast & Furious / Quick & Easy Makeup Capsule and/or The March 2024 "On Top" or "On The Chopping Block" Makeup Capsule 

14 - The "Do Over" or "Take 2" Makeup Capsule

15 - The Makeup-Artist-Founded Brand Makeup Capsule and/or The Sephora Spring Savings Makeup Capsule

16 - The BIC Inspired (Spring Edition) Makeup Capsule and/or The Sephora Spring Savings Makeup Capsule

17 - The "Green" Makeup Capsule and/or The Sephora Spring Savings Makeup Capsule

18 - The  April 2024 "On Top" or "On The Chopping Block" Makeup Capsule and/or The "More Play Time With My Sephora Savings Event Hauls" Makeup Capsule

19 - The AAPI Owned / Founded Beauty Brand Makeup Capsule

20 - The "Sleeping Beauties" Makeup Capsule and/or The "OMG, More Stuff From the Sephora Spring Savings" Makeup Capsule

21 - The "My Best Self" Makeup Capsule
22 - The  May 2024 "On Top", "On The Chopping Block" or "On Repeat" Makeup Capsule
23 - The Love Is Love Makeup Capsule
24 - The Repurposed Makeup Capsule and/or The Multi-tasking Makeup Capsule
25 - The "Welcome, Summer!" Makeup Capsule and/or The "Good Stuff" Makeup Capsule
26 - The June 2024 "On Top", "On the Chopping Block" and/or "On Repeat" Makeup Capsule
27 - The Indie Brands Makeup Capsule and/or The Summer Vacation Makeup Capsule
28 - The "If I Were To Curate My Ultimate Makeup Capsule" Makeup Capsule (aka The "These are My Favorite Products" Makeup Capsule) 
29 - The Sticks and (Gem)Stones Makeup Capsule and/or The Pops of Colour: Summer Edition Makeup Capsule
30 - The BIC Inspired Summer Edition Makeup Capsule and/or The Pan It! Makeup Capsule
31 - The July 2024 New, Old, or "Is It Time For This To Go?" Makeup Capsule
32 - The Take 2 / Do Over Makeup Capsule and/or The "Sleeping Beauties" Makeup Capsule 
33 - The Day-to-Night (or Date Night): Summer Edition Makeup Capsule and/or The "Outside My Comfort Zone" Makeup Capsule
34 - The Samples Makeup Capsule and/or The Newness Makeup Capsule 
35 - The August 2024 Throw Down!, Throwback, and/or Throw Out? Makeup Capsule 
36 - The Workhorses Makeup Capsule
37 - The Runway or Red Carpet Inspired Makeup Capsule and/or The "BIC Inspired" Makeup Capsule 
38 - The LatinX Founded / Owned Beauty Brands Makeup Capsule
39 - The September 2024 Throw Down!, Throwback, and/or Throw Out? Makeup Capsule and/or The Brands at SEPHORiA Makeup Capsule
40 - The "Pop of Colour": Fall Edit Makeup Capsule and/or The Musician Founded or Owned Beauty Brands Makeup Capsule
41 - The "Dynamic Duos (or Trios)" Makeup Capsule and/or The "Products with Interesting / Attention-Grabbing Names" Makeup Capsule
42 - The "Makeup I'm Thankful For" Makeup Capsule and/or The Do Over / Take 2 Makeup Capsule
43 - The "How Low Can I Go?" Makeup Capsule and/or The Global Makeup Capsule
44 - The "Sleeper Hits" Makeup Capsule and/or The October 2024 Throw Down, Throwback, and/or Throw Out? Makeup Capsule
45 - The Sweater Weather Makeup Capsule and/or The Holidays Savings (Shop The Sale) Makeup Capsule
46 - The Time Capsule Makeup Capsule and/or The Awesomely Affordable and/or Spectacularly Splurge-worthy Makeup Capsule
47 - The "Please, Don't Go!" / Discontinued Products Makeup Capsule and/or The Newness Makeup Capsule
48 - The Things I'm Thankful For Makeup Capsule and/or The “BIC Inspired” Fall Makeup Capsule
49 - The Beautifully Bold or Delightfully Demure Makeup Capsule and/or The "Savvy Shopper" Makeup Capsule  
50 - The Sticks 2.0 Makeup Capsule and/or The "Favorite Theme From The Challenge" Makeup Capsule
51 - The Winter Wonderland Makeup Capsule and/or The "Take 2" / "Do Over" Makeup Capsule

FAQs: [Updated 4.28.2024]

Spoiler

What is a capsule makeup collection?  

A capsule makeup collection is a selection of makeup products that can be used to put together different looks for a variety of occasions. For some of us, that may mean a group of essential products for your everyday look plus a few extra items for a more glam or dramatic look; and, for others of us, that may mean, a lineup of our holy grail product(s) in each makeup category. My ideal capsule makeup collection probably falls somewhere in between - we'll (hopefully) find out at the end of the year! I don't see myself as a minimalist, but I don't have an extensive collection of makeup either. I appreciate the collections of people who fall within both camps but I float somewhere in between - on the one hand, my brow product collection would earn a gold star if we were using a minimalist approach to makeup; my lip product lineup, on the other hand, would not. 🤣 It would most definitely not.  

Why have a capsule makeup collection?  

Everyone will have their own reasons for having (or not having) a more streamlined makeup collection. Over the years, I've just become more interested in having less beauty products on hand (well, except for lip products, lol) - a handful of items I use or reach for more frequently with maybe a few additional products that are go-to's for me for special events or occasions.  Don't get me wrong, I love trying new products and I don't see that changing. I just like the idea of having a simpler collection (I appreciate that "simpler" can be relative), curated to my needs and lifestyle.

Why weekly? 
A few 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. I may not post detailed reviews, but will at least try to include a weekly recap (probably at the end of the week) of what products I like and which ones didn't work for me.  If weekly works for you, great. If not, feel free to join in based on what works best for you.

What if I don't have enough products to fit the theme for a full face?

No need for your entire makeup capsule to fit the weekly theme(s). Just one 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. 

[itsfi]

@missjeanie, the Merit foundation stick has mostly pros for me. The one “con” and it may just be the stick I have is that the bullet or actual stick has fallen out a few times on opening. It’s managed to not fall on the ground but I’ve been more careful when removing the top since the first time it happened. Has that happened to you @@ather? 

I also have the Westman Atelier stick and I like it as well. They provide different coverages for me so that at the moment, I feel like having both in my collection is fine. The Merit gives me light to light-medium coverage and the Westman Atelier is medium coverage that I can build up to a more full coverage look on days when my skin is really good. 

[missjeanie]

@itsfi I think I was mixing up the Merit and the WA, my skin isn't a fan of coconut oil and one of them had it as an ingredient.  I'll do a quick perusal before purchase to make sure the one I'm snagging is the one without. Good to know about the stick falling out though, I'll keep an eye out. 

[itsfi]

@missjeanie, it looks like the Westman Atelier stick is one with coconut oil specifically listed in its ingredients list.*

INCI list - Westman Atelier Foundation Stick

INCI List - Merit Foundation Concealer Stick

It doesn't look like there's coconut oil in the Merit ingredients list but I didn't check if all of the listed ingredients are derivatives of coconut oil. 

* Screenshots of the ingredient lists are from the product page for each product, as it appears on the Sephora website.

[missjeanie]

@itsfi I knew it was one of them.  The Sephora I was at this weekend was out of the entire paler end of shades of the Merit.  It's okay... I'll wait and save money and get it during the spring sale!

[itsfi]

@missjeanie, I have a feeling there's gonna be a lot of purchases from the BIC during the spring sale. 😅 

[missjeanie]

The Capsule Challenge is helping me add to my collection... not declutter it @itsfi  lol

[itsfi]

hahahaha @missjeanie. Oopsies. 

I mean, you never know, there could be declutters in your future. We're still early in the year. 

[ather]

Oh no @itsfi   Mine hasn’t fallen out. But I think I remember reading reviews that said that. I feel like they changed the stick since tho. Maybe that fixed that issue @missjeanie 

[itsfi]

@ather, ahhh, I probably have one of the older ones. I just have to be careful when I open it. 

[Mellmars1185]

@itsfi Great recap! I found your feedback on the Tower 28 liner very helpful as I have been eyeing it. I have been loving thr brand so far but had not tried their liners. The fact that it could be on the chopping block helped me decide if I actually want to buy it. I like your top shelf idea also. I eventually only want to have top shelf items as my whole collection.

To answer your questions...

Likes / Dislikes about the challenge - is there anything you'd like to see more of? What is/are area(s) for improvement? I like that I am getting more use out of products that have not been used for a while. It is helping me give products a chance before destashing. It is helping me explore my stash and helping curve my spending. 

How's the frequency for changing up the themes / prompts? Is a week a good cadence? Is it too short? I think a week is good. Maybe one of the months we can try doing a 2 week capsule for fun and see how it goes?

Any other thoughts you'd like to share? I have been enjoying this challenge a lot. I am also learning a lot from everyone participating!

[missjeanie]

@Mellmars1185 @itsfi I've had the Tower 28 liners in and out of my carts so many times too.  I love the brand and I don't have a crazy stash of lip liners, but that said... I think I'm in the same boast at Mellmars, I'll wait until I see something that really speaks to me in lieu of getting this one just because I like the brand. 

[itsfi]

@missjeanie @Mellmars1185 I think the Tower 28 liner is nice but it’s not one that is necessarily a must have, for me at least. It can be used for eyes and cheeks as well and I can see it being great for someone who would be able to use it for something in addition to a lip liner. 

I think you’ve hit on something with liking the brand. It’s definitely something I want to like because I do like the brand and a really enjoy a few items from their collection. And, it’s not something I don’t like, but there are other similar items I like more. It did get me thinking about what, if any, brands I like all their products or practically all of them. There’s only a small few that came to mind for me, and it wasn’t every product offered but most. 

[itsfi]

Yes @Mellmars1185, that's my goal too - to have all Top Shelf products in my makeup collection! The Tower 28 liner is nice; it's just that I have other liners that work better for me. We shall see. 

Thank you so much for your feedback; it's very helpful. Working on my capsule and using the products each week has curbed my spending too, more so than I thought it would. I'm less inclined to just buy something and I haven't been struck by FOMO to the point where I cave. If I do, I've been going through my capsule and my stash to see what I have that I've not opened. Then I'll either add it to the week's capsule as an extra or I'll set it aside with a note to use it for the next capsule where I can fit it in. 

I am loving your idea of having a 2-week capsule sometime in the year. Made a note of it; I'm going to give that some thought to see when would be a good time to slot that in. 

[cianni]

I’m taking a slightly different approach to this weeks theme - instead of my monthly faves (because I know they’re tried and true), this weeks capsule is going to be a collection of capsule challenge products I tried this month that I’m on the fence about. I want another week to play around with them and see if I like them enough to keep in a regular rotation.

because of my take on the challenge, my capsule is not going to be super cohesive and necessarily hit every category to create a full face. I’ll rotate some known faves to fill in any gaps, and summarize what additional products made it to the final capsule ☺️

here’s some of the products on the chopping block this week!

• MAC Cosmetics Macstack Mascara - already know I don’t love this, but it’s getting old. After this week, it’s time for her to go.
• Charlotte Tilbury Magic Water Cream Refillable Gel Moisturizer with Niacinamide 
• Covergirl TruBlend Super Stunner Highlighter
• Physicians Formula Butter Bronzer (Liquid) - I did like this, but it was my first time using it, so I want to keep experimenting
• Pacifica Dream Big Brushed Up Brow Gel
• Bite Beauty Yaysayer Lip Gloss in Rum Baba - not something I need to test but definitely something I need to work through and finish!

[missjeanie]

Great approach @cianni !  Now to see what ends up making the final cut!!

[cianni]

@missjeanie ive told myself that i have to be ruthless with these declutters - if I’m still on the fence after all these attempts and chances, it’s gotta go!

[missjeanie]

@cianni I'm hoping everyone in this thread will be rubbing off on me... I need to be better at getting rid of products I'm not fond of!

[Mellmars1185]

@cianni Neat approach! I like that tou are giving porducts another chance before they face being eliminated!

[cianni]

@Mellmars1185 thank you! I’ve recently revisited a few products that I didn’t like on first impressions/use, but now love, so i feeel like i should give more products that fair chance!

[itsfi]

Oooh, what a creative way to work through product and figure out whether an item should stay or go @cianni! Awesome way to make this challenge work for you! Interested to see what the results are for each of the products on the chopping block. Me thinks this approach may be incorporated in the theme for the last week of future months.

[cianni]

@itsfi thank you! I’m a little late, but have finally formalized my thoughts on some of the hits and misses from favourites week!