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 41 (October 7 - 13) - The "Dynamic Duos (or Trios)" Makeup Capsule and/or The "Products with Interesting / Attention-Grabbing Names" Makeup Capsule -  Are there certain combinations of products that are just so exceptionally well suited for you, be it a go-to lip liner and lipstick pairing, or a smokey eye and red lip combination that slays, or a blush and highlighter mix that makes your cheeks pop? Curate a capsule with two or more products that fit better together, or if you have a set of products that just work seamlessly, please share your all-star beauty combinations. 

OR, 

Put together a capsule with one or more products bearing interesting or attention-grabbing names. I'll leave it to you to define what falls within the definition of "interesting" 🤤 or "attention-grabbing". 😮

Upcoming Makeup Capsule Themes: [Updated 10.6.2024] Take a sneak peek at the weekly themes to come.

Spoiler

Week 42 (October 14 - 20) - The "Makeup I'm Thankful For" Makeup Capsule and/or The Do Over / Take 2 Makeup Capsule - To celebrate Canadian Thanksgiving (October 14) with our Canadian BIC beauties 🇨🇦, let's curate a capsule this week of products you are thankful for, be it: 

• because it was gifted to you by a friend, family or brand
• because it's a HG or a tried-and-true product you can't be without
• because it holds sentimental or nostalgic value to you
• or, just because

OR, use the week to repeat or "do over" a past makeup capsule or capsule theme. Consider posting your "Do over" / "Take 2" 🎬 look on the Makeup Challenge of the Week 2021/2022/2023/2024 thread. 😍


⏭  Additional October themes can be found here - October 2024 Makeup Capsule Themes

Previous Makeup Capsule Themes: [Updated 10.6.2024]

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 (Summer 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

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. 

[missjeanie]

@itsfi Fewer steps is a WIN!!  I think I have a foundation in mind that I'd like to pan once I get through my current panning foundation... I'll have to play around with it to make sure... but it's on the chopping block!

[itsfi]

@missjeanie, yeah, I'm all for fewer steps, but I am also a fan of options, and, sometimes those two things do not go hand in hand. 😂 

I thought @cianni had such an excellent approach to this week's capsule. There are products that I'm undecided about so it'll be fabulous to have an option to have a capsule for products that fall in that "should it stay or should it go?" category - whether someone can do a full capsule with that or just have 1 or two "keep or declutter" items will be helpful for so many of us as we try to work through our collections and make our stash more manageable. I'll be updating the February schedule later this week with that additional prompt. 

[missjeanie]

@itsfi I like @cianni 's idea as well.  I'll have to think about how I can manage that in my 'you have to use it up' mentality.  I've seen a few products already as I'm building capsules where I should be putting them in this year to see if they're still good at all. I also like the idea of having two of a certain kind of product in that weeks capsule to see which one I reach for... if I'm not reaching for something when it's down to a choice of two... why do I have it??

This challenge is a real challenge for me... it's going to push me this year to look at what I have in a different way. 

[itsfi]

I hear ya about decluttering @missjeanie. It took me a while to get over the feeling of being wasteful. After a couple years of the pan it! challenge and those years it took me to whittle down my sheet mask stash, it occurred to me that I could be in this cycle of just working through product all the time. All. The. Time. Like a hamster on its wheel. Even if I wasn't hoarding the good stuff, I might never get around to it because I had so many other things to work through.** And by the time I did get to them, they might be past their prime. Just a continuous vicious cycle of using things before they go bad or having to toss them because they had. Like a hamster on its wheel. I'm not a hamster. I don't want to be. So I let go of quite a few skincare products and just started fresh with what I currently had open and a bin of products that I knew I liked and wanted to use, and with the idea that I need to be more mindful of what I'm bringing in. I did that with different beauty categories - sheet masks one year, skincare the next. Makeup, part 1. Then hair care; bath & body products. Nail polish, part 1. Now, makeup, part 2. With possibly nail polish, part 2 to start up later this year. Or ... maybe not. Whoa there Fi, slow it down. Don't need to take on more than you can handle. lol. 

** FYI, there will be a capsule theme that involves the good stuff! 

[missjeanie]

@itsfi That's actually a great way to see it!  I'm not quite sure I'm there yet... but I'm working on it!  Also... thank you for the reminder to get up and put on a sheet mask as I get caught up on BIC!!

[itsfi]

Baby steps. Decluttering is so personal; no one size fits all, that’s for sure @missjeanie. Ooooh, multitasking with a mask 😁. Catching up on BIC while masking is always fun. The sheet mask helps to limit my time online 😝 I have 20-30 minutes and then whatever time it takes for all that serum goodness to fully absorb. Ha!

[missjeanie]

@itsfi Yes!  I'm trying to remember to mask more by conditioning myself to think of BIC time as masking time.   I'm actually looking forward to going through my stash for the next capsule and seeing if there's anything I spy to declutter.  Just one thing. lol

[itsfi]

Oh, I like that approach @missjeanie. You're inspiring me to mask tonight when I post my capsule for this coming week. Better go pick out a sheet mask now and place it somewhere where it will job my memory to use it tonight.

[missjeanie]

Week 4 recap... I had a major miss this week, but overall was quite happy with this weeks capsule.  I kept this basket right on my counter and remarked daily how nice it was not to think about what I was picking out in the morning, yet I was still giving a bit more love to some older products.  

Spoiler

YSL Palette -- Quite enjoyed this one, I used it five days this week and I'm reminded about how I can do a quick one shadow look with my fingers. This palette can get lost amongst others and I'm glad I pulled it out.  I'm going to try and pull out a variety of palettes that just don't get used as much as they should with this challenge. 

Tower 28 Mascara -- This one is about done.  I may use it once or twice next week then toss it in my January empties. I liked it more than I thought I would given my preference for a fat traditional wand style.  I don't think I'd seek it out again, but if mini's make their way to me, I ain't mad. 

Base products - The Dior Backstage concealer is done!  I used this three days as both concealer and foundation.  I liked this concealer just fine, but since I've had it I've found others that I much prefer.  Won't likely purchase again, but I'm not mad at it.  The Cle de Peau concealer stick is just so good.  Great coverage, blends easily, works with a brush or fingers, works first thing in the morning or as a touch up after work.  It's going back in my purse make up bag.  The MUFE powder foundation... is the one thing I was disappointed with this week.  It usually lives in my make up bag in my purse and I LOVE it for swiping on some all over coverage after work if I'm going out.  It gives my complexion a great boost after it gets looking tired.  I was trying to use it as my powder this week and it was just too heavy to use as a setting powder.  My under eyes were looking cakey and haggard, the shade is too dark for under eyes as well.  I had to give up on this and pull out another setting powder after 3 days.  This  is a great example of how some products are good for some things and not others.  The OH colour corrector was fine.  Quick to use, I can put it on right out of the tube. VB Stick Blush is same... quick, easy to use right out of the tube and can blend with fingers. 

Lip Products -- All were great, I knew going in that I enjoyed all of these.  Oh... the Stila liner is a bit of a paler colour than I'd like so I may try to pan this one this year. 

[Mellmars1185]

@missjeanie Congratulations on finishing your concealer! I am still trying to develop a better opinion on the OH stick. I feel like it would be better if mixed with the banana shade but I can't justify purchasing it right now.

[missjeanie]

@Mellmars1185 Lol... I have two shades and I did like it better when I mixed them, but with my higher coverage concealers they're working well with either shade.  I think I'm going to try a new corrector during spring sale season, but the portability of this type of stick is just so handy. I'm quite happy there are so many corrector options these days.... but now I can't choose which new ones to try!  Are you able to make it into a store to swatch both shades together?

[Mellmars1185]

@missjeanie Yes I can definitely make a trip to Sephora to try that out. It is about a 15 minute drive. I will try that out 😊. Thank you!

[greeneyedgirl107]

@missjeanie pretty palette!

[missjeanie]

@greeneyedgirl107 Thanks!  I kinda forgot that I had it until digging around for this challenge.  So glad I've now re-connected with it!

[ather]

@missjeanie  Sounds like a pretty good week other than the powder. It’s good you tried it out tho! If you didn’t try you wouldn’t know it wasn’t going to work!! 

[missjeanie]

@ather Yes!  The only way to find out is to play around a bit.... It's still great as a touch up powder after a long day of work so it can go back to living it's life out in my purse lol

[itsfi]

@missjeanie, is it weird that I'm getting so much joy from reading everyone's recaps? I have absolutely loved reaching about what people have learned about products - whether oft reached for beauties or ones that people have rediscovered in connection with putting together their capsules, what they've learned about their collections, about what works for them, gap areas that need to be filled, etc. I also really enjoy hearing how it makes folks' morning easier with their makeup picked out. I know for myself that has been such a treat from these capsules. I feel less rushed and feel good about the makeup I pick, even when there are misses. 

When I first read that you were disappointed with the MUFE powder foundation, my initial reaction was "ohhhh noooo!" But then I thought about it more and thought, "no, wait; this is part of what this challenge is about." Finding what works and what doesn't; or, to your point, what works when. Not all products will work in every instance and you are so right - some products are good for some things and not others. I'm excited to see what you'll curate for your best of capsule! 

[missjeanie]

@itsfi I'm loving reading all the recaps as well!  I know I won't be able to do the challenges every week but I'm going to really try for most weeks.  I have way too much stuff that isn't being used and that's just sad.  I've tried so far to pick out products that are a mix of 'ohhhh yaaaaaaa, I do own that' and things I know I'm into at the moment.  And while I've always had a bit of a capsule (Okay it was a box the size of a shoe box that just got stuffed and got emptied when it was too full) going in my washroom for my morning routines, it had a tendency to get clogged up with new things and wasn't great at rotating in older products.  Having just a handful of things to grab at in the morning is a joy for me.  I'm only half awake when I do my skincare, makeup and hair in the morning and I'm someone who needs to get all that done in the 30 minutes between getting out of bed and into the car to go to work.  Speed and ease are everything! lol

The MUFE was disappointing, but I also just had to realize, powder foundation isn't really made to set our under eyes with.. it's okay for it to be a fantastic touch up powder in my purse and not a setting powder for my mornings.   

I'm trying to pick out my next week right now... I have a box I've been putting all the products into after the week is up and am rummaging through it. Lips is the hard part.  So many wonderful choices.  I can't see what everyone else ends up picking... I might narrow down some products based on everyone's choices this week for my 'capsule challenge made me do it' spring sale list.

[itsfi]

@missjeanie, my plan for weeks where I can't do an entire capsule in step with the theme is to just include what I can and supplement with one or more of the following other category or types of products - (1) things from my pan it! challenge; (2) tried-and-true products, / staples in my collection, and/or (3) products that fell within the "undecided" camp in previous weeks. I know I won't have enough products for the Lunar New Year theme by itself but it'll be good to supplement with some of these other products. 

[itsfi]

Week 4 Recap: The "On The Go!" Makeup Capsule

The "On The Go!" Capsule: The Everyday Edit. My work-week makeup, with the exception that I switched between the Guerlain and Rare Beauty face primers.

On The Go! Makeup Capsule - The Weekend Edit. This is what I have on my face at the moment - keeping it simple for the weekend!

Week in Review: Timing-wise, this week's capsule really came in handy, with some mornings providing opportunities to see these beauties in action literally On The Go! 😉

Spoiler

Beauty All Star(s): 
⭐ MERIT The Minimalist Perfecting Complexion Foundation and Concealer Stick Linen - quick, easy, evens tones, conceals redness (from sneezing and blowing my nose)
⭐ NUDESTIX Nudies Glow Cream Highlighter Stick Hey, Honey - initially, this was the stick I wasn't sure was going to work. I thought it might be too warm, but it's offered a nice illumination and color to my cheeks - my favorite of the three 
⭐ NARS Powermatte Long-Lasting Lipstick Thunder Kiss - 115 - apparentely, I've been confusing this shade with another one in my head so whenever I've reached for it this week, I've been surprised that it's the slightly deeper my-lips-but-better shade that it is. It's a pleasant surprise, for sure. 
⭐ Gucci Brume de Beauté Beauty Mist 2.7 oz / 80 mL continues to be a favorite. 💗 My skin was a bit more dry and dehydrated this week - I'm getting over being under the weather and wasn't hydrating as well as I should have been. This mist refreshed my skin and also helped with the application of the Merit foundation/concealer over the extra dry areas.

Undecided:
❓NUDESTIX Nudies Matte Cream Bronzer Bondi Bae - this shade is a little too yellow for my liking and skin tone. I prefer a bronzer with more of a red undertone. For now, I'm going to keep this in my stash and will try playing around with it every so often. Or, looking for a way to repurpose it. Putting this in the "revisit later in the year" camp. 
❓ Wondering if Rare Beauty by Selena Gomez Mini Pore Diffusing Primer- Always An Optimist Collection 0.50 oz./15 mL would perform better on my skin in the springtime. Gonna hold tight to this one for more testing.

Relocated:
🏠 I have a feeling that, at some point, many of the beauties from this On The Go! capsule will be included in my rotating makeup bag at the office. Going to include a few items into this upcoming week's Best of capsule so we shall see. Stay tuned!

Decluttered: 
🗑 Nothing at the moment. 

Excited to hear how this week's "On The Go!" capsule worked out for everyone; and seeing what your best ofs for the month will be. We're at the end of January - how?!! 😲 

[Mellmars1185]

@itsfi I am glad the Merit stick has helped you out. I hope you are feeling better. I have been using it as Foundation this whole time. I should try it as a concealer because I was finding it a bit heavy as Foundation.