Capsule Makeup Collection Challenge

[itsfi]

Hey BIC beauties! One of my goals this year is to try to put together a makeup capsule with a handful (okay, maybe a large handful, in my case) of products that will work for me for an every day look and special occasions. Given my current collection, I won't need to be starting from scratch. 😂 So, I'm treating this capsule makeup collection challenge like a shop my stash and declutter adventure all in one. Would love for you to join me if and when you can.

If this is something that interests you or just piques your curiosity, please feel free to use this thread to document and challenge yourself to

(1) use what you have / shop your stash; and

(2) determine which products in your collection to keep, which to declutter, and which to try again another day. All with the goal of curating a set of makeup products that will help you achieve a signature look - and maybe a few additional products for other looks in your daily life, including looks for special occasions or events.

Every week, I will post a group of makeup products I plan to choose from (i.e., shopping my stash) for my looks during the week. The themes / prompts are guides and if you have a certain interpretation or approach you want to take with it, go for it! Not every product has to fit squarely within the theme; it can be just one item.

CURRENT MAKEUP CAPSULE THEME:   

Week 22 (May 27 - June 2) - The May 2024 "On Top", "On The Chopping Block" and/or "On Repeat" Makeup Capsule   

It's that time again, BIC Beauties! Curate a capsule with (a) your standout or favorite products from the month; (b) products you're trying to decide whether to keep or declutter; (c) products that repeatedly find their way inio your makeup looks; (d) all of the above... OR, treat the "On Repeat" theme as an opportunity for a "Do Over" or "Take 2" of a previous makeup capsule, from earlier in the month or any of the previous themes to date (see below for complete list).

Upcoming Makeup Capsule Themes: [Updated 5.27.2024] Take a sneak peek at the themes to come.

Spoiler

Week 23 (June 3 - 9) - The Love Is Love Makeup Capsule

Let's curate a capsule of one or more products from LGBTQ+ founded/owned makeup brands to honor Pride Month. Check out the spoiler below ⬇️ for a non-exhaustive list of LGBTQ+ founded/owned beauty brands focused primarily on makeup / color cosmetics.

Week 24 (June 10 - 16) - The Repurposed Makeup Capsule and/or The Multitasking Makeup Capsule

Do you have a product(s) that you've repurposed for a different use or ones that perform more than one function (lip and cheek, eyeshadow and bronzer, etc.? Let's pull them out of your stash and put together a capsule with one or more of those beauties. Shout out to our marvelous @missjeanie  for the repurposed theme. 

Week 25 (June 17 - 23) - The "Welcome, Summer!" Makeup Capsule and/or The "Good Stuff" Makeup Capsule  A couple of fun themes this week. Summer is officially here (well, on Thursday)! Let's kick things off with an ode to the sunny, warm, bright & breezy days to come! Or, use this week to focus on the "good stuff" in your collection, be it one or more products you looooove or the "good stuff" that only comes out every now and again (or, maybe for some of us, for the first time this week). 

Week 26 (June 24 - 30) - The June 2024 "On Top", "On the Chopping Block" and/or "On Repeat" Makeup Capsule - Last week of the month, BIC! You know what that means. We have options! Let's shine a spotlight on one or more products from the capsules this month that's (a) one of the best products of the week (on top); or (b) something you're thinking about tossing or decluttering from your stash (on the chopping block); or (c) made a recurring appearance in your capsule all month (on repeat); or (d) all or some combination of the above. Or, curate a capsule that's been done before - a "Take 2" or "Do Over" - with or without any adjustments as you like.

LGBTQ+ Founded/Owned Makeup Brands:

Spoiler

Below is a non-exhaustive list of LGBTQIA+ founded/owned beauty brands that primarily include makeup / lor cosmetics in their collection.  An asterisk (*) next to a brand name denotes that the brand is available at Sephora.

about face (Halsey)

Flower Beauty (Drew Barrymore)

Formula Z Cosmetics (Zach Dishinger)

* Freck Beauty (Nasera Alayon)

Jason Wu Beauty

Jecca Blac
Kevyn Aucoin Beauty

KimChi Chic Beauty

* Makeup by Mario

* One/Size by Patrick Starrr

* Patrick Ta Beauty

Tanais
* Tom Ford Beauty

Trixie Cosmetics

W3ll People

Previous Makeup Capsule Themes: [Updated 5.27.2024]

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

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. 

All are invited to join in this adventure, whenever and however is most effective for you. I'm excited to see what results from this experiment. 

[CynthieLu]

Ooh those is a fun looking capsule. I haven't seen Tropics on BIC in awhile. I can picture those beautiful pops of color. @missjeanie 😍 

We had similar weather here, winter was looking like it was out the door.. and then snow storm and some chilly temperatures. I think it was just winters last hurrah before leaving for the year. 

[missjeanie]

@CynthieLu I haven't pulled Tropics out in a while either!  It was fun to play with an older palette that hasn't gotten much love lately.  Ughhhh I should be grateful that we didn't have a bad winter at all, but... I'm ready for spring and summer lol, this last ditch effort by winter is not for me. 

[itsfi]

Oh wow, that dark blue eye day sounds phenomenal @missjeanie! 💙 I'm with you on Gucci expanding their lip range - when they first launched at Sephora, I had a "tradition" of picking up a lipstick (usually a new one that came out) from their brand, but that's been put on pause for the last couple of sales. 😥 I mean, my wallet is happy about that; or, it would be if I didn't find something else to pick up. 😆 

"Finding those gems I'd forgotten about in my stash." Yes!!! 👊 Shopping my stash has been a lot of fun. Eye opening, too. 

Your capsules the past few week have been full of amazing products. The MAC mascara is done?! Yay to a decluter, or empties! 

[missjeanie]

lol @itsfi There's ALWAYS something else to pick up lol.  I'm trying very hard to figure out what is a need for me this sale season.  The Capsule Challenge has been very eye opening about how much I have in my stash and how fast I go through certain products!

[itsfi]

Wow, good for you @missjeanie! That's impressive. I've put together a list of things / categories that I am not supposed to buy post sale through essentially the summer. This should be interesting...

[missjeanie]

@itsfi Smart... I should do this... I won't... but I should. 

[danielledanielle]

Heh @missjeanie , normally I'd goad you with "pics or it didn't happen," but your opening sentence just made me laugh.  I'm also in the "hey, look I'm here" mentality these days, so let's move on like you said 🤣

Thank you about the Nars lip oil!  Whenever the "what's the best lip oils?" question comes up, I half remember to mention Nars.  It's the right consistency.  I feel like everyone leans towards the Dior one, which IMO isn't it post reformulation. Anyhow, for Nars  I got the Laguna LE one and I'm mad they didn't make it permanent.  I think they still make one, but it's Orgasm.  That purple one looks gorgeous 😍... You're so right, they really should expand these.

[missjeanie]

@danielledanielle Lol, I could have sworn I took photos... alas.  I've got stuff splashed all over my kitchen table to take photos of and it's just gotten out of hand remembering what I have and haven't done lately.  Four day work week coming up and I'm hoping to get that table cleaned off before people arrive here for Easter dinner lol!

I had totally forgotten about the Nars lip oil, and I agree, I think it's nicer than the Dior!  I did go onto their website and it looks like the purple one is still available!  I don't actually have any that would be even close to a shade dupe for the Laguna, so..... we'll see how that pans out.  If I have a bad week at work it just might arrive to perk me up!

[danielledanielle]

@missjeanie  it's still available ?!?

💨💨💨💨

[missjeanie]

Little behind on posting.... Between the logging in bug and then year end at work... But better late than never! 

For the BIC influenced week I chose to go in a bit of a different direction.  Almost everything I own is BIC influence at this point.  Instead I chose products that were BIC gifted.  Because at this point BIC has been so generous that I can absolutely do a full face!

Spoiler

-SC Clean blush and shadow palettes are both in the same category in my mind.  Easy to use, easy to blend, easy to pull off, and easy to disappear quickly.  They just don't really last on my skin.  That said, I did find that if I wanted to slip them into my purse they were very easy to top up with just my fingers mid-way through the day.  Not a favourite formula but I do think they have a place.  
-ND Love Face Palette -- The blush and highlighter in here have better lasting power for me.  The highlighter is too dark as a highlight and I'm not really a highlight gal to start with.  That said... makes a great shadow.  The shadows in here aren't all my favourite shades from ND, but I can make them work for sure, the pale pink got a good work out this week as an easy base shadow for me. 
-SC Big by Definition Mascara -- This one... not for me.  It's still a 'wet' formula and I've opened this one quite a few times hoping that it would eventually dry out.  It also gives what I'd call a very natural look by way of volume and length.  I haven't tossed this yet.  But I should. 
-Haus Lab Lip Oil.  This isn't my favourite lip oil or lip gloss, but it's a combo of the two in my mind.  This would be a good one to pan at some point.  I like it, I'm just not in love with it.  The shade is great for me though.  
-MUFE Lip Liner -- How had I not tried these on my own?? MUFE is a brand that I generally love and these are such a standout product.  I need more shades.  They are creamy enough that they don't pull, but hard enough that i'm not just using a lipstick in pencil form.  They remind me a lot of MAC liners that I fell in love with in the 90s and also remind me that I should be buying more of those as well.  While I do enjoy not having to carry a sharpener when I travel... this style of lip liner just works best for me. 
-Cali Ray Lip and Cheek stain... works best as a cheek product for me.  The shade is a bit too pale/white based for my lips, though I'd swatch other shades and contemplate a purchase for science.  As a cheek product it's nice.  What this product lacks for me is the ability to stand out among my collection.  I do see how this could be a great product for a teenager just starting a collection, looking for an easy to use, fresh face product. 
-SC Translucent Powder - Not for me.  I've tried using this with a sponge, a puff and a brush, light hand, heavy hand buffed in, baking (haven't done that in a decade) and it just looks heavy no matter what I do and no matter what base product I've been using with it.  Do I try and pan it?  Or pass it on for someone else to try?  
-GXVE Matte Lip in Original.  I'm working on being more comfortable in a red lip.  I do like that this a true red.  I however prefer more blue based shades.  The component feels lighter than it should, and combined with the fact that it's a matte and I prefer tinted balms, means that this doesn't get much use.  I am however committed to giving it more use. 
-GXVE quad shadows are in my project pan this year.  I find the palest shade is dark enough for me to use as a one and done, and I'll be able to easily finish that one.  The other two cooler shades are darker and will take longer.  The fourth is warmer tone and ... I recognize I won't likely finish that one.  The formula can be quite soft, but I don't mind it.  At this point in life though, I want to love all four shades in a quad.  
-Charlotte Tillbury Lipstick in Pillow Talk.  In the past I've always found this shade to run really warm on me.  It still does.  I'm not a lover of the shade on me, but I can easily see how it's a favourite for many.  I'm keeping this almost as a 'control' shade for swatches etc, but It'll never get much use from me. 
-Make up by Mario cream bronzer.  I never would have bought this on my own.  I don't use a lot of bronzer and I'm not generally into anything Kardashian adjacent.  I was fully prepared to hate this.  I love it.  It's a great shade, not too orange or yellow, goes on lightly, blends easily, builds easily.  What a fantastic product. 
-SC Best Skin Ever Concealer.  This... isn't it for me.  I find it's heavy for my under eye area which is where I generally use concealer.  I have tried it as a foundation and it's not bad, but again, feels a bit heavy for me.  I'm going to try it again with other skincare underneath in the summer months as a foundation.
- SC Best Skin Ever Foundation.  This shade is too dark for me and it oxidizes after application.  I'm going to try mixing it with a moisturizer or primer in the summer months to see if it's salvageable for me as a base product as it's also a bit heavy looking on my skin for my preferences. 
-Caliray primer.  I'm actually almost done with this.  I like the scent, I like that it doesn't feel heavy.  It does tone down shine from my SPF, but I'm not convinced it makes my make up last any longer than not using anything.  Will finish it up, but likely wouldn't purchase.

[ather]

@missjeanie  Oooo great pics!!! All great products! 

[missjeanie]

@ather I knew keeping these boxes would come in handy!

[CynthieLu]

The reflection on the ND got me to, I had to look twice to figure out what I was seeing. 😅 It would be cute thou if it had been real. 😉 Awesome tribute to your gratis collection, making it into its own capsule, and you picked the most fitting back drop too.

[missjeanie]

@CynthieLu Pretty much everything I've bought the last 10 or so years is BIC influenced... This felt like a good cheat lol

[danielledanielle]

I like your remix to the theme. It's a good way mix old and new @missjeanie 

I almost didn't recognize the ND palette with the reflect.  Kinda wish it came in this version, though 🤣

[missjeanie]

@danielledanielle lol, how fun would it be to have a BIC*ND Collab!!

[itsfi]

@missjeanie, check out the current Beauty Ice Breakers  questions. If you, Sephora and Natasha Denona did a palette collab ✔️, I'm down for including it in my pan project for whatever year we'd be on for Pan It! - 2024 Challenge 😉 Just putting it out there, that's all.  @danielledanielle 

[missjeanie]

@itsfi Bahahahhaa... If I'm ever given the chance to design a product with both @NatashaDenona and @TeamBIC you can bet I'd be sending them out to everyone here!!I I also suspect it would be a boring enough shadow range that it would be a hit among the everyday make up users, but likely too boring for most of BIC lol!  Oh man... now I'm day dreaming of what my perfect collab would be!

[itsfi]

@missjeanie, well, boring palettes usually are the ones that have my heart, especially if they have just the right mix of neutrals. I would buy that collab - in a heartbeat! If it has other beauties in addition to eyeshadow, all the better. I don't think I have another 5 years in me to stick to a large eyeshadow palette. I'm hanging on for the last shadow in the Biba palette to see pan. 🤞

[itsfi]

RECAP: Week 12 - The "Springing Forward" or "Pops of Colour" Makeup Capsule

Spring came and with it some nice weather ... for a day or two and then rain showers. The "pops of colour" theme was welcomed for adding brightness to some otherwise grey and moody days. Big thanks to @missjeanie for such a great idea. 

No new products to add to the Top Shelf, but there were a handful of standouts this week - some for good reasons and others ... not. 

Standouts for the right reason

Bye-bye!

Spoiler

ALL STARS:

🌼  Besame Ella Fitzgerald Eyeshadow Quad is really becoming a go-to purple/mauve eyeshadow palette for me

🌷  Fenty Gloss Bomb Crystal Holographic Lip Luminizer is beautiful on its own or atop lipstick. 

🌺  Soleil Toujours Clean Conscious Body Sunscreen Mist with Vitamin C SPF 30-50 - I know this is meant for the body, but I used it on my face, to set my makeup and it worked out surprisingly well. No vision blurriness, watery eyes or irritation. 

🌹 Charlotte Tilbury K.I.S.S.I.N.G Satin Shine Lipstick 90's Pink is one of my favorites from her latest lipstick collection. 

UNDECIDED:

🌿  Prados Eyeliner - Mora (Purple) is a lovely, rich purple. My allergies creeped up on me earlier in the week so I didn't really have many opportunities to play with this one the way I would have liked. On the few days I did, it was nice. Will want to incorporate this into my makeup again; maybe I'll bring it out for the weekends. 

DECLUTTER:

🏡  Youthforia PreGame Primer - the consistency and performance of this primer is nice, but the smell is not appealing. It does dissipate quickly but there are other primers that perform just as well, if not better, without the scent. I'll see if anyone wants it but am prepared to toss it if the scent bothers those interested in it.

🏡  LAWLESS Woke Up Like This Flawless Finish Foundation  - it bums me out that this did not work out. It started off well but as I continued to wear it throughout the week, I noticed that it irritated parts of my face. So, I'll try to rehome this one. @ather 

🏡  The rich pigmentation on the Cheekbone Sustain Lipstick Askihk is beautiful, but alas, it is too bold for me. While it makes for a lovely stain if I lightly pat it onto my lips, I find I have other similar colors in my stash and this one isn't a standout in that regard. I contemplated repurposing as a tinted lip balm, but I already have plenty of those. 

🗑  Prados Mascara - Reyna (purple) looks and feels like it's dried out quite a bit. The colo is a pastel lavendr purple that unfortunately, applies and appears more chalky than it looks coming out of the tube. This has been tossed.

[ather]

@itsfi  Oh no! Sorry to hear the Lawless was a no go. But no point in keeping it if it’s not working for you!! So many better ones out there!