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 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.

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

Spoiler

Week 24 (June 10 - 16) - The Repurposed Makeup Capsule and/or The Multi-tasking 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 6.3.2024]

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

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. 

[caitbird]

@itsfi  thanks for sharing your thoughts! I'm glad you found some products you enjoyed in the bunch - and good job decluttering what didn't work for you! I need to do that more lol. So far in the past month or so I've managed to add a few things to my declutters stash, namely items that are so "elderly" (as my mom would say) that it's actually rather embarrassing 😅 But I know I could definitely get rid of some more if I took the time to really go through my collection. One of these days...

[itsfi]

Thank you @caitbird! I go through phases when it comes to decluttering. It’s part of the reason I wanted to work on makeup capsules. Some things need to go because I’ve held onto them too long; some because they don’t suit me anymore, either style, formulation or shade wise; some because I just like / love something more, and so on. I try to re-home products when it makes sense to do so - either to people I know, women’s shelters, charitable organizations, or programs like Project Beauty Share or Wardrobe for Opportunity, etc.

My goal is to declutter one product per week. Some weeks are easier than others. My hope there is, of course, to baby step my way to moving products along, but it’s also to put me in the mindset of thinking through what I really need / want in my entire collection more deliberately, so some weeks there are products from past capsules as well as ones I haven’t even included in a capsule before that end up in the declutter group. 

[caitbird]

@itsfi  I love the idea of re-homing or donating decluttered products when you can; I think it was you who first introduced me to the idea, and I think it's awesome! I actually have a bag of unused samples, freebies, and so on - things that I know won't work for me because they're the wrong shade, or things that I already have plenty of, etc. - that I've put aside that I'd like to donate if I can. I just have to make a point one of these days to check with some local shelters and places like that to see if they can take them.

I think decluttering one item per week is a great goal! I might try to make that a goal of mine as well - like I said I have been decluttering some items recently, but I'd like to do so more, and more consistently. I've actually made a list of products to pull out and try and test and possibly declutter, for this month's "chopping block" capsule, so I'm looking forward to getting to that later this month!

[itsfi]

Ahhh, that is so smart @caitbird - making a list of items you want to include in a future "chopping block" theme. That will be such a great way of making sure that you are shopping your stash, both for the good stuff and the items that you're just not sure about. Sometimes if you don't keep it top of mind, it can be easily set aside and then things just pile up. I'm excited to see the products you include in future chopping block capsules. And also, feel free to include a couple of chopping block things in other capsules (whether or not they fit squarely in a theme) if you'd like - sometimes it's helpful to just add one or two items to a weekly capsule to get into a routine of trying it out with other products and in that way, to see if it's really a good fit for you.

Yes! If I can re-home a product, whether to friends, family or to others through donations, that's my preference to just tossing it. Sometimes that has to be the case, but if it can be relocated, then that's a plus. Finding places that will accept products can be a hurdle, made a little more challenging post-covid. Understandable but a few extra steps. The good thing is that once you find a place(s) that will accept them, you're set. 

[itsfi]

Week 19 - The Asian American & Pacific Islander Heritage Founded / Owned Beauty Brand Makeup Capsule: The Minimalist Edit 😂

Spoiler

This is my minimalist edition of the AAPI Heritage Founded/Owned Beauty Brand Makeup Capsule, with a couple of beauties that don't fit the theme. 😉 I had planned on wearing these items once or twice this week, but ended up reaching for them more - because of how well they worked out for me and how quickly it was to do a put together look! 😍 That is usually such a plus for me. 

OLEHENRIKSEN Banana Bright Face Primer 1 oz/ 30 mL brightens my complexion and lightly hydrates skin as it preps it for makeup. It, along with the Live Tinted Hueguard 3-in-1 Mineral Sunscreen, Moisturizer, Primer SPF 30 were great for some added brightening without making the skin feel like it had a lot of product sitting atop it. I plan to use up both products but won't be repurchasing either. It' not because the products are bad any means. Olehenriksen has a SPF in its Banana Bright collection that is creamier than the face primer and works as good, if not better, than this face primer for me. The Live Tinted SPF primer has a thinner consistency than the Banana Bright Face Primer and actually reminds me of it a little - they'd be cousins. The only thing I didn't care for was the smell I pick up - it's fleeting, and comes through near the end as I'm pressing the product into my skin but it's not what I find pleasant - I don't know what the scent actually is, but it has a sour, tangy bent to it. 

The Live Tinted Hueguard Skin Tint SPF 50 Mineral Sunscreen Broad Spectrum, on the other hand, is unscented. It wears magnificently! 😍 Which, on the one hand, is fantastic, but on the other hand, makes it hard to narrow down the number of skin tints in my overall collection. For now, it is staying - it really wears so beautifully. One layer evens tones and pressing some product onto areas of redness or dark spots does a nice job of blurring / covering them. Do I love it more than Tower 28 Beauty SunnyDays Foundation (my GOAT tint)?No, but we're in deep like. Tagging @ather @missjeanie who asked about the Live Tinted in the hauls thread. I'm going to have a hard time whittling down my foundation in general, but especially my skin tints. I mean, how many is too many for a collection.2? 3? 12? 😂 Do I just stick with the Tower (which I would be happy to do) and pass along everything else? 

HAUS LABS BY LADY GAGA Triclone Skin Tech Hydrating + De-puffing Concealer with Fermented Arnica has been a trusty ally in concealing and blurring dark spots from blemishes that are in the healing stage. I have heard good things about it for the under eyes as well and  should probably give it a go in that regard at some point. 

I'm trying to bring the Tower 28 x Kung Fu Panda BeachPlease Cream Blush for Lip and Cheek (Dumpling Hour) into various makeup capsules on a monthly basis - more to get myself more comfortable with wearing blush and also to get myself out of my comfort zone a bit - this red shade, while beautiful, is far more vibrant, bold, and red than I'm used to on my cheeks and lips.

Will be back with a recap of this past week's products later tonight or tomorrow. 

[missjeanie]

@itsfi So .... you sold me on the Live Tinted skin tint!  I need to get down to my closest Ulta and test out some shades.  

For the record... I say save allllllllllllllll the skin tints!  I however may not be the best decluttering influence. 

[itsfi]

lol @missjeanie. I hit 'Send' before I responded to the endorsement to save the skin tints! Hahaha! I had trouble sleeping last night so I got up, grabbed all my skin tints and BB/CC/CCC creams that were in one makeup bag (keep note of that reference - "one" makeup bag 🤣) and ummmm.... 13. Those are just the ones I've had in some rotation or another so far. Ouch! That's a lot. Gonna be busy trying to whittle that down. 

[missjeanie]

@itsfi Bakes dozen... we like pastries and things we buy in 13's.  I feel like 13 is a good omen for the skin tints.  

[itsfi]

hahaha @missjeanie; love this! Maybe I should make it a baker's dozen for all beauty product categories. 🤣 It scares me to think the many categories where I already hit that number if it were a target. 😬 

[missjeanie]

@itsfi Oh even my categories that I consider non worries for me, mascara, eyeliner, brows, and primer... all have more than 13.  I can't let myself count the others... it's not good for my mental health lol

[itsfi]

@missjeanie, I have the Live Tinted skin tint in Shade 9 - it's the second to lightest shade. My recollection (and it's a vague one I must let you know, is that the undertones on the lightest Shade 10 was off for me). Here's a swatch of Shade 9 compared to the Missha BB Cream Nos. 21 and 23. 

The lighting in my house isn't always the best. I can send you pics of swatches in natural light, but be forewarned, it may take some time - we are not expecting the sun to come out or out from behind the clouds until Saturday. 😞 At least per the weather report, which could be wrong. Let me know.

[ather]

@itsfi  You are really selling me on this Live Tinted tint SPF. It will make it hard to decide which product to keep in my stash! I’m happy you are loving it. Nice to see more tinted SPF moisturizers come out to play in the sun! ☀️

Yay I bet Dumpling Hour looks gorgeous on you! The red is so pretty! 😍 I think red looks so good in the summer too! I’m glad it’s coming out to be used more!! Which blush do you find you gravitate towards the most? 

[itsfi]

@ather, skin tints, tinted moisturizers and tinted mineral sunscreens are probably the foundation subcategory that will be the most challenging to declutter. I'm pretty sure Tower 28 SunnyDays will hold onto its GOAT status because I do love it so, but there's a lot of new skin tints released this year that I am interested in trying, a few I have picked up and just need to get to using at some point. 

Dumpling Hour is one of those products that I know I just need to pull out with some regularity - both to get more practice with applying blush and to get outside my comfort zone a little. 

Oh goodness, that's a hard one. I've been sorta sticking with cream blushes and particularly the Ami Cole Hibiscus and Tower 28 Beauty Dumpling Hour, but that is mainly because they're right in my line of sight. I'm slowing working on reorganizing my makeup items, but haven't made my way to the blushes. I'm sure there are some blushes from Summer Fridays, Victoria Beckham Beauty and a few other lines that I'll add to the rotation. I'm also more interested than before to know if there will be a Rhode cream blush stick coming out soon, soon-ish. 

What about you? What blushes do you consider your go-to's?

[ather]

@itsfi  I agree. Skin tints are becoming my fav right now! I’m 

 using my full coverage foundation less and less! 

I’ve really been using the Summer Fridays blush sticks a lot. They seem to work well with my skin and I love how they blend! I have the Saie and merit ones out too but I haven’t been reaching for them. I need to dig out my Tower 28 blushes! I find the stick formula so convenient!! Fingers crossed the Rhode ones come out soon!!! The pink she’s wearing in the one picture looks so pretty!!!😍 

[caitbird]

Week 19 (May 6 - 12) - The AAPI Owned / Founded Beauty Brand Makeup Capsule

I didn't have enough products (or products in enough categories) to do a capsule with only AAPI owned/founded brands, but I was able to put together a look using 6 products from 6 brands, plus other products from my usual makeup kit (and a couple that I am trying to work on for this year's Pan It! challenge).

* = AAPI owned/founded brand

Face:

ONE/SIZE by Patrick Starrr Secure the Blur Makeup Magnet Primer 1.18 oz/ 35 mL  (deluxe sample)*

IT Cosmetics CC+ Nude Glow Lightweight Foundation + Glow Serum with SPF 40 and Niacinamide Fair Porc... 

Glossier Futuredew Facial Oil-Serum Hybrid 1 oz / 30 mL 

Glossier Stretch Concealer G12

Hourglass Ambient Lighting Edit Unlocked Palette Jellyfish

Urban Decay All Nighter Waterproof Makeup Setting Spray Standard Size - 4 oz/ 118 mL 

Cheeks:

Youthforia BYO Blush Color-changing Blush Oil*

Rituel de Fille Rare Light Luminizer Ghost Light

Brows:

Glossier Boy Brow Volumizing Eyebrow Gel-Pomade Auburn 

Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Wiz Eyebrow Pencil Caramel

Eyes:

Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer Potion Original 

Kaja Eye Bento Bouncy Eyeshadow Trio Rosewater*

Colourpop Creme Gel Liner Courage

Tower 28 Beauty MakeWaves Lengthening + Volumizing Mascara Jet*

Lips:

The Creme Shop Permanent Popsicle Lip Juice Stain Peach Please*

TonyMoly Petite Bunny Lip Gloss Bar Juicy Strawberry*

[danielledanielle]

I really like the capsule you put together with the AAPI products in your arsenal @caitbird 

[caitbird]

@danielledanielle  thank you! I had fun with it. Putting together a capsule based on a different theme every week is a great way to rotate and use different products, something I'd like to do more of.

[ather]

@caitbird  Great capsule! I love this look! 

[caitbird]

@ather  thank you! 😊 I had fun with it!

[itsfi]

Marvelous capsule @caitbird! Great products all around. No need to have all products be something that fits the theme - one works beautifully and you have plenty of beauties here. I wondererd about those lip stains from The Creme Shop - it looks fabulous on you! Does it have a cream or jelly  like consistency? Ohhh, there's that Hourglass palette - such a pretty one, inside and out! 😍

[caitbird]

@itsfi  thank you! 💜 I had fun with this challenge, it is a great idea for a thread! Will definitely plan to participate in upcoming weeks too.

I forgot how pigmented the lip stain is - I like it though, I'd like to pick up some more colors in the future. I guess it has more of a cream consistency? The consistency/texture kind of reminds me of the Rare Beauty lip oil, at least if I'm remembering it correctly.