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. 

[itsfi]

What is this gorgeousness?!!! 😍

"this is less of a capsule exactly and more of "a collection of my faves in each category"" Hmmm... interesting @caitbird; I feel like that is exactly what a capsule should / can be. Just my personal opinion. Yes, capsules, like a wardrobe capsule or a makeup capsule has often been taken to mean or suggest something very small. But, small doesn't necessarily mean 5 items ... says the gal with 75 products in her current "ultimate makeup capsule collection" in July. 🤣

Right now, I don't know what the outside number will be for my capsule collection but I'm low-key aiming to carve out from that larger capsule collection a group of oh ... say ... twenty <<said while squinting my eyes and wincing>> that will be my "core" capsule, the things I tend to reach for often, the tried-and-true, can't be without. And, as I write that, I think "are we sure 20 will be enough, Fi???" Hahaha! 

Okay, back to the capsule and photo. 

Capsule - what, what, WHAAAT is that I see - that Glossier cloud paint looks like it's going to make its way to the Empties - V2 thread at some point, possibly this year. That is some major usage in the works. Excellent! Hmmm, I'm now intrigued by the ONE/SIZE primer, at least for later this summer. I may need to try a sample - mattifying is something I look for in the warmer season but too mattifying and my skin isn't happy. Making a note...

Photo - The placement and use of the flowers and jewelry against that wood desk/table and the lighting strikes a lovely mood; I love the ambience to it. That bee pin is super cute and I find the bracelet in the lower left hand corner to be very pretty. 😍

btw, you look fantastic! Love the eye and lip shades - so jelly how well you wear those pinks and red eye shades. 

[caitbird]

@itsfi  thank you so much! 💜 this was a fun capsule to do. I guess you're right, I suppose I just have this idea in my head that "capsule" means something more pared-down, but after all, it means what we decide it means.

I kind of didn't realize how much of the Cloud Paint I had used up until I looked at this picture, haha. And I have been really liking the One/Size primer for this hot weather we've been having, when I am worried about looking too shiny. I like it because it's not *too* mattifying, which I don't like, but it still helps keep that excess shine at bay.

Thank you! I tried to make my capsule flat lay look a little more interesting and pretty. I've used flowers in my photos before, but this time I thought, why not add some jewelry too for a little sparkle?

[itsfi]

I love the addition of the jewelry @caitbird. The pieces are unique and they provide a glimpse into your style, who you are - I love that so much when a photo does that. 📸

[caitbird]

@itsfi  that's such a fun way to look at it, I love that! 💜

[CynthieLu]

You've got some great choices here for your capsule + pan it challenge @caitbird. The way you lay them out and took this photo, they are  beautifully displayed. Well done 😺

Thank you for sharing your look.  You combined your two eyeshadow palettes in such a pretty way. 😍

[caitbird]

@CynthieLu  ahh, thank you so much! 😘 I tried to pretty up my little capsule flatlay a bit, haha. I was pretty happy with how this look came out! 💜

[peculiarzmakeup]

Beautiful Capsule! I love the arrangement and organization and your take on each product. Beautiful look! You look amazing 🤩 @caitbird 

[caitbird]

@peculiarzmakeup  thank you so much! 😊

[itsfi]

Week 28 - The Ultimate Makeup Capsule: The Subcapsules Edition 

Here's what the original capsule looked like 😍 - 

From there, I pulled out about half a dozen items to curate a capsule for (most of) the work week. Yesterday, I went with this group of beauties 👇 (pulled from the original capsule) and added mascara (not pictured) for a Day-To-Night (or Date Night): Summer Edition Makeup Capsule

Day Look: A few things to help me look pulled together

-  Sephora Collection Caffeine Eye Masks 🐐 to add some brightness to my entire face and make these peepers look more alert & awake

- Bobbi Brown Vitamin Enriched Eye Base Primer & Moisturizer with Hyaluronic Acid 🐐

- Armani Beauty Luminous Silk Perfect Glow Flawless Oil-Free Foundation 🐐  

- DIOR Backstage Concealer 

- Ami Colé Desert Date Cream Blush & Lip Multistick Hibiscus 

- Makeup by Mario liner (Light 1) (discontinued) - waterline only

- Westman Atelier Lip Suede Lipstick Palette Les Nudes - part of this year's pan it! challenge and one I'm liking more than I thought I would

Night Look: A few extras for after work or a date night look

- MAKEUP BY MARIO SoftSculpt Transforming Skin Enhancer®  

- MERIT Day Glow Dewy Highlighting Balm Bounce 

- Bobbi Brown Long-Wear Waterproof Cream Eyeshadow Stick Golden Bronze 🐐

- Danessa Myricks Beauty Linework Paintbrush Fluid Liquid Eyeliner 0.034 oz / 1 ml 

- Givenchy Lip Liner 8 Parme Silhouette 

- Givenchy Lip Liner 9 Moka Renversant 

- Shiseido Eyelash Curler 

- #SEPHORA COLLECTION Love The Lift Curling + Volumizing Waterproof Mascara Ultra Black #(not pictured)

Spoiler

@caitbird, here are more lip liner swatches ⬆️

As for fits, I didn’t take all my makeup with me, just the extras listed above and a few more goodies:

- SEPHORA COLLECTION Cleansing + Exfoliating Wipes Coconut - the mini's are great for keeping in my purse, for mascara that may flake or smudge due to weather or me being me - read: me being careless and rubbing my eyes, forgetting I have eye makeup on. 🙄 

- Touchland Power Mist Hydrating Hand Sanitizer - because why wouldn't I have at least one bottle of this in my purse? 😃

Also pulled from the original group of products were these beauties for The Ultimate Makeup Capsule: The Weekend Edit which I got a jump start on because I'm feeling the need for a low-key work look today and this capsule was already made up. 😊

- Tower 28 Beauty SunnyDays SPF 30 Tinted Sunscreen Foundation 🐐

- DIOR Backstage Concealer 

- MAKEUP BY MARIO SoftSculpt Transforming Skin Enhancer®  

- HAUS LABS BY LADY GAGA Color Fuse Longwear Hydrating Glassy Lip + Cheek Blush Balm Stick Glassy Hibi... 

- MERIT Day Glow Dewy Highlighting Balm Bounce 

- Westman Atelier Lip Suede Lipstick Palette Les Nudes 

- Shiseido Eyelash Curler (not pictured)

- Makeup by Mario Liner (Light 1) (discontinued)

all tucked neatly in this cutie - 

Okay folks, that’s it for this week. No declutters as these are all faves. 👍🏼 Excited to see your picks.

[caitbird]

@itsfi  ah, thank you so much for the swatches! 💜 Those pinky and pinky-brown colors look very promising 👀 I love how carefully thought out each of your capsules and sub-capsules are, depending on what your needs are for each. One of these days I will have to try to do a larger capsule and a sub-capsule too, the way you have been. I think it will be a fun experiment. For science! 😂

[itsfi]

Yes, yes @caitbird, for science. It's a must. 😂

Definitely give it a try - you might try doing it a couple of different ways, depending on what best suits your style - 

• One option - start with a smaller capsule, like your go-to for a simpler look. Use that as your starting point. Pick an event - brunch with friends, picnic in the park, day-to-night/date night, sitting at home trying new makeup (ummmm, that is absolutely an event in my mind!! 😉) and add products to your initial capsule as appropriate - sometimes, it'll just be adding a couple of products in categories you didn't have and other times, it'll be adding a different (and extra foundation or lip product or eyeshadow palette, etc.)

• Another option - take one of your makeup looks (whether or not it's part of a capsules or another challenge on BIC or even a haul and think about how you might add or subtract products for different looks - quick & easy, day-to-night, full face, weekend wear, etc.

We each have our tastes and styles and ways we process through our stash of beauties to curate our daily looks or weekly capsules. You'll find your way to the subcapsules that suit you best. You've already done something similiar with putting together your go-to's for a look with fewer products - a full face capsule and a more streamlined, simplified subcapsule. 

btw, if you find a pinky or pinky-brown lipliner you love, do let me know. Errrr, asking for a friend?!! 😀 Her name is Science. 😂🤣😂

[caitbird]

@itsfi  thanks for the ideas for different subcapsule-making methods! I am not sure what would work best for me, so I may have to experiment 😂

I will definitely let you know if I find that perfect lip liner I am looking for! 🤣

[itsfi]

@caitbird, experimenting with your makeup collection is part of the fun of these capsules! 

[CynthieLu]

I can picture you getting some fantastic looks out of your Date Night Capsule. 😍 I see your favorite sanitizer was included, that's smart!

They just started carrying Touchland Sanitizers at a specialty retailer here and it made me think of you and the stories I read from last year's Sephoria adventures that were being posted around. I believe a lot of folks discovered that product after you sharing it with them.  

Oooh thou I love the bag you picked out for Date Night/ Day to Night 🌉 @itsfi to you remember where you got it? 

[itsfi]

Ooooh, I'm so excited to hear Touchland is making its way to Canada, @CynthieLu! Woohoo!!! Yeaaaahhh, I was a bit extra with offering to share Touchland sanitizer with the people at Sephoria NYC. 😀 Everyone was super gracious with putting up with me. 

Thank you. I am pretty sure I found the purse on amazon. I had seen something like it a few years back when I was on vacation and then found it one day. Hold, please, while I double check ... Yep, yep, amazon - if you type in "novum crafts rattan bag" in the search field, it should pull it up. There are several different styles, but this "color" / style is listed as "Square Bow" - it has a strap so it can be worn as a shoulder bag or a cross body. Ahhh, versatility. I'm sure I considered that as one of the many factors in my decision to get it. 😉 That's my story whenever I hear the "another purse?" comment, and I'm sticking to it. 😅

[peculiarzmakeup]

Wonderful capsules @itsfi I love the organization, planning ahead, and mindful intentional purpose in each. Your picks are so lovely! I have to get mine organized I have some new things to add, this is very inspiring beautiful swatches 💕 

[itsfi]

Thank you @peculiarzmakeup! Shopping my stash by way of this capsule challenge and Pan It! - 2024 Challenge has really been helpful with keeping to my no-buys and low-buys during the first half of the year. 😁 

I appreciate the kind words a lot, peculiarzmakeup. I had an idea going into this challenge how I thought it might go. I've wanted to do something like this for years. I've been trying out an approach and making adjustments to it as I go, after giving that approach a fair shake. I think at the outset I thought or perhaps hoped, I would just know what would be kept and what would be decluttered but it's not always that easy or simple. I mean, sometimes it's clear that a product is not a good fit, but most of the times, it's been trying something out and thinking through what works and what could be better. And then maybe trying it another time - another season, when my skin is looking and feeling a different way, paired with different products, etc. 

Ohhh fun - love it when there are new products to add to the collection. Is there one or more types of products that you are finding you are picking up more? Bronzer? Eyeshadow? Lippies? What are the products that you just can't get enough of? 😉

[peculiarzmakeup]

That’s so great to hear! I just checked out the Pan it challenge. 🙂 

That is such an incredible concept I think it will be very helpful. It really resonated when you said “maybe for a different season or occasion” expanding the possibility. It is so important to consider if a product is a good fit but I love the idea of thinking of potential opportunities that may have not happened yet for those products to shine! One thing I do to shop my stash is the makeup challenges here at BIC, I usually look ahead of the theme and I find myself being intentional with selection versus my tried and true looks I gravitate too. I am picking up more eyeshadow! Which is a category for me with the least in my stash which indicates it’s time to Pan it and Shop my stash in the other areas 💄 @itsfi 

[PrettyPaint]

@itsfi This was so much fun to read. What do you think about the DM liner? Is it easy to use?

[itsfi]

Ah, thank you @PrettyPaint for those kind words. I really like the DM liner; it’s one of the easier liquid liners to use. 👍🏼 I still need to prop my arm against the wall to help steady it but I have tried to free hand my line with the Danessa Myricks and it has worked pretty well, better than I expected. Do you have a liquid eyeliner you are currently using and loving? 

I need to put it to use vis-a-vis other liquid eyeliners, to see how they all perform. Maybe it’s something I should do in August or September. 🤔 Those are traditionally warmer months here so it would make for some good testing conditions. 🔬🧫🧪

[PrettyPaint]

@itsfi That's great to hear that it's an easy one to use. I put it in my sephora cart so I can keep it in mind for the next purchase. I haven't been using liquid liner, unfortunately, though I love it. I may try to reintroduce it in the fall. My eyes are watery enough (maybe allergies?) that I haven't really been able to use liquid liner lately. It winds up looking runny once I go outside, so I've given up on it for now, sadly.