Capsule Makeup Collection Challenge 2024

[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. 

[Mellmars1185]

@itsfi What a fun category! One day I will need to pick up the T28 Tinted Sunscreen Foundation and see what it is all about. I have a feeling this is something I will pickup if I am able to attend Sephoria this year 🤞 (since it is not available north of the border). I am in love with the merit cream shadows. Too bad the Sephora Balm has been discontinued. I always hope in these cases that maybe they are updating the packaging. It definitely had Rare Beauty vibes. 

[itsfi]

Yes @Mellmars1185, it's a must if Sephoria 2024 is in the US. The tinted sunscreen foundation and the concealer, along with other beauties from the brand. Would love to see them at Sephoria, actually. 😍

Oooh, which Merit cream shadows do you have? I love that I can apply with a brush or just my fingers. 

[Mellmars1185]

@itsfi Yes that would be wonderful...Although, I could also cross the boarder and make a day trip also...🤔

I have the shade #MERIT Solo Shadow Cream-to-Powder Soft Matte Eyeshadow Studio . It is described as a 'cool taupe'. I find it leans warm on me. I really like it.

[itsfi]

Ahhh, Solo is next on my list as far as Merit shadows go @Mellmars1185, and maybe that olive green shade in the line. Having used the brand for most of the week, I'm contemplating whether I want to pick up the bronzer in the shade Seine. I don't need one so my brain tells me to hold off. Hopefully I listen to my brain during the sale. 😆

[itsfi]

RECAP - Week 11: The One Brand Makeup Capsule 

Spoiler

I really enjoyed the "one brand" theme - thank you @Mellmars1185! Choosing MERIT (randomly though it was) made for a great quick and easy makeup look for the work week. Most days, it was foundation/concealer, one of the cheek products, brows and mascara, and one of the lip shades. I also had a lot of fun taking photos of these beauties. 

Top Shelf:
🏆  I don't think I've formally designated MERIT The Minimalist Perfecting Complexion Foundation and Concealer Stick Linen a "Top Shelf" product but it certainly has earned it. 

Standouts:
🌻  MERIT Signtaure Lip Sheer Lip Liner Bespoke (limited edition) is a good shade of brown for me - not too warm, not too light, not too deep. Would love to seep MERIT build out a lip liner collection.

🌹  MERIT Brow 1980 Volumizing Eyebrow Pomade Gel - I don't fuss too much over my brows (perhaps I should) and I enjoy how quick & easy this one is to use.

🏵 I've typically steered away from rose gold highlighters because they are either too rosy or too gold for my liking but the MERIT Day Glow Dewy Highlighting Balm Bounce strikes a pretty balance. Happily surprised with this one.

Undecided: 
❓Haven't used the MERIT Great Skin Instant Glow Serum with Niacinamide and Hyaluronic Acid 1.69 oz / 50 ml enough to know if I really, really like it but planning on keeping this in my skincare rotation to find out.

❓  MERIT Bronze Balm Sheer Sculpting Bronzer Clay is fine, but too warm for my liking in a bronzer. It does give my complexion a healthy glow, which is a plus. I wonder if the shade Seine might be a better bronzer color for me. 🤔

Week 11 Declutters: 

Oh, we have some declutters! 🙌 Some from this week's capsule items and others I'm letting go of because of how well one of this week's beauties performed. But each of the decluttered products will be rehomed! 🏡 

Spoiler

🏡  Tower 28 Beauty Work of Art has finally seen the last of a makeup capsule. MERIT Bespoke is really a good shade of brown for me so it's time to say "good bye" to the Tower 28 lip liner.

🏡  I just couldn't make the Sephora Collection Prime Universal Lip Liner work for me to make it worth keeping. 

🏡  MERIT Shade Slick Classics Tinted Lip Oil Falcon is just too deep of a shade on me. It's a lovely color; it just doesn't work on me the way I would want it to.

🏡  If there was an award for the least surprising declutter, it would easily go to MERIT Shade Slick Classics Tinted Lip Oil Cara Cara this week. It's a pretty, red orange shade and the formula is lovely, but I'm just not a fan of red orange lip colors on me. A classic case of "It's not you, it's me." 😉 

There we have it, 4 items decluttered (rehomed) this week. The running tally for the month also holds at 4. 

The "one brand" capsule was great and I will try my hand at it again another time. That said, I was also interested in putting together an "all the brands" capsule and have decided I will do that for the weekend. It'll be a low-key weekend for me so my capsule will be on the smaller side 😍. I'm looking forward to curating it and will plan to post that tomorrow morning, after I put my face together. 

[Mellmars1185]

@itsfi Thanks for the tag. I am glad you were able to put many items to use! Knowing that the Foundation stick is a top shelf for you has be wanting to try it out again. It was definitely too heavy as a Foundation for me (and the shade sand may be a little too deep/warm for me. Today I spot concealed with it and it worked out much better. Maybe I will pick up a different shade during the sale. I am curious about your thoughts on the Merit Cream Eyeshadow.

[itsfi]

@Mellmars1185, I use the Merit stick more like a concealer + - to spot conceal like you do, and in the areas where I have redness - usually around the corner of my nose and on certain parts of my cheeks. I have done a full face with it and I agree with you that it's a little too heavy, but as a concealer or a concealer-PLUS, it works very nicely. 

I love the Merit eyeshadows more and more every time I use them. I have this feeling that they will at some point get a Top Shelf designation. I want to step away from them and then bring 'em back into the rotation so that I can be sure that it wasn't just a fluke the first time. The formula really is quite exceptional. #MERIT Solo Shadow Cream-to-Powder Soft Matte Eyeshadow Vachetta is a one-and-done shade for me and I love the Glace shade - it's one of those shades that would look amazing with just that on the lid, black liquid liner and mascara - done! I'm wonder how it might perform as a primer - will try that the next time I include it in a capsule - because there will be a next time. 😍  

[Mellmars1185]

@itsfi Both shadow shades swatch beautifully. They look like can be used with many looks or on their own, like you mentioned. I like applying this formula with my finger to my lid and buffing out towards the crease. I find powders lay well on top of it also. I still have to test it out more, but so far so good!

[itsfi]

Ooooh, thank you for that tip @Mellmars1185! I’m going to try to remember to use the shadow from ND Biba to lay on top of the Merit shadow the next time I use it. 👊🏼

[CynthieLu]

Ahh thank you sooooo much for this beautiful recap @itsfi. It is sooooo wonderful that you rehome your declutters. If it doesn't work for you, you know there's someone out there who would enjoy it. 🙏⭐ I think that's a very sweet thing you do. But, also congratulations on decluttering! 😄

I will be curious to hear how the skin glow serum fares in the weeks to come. I like those as a makeup prep step, where do you use this one in your routine?

(I really wish I had a enough of a brand to do a whole capsule theme for them. But I really do keep my stash small.. except eyeshadow... That's a whole different story. I do miss when Natasha Denona was easily available, i feel if it was going to be any brand, it would be hers. I hear great things about her concealer.🤩)

[missjeanie]

@CynthieLu @Mellmars1185 Check out lookfantastic dot ca... they sell Natasha Denona in Canada, and often have sales as well. Doesn't look like the full range... but there is some!

[CynthieLu]

Oooh this is news to me. @missjeanie 🤩🤩 If you'll excuse me, I'm off to browse now. 😉 

[Mellmars1185]

@missjeanie Thank you! I have ordered from there a couple of times for the NATASHA DENONA Yucca Eyeshadow Palette and NATASHA DENONA Mini Starlette Palette 💛💚🩷🩶

[itsfi]

@CynthieLu, thank you. Rehoming products is a work in progress. Some periods are better than others. I know that inevitably there will be items I won't be able to donate or rehome but if I can, I try to. I've been more mindful of it since doing these capsule, especially when there's a product in the capsule that I'm using or will be using for the very first time. I started doing that with some gratis items too. Makes me feel like I'm doing a little bit to help cut down on waste, if I'm able to. 

I'll just say that there are pros and cons to having enough product from a brand to curate an entire makeup capsule with the brand. 😅 This week has been eye opening in that regard. 

lol, we all have that one category (and, for some of us, more than one category <<sheepishly raises hand>>) of product where our collection is a little .... healthier 😉 than other parts of our collection. Mine are lip products, foundation and eyeshadow, as far as makeup goes. Skincare is a whole other story. 🤣 

Wait...you don't have access or easy access to Natasha Denona?! I missed that; do they not have Canadian distributors or retailers?

[CynthieLu]

I can see that having that much of one brand ( or many brands) could have some up and down sides to it, for example especially for those living with limited space. 🙃 Buuut I love the idea of it. 🤩  @itsfi I really do thou, try to be mindful of what I'm getting without going too overboard. It's hard because I love alot of makeup related things. 🙈

Oooh it was a whole thing. ND's products started leaving Sephora Canada ( our only supplier) last year. Bonus, there was a huge sale and I definitely took advantage scooping up a good assortment of her palettes. So we can order over the border but there's alot about that where it's difficult. I haven't done it yet, thou I'm sure I will. But damage during delivery not being covered for international deliveries, duties and if it isn't coming regular mail, the chance of the package getting stolen.. it's alot of $$ and a little risky 

[itsfi]

Oh wow! That is / was a whole thing @CynthieLu! That's awesome that you were able to take part in the sale and get your hands on a handful of her palettes - I love her palettes. I need to stick to the mini's though - it takes me so long to work through them. 😂🤣😂 But in my defense, she packs a lot of product into her pans and the color payoff on the shadows are very good so a little definitely goes a long way. Did you mostly pick up her eyeshadow palettes, or did you get any of the full face palette, like the NATASHA DENONA Hy-per Natural Face Palette? 

[CynthieLu]

Not much, this is all that's been there recently;

 

Thou sometimes you can grab a palette like

Natasha Denona Retro Eyeshadow Palette 

And the NATASHA DENONA Bloom Cheek Palette 0.48 oz/ 13.7 g isn't usually there @itsfi 

[Mellmars1185]

Week 11 - One Brand Makeup Capsule (Rare Beauty). I have been attempting to do some organization of my collection. During this, I came across a lot of Rare Beauty. I am a little sad that I have not used a lot of this. I am going to use the same star system as @itsfi to identify the first use products.

Spoiler

Rare Beauty by Selena Gomez Find Comfort Niacinamide Hydrating Body Lotion mini
Rare Beauty by Selena Gomez Positive Light Under Eye Brightener Light Medium 
Rare Beauty by Selena Gomez Liquid Touch Weightless Foundation 140C 
Rare Beauty by Selena Gomez Liquid Touch Weightless Foundation 230N - I am happy to get the chance to use these again. These two shades are completely different from each other. On their own, they do not match. When mixed together, I can make them work. The cool shade was a purchase from the RB site. I tried to get shade matched through a chat by sending photos. The warm shade was a match through my shade IQ on the Sephora app a while back.
Rare Beauty by Selena Gomez Warm Wishes Effortless Cream Bronzer Stick Happy Sol 
Rare Beauty by Selena Gomez Positive Light Liquid Luminizer Highlight Reflect  *
Rare Beauty by Selena Gomez Soft Pinch Liquid Blush Hope 
Rare Beauty Sincerely Me palette - A gift from the booth at Sephoria*
Rare Beauty by Selena Gomez Positive Light Silky Touch Highlighter Exhilarate 
Rare Beauty by Selena Gomez Mini Illuminating Primer- Always An Optimist Collection 0.5 oz/ 15 mL (deluxe mini)*
Rare Beauty by Selena Gomez Stay Vulnerable Liquid Eyeshadow Nearly Neutral 
Rare Beauty Eye Primer*
Rare Beauty by Selena Gomez Mini Pore Diffusing Primer- Always An Optimist Collection 0.50 oz./15 mL *
Rare Beauty by Selena Gomez Brow Harmony Shape & Fill Duo Brown *
Rare Beauty by Selena Gomez Mini Perfect Strokes Universal Volumizing Mascara Black * - I definitely don't need to open another mascara, but I'm doing it for the challenge 😆...what am I kidding? I want to try it!

Not pictured:
Rare Beauty by Selena Gomez Liquid Touch Concealer Brush 
Rare Beauty by Selena Gomez Soft Pinch Blush Brush  

Edit - Adding in lippies

Spoiler

Rare Beauty by Selena Gomez Soft Pinch Tinted Lip Oil Stain Affection 
Rare Beauty by Selena Gomez Soft Pinch Tinted Lip Oil Stain Delight 
Rare Beauty by Selena Gomez With Gratitude Dewy Lip Balm Thankful 
Rare Beauty by Selena Gomez Kind Words Matte Lipstick Humble 
Rare Beauty by Selena Gomez With Gratitude Dewy Lip Balm Support 

Not pictured
Rare Beauty by Selena Gomez Kind Words Lip Liner Fun 
Rare Beauty by Selena Gomez Kind Words Lip Liner Humble 

 

[CynthieLu]

You do have lovely Rare Beauty collection @Mellmars1185. I think I can relate to opening too many Mascara's at once but hey, if it's needs a bit of love and attention. 🤗 I find I go through them at a good place that it's never bothered me enough to stop experimenting. Lol.

I see you have thier branded puffy bag, it's cute! 😍

[Mellmars1185]

@CynthieLu Thank you! I opened the RB mascara today and I am thinking it is going to be a qualifyer for top shelf status. It fanned, thickened and lengthened my lashes. I will see if it transfers. I am excited for this!

[missjeanie]

@Mellmars1185 I'm reading here that I need to open up my RB Mascara!  Sounds like it was such a winner for you!