How to Create a Capsule Makeup Collection in 3 Steps

While you may be adding a ton of beauty products to your wish list this year, sometimes simplicity is key for a more streamlined routine full of fool-proof looks.

The Capsule Makeup Collection craze has gotten really popular lately for its ability to hone in on your true personal style while also saving you time and money in your beauty routine. The idea is similar to that of “capsule wardrobes” for clothes, where you stick to a cohesive color scheme and a select few core products that can be used for multiple go-to looks.

Creating your own capsule makeup collection would be a great way to start fresh for the new year, decluttering products long forgotten in the back of your drawer (or that have expired!) and really focusing on the ones you love to use.

Read on to discover how to start your own capsule makeup collection for a new routine that will keep mornings simple and your wallet happy!

1. Detox

The first step in creating your capsule makeup collection is doing a deep clean of your current products. Be honest with yourself when determining which products you actually reach for— don’t pull a “I might need this at some point!” that we all use to justify hoarding. Another great way to narrow down is by physically swatching all of your products, and purging duplicates. Hang on to your absolute favorite products.

2. Pick Your Best Shades

Out of the products that survived the purge, see what colors you tend to gravitate towards. The key to a capsule makeup collection is that you can mix and match your products for endless looks, so having the right variety within your favorite color schemes is important. Look through selfies and pick out 3-4 go-to looks you constantly wear, which will help when purchasing products in the future.

3. Identify What You Need (Not Just Want)

Now you can start building your shopping list to fill in the gaps to create full makeup looks. The whole point of a capsule makeup collection is to have what many would consider the “bare bones” of a collection that you can use interchangeably for core, go-to looks. Here’s an example checklist to get you started on what to keep/pick up.

□ Face Primer (1)
□ Foundation: two shades to cover your skin tone changing throughout the year
□ Concealer (1)
□ BB Cream (1)
□ Brow Pencil, Powder or Cream (1)
□ Brow Gel (1)
□ Eye Primer (1)
□ Eyeshadow Palettes (2): one neutral, one bold (could be bright colors or smoky shades… whatever suits you and your favorite color schemes)
My suggestion: Coastal Scents Revealed Palette // City Color Cosmetics Hypnotic Palette
□ Eyeliner (2): one liquid or gel, one pencil
□ Mascara (1)
□ Contour Palette and/or individually one contour + one highlight
My suggestion: City Color Cosmetics Contour Effects 2 Palette
□ Blush (2): one natural rosy shade, one bright shade
My suggestion: CoverGirl TruBlend Blush // NYX Ombre Blush
□ Lipliner (1): one nude or clear lipliner to match any lipstick shade
My suggestion: NYX Lip Primer
□ Lipstick (6): one nude, one mauve, one berry, one red, one pink, and one seasonal shade of your choice
□ Lipgloss (2): one nude, one “your lips but better” shade
□ Setting Powder or Setting Spray (1)

From there, you are free to add embellishments as you see fit, but sticking to this core collection will help you streamline your routine. It’s also important to challenge yourself to use up one product before buying a new one in the same category. Keep in mind expiration dates of makeup (Did you know mascara only lasts 3 months before you’re supposed to swap it out for a new tube?) and replace products accordingly. Since you’re sticking to a small amount of products, this also lets you splurge more without the guilt since every product is guaranteed to be used!

The capsule makeup collection isn’t for everyone— especially those who are aspiring makeup artists or just plain aficionados, but for people who want to make things easier on themselves in the morning, this method takes the guesswork out of choosing looks and products.