Already Using a Capsule Wardrobe? What About a Capsule Pallet? Here's our DIY to minimize, depot + magnetize your makeup all in one perfect place
Last spring, my sis-in-law introduced to me this color-filled capsule wardrobe tutorial and it finally got me on the capsule-wardrobe-bandwagon.
I officially swear by capsule-ing now and my closet has become my delight. I love it so much, I started wondering what other areas of my life I could also encapsulate and simplify.
And then it hit me. My makeup drawer (or rather drawers) were just begging for a complete overall.
After a bit of research, I stumbled across a technique that makeup artists use to manage their own heaps of products: it’s called depotting. Basically, it means you pare down your favorite daily-wear products (think: pressed foundation, blush, brow balm, and eyeshadow) and remove them from their bulky containers. Then, you transfer the products directly into one small carry-all, totally-customizable magnetized palette.
The best part? You can create one palette for the day, one for the night, and one for special occasions. You can even create seasonal pallets to match your seasonal capsule wardrobe. Yes, please!
How to create your capsule daily-wear makeup pallet:
What You'll Need:
Elate’s Magnetized Palette (it’s gorgeous, sustainable and made from eco-chic bamboo)
Depotting spatula (I ended up using the spatura that came with the magnets. I also liked that you could repurpose this tool in as some sort of blemish-banishing extractor.)
Straight iron
Parchment Paper
Powdered Makeup
A bit of patience + commitment to the process
Instructions:
step 1: reduce + recycle
Your first order of business is pulling out all of your powdered makeup products and organizing them into categories. Make piles of all your eyeshadows, foundation powders, contouring/highlighting powers, etc.
Take a look at each item in each pile and ask yourself these three questions:
1.) Is it past it’s expiration date? Most powder-based products usually expire after 2 years. Powder eyeshadows are the exception to that rule and expire after 4 months. If it’s expired, toss the makeup and recycle the containers that held them.
2.) Do you absolutely adore that product? If you don’t love it now, you won’t love it later. Time to toss it too! Not sure how/where to recycle your makeup? Check my “TIPS” section just below to read up on a bunch of great options.
3.) How often do you wear that product? If it’s something you wear on the daily, by all means keep it out. If it’s something you adore, but wear only on the weekends, consider saving it for later when you DIY your weekend pallet instead.
TIPS:
If you feel hesitant about getting rid of your makeup all in one go, just keep your favorite products out, but put the rest in box. Then place that box in a hard-to-access spot (garage anyone?) Making a makeup capsule pallet is so much easier if you are already working with a minimized amount.
Wondering where to recycle or donate your makeup? Consider shipping your lightly used powder products to Project Beauty Share a nonprofit that helps upcycle that makeup to help women overcoming “abuse, addiction, homelessness, and poverty.”
step 2: establish your basics
Which powder products do you always reach for? Which ones do you use when you are in a total hurry and need a quick fix? Those, my makeup-minimalizing friend, are your basics.
For me, I know I use these five different types of powders most often. So, after outlining those categories, I chose my bases/favorite in each category.
Powder Foundation
Blush + Bronzer
Eyebrow Powders or Brow Balms
Eyeshadows (I choose 2-3 options of eyeshadows, because it’s nice to have two neutral colors and one subtle smokey shadow on hand)
step 3: depot
The easiest way to depot makeup pans starts with trying to lift them out of packaging. Use your spatula and lightly go around the edge of the pan for leverage. If your makeup doesn’t pop out with ease, then you are going to need to use heat to loosen the glue that holds it in place.
Loosening the glue is super easy, just place your pallet on top of a warm flatiron for two or three minutes. You’ll know the product is ready to remove when there isn’t any resistance pulling it out of the packaging. When the glue melts, I usually turn my palette over and the pan falls right out. If not, I grab my handy spatula and pry it out oh-so-gently.
TIPS:
Be smart. Be aware of places that are potentially flammable. Make sure to remove pallet using a protective glove (or in a pinch, a hot pad) because it’s bound to burn.
Not sure, where to start? I watched a bunch of different tutorials, but I think this one from Elizabeth Grace is the by-far best. The tutorial even helps you if you break one of your powders and need to salvage it.
Does the idea of depoting make you shiver? No problemo. You can skip the whole process (and go-green) by reaching out to companies and purchasing pans (without the packaging). The easiest way to find these pan-only options is usually by looking up “refills” in the makeup menu. Some of my favorite brands to purchase pans from are Elate, Alima Pure, Aether Beauty and Odylique.
step 3: magnetize
Now that your makeup pans are free of their original packaging, it’s time to add them to your pallet. First off, test the pans to see if they are naturally magnetic (some of them already are). If the pan isn’t, then simply grab your magnetized stickers and place them on the bottom of the pan.
TIPS:
I also like to label the back of each pan with brand, expiration date, and shade name just to keep things organized + easy to replace.
step 4: design your layout
Organize and customize your palette by organizing your pans. For me, I organized the whole capsule makeup pallet from left to right based of order-of-use. I put my powder foundation in the top left corner, followed by my blush/bronzer, my brow balm and finally my assortment of eyeshadows.
step 5: enjoy
You did it! Now it’s time to enjoy your minimalized makeup.
Is Elate’s Magnetized Palette Right for You?
What I Love About It | This palette’s magnet is super strong. I don’t have to worry about the pans falling off/out of place when I toss my palette in a suitcase. It also looks lovely, matches my other Elate products, and my generic bamboo brushes.
Good To Knows | If you are thinking about upgrading to Elate’s pro-palette, I have some advice…don't do it! The medium sized palette is soo much better. The pro palette just isn’t conveniently sized, and it doesn’t fit in places where I’d normally store my makeup. It’s just plain bulky.
Ideal For | The eco-chic minimalist
Price | $22
Ethics | Elate’s products are made in Canada. Everything from the bamboo to the mica mineral is purchased at a fair trade price.
Elate products are certified by PETA and Leaping Bunny. Elate also donates to a local nonprofit in their neighborhood called the Victoria Women's Transition House.
Sustainability | This palette is created from bamboo, a self-regenerating natural resource. Oh, and Elate is a member of the Environment Defense’s Just Beautiful Pledge which is also a neat touch.
I also adore Elate’s Elate's "Perfectly Imperfect" section of their website still gives you access to their crazy-clean beauty at a budget-friendly price all without adding more waste to the environment.
How did your makeup purge and paletting go? I’d love to see what you did! DM my sister and I on instagram and let us know your thoughts and other tips and tricks!
XOXO,
Lemon
