Morning skincare is supposed to be light on the skin and quick to complete. I barely have any time in the morning, so I'm always looking for products that will be quick and effective, without compromising on the health of my skin.


Finding a good daytime moisturizer for my oily/combination skin has been the trickiest part of my morning skincare routine. Of all the moisturizers I've tried, some were too greasy for my skin whilst others were not hydrating enough.

But the following combination has been absolutely fantastic for my skin: Clean & Clear Oil Free Moisturizer mixed with Lotus Herbals Alphamoist.

I mix a pea sized amount of each on my fingers, before applying it all over my face (immediately after misting with my La Roche Posay Serozinc). It sinks into my skin very easily and provides just enough hydration, without making my face look like an oil slick.

These two moisturizers combine the goodness of salicylic acid (in Clean & Clear) and lactic acid (in Alphamoist) and help keep my skin in good shape.

If you're looking for a moisturizer for oily skin, I highly recommend that you give these a try! 

When I came to know that Nykaa had begun stocking TheBalm, I was beyond excited. I was thrilled!


Logging on, I immediately put the Mary Lou Manizer highlighter and the Bahama Mama bronzer in my cart and checked out before they sold out!


And I haven't regretted either of the purchases. Not even a bit. I will be reviewing the Mary Lou Manizer soon, but today I want to talk about Bahama Mama.

Simply put: it is the best bronzer I've ever used so far. The shade is such a beautiful balance between warm and cool undertones that it makes product foolproof.


You won't end up with muddy cheeks or end up looking like and Oompa-Loompa with any ghastly orange shades.

I love applying  bronzer with my Real Techniques Blush Brush or the Lottie London bronzer brush all over the perimeters of my face.


It gives my skin a lovely sun-kissed tan and adds a bit of definition to my face.

The bronzer is quite pigmented and blends really easily.



If you're looking for a bronzer that will give you that 'just back from a beach vacation look' I highly recommend that you try Bahama Mama.

It has become my favorite bronzer and I always reach for it!

Price: Rs. 1399

Today I'm going to talk about one of my all time favorite concealers, the Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Concealer. I used to stock up on this through international stores, thanks to its unavailability in India. But God bless Nykaa and Maybelline for FINALLY making it accessible to us Indian beauty lovers!


I use the shade Medium in this concealer and its sponge tip applicator makes it really easy to apply this concealer. I apply it in the usual upside down triangle  under my eyes and blend it out with a damp makeup sponge.


It blends very easily and gives a very flawless coverage and natural finish. You can layer this concealer up if  you want to build up the coverage. I use one layer for day to day makeup and two layers for special occasions/events. This concealer paired with my beloved NYX Banana Powder make my under eyes look positively creaseless.

This concealer stays on and on without any creasing in fine lines or accetuating dry patches (and believe me, I have plenty of dry patches on my skin thanks to Differin usage).


I love this concealer and will continue to repurchase for as long as Maybelline makes it!

Price: Rs. 650 

I'm here with a RAVE review of the PAC Retro Matte Gloss. They are a range  liquid lipsticks from PAC, which I recently discovered. I own the shades 07 and 08 and I am OBSESSED with them.


The packaging is really sleek and the doe-foot applicator of the lip color really helps in a precise application of the product.


The consistency of the lipstick is thin and it spreads easily. The pigmentation is intense and one coat gives full color payoff. Once applied in a few minutes, the lipstick dries to a true matte finish. And it feels SO comfortable on the lips, you'll end up forgetting that you even have lipstick on!

The BEST about this lipstick is its longevity. It lasts and lasts and lasts! It doesn't budge from your lips and believe me, it even survived a meal involving pizza and burgers, looking completely intact!

The shade 07 is a beautiful mauve shade that reminds me of Kat Von D Everlasting Liquid Lipstick in Lolita, while 08 is an earthy, warm terracotta shade which I love. Both these shades make for excellent 'everyday' lip color options!


I'm beyond impressed with this product and am going to try more shades soon! At an affordable Rs. 550, you have to try this liquid lipstick. You'll love it! 

I'm so excited to share my review of the Nykaa Sculpting and Hydrating Foundation, you guys!



I've been testing out this foundation for a while now, wearing it almost every day and I've fallen in love with it.



It claims to be 'a sculpting and hydrating foundation with hyaluronic acid and polylift for a naturally radiant look that is beyond perfect.'

Now I have to say that I'm a bit skeptical about the 'sculpting' claim, but this foundation is definitely hydrating on my skin.



It offers a light to medium coverage which can be built up easily without looking cakey. The foundation has a light and runny texture and it blends very easily.

I prefer to apply this foundation to my skin either with the Real Techniques Buffing Brush or the Real Techniques Expert Face Brush for an airbrushed finish.


The best part about this foundation is that it makes your skin look very natural and doesn't sit on your skin like a mask.

This foundation truly becomes one with the skin. It sets to a dewy finish and it will be a boon for dry skinned beauties. Those with oily skin (like me) will need to use a powder to set this foundation.

This foundation lasts for 6-7 hours on my skin and hasn't broken me out. I use the shade 03 Warm Sand which matches my skin tone. I'll admit that this color is a little light for my skin immediately after application, but after 5 minutes, the foundation adapts to my skin color, providing an almost perfect match.

This foundation has become my new 'everyday makeup base' favorite and I highly recommend it to everyone. There are 5 shades available in this foundation range and you can buy them for Rs. 575 from Nykaa.com

I am pretty happy with my current haircare routine and just wanted to share it with you guys! This combination of products has been keeping my hair healthy and happy:

Mask: I use the Parachute 100% pure coconut oil as a pre-shampoo hair treatment. I massage the oil all over my hair and scalp, saturating my hair with it, before tying up my mane in a bun and covering it with a shower cap. I usually let the mask soak into my hair for 2-3 hours before washing it off. Result is ALWAYS glossy, frizz-free hair.

Shampoo: For shampoo, I'm rarely loyal to one particular brand. I like to switch things up! But the one shampoo I keep coming back to over and over again is the L'oreal 6 Oil Nourish Shampoo. It thoroughly cleanses my hair without stripping and I love the scent!

Conditioner: Since I am growing my hair long, I want it to be as healthy as possible. For an extra dose of nourishment, I use the L'oreal Total Repair 5 hair masque as my conditioner. I massage a few dollops of this thick cream through my hair and let it sit for about 3-4 minutes before rinsing it off. I've noticed a marked improvement in the health of my hair since I began using this mask.

Serum: I apply the L'oreal Total Repair 5 Smoothening Serum to my towel dried hair before blow drying. It helps tame the frizz and makes my hair smooth and easy to detangle.

Dry Shampoo: In between washes, I rely on my beloved Batiste Dry Shampoo to keep my scalp grease-free. It adds a lovely volume and texture to the hair. The only con of this product is that it may leave a white residue on dark hair, so be sure to massage it away thoroughly! 

I don't like caking on the foundation and concealer on vacation. Who wants to bother with makeup when you can relax and unwind?

To keep my skin protected, I apply a generous layer of Lotus Herbals 3 in 1 Matte Sunblock. It is matte, tinted (so it evens out my skin ever so slightly) and has both UVA and UVB protection with SPF 40. Next up, I dot some of the Maybelline Fit Me Concealer under my eyes and on blemishes and blend it out by patting it with my finger.


To bronze up my skin, I use the NYX Matte Bronzer in Medium and brush it on with a fluffy brush, like the Real Techniques Blush Brush.



For eyes, I simply curl my lashes with my faithful Inglot eyelash curlers and apply two coats of the Maybelline Push Up Falsies Mascara.



Lips are sorted out with a layer of Lakme's Weightless Lip and Cheek Mousse (Blush Velvet is my go-to color).

And there you have it! My holiday beauty essentials that help me look put together, without taking too much of an effort! 

Loreal Mat Magique foundation has quickly become an everyday favorite base for me.

It claims to offer a 'matte without the flat' finish, and I totally agree with this.


I use the shade G3 of this foundation, which is a shade that contains yellow undertones, suitable for fair/medium complexions.

Housed in a hot pink squeeze tube, this foundation has a creamy texture. It blends seamlessly into the skin, either with fingers or brush or sponge. My favorite method of applying this foundation is with a damp Beauty Blender.

It gives me a medium coverage, which can be built up in areas where you need it.
This foundation makes my skin look fresh for about 5-6 hours, before the oils start to seep through around my nose area.

The foundation has a lovely satin matte finish: not totally matte, it has a slight bit of glow to it. But it definitely doesn't look dewy.

It lasts quite well on my skin, lasting 8-9 hours. That's the maximum time period for which I've worn this foundation.

This foundation contains an SPF of 11, which will be alright for winters, but for summer, you'll definitely need a sunscreen underneath.

I'll highly recommend this foundation to oily/combination skinned beauties. If you have dry skin, please moisturize THOROUGHLY before using this foundation, as it accentuates dry patches, being a matte foundation.

I will definitely repurchase this foundation. Its become a good, budget friendly base option for me. 

Being more consistent with my morning skincare routine has made such a huge difference to my skin.

Earlier, before getting into beauty, I just used to wash my face with whatever foamting face wash I had on hand. And that was it! No moisturizer, no sunscreen.
I shudder when I think about it now.

My morning skincare routine is very simple and doesn't change, I only switch up my evening routine.

Skincare in the morning should be light, refreshing and quick.



My routine is as follows:

Cleanse with Cetaphil, massaged onto dry skin and removed with warm wet washcloth.

Tone with a spritz of La Roche Posay Serozinc (my new favorite toner). Detailed review coming soon!

Eye cream: Cetaphil Daily Advanced Ultra Hydrating Lotion.

Moisturize with a small amount (three pea sized dabs) of Clean & Clear Oil Free Moisturizer.

Protect skin with Lotus Herbals Matte Gel Sunscreen (SPF 50, PA ++). Hands down the most comfortable sunscreen I've tried so far.

And that's it! These five steps take me five minutes to complete, and my skin is really, really thankful for it.

What are your favorite morning skincare products?

I had been so excited about the NYX launch on Nykaa that as soon as I received the email in my inbox, I subscribed for the launch notifications and went about making my wish list. The NYX Liquid Suede in Soft Spoken was the FIRST product that I added to my wish list.

Fast forward to the actual day of the launch, I woke up LATE in the morning and in my half sleepy state logged onto Nykaa to find out to my disappointment that Soft Spoken was SOLD OUT. I had been studying the night before and wasn't able to wake up earlier for the launch and as a result, most of the products on my wish list had been sold out.

Nevertheless, I didn't give up hope. Throughout that day, I logged onto Nykaa at regular intervals, just to see if they had restocked any of the products that I had wanted. Miraculously, they HAD restocked Soft Spoken. I immediately added that one product to my cart and checked out before it went out of stock again!

And when it arrived in the mail, I couldn't have been more excited. It was a beautiful mauve pink shade with a bit of a grey undertone. Very Kat Von  D Lolita.

Now as for the actual product, I LOVE it. The doe foot applicator helps me apply the liquid lipstick with ease. The formula is great, very pigmented and not patchy at all. One layer is usually enough for me. Once the lipstick dries, it sets completely matte. And it does not move or bleed through the day. The lipstick is very comfortable to wear and does not dry out or cause flaking on my lips. In fact, this is one of the most comfortable liquid lipsticks I've owned.

I've heard that it is an EXACT dupe of KVD Lolita, but I haven't been able to confirm it since I don't own Lolita. Yet.

That being said, NYX Liquid Suede in Soft Spoken gets a HUGE thumbs up from me. Its a beautiful everyday shade that will work for almost every complexion. Also, a word of caution, this lipstick is perpetually out of stock on Nykaa, so I'd suggest that you sign up for their restock notification so that you can snap it up for yourself the moment it is available!
Price: Rs. 850

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One of the most highly spoken of products from Colorpop, their Ultra Shock Cheek Highlighter in Wisp was present on my wishlist.


Initially I was looking for a champagne gold highlighter, and was pretty set upon buying Champagne Pop by Becca. My only niggle was that it was too expensive for my budget. Also, I had heard plenty of horror stories about people receiving their Champagne Pops shattered in the mail; Becca's highlighters are notoriously delicate.

While looking for a dupe for Champagne Pop, I stumbled upon Colorpop Wisp. It was described as a "champagne golden" highlighter and was pretty low priced and highly recommended by other bloggers.

It arrived in a cute little white screw top jar, with the holographic logo of Colorpop emblazoned on it. The formula of the highlighter is cream to powder. Upon touching it with my finger, it felt slightly spongy to the touch. Also, this bad boy is highly pigmented. No joke.

If I want a full blown highlight, I'll apply it with my fingertips, blending it well into the skin. This highlighter blends very easily and does not budge upon setting. It lasted me all through the day, even on my oily skin during summers.
I apply this with a fan brush if I want a subtle glow. Either way (fingers or brush) it looks beautiful.

I will highly recommend Wisp from Colorpop, especially for us Indian girls, as it works very well with yellow undertones complexions.

For now, I won't be shelling out any big bucks for Champagne Pop because I'm so happy with the Colorpop Wisp. Its brilliant.

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