Night Time Skincare Routine.

Hey guys! Hope you all are doing great.

In this week’s post, I will sharing my night time skincare routine.

The night time skincare routine is as important, if not more, as your daily skincare routine. In the day, your skin is subjected to dust and harsh sun light. However careful you are, there ought to be some damage done to your skin during the day which is repaired in the night.

This is my night time skincare routine and other than the first, you can follow the steps according to what your skin needs. However I recommend that you incorporate as many steps as possible.

Remove all my make up.

This is the most important and integral step of the night skincare routine. Even if you are too tired or lazy to follow any of the other steps, you CAN NOT avoid this step. Sleeping with make up on is the worst thing you can do to your skin. 

My all time favourite make up remover is the Bioderma Sensibio Water.

Comment below if you want me to do a post on make up removers.

Try to take a shower and moisturise my body.

If I have the time and energy, I try to take a shower before sleeping. The body skin has to deal with the same amount of dust and pollution as your face but is often neglected. Thus I try to take a shower especially on days I have been in the sun for long. I follow it up with moisturising.

Since I have a skin condition, I always use a medical soap.

For moisturising, I love using The Body Shop Sorbets. My current favourite fragrance is the Virgin Mojito which was from the limited edition that came out last year.

Use a face wash.

It is important to use a face wash before sleeping since it ensures your skin is clean and does not have anything that can cause breakouts or acne. If you have been following Compact Matters, you would know about my extreme love for Tea Tree products. 

The Body Shop Tea Tree face wash is my go to face wash.

Use a toner.

A toner ensures to remove all dust and grit from your pores that can be missed by your face wash. It is easy to clean up some odd spots on your neck or behind your ear. Dirt in the pores could be the cause of breakouts and acne.

I am currently using the Plum Chamomile & White Tea Toner.

Use a night cream or serum.

 A night cream is essential to lock in the moisture and help repair the damage done during the day.

I had been using the Kama Ayurveda Rejuvenating &  Brightening Ayurvedic Night Cream sample for a while, which I received in my Nykaa Beauty Lab. However since that got over, I am back to using the Kiehl’s Midnight Recovery Concentrate.

Sometimes, I add the Innisfree Green Tea Seed Serum on my acne prone spots.

Use an under eye gel.

An under eye gel helps you look more healthy and awake. It is essential to dab it and not blend it. Since I do not have a dry under eye area, I use a gel and not a cream.  

The only under eye gel that I have ever used and swear by is the Fabindia Aloe Vera Under Eye Gel.

That is all for this post. If you have any suggestions or questions, please it down in a comment.

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Photography Courtesy: Shivam Bhatt.

Nykaa Matte Nail Lacquer Review.

Hey guys! Hope you all are doing well.

In this week’s post, I will be reviewing the Nykaa Matte Nail Lacquers.

Matte nail paints have been a craze all over the world for quite a while now. They look artsy and so Tumblr. Unfortunately for the longest time, matte nail paints were not available in the Indian market. Recently almost after a year of launching their Nail Enamels in every possible shade, Nykaa launched a range of Matte Nail Lacquers. I was personally in love with the colours variation and formula of the Nykaa Nail Enamels and has to try their new range as well.

So without any further ado lets get into the review. 

Price 

The Nykaa Matte Nail Lacquer retails fro Rs.200 for 9ml on Nykaa.

It is available in stores like Beautiful in Bandra, Santacruz and Lokhandwala and New Beauty Centre in Khar and Kandivali for Rs.180.

Packaging 

The Nykaa Matte Nail Lacquers come in a basic nail paint bottle every similar to the Nykaa Nail Enamel bottles. However the glass packaging of the polish is given a slightly frosted effect. Each shade has a specific name that is mentioned on the sticker on the bottle. Each shade has a unique number assigned to it which is mentioned on the top of the cap. The applicator is also of the perfect length and density.

Application 

Since the applicator of the The Nykaa Matte Nail Lacquers is of the perfect length and density, the application is super easy. The lacquers settle within a few seconds of application however the first coat takes about 2 minutes to dry. The second coat takes upto 5 minutes to dry up. The second coat is not necessary but I recommend it for the best colour payout possible.

Fragrance

The Nykaa Matte Nail Lacquers smell of acetone like any other nail paint. As soon as the paint dries, the smell disappears.

Longevity

Since applying a regular top coat makes the finish glossy, it is best to avoid a top coat.  Without a top coat and double coat of the the Nykaa Matte Nail Lacquer, it lasts for 4-5 days on an average without any major chipping. I personally put my hands a lot under water and my estimations of longevity are based on my personal experience.

Pros

Amazing formula and beautiful range of colours from deep colours to neon shades.

Easily accessible on Nykaa’s website.

Comfortable application.

Does not contain dangerous chemicals like Formaldehyde Resin and Camphor.

Cons

A little expensive compared to regular nail paints.

The colour of the Nykaa Matte Nail Lacquer appears a little different on Nykaa. 

Thus I recommend you have a look at nail swatches done by one of the beauty bloggers or pick them up from a store,

My Personal Collection

 126 Spiced Gingerbread 

This shade belongs to the recently launched Nykaa Fall Winter Matte Nail Enamel Collection.

118 Emerald Isle 

This shade also belongs to the recently launched Nykaa Fall Winter Matte Nail Enamel Collection.

79 Blueberry Sorbet

This shade belongs to the Nykaa Neon Matte Nail Enamel Collection

08 Black Cherrypie

This shade was among the first launched 12 shades of the Nykaa Matte Nail Lacquers.

28 Pink Meringue 

This shade is a pastel shade from the Nykaa Matte Nail Lacquers.

 That is all for this post. I hope you found it useful. If you have any suggestions or questions, please leave it down in a comment.

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Photography Credits:Shivam Bhatt, Anushka Varma and Vini Bakhda.

Setting Sprays 101.

Hey guys! Hope you all are doing well.

In this week’s post, I wanted to get back to the basics and talk about Setting Sprays.

If you have been following the 101 series, we have covered all the products that go into achieving flawless base make up. The last step of this process, if you would like to make your make up long lasting, is a setting spray.

What is a setting spray?

A setting spray or a fixing spray is a spray that mainly contains water and glycerin. It acts as a top coat for your make up thereby increasing the wear time. Its primary function is to increase the longevity of your make up.

Types of Setting Sprays

Setting Sprays With A Matte Finish

Most setting sprays fall in this category and prevent the skin from getting oily. This is best suited for people with combination to oily skin.

Setting Sprays With A Dewy Finish

With the advent of dewy finish foundations, a few brands have also come out with dewy finish setting sprays. This is best suited for people with normal to dry skin.

How to apply a Setting Spray?

Once you are done applying your make up hold the setting spray at an arm’s distance and squirt it all over your face and neck. Usually squirting the setting spray around 4-5 times is sufficient to cover your entire face and neck. 

Some people like to wait for it to dry. However I prefer to dab into my skin with my beauty blender.

Some people like to finish their make up completely and then go in with the setting spray. However I personally prefer to go in with the setting spray in between as well. For instance when I am done with my foundation or right after highlighting and contouring.

Uses of a Setting Spray

Setting Sprays ensure that make up stays in place for long hours due to its glycerin content.

Setting Sprays help hydrate your skin since a large proportion of the product is water.

Setting Sprays help intensify the colour payout of eyeshadows and pigments while also increasing the longevity.

Setting Sprays, mixed with dried up gel liner,helps make the liner smooth.

Setting Spray, when spritzed onto a beauty blender or brush, makes the process of blending make up quick and 

easy.

Setting Spray can help dilute your foundation and concealer, if mixed into the product before applying, to provide a sheer coverage and greater longevity.

Some Popular Setting Sprays

The MAC Fix Plus is, without a doubt, the most popular setting spray. It is known enhancing the make up immensely while increasing the wear time. However it is a high end product and not very affordable. This is probably #1 on MAC Wishlist.

The e.l.f Make Up Mist & Set and Wet n Wild Photo Focus Setting Spray are affordable setting sprays that are dupes for MAC Fix Plus and Urban All Nighter Setting Spray respectively. Unfortunately there are not available in India yet. 

The Maybelline Super Stay 24 Makeup Locking Setting Spray also does a good job increasing the longevity and hydrating the face. Lets hope Maybelline launches it soon in India.

The Make Up Revolution Pro Fix Oil Control Fixing Spray is my favourite tried and tested setting spray available in India. It retails for Rs. 1000 for 100ml. It is easily available on Nykaa. It increases the longevity of the make up, hydrates the skin and does everything a good setting spray should do. I highly recommend this to anyone who wants a try a setting spray for the first time.

The L.A Girl Pro HD Setting Spray is another spray that I tried from the Indian market. This too is available on Nykaa. I love the quality of the product. However the disappointing part is the size of the product. It retails for Rs. 850 for 30 ml only. I would never repurchase this product.

That is all for this post. Lets all pray that some Indian brands come up with their afforable setting sprays. If you have any suggestions or questions, please it down in a comment.

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Photography Courtesy: Shivam Bhatt.

Nykaa So Matte Lipstick Review.

Hey guys! Hope you all are doing well.

In this week’s post, I will be reviewing the Nykaa So Matte Lipstick

The “My Favourite Everyday Lipsticks” post received a lot of love from you. Just a few days after that post, I received my Nykaa parcel with the Nykaa So Matte Lipstick and it fit into the category so well that I had to share it with you.

So without any further ado lets get into the review. 

Price 

The Nykaa So Matte Lipstick retails for Rs.400 for 4.2gm.

Shade

There are 12 shades available in this range. They include everyday nudes, deep shades and bright poppy colors meant for the Indian skin tone. I have the shade Taupe Thrill which is a nude brown colour.

Swatch of Nykaa So Matte Lipstick in Taupe Thrill.

Packaging

The Nykaa So Matte Lipstick body comes packaged in a box, which is rare with drugstore lipsticks. The box is red in colour and mentions the shade, ingredients and claims. In contrast, the body of the lipstick is matte black. It has the shade mentioned at the bottom and Nykaa written over it. The body of the lipstick is square shaped. The cap of the body clicks magnetically shut. Honestly the packaging gives the whole lipstick a rich feel.

Fragrance

The Nykaa So Matte Lipstick has an extremely slight minty smell that goes away soon.

Application

The Nykaa So Matte Lipstick claims to be matte but I would call it semi matte. It does dry up to quite an extent in the first 10 minutes. However it does not dry up completely and thus transfers a little reducing its wear time to 3-4 hours on an average. It glides on smoothly. It is highly pigmented and making application of only one coat more than enough. It can be re-applied easily.

Lip Swatch of Nykaa So Matte Lipstick in Taupe Thrill.

Lip Swatch of Nykaa So Matte Lipstick in Taupe Thrill.

 Pros

Affordable. 

Classy and expensive looking packaging.

Vitamin E enriched.

Wide shade range.

Cons

Not completely matte.

Needs to be re-applied every 4 hours.

My Verdict

Even though this lipstick is not totally matte, for the price, it is totally worth it. The packaging is beautiful. It is comfortable to wear and travel friendly. Overall, I feel this lipstick is the perfect gift for anyone you want to treat. Your mom, your sister or even yourself. It is totally pocket friendly and still a quality product.

That is all for this post. I hope you found it useful. If you have any suggestion, please leave it down in a comment.

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Photography Credits: Anushka Varma and Yashasvi Doshi.

2016 Favourites.

Hey guys! Happy New Year. Hope you had an amazing year. Here we are at the end of 2016. This year literally just flew by. Even though 2016 was not one of my favourites, for me it will always be the year, I discovered my love for make up and finally started Compact Matters. I would like to thank each and every reader for supporting Compact Matters. You have made my year special. 

So for the first post of the year, I will take you through all my favourite products that I loved and adored in 2016.

Maybelline Fit Me Foundation and Concealer

Maybelline’s Fit Me Matte + Poreless Foundation in 230 Natural Buff and Fit Me Concealer in Medium are my absolute favourites.  The Fit Me range was launched early this year in India and luckily I found a perfect shade match in the foundation and concealer. Both the products have the perfect texture and are pretty inexpensive. The Fit Me foundation is apparently a dupe for MAC Studio Fix Fluid Foundation and the Fit Me Concealer is a dupe for the NARS Creamy Radiant Concealer. These two are my permanent holy grail products.

 Colourpop Super Shock Cheek

The Colourpop Super Shock Cheek in Hippo has been my favourite highlighter. This year has been all about the glow for me. I finally started playing around different kinds of highlighters and really loved the different outcomes. This highlighter is a cream highlighter that I purchased from beauty tales.co.in. It is as pigmented as a product can get. This shade is a lilac silver in colour which is definitely not an everyday highlighter but I totally love it.

Plum Natur Studio Kohl

The Plum Natur Studio Kohl has found its place in my make up stash permanently. It is my favourite liner cum kajal. Thanks to this product I have started lining my waterline after ages. It stays on forever and does not smudge. I have ranted about how much I love this product in a previous post, if you would like to check it out.
 http://compactmatters.blogspot.com/2016/11/plum-natur-studio-kohl-review.htm

Maybelline Lash Sensational Mascara

The Maybelline Lash Sensational Mascara has been my favourite this year. In my opinion, it is an upgrade on the Maybelline Colossal Mascara. It adds volume and length to the lashes while separating them. It is perfect for every day wear and with a few more coats adds all the volume you could need for a night out. Also I totally love the rose gold packaging.

Chambor Extreme Wear Transferproof Liquid Lipstick

2016 has been all about liquid lipsticks. Until last year, I was a red lipstick person totally but this year I moved on to some nude pinks among which the Chambor Extreme Wear Transferproof Liquid Lipstick in 401 has been my go to lipstick. I love their how comfortable it is despite being super matte. I have a complete review on this lipstick as well. http://compactmatters.blogspot.com/2016/09/chambors-xtreme-wear-transferproof.html

Real Techniques Expert Face Brush

The Real Techniques Expert Face Brush has made my life heaven and my contour on fleek in 2016. Initially I was a little hesitant about powder contouring because it could easily end up looking like a brown patch on your cheek. This brush helps me place my contour perfect and blends it just the perfect amount so that it is visible but not to stark.

That is all for this post. I want to wish all of you a Happy New Year! May you always slay with or without make up. 

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Photography Credits: Shivam Bhatt.