As someone who has lived in Mumbai for almost two decades, local trains are a lifeline option to get from point A to point B. Amidst the frustrated cries, hasty steps, and the throng of a jostling crowd, I’ve channelled my chi to master the art of doing my makeup in a forever-busy Mumbai local. So, I decided to document this on-the-go makeup routine for you. Let’s hop aboard ‘train makeup routine’ Express and take a look at everything I used.
Before we continue, here are some important deets – I have an oily, acne-prone skin type and I sweat profusely. Therefore, some of the steps will focus on mattifying, blurring, and controlling oil production.
Step 1: Sunscreen Touch-Up
Though I prep my skin with a face serum for acne-prone skin and sunscreen, sit all turns greasy by the time I reach the station (that too in Mumbai humidity). So, reapplying sunscreen is important to give my skin optimum sun protection. My go-to sunscreen lately is the Cos-IQ Outdoor Sunscreen Serum Spf 50 Pa++++. It goes on my skin like water, that’s how lightweight it is and to my brown skin’s merriment, it does not leave any white cast (even when I relentlessly start sweating). Plus, the 100ml version comes in a squeezy tube that’s travel-friendly.
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Step 2: Mattifying & Pore Minimising Primer
Thanks to my oily skin, and sometimes even humidity, I constantly contend with enlarged pores. So, I do crave a smooth base from time to time and when I do, I go with a face primer that has blurring and mattifying properties. For this, I like the MARS Pore Cure Primer. What I like about this primer is that it comes in a clear gel formula so I don’t have to worry about any ashy cast. Moreover, this also has dimethicone which is a common ingredient found in primers for that blurring/pore-filling effect. I like to focus this primer mostly on my cheeks and T-zone as those are the areas that get oilier. Once I’ve applied it, I like to wait a few minutes till the product completely absorbs into the skin.
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Step 3: Base
Maybe it’s the influence of the post-Covid beauty era or my evolving makeup choices, but I no longer find myself gravitating towards a foundation for an everyday makeup look. As much as I love the coverage, I prefer a skin-like finish that’s hydrated and through my skin’s flaws peek through. That’s why, I like using concealer. For the face, I’ll mix a dab of it with some extra sunscreen for a skin tint. You can even use a separate skin tint but I like to keep my makeup pouch as minimal and lightweight as possible. I use the same concealer to give some coverage to my under-eyes. I do all this with my fingers (god-given tools) so that the products break down easily from the natural body heat.
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Step 4: Lip & Cheek
I’m a fan of multitasking beauty products so it’s safe to say that I have a slight obsession with lip and cheek tints. It gets the job done in a few easy strokes without mulling over different shades for the cheeks, lips, and eyes. In my endeavour of searching for brown skin-friendly shades, I came across Plum’s Touch-n-go Lip & Cheek Tint in the shade Mauve Along. This colour is the perfect blend of mauve and chocolate brown. It gives a soft matte finish to both the lips and cheeks. I was so hooked that I bought a backup of this lip and cheek colour. It has almond oil, jojoba oil, and shea butter to nourish the lips like a lip balm. I even apply this shade to my eyelids for a soft brown eyeshadow look.
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Step 5: Setting The Face
My makeup look would be incomplete without setting my face with a powder to cut the oil. It locks in all the cream products and helps the makeup last long. On days when I want a little extra coverage, I’ll go for a compact powder like the Kay Beauty Matte Compact. It’s finely milled and absorbs into the skin seamlessly without making the face look patchy. I like the shades 130N Medium to give an overall coverage and 110Y Light to give the under-eyes a brightening effect. I also like the SUGAR Powder Play Translucent Compact as it sets and mattifies the face on days when I want just enough coverage.
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Step 6: Eyes
Aside from the colour of the lip and cheek tint, I like to keep the eyes simple with some kajal and mascara. This duo gives the eyes a beautiful smoulder that’s also minimalistic. I like to use a creamy kajal that glides on easily across the waterline, without irritating them. Once that’s done, I like to add some mascara – my favourite step! I love fluttery, full lashes for which I use the viral Maybelline New York Lash Sensational Sky High Waterproof Mascara. With over 24k ratings on Nykaa, it has everything you could ever want in a mascara. It volumises and lengthens and doesn’t become runny owing to its waterproof formula. It also comes with a silicone wand that won’t poke or scratch the eyes.
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Honestly, be it on a train or even inside an occasional taxi, this makeup routine works perfectly for my oily, acne-prone skin. Plus, it’s simple, quick and easily doable. I hope you got some reference points from my routine to form your daytime (or nighttime) look on your next train commute.
