We Made Full-Face Makeup Combos Under INR 1,500 For Our Budget-Conscious Queens!

Our current favourite, Nykaa Cosmetics, isn’t only easy on the pocket, but is easy on the skin and the earth too thanks to them being chemical-free and clean. From this brand, we’ve picked lipstick, kajal, eyeshadow, nail enamel and compact for a total of INR 1,097

Lipstick: This one is creamy, lasts long and has 18 shades to pick from. So, you will definitely find one (or more!) to match your outfit! 

Kajal: We’ve actually tried this one, and it really is smudge-proof. You don’t need to even touch it up after a 9-hour work day. Straight to the party you go! 

Eyeshadow: This four-in-one palette, which comes in seven different colour combinations makes for an easy eye highlighter. It’s powdery but doesn’t blow all over your face. Pick the nude or darker shades to make it more day-to-night. 

Nail Enamel: While it doesn’t last too many days, at INR 159, we’re not going to complain. Also, there are 35 colours. That’s practically nine months of a new nail colour each week!

Compact: Pick from one of the eight colours to match our skin tone, and apply this one in the morning, and relax as it lasts 8 hours before you have to worry about a touch up again. We specify morning because this compact also has SPF! 

If it’s Lakme, then you can practically shut your eyes and buy them. Standard products, great prices and you know you can count on the quality of them, seeing as they’re a proper household name. 

Kajal: The Lakme kajal is tried and tested by probably every kajal-wearing person in the country! It lasts long, and is great for highlighting the eyes, with or without any shadow. 

Nail Colour: We’ve tried the Lakme nail colour. The brighter shades look good, but tend to show scratches more, but the lighter ones look pristine for longer. 

Foundation: Almost 6,000 reviews on Nykaa rate this at 4.3/5 so we won’t add more to that. Just know, that this liquid foundation is water-resistant, oil-free formula with Vitamin E

Quartet Eye Shadow: This comes in four options of four colours each, from bright blues and greens in the Royal Peacock palette or the muted Mystic Nudes. Each has one lighter shade though, so you can easily use this for the morning or night and you’re good to go.

Liquid Lip Colour: With over 30 shades to pick from, you will be spoiled for choice. Nudes, red, pinks and purples, just get one for everyday of the month! 

Maybe you were born with it, but mostly likely it is Maybelline! I personally use all these products and vouch for not only their longevity in the bottles and boxes, but even on my eyes, lips and face in general. 

Lipstick: The creamy matte lipsticks were my lockdown discovery though they have been around ages. This is one lipstick which I genuinely find moisturises the lips without compromising on the colour. Also, the colours are just as they say, and I found that even though it is creamy, it lasts long. It’s even mask proof! I wear it at home at about 9am, and with the mask it easily lasts until about 1pm with two coffees! 

Kajal: This needs no introduction. Kareena Kapoor-Khan also approves. Lasting 12 hours, and more, it’s absolutely worth INR 170 and more. In fact, you may sometimes find it tough to remove. It’s also waterproof entirely as I swim with it and it sticks on.

Eye Shadow Palette: I like the seven options as they’re all a bit earthy and muted. So, they shine and shimmer, but not like a disco ball! It’s a powder shadow, though if you use it daily, the brush and sponge applicator disintegrate quite quickly.

Liquid Foundation: Easy to use (just use it like a face cream!), and ideal for makeup dummies like me, the foundation is matte and even has SPF so works well as a slight sunscreen too. It’s oil based so locks the moisture meaning it doesn't run easily. 

Sugar, yes, please! Would you come and put it down on me? OK, no, that is the Maroon 5 song, but we still say yes please to all Sugar Cosmetics products! Not only are they quite budget friendly, but they suit Indian skin tones quite well thanks to the deep pigmentation.

Kajal: No no, not just your black kohl. This one comes in delightful blues, greens, and browns to add that hint of shimmer to your eyes. In fact, you can even skip the eye shadow when you use these. 

Liquid Lipstick: The Smudge Me Not liquid lipsticks really do not smudge. You can go a whole even of eating and drinking without a touch up. But once the top layer starts to wear off, then it goes much quicker. 

Eyeshadow: At INR 449, the dual-coloured eye shadow is a hot favourite of the LBB Crew. A few of us can vouch for it lasting for over 12-15 hours, and the good thing is, since it’s a matte finish, the eye lid creases don’t show either. It’s also water and oil proof to some level, so not to worry about the sweat. 

Mini Blush: With five colours to pick from, these are lightweight and velvet-y so leave a natural-looking layer on your face. I personally find the colours a bit to pink, but then again I have a tinge of yellow on my skin. 

Katrina Kaif’s beauty line is made to suit Indian skin tones, and while we have not tried too many products, the eye liner and nail polish and we’re fans. A wee bit over budget this lot, but as a combo that will last you a while, it’s OK, yes?

Highlighter: The Kay Beauty highlighter will give you cheekbones a proper lift if you apply this well. Since it’s shimmery, you don’t really need blush. Go shine, naturally! 

Eye Shadow + Kajal: A combo pack that is easy to use and carry? Bring it on. The kajal is a 24-hour one, and the eye shadow stick works even for the most unsteady hands! The shadow blend the cream and powder texture, so it stays on longer, but also is easy to apply just using your finger.

Light on the pocket, light on the face and light colours, e.l.f Cosmetics is ideal if you want to look like you made an effort but didn’t come as if you’re on the red carpet for the Met Gala. They have a lot of mini products which I love - you can try more products, and they finish before the Use By date. 

Eye Shadow: Available in six options with four colours each, I love how creamy and pigmented the colours are. I find them really easy to mix and match as they blend well without becoming clumpy. The set is a mix of matte and shimmer making it much more versatile too. 

Lip Lacquer: To be worn on its own, or over a lipstick, this one is smooth, locks in the moisture so your lips don’t crack, and they are light and don’t feel like you literally painted your lips. 

Liquid Eye Liner: Available in three colours, this one is smudge proof and for once, comes with a great applicator. You will need to go over the lines a few times if you want a thick line as the tip is ultra fine. 

Multi-stick: My favourite product of this entire list, this multi-stick works as eyeshadow, lipstick, and blush. It’s the perfect product to keep handy in your bag and maybe just one kajal to break the colour with a swoosh of black! That it is vegan and cruelty-free, is a bonus!

Popular during the 90s and 2000s, but lesser-known now, Rimmel London is one of my favourite old-school brands. With good quality products that have good pigmentation, last long and are budget-friendly, you can easily get five to six products under INR 1,500. Word of caution though: the lipsticks and some of the foundations do not suit Indian skin tones as the brand was made to suit European, and especially British folks.

Eyeshadow: The 6-in-1 eye palettes have 6 different combinations, but I've found the most multi-purpose one is the Pioneer which have a range of peacock hues to earthy ones. This one is on sale at INR 470, but for just INR 550, you can amp up the colour palette to the one with 9 colours. We've seen the prices for the INR 470 one fluctuate a LOT so be wary of when you buy it as the MRP is INR 990 and the colour combos are priced differently! 

Highlight Powder: Adding a bit of shine and shimmer for INR 330, while also soaking up the oil and moisture from your face, this one isn't over the top. That said, the colours are suited to Caucasian folks, so tread carefully. 

Lipstick: I really like the long-lasting lipsticks not only because since my time of stealing it from my mum in the 80s to now, the quality has never dropped but they do as they say - last long! The lipsticks are creamy and if you aren't quite biting into a burger every other minute, they last for 8 hours, easy! They have 17 shades too, so go on, take your pick for INR 250.

Kohl Kajal: An absolutely under-loved product in my opinion, that too for INR 90, Rimmel's kohl kajals come in black, brown, grey, a denim blue and pure white. I have and use all, and I can tell you they are soft on the eye lids and on the waterline as well. Since I wear contact lenses, these are one of the few pencils that don't scratch the eyes even when fully sharp.