13 hybrid beauty products that have saved us time and money
Calling all clean-girl makeup aficionados
We don’t mean to brag, but nobody has done more for furthering the two-in-one philosophy than Indians. The belan that can roll out chapatis at a steady clip and make lightening-quick contact with an errant bottom. Used tea bags that are then weaponised to depuff eyes, deodourise smelly PT shoes and fertilise nani’s herb garden. Tweak India even tried the concept with our first line of loungewear, creating pyjama sets posh enough for your grocery runs (Check them out here). So naturally, the same goes for our morning put-my-face-on routine. “People prefer a 2-in-1 product rather than slathering their face with multiple layers,” says celebrity makeup artist Mausam Gandhi, explaining the hype around hybrid beauty products.
These come packed with enhanced ingredients that perform the role of both makeup and skincare products. This means high-coverage foundations with serum-like textures, moisturising lip products, keratin nail polish, and face powders with SPF. Of course, hybrid beauty isn’t exactly new, with BB and CC creams enjoying a serious moment in the early 2010s. But the clean girl aesthetic, which uses limited beauty products to create a seemingly effortless glow, has swung the spotlight firmly back on this approach to getting made up.
Hybrid beauty products will not only help you save time, but also keep you from looking like you live in Satan’s armpit. You can thank us later. (Are you a facial sweater? Here’s how to control it.)
13 hybrid beauty products that multitask for your skincare and makeup needs
A manicure that doesn’t leave you with brittle nails
There are two kinds of people in this world: those who magically maintain long, pointy talons in a rainbow of colours, and those like me, whose nails chip if you so much as sneeze on them. Whichever category you belong to, this nail strengthener and colour polish from OPI will become your new go-to for keeping your nails Instagram-ready, while also nourishing them.
You can repair your nails without missing out on your weekly mani since this popular nail strengthener is available in colours other than clear. The growth of longer, stronger nails is aided by calcium and hydrolyzed wheat protein, so your nails feel tougher, which will help to prevent breakage.
We say no to cracked lips
If lip balms are your best friends yet you can’t bear to part with your trusty gloss, join us in worshipping at the altar of lip oils. Lip oils pack a nutritious punch of moisture that will leave your lips hydrated while also giving you the sheen of a gloss, without the irritating stickiness. Gandhi recommends the Clarins Intense Lip Comfort Oil, with a wide range of shades that leave a light tint.
If you prefer a natural finish, you can stick to a cream-based lip tint. Unlike a lipstick or gloss that sits on top of your lips, a tint is absorbed into it to provide a more diffused look. We suggest using Love Earth’s lip and cheek tint, which will give a subtle flush to your skin while also hydrating it.
A primer+moisturiser+sunscreen in one
Do you also have to ask Google whether your primer comes first or your moisturiser? Or is it the sunscreen? You’re not alone. My brain has a special blind spot reserved for all makeup-related information. These primer+sunscreen+moisturiser hybrid beauty products are just what you need — they serve the purpose of three, leaving your skin properly primed for makeup and protected while stepping out.
The Shiseido sunscreen is a quick-dry BB-type fluid that comes in a sweat-resistant formula. Although it offers three tints, the sunscreen is more suited to those with light to fair skin. For those with medium to dusky skin tones, the Smashbox tinted moisturiser would be a better bet, according to Gandhi.
Serum foundation for the win
From serums and topical creams to toners and moisturisers, our skincare and makeup routine has more layers than an onion. And with the humidity monster spreading its tentacles to even the most freezing air-conditioned buildings, all these layers are anything but kind to our actual skin, especially if you’re using long-wear, extra coverage products like foundation. Enter serum foundations.
Infused with the healing powers of serums, these serum foundations will provide you with long-lasting coverage, yet won’t make your skin feel like a pickled nimbu that’s been left out in the sun. A favourite of makeup artists and beauty gurus, they give you just the right amount of dewy glow.
This oil-free formulation by Clinique contains potent ingredients including hyaluronic and salicylic acid, as well as vitamin C and SPF 20. It’s suitable for all skin types, and leaves skin feeling supple and nourished.
A little on the sheer side, the argan oil serum foundation by Lakmé has a more natural look. Coming in SPF 45, it works well to protect you when you’re outdoors but don’t expect it to give you extra coverage if that’s what you’re looking for.
Conceal but with care
What better way to complement your serum foundation than with a serum concealer? Its formula is lightweight because of the serum-like properties but don’t mistake the featherlight texture for less coverage. Exhibiting all the best qualities of the serum concealer is this offering by e.l.f. Cosmetics.
This long-wear liquid concealer provides crease-proof full coverage while hydrating your skin. Packed with sodium hyaluronate that locks in moisture, and rose water which helps soothe skin with its anti-inflammatory properties, the hydrating camo concealer is also 100% vegan with no animal testing.
Tweak tip: Serum concealers do wonders for people with maturing skin as their hydrating benefits won’t let your skin dry out and draw attention to your fine lines.
You don’t need 10 products to have the best cat-eye
Gone are the days when your quest for big lashes looked like an arts and crafts project, complete with a tube of glue. A good conditioning mascara can give you the volume, length and lift you need while also keeping your lashes healthy and less susceptible to breakage.
Innisfree’s Super Longlashcara is packed with black soybean and black pearl extracts that will nourish your lashes while also giving you a dramatic, ultra-black look.
The second most important component of a great cat-eye is your kajal. MyGlamm’s superfood kajal contains avocado and sunflower seed oil, vitamin E, and goji berry extracts. Coming in three colour variants (black, brown, and purple), the kajal is super pigmented and applies like a dream. It is also safe to be worn by contact lens wearers.
Your brows need some TLC too
The Instagram-favourite soap brows trend has been dominating runways and beauty launches but how do you achieve the look while also making sure your brows are not on the verge of breaking after all that soap you’ve been using? Enter eyebrow growth serums.
It conditions and nourishes your lashes and brows with skin-loving ingredients such as Larix europaea wood extract, tea leaf extract, and glycerine. Now you don’t need a salon appointment to amplify your lashes and brows, a swipe of this serum is enough for naturally glossy and fuller brows.
Don’t forget about your hair
Those of us who worship at the altar of the dry shampoo gods know that using too much of it can also leave your hair looking matted and stringy. But what if we’ve found a solution to that? Organic, vegan dry shampoos that will not only refresh your greasy hair but also nourish and soothe your scalp.
Juicy Chemistry’s Bamboo and Charcoal Dry Shampoo helps absorb excess greasiness, soothes and balances the scalp, and makes hair feel fresh while also stimulating your scalp and promoting hair growth. This is best used by people with oily hair because of charcoal as its active ingredient.
Certified organic and vegan, ACURE’s dry shampoo is suited for all hair types and textures. Infused with rosemary and peppermint, it will refresh your scalp and also reduce itching. You can use a hairbrush for easy, even application.
Why should you have to choose between your serum, moisturiser, highlighter and sunscreen when you can have them all thanks to your new favourite hybrid beauty products?
