Apart from lipsticks and kajal, compact powder is probably a makeup essential for most Indian women, thanks to our hot and humid climate! Funnily enough, I usually do not prefer to use compact powders on my oily skin, because most of them tend to exaggerate the texture of my skin by clinging to acne. However, I do appreciate a non-cakey, light-weight powder to remove the shine from my face after a few hours of wearing makeup. The newly launched Nykaa All Day Matte Compact Powders are perfect for my skin type and tick all the right boxes for me. Keep on reading for a product breakdown and swatches!
The Packaging
The Nykaa All Day Matte Compact powders come in a minimalistic white packaging with a mirror inside. There is an outer cardboard box with a foam sheet for protection and inside is the product with the white casing. The plastic of the white casing does look a little cheap, but for the price, I am not complaining. Also, the mirror inside is of excellent quality and you even get a round sponge applicator for applying the powder. The applicator does help with applying and blending the product easily but you will have to keep washing and drying it to maintain its hygiene. Another point to note is that the powder is a very soft one, so if you plan to carry it in your handbag, you will need to cushion it properly, otherwise it may break in the pan upon an impact or fall.
You get 8gm of product for a very affordable price of INR 225. Because of this budget-friendly price and quality of the formula, I am letting go of my small issues with the packaging!
The Formula Of The Nykaa All Day Matte Compact Powders
The formula of the Nykaa All Day Matte Compact Powders was love at first swipe for me. It feels soft to the touch, blends beautifully on the skin, and offers a velvety matte finish with a natural to light medium coverage. The product does not cling to my dry patches, acne or fine lines. It does not exaggerate the texture of my skin and doesn’t look powdery either. It simply removes excess shine from the face and gives a blurred out finish to the makeup without making it cakey. If you use it directly on top of moisturizer, it will not cover large blemishes but will conceal slight discolourations on the skin.
Another bonus point about the formula is that it contains Vitamin E and SPF15 PA++. Because of the Vitamin E, the formula does feel hydrating on the skin, which is odd for a powder but I like it! It also doesn’t have a significant kickback, probably due to the presence of hydrating ingredients. Also, due to its SPF value, you can use the compact to touch up your sunscreen every few hours (but do not skip that first layer of a regular sunscreen though!).
Last but not the least, the Nykaa All Day Matte Compact Powders are vegan and cruelty-free! Sadly, I couldn’t find an ingredient list on the packaging or website though!
The Shade Range Of The Nykaa All Day Matte Compact Powders
As of today, the Nykaa All Day Matte Compact Powders come in 8 shades spanning across light, medium and deep skin tones and yellow, neutral, and pink undertones. The shade range could definitely have been more extensive but I am slightly content that they have at least 2-3 shades catering to darker undertones. Moreover, because of the light coverage of the powder, you can get away with a slightly darker or lighter shade. However, I am still hoping for a shade expansion in the future.
The brand sent me 4 shades out of the 8 shades that they have currently launched and I have swatched them above for you. Out of these shades, 03 Beige is a tad bit light for me and 05 Olive is a little dark, so I am guessing that 04 Sand will be my closest shade match. For your reference, I am the shade NC35 in MAC foundations and the shade 230 in Maybelline Fit Me Foundation. However, as I mentioned before, due to their lighter coverage, I can make both 03 and 05 work for me on top of makeup.
On another note, I did a quick flashback test with these powders and did not notice a visible whitecast during flash photography!
Check out this reel to have a close-up view of the powders and how they swatch-
My Verdict On The Nykaa All Day Matte Compact Powders
The Nykaa All Day Matte Compact Powders receive a massive thumbs up from my end! I already love the Nykaa Skin Shield Foundation, and this compact powder is an excellent addition to their complexion products family. I adore the non-cakey formula and the velvety matte finish. Plus, the fact that the formula is non-cakey seals the deal for me!
They could have easily amped up the packaging and added 200 bucks to the price, but I feel that with the still functional but not so luxe packaging, a wider range of women can use this, which is the ultimate point of makeup. I feel that with a little shade expansion, this range can easily become the best range of compacts in the country because the formula is on point! Until then, if you can already find your shade match, go for this affordable yet excellent-quality product. You will not regret your purchase!