I Revisited The Makeup Brand That Started My Beauty Era — And It Still Hits

Morphe is back on Nykaa, and I’m fully ready to spend all the money I’ve been trying to save since yesterday.

I fell in love with makeup in 2018—the year my sleep schedule collapsed and my screen time skyrocketed, all in the name of mastering smoky eyes. Update: I’m still trying. This was also the year I officially exited my bubble gum-scented roll-on lip gloss phase and entered the world of YouTube tutorials promising pro-level blending but delivering… underwhelming results. Dark circles were a small price to pay for character development. And no, it wasn’t due to the smoky eyes; that was just my Halloween look every year.

At that time, the beauty industry was booming. There were too many brands, too many palettes, and too many people creating cut creases at 3 a.m. and chatting with me through their cameras. Amidst all that noise was one brand that made makeup feel fun again—not frightening, and certainly not like a workout: Morphe. More specifically, the James Charles palette, the one that convinced me that colour could solve problems and that pigment truly existed. Was I being dramatic? Absolutely. Was I happy? Very much so.

Fast forward to now: I’m at my cousin’s wedding, with a calendar packed with events, outfits that require commitment, and makeup that needs to last longer than my social battery (or answering relatives about my “wedding”). Naturally, this felt like the perfect occasion to bring Morphe back into my life and see if the obsession still held up. Spoiler alert: it did!

Chromaplus 6-Pan Eyeshadow Palette - Outer Spice INR 1,500

The Chromaplus eyeshadow palette was my first stop, and within minutes, I realised this wasn’t just nostalgia. The shadows still glided on beautifully, there was minimal fallout, and the pigment was incredible. After just two dips, my corners were defined, my lids were glowing, and the shimmer was perfectly noticeable.

Cheek Thrills Multi Finish Face Trio - Blind Date INR 1,800

Then came blush, which, for me, is never a casual decision. The Cheek Thrills Multi-Finish Face Trio in Blind Date sent me into a full spiral — the good kind. A cream blush that melts into the skin for a natural flush, a luminous balm that could probably be spotted from space, and a powder blush that pulls everything together without going flat. I used them separately, then together, and then probably more than necessary. No regrets. Just a gentle warning: the pigment is strong and will not wait for you to build slowly.

Along For The Glide 6 Piece Travel Brush Set INR 3,000

Once I was emotionally attached to the makeup, I moved on to the dangerously good brushes. They come in a mint-green silicone pouch that could definitely spark household conflicts if you have a sister. The foundation brush blends without streaks, the powder brush sets without caking, the blush brush places colour exactly where you want it, and the eyeshadow packer picks up shimmer without turning your face into a confetti party. The angled brush finally helped me achieve an eyeshadow liner that didn’t look like I was personally victimised by my own hand.

Continuous Setting Mist INR, 1,700

The only problem? I’m a dewy girl through and through, and the matte finish I had going on just didn’t feel right. There was also no universe in which I was undoing three hours of makeup — especially when we were already late. Enter the final boss: the Continuous Setting Mist.  A few generous sprays were enough to make me sigh in relief. My skin looked fresh, dewy, and very well hydrated. As for the makeup staying put? Let’s just say it survived the entire event, multiple hugs, and a lot of fake smiles.

Using Morphe again reminded me why I fell in love with makeup in the first place. The ease of application, the kind of pigment that shows up without effort, and the colours that still excite me every time I open a palette brought back that joy. It reminded me that makeup isn’t about impressing anyone else; it’s about how it makes me feel.

And now that Morphe is back on Nykaa, there’s really no reason to hold back. BRB, I’ll be putting to good use all the money I’ve collected over the years every time someone asks me, “So when are you getting married?” This reunion? Totally worth it.