This weekend, we're bringing back a fan favorite! Nikol Johnson is joined by her mom, who is 74, for a special "Fierce Aging" makeup tutorial. This is for anyone, especially women in their 60s, 70s, or any age, who feels unsure about makeup. We're aiming for a fresh, pretty look without piling on products.
Key Takeaways
- Embrace makeup at any age to feel beautiful and confident.
- Focus on enhancing natural features rather than heavy coverage.
- Cream blushes and hydrating products can add a natural radiance.
- Simple techniques can make a big difference in defining eyes and brows.
- Don't be afraid to experiment and find what works for you.
The Return of Fierce Aging
Nikol Johnson is back with her popular "Fierce Aging" series, and this time, she's brought her mom along for the ride. This series actually started back in March 2019, when Nikol featured women of all ages, from their 50s to 80s. It was a way to show that beauty has no age limit and to celebrate women embracing their age. The response was so positive that it became a regular series. Now, while the studio is being built, Nikol is bringing back some familiar faces, starting with her own mom, to celebrate being in your 70s and looking fabulous.
A Mother-Daughter Makeup Session
Nikol's mom, who is 74, is a great example of someone who has learned to embrace makeup as she's gotten older. She admits that back in 2019, when Nikol first asked her to be part of the series, she was hesitant. "I'm very shy," she explained. But she pushed herself, and it turned out to be a great experience. She even returned for another tutorial in 2020. Now, she's back again, feeling more comfortable and ready to share her beauty journey.
One of the things her mom mentioned in 2019 was feeling "beige" – like she had lost definition and color in her face. Now, after incorporating more color and cream blushes, she says she doesn't feel beige anymore. However, she has noticed that her eyes can sometimes look tired. This tutorial aims to address that by adding color and focusing on the eye area without making it look like she's wearing a lot of makeup.
Skincare Prep: Hydration is Key
Before diving into makeup, Nikol emphasizes the importance of skincare. She starts by applying a Vitamin E lip balm to her mom's lips, noting that hydrated lips are essential for lipstick application. Then, she uses luxurious Shiseido facial cotton pads with EVER Beauty Water for a gentle cleanse. "This is very soft, like silk on the face," her mom commented, comparing it to harsher drugstore options.
Next, she applies EVER Advanced Hydrating Quench Booster Serum to add moisture without feeling heavy. This is followed by the EVER Daytime Brightening Serum, a Vitamin C booster. Nikol also introduces her mom to the Gua Sha tool, explaining its benefits for draining fluid and contouring the face. She guides her mom through the process, emphasizing gentle, upward strokes.
Eyes: Defining and Brightening
For the eyes, Nikol starts with an eye primer in a light-medium shade. This helps to even out any redness or darkness on the eyelids, creating a smooth canvas. She then uses an eyeshadow palette, opting for neutral tones with a subtle sheen to bring the eyes to life. She demonstrates how to apply the colors using her essential makeup brush kit, focusing on creating a soft, fresh look.
To define the lash line, Nikol uses a waterproof dark chocolate eyeliner. Since her mom has fine, straight lashes, Nikol applies the liner very close to the lash line, creating the illusion of thicker lashes without a heavy line. She then uses a smudge brush to soften the liner, creating a subtle smoky effect. A touch of the same liner is applied to the lower lash line for added definition.
Brows and Lashes: Framing the Face
Nikol addresses her mom's brows, noting that they have become thinner with age and have lost some of their natural arch. She explains how to use brow stencils as a guide for shaping. Using a taupe brow pencil, she carefully fills in the brows, creating hair-like strokes to add fullness and definition. She emphasizes building the color gradually and blending with a spoolie for a natural look. She also shows how to use a slightly darker brown pencil for added dimension where needed.
For lashes, Nikol uses a special mascara wand designed for finer lashes. It's curved and has teeth to grip and coat each lash from the base. She demonstrates how to curl the lashes and apply mascara, focusing on lifting and separating them to create the appearance of more volume. She mentions that a heated eyelash curler can also help set the curl.
Completing the Look: Skin, Cheeks, and Lips
To even out the skin tone, Nikol uses a BB cream, mixing a fair and light shade to warm up her mom's complexion. She adds a touch of "Poolside," a bronzing illuminator, for a subtle glow. She then sets the T-zone with a translucent powder to control shine.
For blush, she uses her favorite cream blush, "Palm Beach." She explains that cream blushes provide a natural radiance from within, unlike powdery formulas. She taps the blush onto the apples of the cheeks, building up the color for a healthy flush.
For the lips, Nikol uses a "Glacier Pink" lip liner to define her mom's lips and add a bit of fullness, especially to the top lip where color can fade with age. She then applies "Franny," a bright pink lipstick, followed by a touch of "Champs" lip gloss in the center for a highlighted, shimmering effect.
The Final Reveal
After removing the velcro curlers (which her mom uses for volume in her fine hair), the finished look is revealed. Her mom loves the simple, light makeup that makes her feel polished and ready to face the public. Nikol emphasizes that this look is approachable for anyone, regardless of age, and is all about feeling confident and beautiful. It's a celebration of enhancing one's natural beauty and showing up as your best self.
