The eye serum that finally moved the needle on Nikol Johnson's under-eye pigmentation is the Clarins Double Serum Eye — a two-in-one serum-and-cream dispensed in a single nightly pump. After roughly two months of consistent use she noticed less pigmentation, less redness, and less puffiness, a change she describes as waking up one morning and simply seeing it. The rest of this episode is a wide-ranging beauty-favorites roundup covering her current skincare, hair care, and fragrance picks, plus two of her own Nikol Beauty products she reaches for daily.
Key takeaways
- The Clarins Double Serum Eye is a pump-dispensed, two-texture formula — serum and cream in one dose — and Nikol credits it with visibly reducing her under-eye pigmentation after about two months of nightly use.
- One pump covers both eyes, and the pump format prevents over-dispensing and contamination — two issues she has with jar-packaged eye treatments.
- Nikol's own Fiercely Smooth Face Primer and Eye Brightener are in her daily rotation for a smoother base and brighter-looking under-eyes with minimal product.
- Her fragrance trick — buying the hair mist instead of the full perfume — delivers the same scent at a fraction of the price.
- Layering complex rose fragrances, including Tom Ford Ombre Leather under a rose, creates a harder-to-place signature that earns compliments.
- Every product in this roundup was purchased, gifted for personal use, or formulated by Nikol — nothing is a paid sponsorship, and results are her individual experience.
It has been a while since Nikol Johnson filmed a beauty-favorites episode, and this one is packed. Nikol is a licensed esthetician and the founder of Nikol Beauty, and she anchors the roundup around one genuinely transformative under-eye find before moving through skincare, hair care, fragrance, and a handful of small luxuries she has been buying on repeat. What makes a favorites video worth watching is specificity — not just what she likes, but why it earned a permanent spot.
Which eye serum does Nikol say changed her under-eyes?
The headline product is the Clarins Double Serum Eye. Nikol has struggled with pigmentation and inflammation in her under-eye area for years — she traces it to filler and follow-up work between roughly 2017 and 2020 — so she is cautious about harsh or reactive ingredients near the eyes. The serum was a Mother's Day gift, and she says one morning she simply noticed a difference: less pigmentation, a brighter and more even tone, and less redness and puffiness.
A single pump dispenses both a serum and a cream simultaneously, which surprised her, and one pump covers both eyes. She likes that the pump prevents finger-dipping and over-dispensing — two problems she has with jar-format eye treatments. She is now on her second bottle after about two months of nightly use.
Important: this is her personal experience, not a clinical claim. Patch-test any new eye product and check with a skincare professional if your under-eye area is sensitive, reactive, or has been through procedures.
How does the Clarins Double Serum Eye fit into a nightly routine?
- Cleanse the face thoroughly and pat dry.
- Apply any treatment serums — Nikol layers the Clarins Double Serum (her sixth or seventh bottle of the reformulated version) across the face first.
- Dispense one pump of the Clarins Double Serum Eye and gently press it into the under-eye area and the outer corners with your ring finger — the lightest-pressure finger.
- Follow with a hydrating toner if your routine includes one — Nikol has added a Clarins hydrating toning lotion with saffron flower extract for normal to dry skin.
- Finish with a moisturizer or overnight mask appropriate for your skin type.
The pump-and-press approach keeps application gentle on the thin under-eye skin and prevents tugging, which can worsen inflammation in a sensitive area.
What skincare products are in Nikol's current rotation?
Beyond the eye serum, these are the products that have earned a permanent spot in her routine. Everything below is a third-party pick unless it links to a Nikol Beauty product page.
| Product | What it does | Why Nikol keeps it |
|---|---|---|
| Clarins Double Serum Eye | Two-in-one eye serum and cream for pigmentation, redness, puffiness | Visibly reduced her under-eye pigmentation after two months of nightly use |
| Clarins Double Serum (reformulated) | Nightly face serum for overall skin texture and tone | On her sixth or seventh bottle — a staple she loves the feel of |
| Clarins Hydrating Toning Lotion | Saffron-flower-extract toner for normal to dry skin | A new step she has happily added; calms and hydrates without heaviness |
| Clarins Hydra-Essentiel Bi-Phase Serum | Double-hyaluronic serum for summer hydration | Light enough for humid South Florida without being greasy |
| Tatcha Luminous Dewy Skin Mist | Fine-mist facial spray for dewiness | A PR gift she genuinely uses — feather-light mist that adds dewiness without soaking makeup |
| Frownies Facial Patches | Adhesive forehead patches as an at-home alternative to injectables | Concentrates on one forehead line — a personal preference, not a medical treatment |
| Fiercely Smooth Face Primer | Silky primer applied as a thin veil after moisturizer | Nikol's own — helps concealer and BB cream lay smoothly instead of gathering |
| Eye Brightener | Pink-hued click-up pencil for under-eye darkness | Nikol's own — lifts and cancels blue shadows in a single step with barely any product |
The through-line is hydration and gentleness — every product is lightweight, and she layers rather than relying on one heavy formula to do everything.
What role do the Nikol Beauty products play in this routine?
Two of Nikol's own products appear in her daily rotation, and each solves a specific problem.
The Fiercely Smooth Face Primer goes on as a thin veil after moisturizer and before any base product. It creates a smooth, hydrated surface so concealer or BB Cream lays evenly instead of gathering into texture. For anyone whose base tends to look patchy on mature skin, the primer step is often the fix — it fills without adding weight.
The Eye Brightener is the pink-hued click-up pencil from the color corrector collection. She spot-treats darkness under the eyes — especially the inner corner — then blends it out for a brighter, fresher look with surprisingly little makeup. It works as a standalone on bare-skin days and as the first layer in a full concealer routine. The full method for using it is in how to erase dark circles on mature skin.
What are Nikol's hair and fragrance favorites?
On hair, Nikol picked up a Kerastase rose-infused set at her salon — shampoo, conditioner, and Instaglaze glaze drops with hyaluronic and glycolic acid plus wild rose oil — and uses just a few drops of the lightweight oil where her hair frizzes most. In humid weather she reaches for an Oribe anti-humidity spray, and an Oribe texturizing spray at the roots when she wants volume.
Fragrance is where she really lights up, and it is all about rose and layering. Her money-saving trick is to buy the hair mist instead of the full perfume — a rose hair mist at roughly eighty-five dollars versus a signature perfume that can run several hundred. She sprays it into her hair so the scent lingers softly throughout the day. A Diptyque rose, Coco Chanel Mademoiselle, and a Parfums de Marly scent she bought on a New York trip are all in rotation. She layers Tom Ford Ombre Leather under a rose perfume for a more complex, harder-to-place signature — a combination that earned her compliments at dinner. A Guerlain rose set with matching hand cream and a French rose body oil and soap round out the theme.
Her point on fragrance is less about any single bottle and more about layering and memory — buying a scent on a trip or for a birthday so it brings the moment back later.
What small luxuries round out the roundup?
- Marvis toothpaste from Italy — she has tried several flavors and settled on the classic mint.
- Hanni water-activated Splash Salve and heel balm — post-shower hydration that activates with wet skin, so there is no greasy residue.
- Under Wonder perspiration protectors — an Australian brand of adhesive underarm pads she uses to protect silk tops on hot days and film sets, noting they need to be pressed on firmly and precisely placed or they shift.
None of these are skincare essentials, but they are the kind of specific, slightly unusual finds that make a favorites roundup worth watching — the things you would not discover on your own.
What are the most common mistakes when choosing an eye treatment for pigmentation?
- Expecting overnight results — Nikol used the Clarins eye serum for about two months before she noticed a clear difference, and even then the change appeared gradually.
- Using a jar instead of a pump — dipping fingers into an open jar introduces bacteria and makes it nearly impossible to dispense a consistent, small amount.
- Applying too much product — one pump of the Clarins covers both eyes, and excess product around the delicate eye area causes puffiness and milia rather than improvement.
- Skipping patch testing — under-eye skin is thinner and more reactive, especially after filler or procedures, and a product that works on the rest of the face may irritate here.
- Relying on one product to fix darkness, puffiness, and fine lines simultaneously — Nikol uses the serum at night for pigmentation and the Eye Brightener during the day for an instant visual lift, treating them as complementary rather than interchangeable.
- Tugging or rubbing the eye area during application — press with the ring finger in a gentle patting motion to avoid worsening inflammation.
- Ignoring the role of primer — without a smooth base, even the best eye treatment cannot prevent makeup from gathering into texture during the day.
How do you build a minimal morning eye routine from this roundup?
- If using overnight eye treatment, let any residue absorb fully before starting makeup.
- Apply Fiercely Smooth Face Primer as a thin veil over moisturized skin, including the under-eye area.
- Click the Eye Brightener once or twice and place it only on the darkest shadows — inner corner and any pigmented spots.
- Blend with a clean Eyeshadow Blending Brush using a light, airbrush-like touch.
- If wearing base, apply BB Cream over the top so the brightener and base merge seamlessly.
That is a two-minute eye routine that delivers a noticeable lift without visible product. On full-makeup days, add a peach corrector and a touch of Creamy Concealer — the full method is in how to erase dark circles on mature skin.
The bottom line
A favorites roundup is only useful when the standouts actually stand out, and the Clarins Double Serum Eye is the anchor of this one — the product that finally moved the needle on Nikol's long-standing under-eye pigmentation. Pair a dedicated nighttime eye treatment with the right daytime tools and you address darkness from both directions: skincare underneath, strategic color on top. Start building the daytime half with the Eye Brightener, explore the color correctors, and browse best sellers for the rest of the daily essentials.
Frequently asked questions
Which eye serum does Nikol say changed her under-eyes?
The Clarins Double Serum Eye, a two-in-one serum-and-cream dispensed in a single nightly pump. After about two months of consistent use she noticed less pigmentation, less redness, and less puffiness. She is now on her second bottle. Results are her personal experience — patch-test any new eye product and check with a professional if your skin is sensitive or reactive.
Is the Clarins Double Serum Eye a serum or a cream?
Both. One pump dispenses a serum and a cream together, so you get two textures in a single dose that covers both eyes. Nikol likes the pump format because it prevents finger-dipping and over-dispensing — two problems she has with jar-packaged eye treatments.
What Nikol Beauty products does she use every day in this routine?
Two: the Fiercely Smooth Face Primer, applied as a thin veil after moisturizer so concealer and BB cream lay smoothly, and the Eye Brightener, a pink click-up pencil she spot-treats under-eye darkness with for a brighter, fresher look using barely any product. Both are in her morning rotation alongside the nighttime eye serum.
How does Nikol save money on expensive perfume?
She buys the matching hair mist instead of the full perfume — for example a rose hair mist at roughly eighty-five dollars versus a signature perfume that can run several hundred. She sprays it into her hair so the scent lingers softly throughout the day without the higher price tag.
What is Nikol's fragrance-layering trick?
She layers Tom Ford Ombre Leather under a rose perfume for a more complex, harder-to-place signature — the leather gives depth and the rose gives warmth. The combination earned her compliments at dinner and creates a scent that does not smell like it came from a single bottle.
What are Nikol's go-to products for frizzy hair?
A Kerastase rose-infused shampoo, conditioner, and glaze drops with hyaluronic and glycolic acid plus wild rose oil, concentrating a few drops of the lightweight oil where her hair frizzes most. In humid South Florida she adds an Oribe anti-humidity spray, plus an Oribe texturizing spray at the roots for volume.
How long does an eye serum take to show results on pigmentation?
For Nikol it was about two months of nightly use before she noticed a clear difference — she describes it as waking up one morning and simply seeing it. Eye-area pigmentation is stubborn and changes gradually, so patience and consistency matter more than applying extra product.
Can the Eye Brightener replace concealer for everyday use?
On light-makeup or bare-skin days, yes. Nikol clicks it once, places it on the inner corner and the darkest spots, and blends with a soft brush — that alone lifts the under-eye noticeably. On full-makeup days she uses it as the first step before a color corrector and concealer, so it plays both roles depending on how much coverage you want.
Does Nikol use the eye serum in the morning or at night?
At night. One pump covers both eyes as the last step in her evening skincare before moisturizer. In the morning she relies on the Eye Brightener and primer for a visual lift rather than adding another treatment layer under makeup, keeping the morning routine minimal and the product load light.
Are the third-party products in this roundup sponsored?
No. Everything is a personal purchase or a gift she chose to use — the Tatcha mist was a PR sample, and the rest were bought. There are no paid sponsorships or affiliate placements. Nikol names specific products so viewers know exactly what she tested, not because she has a commercial relationship with the brands.
