In this behind-the-scenes livestream, Nikol Johnson does a complete face on a 73-year-old guest, showing how she preps the eyes, shapes brows with stencils, builds a soft smoky eye, color corrects redness and dark circles, and finishes with a dewy-not-greasy complexion using the Strong Brew palette, BB Crème, and a cream blush stick.
Key takeaways
- Priming the eyelid first neutralizes pigmentation so eyeshadow color looks true and lasts longer.
- Brow stencils give you a guide for where your brow should start, arch, and end, especially if your natural brow has thinned.
- Build eyeliner gradually with short strokes close to the lash line, and use a smudge brush to soften or erase mistakes instead of starting over.
- Color correct dark circles and redness before concealer or foundation so you need less product overall.
- A cream blush can be swiped on for more pigment or applied with a brush for a lighter wash, depending on the look you want.
- You don't have to use every product every time; build a curated routine and skip steps you don't need that day.
Nikol's step-by-step routine
- Apply a lightweight eye cream, go over it with the Cooling Eye Roller, then place the These Bags Are Designer-Eye Mask over the eyes to let hydration sink in.
- Map out brow shape using the Nikol Beauty Precision Eyebrow Stencils (choosing a slimmer arch for thinner brows), then fill in with the Skinny Brow Pencil, building a base and softening with a spoolie.
- Sweep Eye Primer from the base of the lashes to the brow bone to neutralize discoloration before adding any eyeshadow.
- Using the Strong Brew 3-Well Eyeshadow Palette, press the middle shade onto the lid, dust the lightest shade on the brow bone, then use the darkest shade above the crease and blend with the Nikol Beauty Eyeshadow Blending Brush.
- Line the eyes with a dark chocolate WaterProof Eyeliner Pencil in short strokes along the lash line, softening with a smudge brush, then apply Volume UP Mascara from base to tip and add natural false lashes.
- Add a soft line under the lower lashes with the eyeliner pencil and smudge brush for balance.
- Color correct with Just Peachy Color Corrector for dark or purple pigmentation and No Redness Color Corrector for redness, blending with the Foundation Buffing Brush.
- Apply Fiercely Smooth Face Primer, then BB Crème with the Foundation Buffing Brush, spot-concealing with the Concealer Brush as needed.
- Warm the complexion with Crème Brûlée along the hairline and jaw, then add a Cream Blush Stick to the cheeks, straight from the stick for more pigment or buffed for a lighter wash.
- Prep lips with Rose Lip Balm #100, line with a WaterProof Lip Liner Pencil, fill in with Actually, I Can Shiny Velvet Cream Lipstick #33, and top with Champs Lip Gloss #461.
- Set under the eyes with Nikita Banana Brightening Powder using a clean blending brush, then finish with a fine hydrating face mist.
How do you prep tired eyes before applying eye makeup?
Nikol starts by massaging in a lightweight eye cream and going over it with the Cooling Eye Roller for a de-puffing, cooling effect. She then places the reusable These Bags Are Designer-Eye Mask on top so the serum has nowhere to go but into the skin, letting it sit for several minutes while they chat.
She points out that this step is about giving your skin time to actually absorb product instead of just applying cream and hoping it's enough prep for concealer later.
What did Nikol's guest share about beauty and confidence in her 70s?
Nikol's guest, 73, talked about how her focus has always been on health and happiness rather than a number, and how she simplified her routine early on rather than trying to look like something she wasn't. She named her biggest current challenges as getting a glow without looking shiny in humidity, figuring out her brows, and softening her jawline naturally.
This conversation set up the goals for the look: luminous, healthy-looking skin, defined but natural brows, and makeup that reads as fresh rather than heavy.
What's the best way to shape thin or uneven brows?
Nikol introduces her Nikol Beauty Precision Eyebrow Stencils, which come in four shapes. For a guest with thinner brows, she chooses the slim arch stencil rather than a bolder shape. She marks three points first with the Skinny Brow Pencil — where the brow should start, where it should arch, and where it should end — using the nose and eye as guides, then lines the stencil up to those marks.
She fills in with light pressure first, explaining that it's easier to build a brow darker than to lighten one that's gone on too strong, and uses the spoolie end to soften any area that looks too heavy.
Why prime the eyelid before applying eyeshadow?
Nikol applies Eye Primer from the base of the lashes all the way to the brow bone, explaining that pigmentation, redness, and visible veins become more noticeable on the lid as skin ages. Priming neutralizes that discoloration first so eyeshadow goes on true to color and lasts longer.
She notes that if your eyes are on the oilier side, cleaning the lid first helps the primer perform without fighting excess oil underneath.
How do you build a soft smoky eye without heavy color?
Working with the Strong Brew 3-Well Eyeshadow Palette, Nikol presses the middle shade onto the lid with a flat shadow brush, keeping movement minimal so she controls exactly how much product goes on. She dusts the lightest shade along the brow bone, then uses a smudge brush with the darkest shade just above the crease to add dimension, blending everything with the Nikol Beauty Eyeshadow Blending Brush so there's no harsh line.
For liner, she uses a dark chocolate WaterProof Eyeliner Pencil in short strokes close to the lash line rather than one long sweep, which she says is easier if your hand isn't perfectly steady. She finishes with Volume UP Mascara, going to the base of the lashes and pulling up to lift them, then adds natural false lashes for extra fringe.
How do you fix eyeliner or eyeshadow mistakes without starting over?
Nikol calls her short smudge brush her "eraser brush." If liner goes on uneven or a little too thick on one side, she uses the smudge brush dipped in the same color to even things out, or takes the lightest eyeshadow shade and lightly sweeps it over an area that feels too dark to soften it.
She also uses a pad wrapped around a finger to clean up any stray product along the lash line for a crisp finish, reassuring her guest that small adjustments are normal and don't mean starting the whole eye over.
How do you color correct redness and dark circles before foundation?
Nikol uses the Just Peachy Color Corrector on darker or purple-toned pigmentation under the eyes and in the inner corners, explaining that neutralizing color first means the concealer and foundation don't have to work as hard. For visible redness from rosacea, she uses the No Redness Color Corrector in light stripes directly over the red areas, using basic color theory to cancel it out.
After color correcting, she applies Fiercely Smooth Face Primer, then BB Crème with the Foundation Buffing Brush in circular motions, spot-concealing any remaining dark areas with the Concealer Brush. She describes the goal as skin that looks like your own, just smoother and more even — not heavy or mask-like.
How do you get a dewy glow on mature skin without looking shiny?
For warmth, Nikol swirls Crème Brûlée onto an angled brush and sweeps it from the top of the ear downward along the jaw for soft contour. For cheek color, she shows two techniques with the Cream Blush Stick: swiping directly from the stick onto the skin for more pigment, or going through the Foundation Buffing Brush first for a lighter wash — both blended upward, never low on the cheek.
To finish, she sets under the eyes with Nikita Banana Brightening Powder using a clean blending brush, then mists the skin with a fine hydrating spray so the look reads fresh rather than greasy, even under hot studio lights.
How do you finish the lips for a natural but polished look?
Nikol preps dry lips first with Rose Lip Balm #100, then lines with a WaterProof Lip Liner Pencil, filling in slightly above the natural line for a touch more shape without overlining. She fills in with Actually, I Can Shiny Velvet Cream Lipstick #33, a shade she often reaches for, then adds Champs Lip Gloss #461 to the center of the lips for shine without full-on sparkle.
She reminds her guest that none of these steps are mandatory every day — some days a color corrector alone is enough, other days you'll want the full lineup, and that's the benefit of knowing your own curated routine.
Shop the look
Nikol uses These Bags Are Designer-Eye Mask, Cooling Eye Roller, Nikol Beauty Precision Eyebrow Stencils, Skinny Brow Pencil. Explore the eyes collection for more of the pro-aging makeup she created for women over 40.
Frequently asked questions
Why does Nikol prime the eyelid before applying eyeshadow?
Priming first neutralizes pigmentation, redness, and visible veins on the lid so eyeshadow applies true to color and holds up better throughout the day.
How do you pick the right eyebrow stencil shape?
Nikol matches the stencil to how much natural brow hair you have — she chose the slim arch for a guest with thinner brows rather than a bolder shape.
What's the difference between the two color correctors used in this tutorial?
Just Peachy Color Corrector targets darker or purple-toned pigmentation like under-eye circles, while No Redness Color Corrector cancels out red tones such as those from rosacea.
How can you fix an eyeliner mistake without redoing your whole eye?
Nikol uses a short smudge brush to soften or even out liner, and a clean pad to tidy stray product, rather than removing everything and starting over.
Does Nikol recommend mascara on the lower lashes?
In this look she skips lower lash mascara and instead focuses on a soft liner under the lashes, saying she'd rather have clean definition than try to coat just a few lower lashes.
Do you need to use every product in a routine every day?
No — Nikol tells her guest that once you know your techniques, you can skip steps like concealer on days you don't need it and still get a finished look.
