Nikol builds full, flirty lashes by curling first, lining the base with a plum pencil, then applying Volume UP Mascara wiggled into the base of each lash and pulled up to the tip, mixing black and brown for different levels of drama on top versus bottom lashes.
Key takeaways
- Curl lashes before lining with the plum pencil and applying mascara so you get more lift from both.
- The Volume UP Mascara wand has teeth all the way around so you can grab lashes at the base and roll up to the tip.
- Black mascara gives bottom lashes more visible drama while brown gives a softer, lighter effect, so you can mix top and bottom.
- Volume UP Mascara is water-resistant (not waterproof) and held up well through watery, sensitive eyes and contact lens wear in Nikol's own test.
- The darkest matte shade in the Sweet Carol 3-Well Eye Shadow Palette can be smudged on as a liner instead of worn as full lid color.
- Eye Brightener and Just Peachy Color Corrector can be used after the fact to rescue a tired, dark under-eye area.
Nikol's step-by-step routine
- Hydrate the lips with Rose Lip Balm #100 before applying any lip liner or lipstick.
- Apply Eye Primer over the eyelid to neutralize natural pigmentation so eyeshadow color stays true.
- Using the Sweet Carol 3-Well Eye Shadow Palette, sweep the middle sheen shade over the whole lid.
- Blend the lightest shade up and over to soften the look with no hard line.
- Use a short smudge brush with the darkest matte shade at the base of the lashes as a liner, lifting up at the outer corner, and clean up any slips with a finger.
- Curl the lashes.
- Line the base of the top lash line with a plum waterproof eyeliner pencil for extra depth.
- Apply Volume UP Mascara starting at the base of the lashes, wiggling back and forth, then pulling up to the tips; use black on top and brown on the bottom (or the reverse) to compare the two finishes.
- Add a coat of Eye Brightener and Just Peachy Color Corrector under the eyes to brighten dark areas, blending with a Concealer Brush or finger.
- Smooth on Fiercely Smooth Face Primer, then buff on BB Crème with a Foundation Buffing Brush for sheer, semi-matte coverage.
- Sweep on Ballerina Rose Blush Palette for color, using the darker shade from the same palette lightly as contour.
- Spot-correct any remaining dark areas with Creamy Concealer and press in with the Concealer Brush.
- Soft-set the under-eye area with Nikita Banana Brightening Powder using the Eyeshadow Blending Brush.
- Fill in brows with the Skinny Brow Pencil where needed.
- Line lips with a cameo waterproof lip liner pencil, using Crystal Clear Invisible Water-Proof Lip Liner as a border if lipstick tends to feather.
- Mix Pretty Smart Shiny Velvet Cream Lipstick #337 and Aperitif Shiny Velvet Cream Lipstick #419 on the lips, then top with Coco 13 Lip Gloss #259.
How do you prep the eyes and lips before eye makeup?
Nikol starts with the lips, patting on Rose Lip Balm #100 to hydrate before any liner or lipstick goes on. For the eyes, she goes in with Eye Primer first, explaining this is the step that neutralizes natural pigmentation on the lid so that eyeshadow color shows up true and doesn't crease throughout the day.
She calls the Eye Primer one of the most iconic products in her line and says she wouldn't put eyeshadow over bare, pigmented lids without it.
How do you wear a dark eyeshadow palette without it looking too intense?
Using the Sweet Carol 3-Well Eye Shadow Palette, Nikol sweeps the middle sheen shade over the whole lid first, then blends the lightest shade up to soften any harsh line. For the darkest matte shade, instead of applying it all over, she uses a short smudge brush to tap it at the base of the lashes only, treating it like a soft liner rather than a full eyeshadow.
She points out that a palette can look intimidating from the outside, but you don't have to use the whole thing — you can use just one or two shades as a liner or contour and build intensity for evening if you want more drama.
What's the technique for full, flirty lashes with Volume UP Mascara?
Nikol curls her lashes first, then goes back in with a plum waterproof eyeliner pencil right at the base for extra depth before mascara. She loads the Volume UP Mascara wand, which has teeth all the way around so you can grab lashes at the base, wiggle back and forth to coat every lash, and then pull up to the tip for lift and length without clumping.
She demonstrates both shades side by side: black on the top lashes with brown underneath on one eye, then the reverse on the other eye, so you can see how black gives bottom lashes more visible drama while brown reads softer and lighter. She shares that this mascara is water-resistant rather than waterproof, and notes it worked well through a day of swimming and holds up with watery, sensitive eyes and contact lenses.
How do you brighten dark, tired under-eyes?
After the eye makeup, Nikol concentrates Eye Brightener on her darkest under-eye areas and blends with a Concealer Brush. She follows with Just Peachy Color Corrector to further correct dark areas, pressing it in rather than dragging, and explains she's done this as an emergency fix on mornings after very little sleep when the under-eye area looked unusually dark.
She reminds viewers that skin needs to be well hydrated beforehand or the corrector will have a harder time setting smoothly.
How do you build a soft, radiant complexion to go with the eye look?
Nikol applies Fiercely Smooth Face Primer, then buffs on BB Crème with a Foundation Buffing Brush, tapping the brush first to control how much product goes on. She describes the finish as a semi-matte complexion blur that still lets some natural pigmentation show through rather than erasing everything.
For color, she uses the Ballerina Rose Blush Palette, noting that if you apply too much you can go back over it with the Foundation Buffing Brush to tone it down rather than starting over. She also uses the darker shade in that same palette as a light contour.
To finish, she spot-treats any remaining dark areas with Creamy Concealer and a Concealer Brush, then soft-sets the under-eye with Nikita Banana Brightening Powder using the Eyeshadow Blending Brush.
How do you mix lipstick colors for a soft holiday lip?
Nikol fills in a sparse spot in her brow with the Skinny Brow Pencil, then moves to lips. She lines with a cameo waterproof lip liner pencil, mentioning that Crystal Clear Invisible Water-Proof Lip Liner can be used as an invisible border to help prevent lipstick feathering.
For color, she mixes Pretty Smart Shiny Velvet Cream Lipstick #337 with Aperitif Shiny Velvet Cream Lipstick #419 directly on the lips to complement her sweater, then tops it with Coco 13 Lip Gloss #259 for extra shine and a hint of metallic fleck.
Shop the look
Nikol uses Rose Lip Balm #100, Eye Primer, Sweet Carol 3-Well Eye Shadow Palette, Nikol Beauty Eyeshadow Blending Brush. Explore the eyes collection for more of the pro-aging makeup she created for women over 40.
Frequently asked questions
What's the difference between black and brown Volume UP Mascara?
Nikol shows that black gives a more dramatic, visible result especially on bottom lashes, while brown reads softer and lighter, so you can mix them on top versus bottom lashes depending on the look you want.
Is Volume UP Mascara waterproof?
No, Nikol explains it's water-resistant rather than waterproof, and shares that it held up well through a swim and with watery eyes without smudging.
How do you apply Volume UP Mascara for the most lashes?
Start at the base of the lashes, wiggle the wand back and forth to coat each lash fully, then pull up toward the tip to lift and lengthen without clumping.
Can you use a dark eyeshadow palette like Sweet Carol if the colors feel too intense?
Yes — Nikol uses the darkest shade from the Sweet Carol 3-Well Eye Shadow Palette as a smudged liner at the base of the lashes instead of applying it over the whole lid, which keeps the look wearable.
What helps dark, tired under-eyes before concealer?
Nikol applies Eye Brightener followed by Just Peachy Color Corrector directly on the darkest areas and blends with a Concealer Brush before moving on to foundation.
What if you apply too much blush?
Nikol says you can go back over it with the Foundation Buffing Brush to soften and tone down the color instead of starting your makeup over.
