Tired of Pretending: An Honest Update + Cobalt Blue Spring Makeup Tutorial (GRWM)

Quick answer: This is an honest get-ready-with-me from Nikol Johnson. She returns after a hectic week, opens up about aging and the pressure to pretend everything is perfect, and creates a wearable cobalt blue spring eye look using a Dior palette layered over soft browns, all finished with her Nikol Beauty base.

Key takeaways

• Nikol returns from a busy week (a Palm Beach photo shoot and industry events) and chooses honesty over a polished cover story.
• Tired of pretending is about releasing the pressure to look flawless, and gently pushing back on comparison culture and unkind online commentary.
• The eye look uses a Dior palette from summer 2023, with cobalt blue as a smoked accent over soft browns, so it stays wearable rather than intimidating.
• The base is pure Nikol Beauty: Fiercely Smooth primer, Creamy Concealer, BB Cream, Nikita Banana powder and more.
• Prep hydrated skin and wear sunscreen first for makeup that sits smoothly on mature skin.

Hey ladies, Nikol is back after an unexpected little break, and instead of pretending the schedule never slipped, she is telling you exactly what happened while she does her makeup. What follows is part heart-to-heart, part spring color tutorial, and it is one of her most relatable videos yet.

What has Nikol been up to?

The short version: life got full. She missed a couple of uploads after a whirlwind trip to Palm Beach for a photo shoot, where she styled a gifted St. John tweed spring outfit from a brand she has worn for two decades. That evening she attended a Bobby Brown store opening, a full-circle moment given that she started out in the industry back in 1996 and studied Bobby Brown's work closely. She also cheered on another content creator's retail collaboration. Her stance throughout is generous: she does not come from a place of scarcity and wants to see other women in beauty succeed.

Why is Nikol tired of pretending?

This is the heart of the video, and she handles it with real vulnerability. She is tired of pretending that constant online commentary does not affect her, that aging changes she notices in the mirror are not happening, and that the pressure to appear flawless is sustainable. She speaks candidly about mental health and about how draining comparison culture can be, pointing to a widely shared post that pitted two well-known actresses against each other as exactly the kind of low-vibration content she is trying to tune out. Her message is simple and kind: be gentler with yourself, and be kinder to other women. It is a reminder, not medical or mental-health advice; if you are struggling, please reach out to a qualified professional.

How does Nikol create the cobalt blue eye look?

She uses a Dior palette from summer 2023 purely for its cobalt blue, treating the color as an accent rather than a full lid so it reads fresh and spring-ready. Here is the eye sequence she follows:

1. Prep with hydrating skincare and eye cream, and do not skip sunscreen.
2. Sweep an eye primer across the lids first, always her starting step.
3. Wash the lid with the lightest brown from the palette, pulling it down and out, and build slowly since you can always add more.
4. Add a deeper brown to the outer corner and blend until it is nicely diffused.
5. Pack cobalt blue close to the lash line with a small smudge brush for a smoked accent, especially flattering on brown eyes.
6. Curl your lashes.
7. Line tight to the upper lash line with Dark Chocolate creamy eyeliner for depth and definition.
8. Run a Navy eyeliner along the lower lash line to add dimension without going fully blue.
9. Finish the eyes with Volume Up mascara to separate and add gloss.

How does she finish the base and face?

The base is her signature approach for mature skin, worn with zero pretending about pigmentation or texture. She follows this order:

1. Color-correct pigmentation and redness with Creamy Concealer, mixing fair and light, sweeping upward at the outer eye for a subtle lift.
2. Buff in Fiercely Smooth face primer with the Foundation Buffing Brush (it is an airless pump, so give it a few extra pumps at first).
3. Buff a light BB Cream over the top for a natural, blurred finish.
4. Set under the eyes with Nikita Banana brightening pressed powder.
5. Groom the brows and cover a few grays with brow mascara.
6. Add warmth and glow with the Classic Beach Glow palette (bronzer, blush and highlighter), then tap highlighter on the tops of the cheekbones.
7. Line the lips with Cameo lip liner and top with New Beauty lip gloss for a juicy, fresh finish.

Note: Dior, St. John, La Mer and Bobby Brown are third-party brands mentioned in passing and are not affiliated with Nikol Beauty. For any skincare or health concern, patch-test new products and consult a licensed professional rather than relying on beauty content.

The bottom line

This video is a gentle permission slip to drop the performance, play with a little color, and enjoy the process of getting ready as a mature woman. Nikol proves that a bold shade like cobalt blue can be completely wearable when you treat it as an accent, and that showing up honestly always connects more than a flawless facade. Ready to experiment with color or refresh your everyday base? Explore Nikol Beauty eyes, face and makeup.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is this a makeup tutorial or a personal update?

It is both. Nikol films a full get-ready-with-me while she catches you up on a busy week and talks openly about why she is tired of pretending everything is effortless. The makeup application and the honest conversation happen side by side, start to finish.

Which eyeshadow palette does Nikol use for the blue?

She reaches for a Dior palette from summer 2023 and pulls the cobalt blue as the star shade. She does not use every color in the pan, just the blue as a smoked accent layered over soft browns, so the look stays wearable rather than heavy.

How can I wear cobalt blue eyeshadow if bold color feels scary?

Treat it as an accent, not a full lid. Start with soft browns to build a base, then pack a little blue close to the lash line with a small smudge brush. Build slowly, because you can always add more, and it looks especially pretty on brown eyes.

What does tired of pretending mean in this video?

It is Nikol letting go of the pressure to seem flawless and unaffected. She talks about aging changes she notices, nonstop online comments, and unkind celebrity comparisons, and chooses to show up honestly instead. Her message is to be gentle with yourself and kinder to other women.

Which Nikol Beauty products create the base?

Her base uses Fiercely Smooth face primer, Creamy Concealer in fair mixed with light, a light BB Cream buffed in with the Foundation Buffing Brush, and Nikita Banana brightening powder to set under the eyes. Brow mascara, Classic Beach Glow, Cameo lip liner, and New Beauty gloss finish it.

Does Nikol recommend skin prep and sunscreen first?

Yes. She stresses that hydrated, well-prepped skin is what makes makeup sit smoothly, and she keeps sunscreen in the routine. If you have specific skin concerns, patch-test new products and check with a licensed dermatologist rather than relying on beauty content for medical advice.