Quick answer: The instant face lift is a makeup technique, not surgery. You apply a temporary skin tightener in a thin layer on clean, dry skin, let it set fully, then press lightweight makeup on top for a smoother, firmer-looking finish that lasts a few hours. The effect is temporary, washes off, and varies from person to person.
Key takeaways
- It is a temporary cosmetic makeup effect for a few hours of smoother, firmer-looking skin — not surgery, filler, or a permanent change.
- Start on clean, dry, bare skin so the tightener can grip and set.
- Keep the tightener layer very thin; too much dries into white, egg-white-like residue.
- Set it with a fan, then press (never rub) makeup on top so you do not disturb it.
- Results vary by puffiness, texture, and skin type, and reverse once the product is removed.
Hey ladies! In this tutorial Nikol Johnson — licensed esthetician and founder of Nikol Beauty — revisits an instant face lift trick she first tested on a client back in 2021 and finally cracks the part everyone said was impossible: wearing it under makeup. It is a temporary, non-surgical way to look a little more lifted and refreshed for a big event, and she is honest that the effect is a fun illusion you can control, not a medical result.
What Is the Instant Face Lift Makeup Technique?
Nikol's "instant face lift" is a makeup and skincare-layering technique, not a cosmetic procedure. She uses a temporary topical skin tightener to smooth the look of puffiness, fine lines, and texture, then layers light makeup over it so the effect reads as refreshed rather than "done." As she puts it in the video, she is "not doing plastic surgery" — this is about products, technique, and a little visual illusion. In the tutorial she reaches for a Peter Thomas Roth temporary face tightener, but any temporary tightener works the same way. The lift is short-lived and washes off, and she is upfront that it is an alternative to invasive procedures, not a substitute for them.
How Do You Apply a Temporary Skin Tightener Under Makeup?
Here is the exact order Nikol follows in the tutorial. The whole trick is keeping the tightener thin and letting it set before anything goes on top.
- Start on clean, dry skin. No moisturizer, no product — the tightener needs bare skin to grip and set.
- Apply the tightener in a very thin layer. Nikol targets just the areas she wants to smooth — under the eyes, fine lines, crow's feet — though you can do the whole face. A little goes a long way; too much dries into white, egg-white-like lines.
- Set it with a fan. She fans the product until she can feel her skin tightening and pulled back, which is what locks the effect in place.
- Press a radiance product on top. Using a dry brush, she presses (never rubs) a glow product over the skin so the tightener underneath is not disturbed.
- Tap on a lightweight base. Nikol keeps it sheer, tapping on her Serum Foundation on one side and her BB Cream on the other — nothing heavy that would move the tightener.
- Conceal with precision. She taps a little concealer under the eyes with an angled brush instead of dragging it, so the base stays undisturbed.
- Finish lightly. If you set with powder, roll it on with a soft brush rather than sweeping, then add your eyes, lip liner, blush, and a setting spray to hold everything for the evening.
Does the Instant Face Lift Work for Everyone?
Nikol is refreshingly honest here: results vary. She first tried this years ago on a client with very puffy under-eye bags and filmed the transformation — that is the "proof" in the title — but she also points out that the puffiness came right back the moment the product was removed. How dramatic the effect looks depends on your own puffiness, texture, and skin type, so she encourages you to experiment and find the formulation and placement that work for you. Think of it as a low-commitment confidence boost for a wedding, holiday party, or photo day — not a permanent fix.
Because this involves applying a product to bare skin, patch-test anything new first and check with a professional if you have sensitive or reactive skin.
The bottom line
The instant face lift is all about technique and illusion: a thin, well-set temporary tightener plus a light, pressed-on base gives you a smoother, more lifted look for a few hours — no needles, no downtime. Keep the rest of the face natural and let your skin do the talking. Ready to build your own event-ready base? Explore Nikol Beauty face makeup, shop concealers, or browse the best-sellers Nikol reaches for every day.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is this instant face lift permanent?
No. This is a temporary cosmetic makeup technique, not a medical procedure or surgery. A topical skin tightener creates a smoother, firmer-looking finish that lasts a few hours to an evening, then washes off. Nikol is clear it moves the needle for an event, but it is not plastic surgery or a permanent change.
Why do you have to start with clean, dry skin?
A temporary tightener needs bare, dry skin to grip and set properly. Nikol applies it before any moisturizer or makeup so it can dry down and tighten. If skin is damp or already has product on it, the tightener can slide, pill, or fail to set the way you want it to.
Can you really wear makeup over a skin tightener?
Yes, and that is the whole point of Nikol's technique. The key is keeping the tightener in a very thin layer, letting it dry fully, then pressing product on top instead of rubbing. She layers a lightweight base like her Serum Foundation or BB Cream so nothing disturbs the tightener underneath.
How do you keep it from looking cakey or flaking?
Use the tightener sparingly. Nikol warns that too much leaves visible white, egg-white-like lines when it dries. Keep the layer thin, set it with a fan, then tap on light base and concealer rather than dragging. Finish with only a whisper of powder, pressed in, so nothing cracks.
Does the technique work for everyone?
Results vary. Nikol is candid that puffiness, texture, and skin type change how dramatic the effect looks, and the tightening reverses once you remove it. She recommends experimenting to find the formulation and placement that suit your own under-eyes, fine lines, and skin before a big event.
Is a temporary tightener the same as a treatment or filler?
No. It is a cosmetic product that creates a short-term visual effect only. Nikol frames it as a confidence tool and an alternative to invasive procedures, not a replacement for skincare or professional treatments. If you have sensitive skin, patch-test first and check with a professional about any product.
