Nikol's lazy-day routine for mature skin relies on multi-tasking products: brow mascara instead of a pencil, a front-loaded mascara technique instead of eyeliner, a color corrector instead of concealer, and a cream multi-use compact for cheeks. The goal is to look polished and awake with the fewest possible steps.
Key takeaways
- You don't have to do every step every day—pick the ones that matter most to you.
- Brow mascara can double as a brow pencil to fill in sparse areas right at the skin.
- Front-loading mascara at the base of your lashes creates an eyeliner-like effect without using liner.
- A color corrector can replace concealer when you only need to neutralize dark pigmentation, not add coverage.
- A multi-use cream compact with blush, bronzer, and highlighter saves time versus reaching for three separate products.
- Hydrated lips help lip liner glide on smoothly so it can double as your lipstick in a pinch.
Nikol's step-by-step routine
- Apply a hydrating serum or essence, then a vitamin C serum and a brightening eye cream for the under-eye area.
- Optional: pat a glow-boosting illuminating serum/filter into the skin for dewy coverage instead of foundation.
- Groom brows and use Brow Mascara to fill in sparse spots by depositing pigment right at the skin under the hairs.
- For a simple neutral eye, apply Eye Primer and set it with Nikita Banana Brightening Powder.
- For more of a look, pat on a cream eyeshadow with the Nikol Beauty Eyeshadow Blending Brush, blending with light swipes.
- Skip eyeliner: curl lashes, then use Volume UP Mascara, wiggling at the base to front-load pigment so lashes look lined.
- Swap concealer for Just Peachy Color Corrector on pigmented areas, blending with the Foundation Buffing Brush.
- Keep an SPF on hand as part of the routine (it was set out but skipped in this demo due to time), then add BB Crème with the same buffing brush for sheer, hydrating coverage.
- Add color using Classic Beach Glow—blush, bronzer, and highlighter from one compact—applied with a flat brush.
- Line and fill in lips with WaterProof Lip Liner Pencils (sharpened as needed with the Pencil Sharpener) to use as a lipstick.
- Finish lips with Rose Lip Balm #100 to smooth color and add hydration and shine.
How do you simplify skincare before makeup on a lazy day?
Nikol starts with a few drops of a hydrating serum-like essence, pressed in sparingly since it spreads easily over the skin. She follows with a vitamin C serum for brightness.
She finishes this step with a brightening eye cream meant to target under-eye dullness, applying it under the eyes and along the brow bone for a quick wake-up effect.
Can you skip foundation and still look glowy?
If you want to forgo a tinted moisturizer or foundation altogether, Nikol shows how a glow-boosting illuminating serum can be buffed into the skin with a brush for a dewy, lit-from-within look.
She notes you don't have to use it all over your face—you can mix a small amount into your BB Crème if a full glow feels like too much.
What's the fastest way to fill in your brows without a pencil?
Instead of grabbing a brow pencil, Nikol uses her Brow Mascara to groom the brows and fill in any sparse areas. She uses the pointed tip of the brush to deposit pigment right at the skin under the brow hairs.
This gives the same shaping effect as a pencil but cuts out a step, which she says is key on days you have no energy but still want defined brows.
What's the quickest eye look for lazy days?
For a bare-minimum eye, Nikol applies Eye Primer and sets it with Nikita Banana Brightening Powder for a neutral, polished look in seconds.
If you want a bit more color, she demonstrates swiping on a cream eyeshadow and blending it with the Nikol Beauty Eyeshadow Blending Brush or your finger, working in thin layers since pigmented lids can get muddy fast.
How do you get an eyeliner look without actually using liner?
Nikol skips eyeliner entirely and relies on technique instead. After curling lashes so they point up rather than straight out, she uses Volume UP Mascara and wiggles the brush at the base of the lashes to 'front-load' pigment there.
This builds up color right where liner would normally sit, giving the illusion of definition without an extra product or step.
Do you need concealer every day?
Nikol often skips concealer and uses Just Peachy Color Corrector instead, applying it only where she sees pigmentation and blending it in with the Foundation Buffing Brush.
If that's enough coverage, you can stop there. If you want more, she layers BB Crème over it afterward for a sheer, even finish. She also mentions that she herself forgot to apply her SPF this time, even though it's an easy step to overlook when you're moving quickly.
What's the easiest way to add color to cheeks and lips fast?
For cheeks, Nikol reaches for Classic Beach Glow, a cream compact that combines blush, bronzer, and highlighter in one palette so she doesn't have to dig for three separate products.
For lips, she lines and completely fills them in with WaterProof Lip Liner Pencils, essentially using the pencil as her lipstick. She notes dry lips can cause the pigment to catch, so she finishes with Rose Lip Balm #100 to smooth everything together and add shine.
Shop the look
Nikol uses Eye Primer, Nikita Banana Brightening Powder, Brow Mascara, Nikol Beauty Eyeshadow Blending Brush. Explore the face collection for more of the pro-aging makeup she created for women over 40.
Frequently asked questions
What is the lazy-girl makeup routine Nikol uses?
It's a simplified routine that leans on multi-tasking products—brow mascara instead of a pencil, front-loaded mascara instead of liner, and a color corrector instead of concealer—so you can look pulled together with minimal effort.
How can I skip eyeliner but still look like I'm wearing it?
Curl your lashes, then wiggle your mascara wand at the base of the lashes to deposit extra pigment there, which creates the look of definition without applying liner.
Can brow mascara really replace a brow pencil?
Yes—Nikol uses the pointed tip of her Brow Mascara brush to fill in sparse areas right at the skin under the brow hairs, giving a similar shaping effect to a pencil.
Do I need concealer every day?
Not necessarily. If you're only dealing with discoloration rather than needing heavy coverage, a color corrector like Just Peachy Color Corrector can neutralize it on its own.
What's the quickest way to add cheek color?
Nikol uses a cream compact like Classic Beach Glow that holds blush, bronzer, and highlighter together, so one swipe with a brush covers all three steps.
Can I use lip liner as my lipstick?
Yes—line your lips as usual, then fill them in completely with the same pencil. Hydrated lips help the pigment go on smoothly, and a lip balm on top softens the finish.
