Nikol's Mother's Day glow up starts with priming the eyes and face, builds eye definition with the Sweet Carol palette and waterproof liner, adds press-on lashes with Volume UP Mascara, color corrects redness and darkness, then finishes with cream and powder blush, a soft lip, and brows filled in with a Skinny Brow Pencil.
Key takeaways
- Priming your eyelids before shadow keeps color from creasing and helps it read true over discoloration.
- A 3-well palette like Sweet Carol can be used three ways: a soft wash of color, a smoky liner, or a bold built-up look.
- Press-on lashes go underneath your natural lash line, not on top, and should be removed with an oil or balm instead of pulled off.
- Color correctors cancel out specific tones: green-based No Redness neutralizes redness, while peach and apricot shades brighten darkness under the eyes.
- Building blush with a cream layer first and a powder layer on top helps the color last longer on mature skin.
- Setting products should go on top of color correctors and concealer with a light hand so you don't lose the coverage underneath.
Nikol's step-by-step routine
- Prime the eyelids with Eye Primer using the Concealer Brush to create an even base.
- Apply the Sweet Carol 3-Well Eye Shadow Palette, pressing the mid-tone shadow into the lid and the lightest shade to soften or blend.
- Use the darker shadow with a tapered brush as a liner, or build definition with the Waterproof Eyeliner Pencil at the base of the lashes.
- Soften any harsh lines with the short smudge (eraser) brush, then add shadow or liner underneath the eye for balance.
- Curl lashes, apply Volume UP Mascara at the base of the lashes with a back-and-forth motion, then add press-on lashes underneath the natural lash line, sizing them shorter at the inner and outer corners.
- Color correct with No Redness Color Corrector over redness and Just Peachy or Simply Apricot under the eyes and over dark spots.
- Apply Serum Foundation (or BB Crème) with a concealer or foundation brush, following your own pigmentation pattern.
- Layer a cream blush shade with a powder blush like Ballerina Rose Blush Palette on the cheeks, then add Crème Brûlée bronzer for definition.
- Line and fill lips with a Waterproof Lip Liner Pencil, then top with a lip color such as Coco 13 Lip Gloss or Actually, I Can Shiny Velvet Cream Lipstick.
- Fill brows with the Skinny Brow Pencil and set with Brow Mascara to cover gray.
- Spot conceal with Creamy Concealer using a fluffy blending brush, set with Nikita Banana Brightening Powder using the Soft Set Technique™ Brush, and mist to finish.
How do you prep mature skin and eyes before applying eyeshadow?
Nikol starts with a small amount of Fiercely Smooth Face Primer pressed into the skin with her fingers. For the eyes, she uses a creamy Eye Primer applied with the Concealer Brush, tapping it onto the lid rather than sweeping it on. Priming first means the eyeshadow color will read true instead of mixing with any discoloration on the lid.
She also notes that fine facial hair along the sides of the face can make foundation sit unevenly, so smoothing that area beforehand helps makeup glide on evenly.
How can you use a 3-well eyeshadow palette three different ways?
Using the Sweet Carol 3-Well Eye Shadow Palette, Nikol presses the middle shade into the lid starting at the base of the lashes, keeping it controlled rather than sweeping it side to side. The lightest shade can be used over any area that gets too intense, acting like a soft eraser to tone color down without starting over.
On one eye she uses the darkest shade with a tapered blending brush as a smoky liner at the base of the lashes, winging up slightly at the outer corner. On the other eye, she skips the shadow-as-liner step and instead relies on a Waterproof Eyeliner Pencil for more definition, showing how the same palette can create a soft, natural look or a more intense one depending on technique.
What's the best way to apply and blend waterproof eyeliner?
Nikol sharpens her Waterproof Eyeliner Pencil to a rounded point using the Pencil Sharpener, then applies it in small strokes along the base of the lashes rather than dragging the pencil across in one line. She tapers the line down at the outer corner instead of continuing straight across.
If the line looks uneven, she smudges it with the short, dense smudge brush to blend everything together softly. The same approach works along the lower lash line for a softer, balanced look without a hard line.
How do you apply press-on lashes without them looking fake?
Nikol applies Volume UP Mascara first, moving the wand back and forth at the base of the lashes before sweeping up, which gives the press-on lashes something to adhere to. She then uses tweezers to place individual pre-glued lash clusters underneath her natural lash line (not on top), starting with a shorter length near the inner corner and building up to a longer length near the arch of the brow before tapering shorter again at the outer corner.
To secure them, she gently pinches her natural lashes and the cluster together rather than clamping down hard. To remove them later, she applies an oil or balm over closed eyes and gently works it through rather than pulling the lashes off.
How do you color correct redness and dark circles on mature skin?
Nikol uses the No Redness Color Corrector first, applying it directly over visible redness since red and green cancel each other out on the color wheel. For darkness and discoloration around the eyes, she uses Just Peachy Color Corrector on lighter skin or Simply Apricot on deeper skin tones, following the shape of her own pigmentation rather than a one-size-fits-all pattern.
After color correcting, she applies Serum Foundation (shaken well before use) with a concealer or foundation brush, building coverage gradually. She notes the same formula also covers pigmentation on the hands when demonstrated on the back of her hand.
How do you add blush and bronzer so the color lasts?
To bring warmth back to the face after color correcting, Nikol layers a cream blush shade first, then presses a powder shade from the Ballerina Rose Blush Palette on top for staying power. She finishes with Crème Brûlée bronzer swept along the cheekbones for subtle definition and a soft sheen rather than shimmer.
How do you finish lips, brows, and set the whole look?
For lips, Nikol lines and fills them with a Waterproof Lip Liner Pencil, then layers Coco 13 Lip Gloss or a Shiny Velvet Cream Lipstick shade like Actually, I Can on top. She fills in brows with the Skinny Brow Pencil and sets them with Brow Mascara to cover any gray.
To finish, she spot-conceals with Creamy Concealer using a fluffy blending brush for a diffused look, then sets everything with Nikita Banana Brightening Powder pressed in using the Soft Set Technique™ Brush before misting her face to lock the look in place.
Shop the look
Nikol uses Sweet Carol 3-Well Eye Shadow Palette, Fiercely Smooth Face Primer, Eye Primer, Concealer Brush. Explore the face collection for more of the pro-aging makeup she created for women over 40.
Frequently asked questions
What eyeshadow palette does Nikol use in this tutorial?
She uses the Sweet Carol 3-Well Eye Shadow Palette, which has a matte, sheen, and matte shade, and shows how to use it as a soft wash of color or build it into a smoky liner.
How do you apply press-on lashes correctly?
Place them underneath your natural lash line rather than on top, starting shorter at the inner corner, building length near the arch of the brow, and tapering shorter at the outer corner, then gently pinch them to your natural lashes to secure.
What's the difference between No Redness, Just Peachy, and Simply Apricot?
No Redness Color Corrector targets redness and broken capillaries, Just Peachy brightens darkness on lighter skin tones, and Simply Apricot is formulated for deeper skin tones needing more correction for purple-toned darkness.
Can you layer cream and powder blush together?
Yes, Nikol applies a cream blush shade first for a natural flush, then presses a powder blush from the Ballerina Rose Blush Palette on top to help the color last longer.
What lip combination did Nikol use for this look?
She lined and filled her lips with a Waterproof Lip Liner Pencil in a rosy shade, then layered Coco 13 Lip Gloss on top for a soft, polished finish.
How do you set makeup without disturbing concealer or color correctors?
Use a light touch with Nikita Banana Brightening Powder pressed in with the Soft Set Technique™ Brush rather than rolling or rubbing, which keeps the coverage underneath intact.
