Quick answer: This is a get-ready-with-me fall makeup tutorial for mature skin. Nikol tries Chantecaille's new cheetah palette in real time, mixes it with her own Nikol Beauty staples for a soft, classic eye, then heads to the closet to share two secondhand designer bags and a handful of affordable fall style picks.
Key takeaways
- It's a real-time tutorial — Nikol swatches and applies the Chantecaille cheetah palette on camera and gives her honest take: the shades run soft and low on pigment.
- She deepens the outer corner with a matte shade from another palette — proof that mixing palettes to get the look you want is completely fine.
- The eye is built over her #1 Eye Primer and finished with Volume Up Mascara; skin is Serum Foundation in Light, applied with a light hand.
- The closet segment features a secondhand navy top-handle mini and a Tiffany suede clutch, plus affordable fall staples like a striped turtleneck and a $59 cream coat.
- A gentle reminder to celebrate your own milestones — Nikol shares her habit of gifting small treats to herself.
Hey ladies! This one is really two videos in one: a soft, wearable fall eye look you can recreate in minutes, followed by a little closet try-on. Nikol films her honest first impression of the Chantecaille cheetah palette, then rounds out the mood with quiet-luxury style that doesn't require designer prices. Here's everything she used and loved.
How does Nikol create this soft fall eye for mature skin?
The whole look is built to stay true and last on mature, hooded lids — starting with primer and keeping every layer soft and buildable. Here are the real steps she follows on camera:
- Prime the lids. Sweep the #1 Eye Primer from the lashline up to the brow bone and into the inner corner to neutralize discoloration so the shadow reads true and wears all day.
- Wash the lid. Using a flat eyeshadow brush, apply the palette's middle shade across the entire lid.
- Brighten the brow bone. Flip the brush and place the lightest shade under the brow.
- Build depth. Press the darkest sheen shade into the outer corner. Because it applies soft, Nikol layers a matte dark brown from another palette with a short smudge brush to deepen the corner and lower lashline.
- Curl and line. Curl the lashes, then trace the base with a dark chocolate waterproof eyeliner, lifting slightly at the very end (no full wing).
- Add lashes. Coat with Volume Up Mascara, wiggling at the base and pulling up for a full, even fringe.
- Prep the skin. Dab a peachy color corrector under the eyes, then place creamy concealer in Light and let it set before pressing it in.
- Foundation. Buff on a few drops of Serum Foundation in Light with a foundation brush — less is more (about four drops, built up as needed).
- Set and brighten. Dust Nikita Banana brightening powder under the eyes to set the corrector and concealer.
- Cheeks, lips and brows. Contour and pop the cheeks with the Ballerina Rose blush palette; line with Waterproof Lip Liner in Cameo, add NikRay lipstick and Manifest & Glow gloss; comb the brows up with the milk chocolate brow shade.
Is the Chantecaille cheetah palette worth it?
Nikol shares her honest, real-time verdict rather than a scripted rave. Chantecaille is a third-party brand, and here's how the new cheetah palette performed for her:
- Loved: beautiful cheetah packaging and soft, wearable neutral shades that flatter mature eyes.
- Loved: the pigment isn't overwhelming, so the shades are easy to control and hard to overdo.
- Loved: it's part of a conservation-themed collection — Chantecaille previously released a save-the-sea-turtles palette, and this one carries the cheetah theme.
- Honest note: the darkest sheen shade builds soft, so Nikol reached for a matte brown from another palette to get real depth.
- Honest note: if you love a deep, dramatic smoky eye, plan to mix in a darker shade.
Why buy iconic designer bags secondhand?
Nikol's rule is simple: buy the icon, not the trend — and buy it secondhand. Heritage styles hold up season after season, and consignment lets you own them for less. She'd been admiring Cartier bags in Las Vegas but chose to wait, and a navy top-handle mini eventually came up on consignment in the exact color she wanted. Her second piece is a Tiffany suede clutch in a green-blue shade with gold hardware — the style is still sold in stores in other colors, but she found the navy secondhand. Her closet has a one-in, one-out habit: when something new comes in, something else gets reconsigned to make room.
What are Nikol's affordable fall 2024 style picks?
The throughline is quiet luxury on a budget — designer-inspired staples that mix seamlessly with investment bags. All of these are third-party pieces:
- A classic striped turtleneck sweater (an affordable Amazon find) — soft, stretchy and season-after-season versatile.
- A short-sleeve Frame cashmere sweater with a slight bell sleeve.
- Straight-leg jeans she reaches for almost daily.
- Lower-heel, slingback-inspired flats — a comfortable dupe for a pricier designer shoe.
- An adjustable "quiet luxury" belt that works with dresses, pants or skirts and travels well.
- A lightweight, oversized cream coat (around $59) styled with a matching scarf for an easy monochromatic look.
She also shares a sweet non-shopping tip: celebrate your own milestones. Nikol gift-wraps a small treat to herself when she hits a goal — a reminder that you don't need anyone else's permission to mark your wins.
The bottom line
This is a soft, classic fall look that takes minutes and flatters mature skin — proof that you can mix a pretty third-party palette with the staples you trust and still get a polished result. Ready to build your own version? Explore Nikol Beauty's eye makeup, face essentials, and best-sellers to recreate the look.
Frequently Asked Questions
What eyeshadow palette does Nikol use in this tutorial?
She tries Chantecaille's new cheetah palette for fall 2024, applying it on camera in real time. Because the shades run soft and low on pigment, she layers a matte dark brown from another palette to deepen the outer corner — a reminder that mixing palettes to get the look you want is perfectly fine.
Which Nikol Beauty products does she use for this look?
The eye is built over the #1 Eye Primer and finished with Volume Up Mascara. Skin is Serum Foundation in Light with a peachy color corrector, creamy concealer in Light, and Nikita Banana powder. She finishes with the Ballerina Rose blush palette, Waterproof Lip Liner in Cameo, NikRay lipstick, and Manifest & Glow gloss.
Is this palette good for mature or hooded eyes?
Yes. The soft, low-pigment shades are easy to control and blend, so they're forgiving on mature or hooded lids, and priming first helps the color stay true and last. If you prefer a deeper, more dramatic eye, simply mix in a darker matte shade to build the depth you want.
How does Nikol shop designer handbags affordably?
She buys iconic styles secondhand on consignment instead of at full retail. In this video she shares a navy top-handle mini she waited for after admiring Cartier in store, plus a Tiffany suede clutch. Her rule: buy the timeless icon, not the trend, and let something leave the closet when something new comes in.
What affordable fall pieces does she recommend?
A classic striped turtleneck, a short-sleeve cashmere sweater, straight-leg jeans, lower-heel slingback-inspired flats, an adjustable "quiet luxury" belt, and a lightweight oversized cream coat (around $59) styled with a matching scarf. They're designer-inspired staples that mix easily with investment bags for a quiet-luxury look.
What foundation does she wear, and how much?
Nikol wears Serum Foundation in Light, buffed on with a brush. She stresses that less is more — about four drops, added gradually — and prefers fingers or a brush over a damp sponge, which she feels removes too much product from the skin.
