Quick answer: The serum in this video is Caudalie's Vinoperfect Radiance Serum — the grape-derived brightening serum the brand says sells one bottle every 30 seconds worldwide. Nikol has used it, unsponsored, for over 15 years and loves it for dullness and dark spots. After her skincare prep, she builds a fresh, glowing everyday makeup look on top.
Key takeaways
- The star product is Caudalie Vinoperfect Radiance Serum — a third-party favorite Nikol has kept in her rotation for 15-plus years, and she notes this is not a sponsored placement.
- It's a grape-polyphenol brightening serum aimed at dullness, dark spots, and uneven tone — some of the most common concerns after 40.
- Glowing skin is the best canvas: Nikol preps her skin first, then adds a soft, radiant, natural makeup look.
- The makeup half is a full step-by-step using her Fiercely Smooth primer, color correctors, brightening powder, eyeshadow, and cream blush.
- Consistency and daily SPF matter more than any single product when you're fading dark spots.
Hey ladies — in this one I'm doing two things at once: sharing the radiant serum I've leaned on for years, and then walking you through a fresh, powerful everyday makeup look. Great skin makes everything else easier, so we start there and build up.
What serum does Nikol use, and why?
The serum is Caudalie's Vinoperfect Radiance Serum. I want to be clear this isn't sponsored — I've simply had it in my rotation for well over 15 years, going back to my days as an esthetician trained with a French skincare house. It's a grape-polyphenol formula, and Caudalie's whole story starts in 1993 near Bordeaux, where the founding family's vineyard led them to study the antioxidants in grapes and put them into skincare. This particular serum launched in 2005. I love how it smells and how it feels — not tacky, not oily, just a lightweight glow that layers beautifully under makeup. It's the serum famous for the brand's claim that one bottle sells every 30 seconds worldwide, and after all these years I understand the loyalty.
How does Nikol prep her skin before makeup?
Prep is where the glow really comes from. I start with a purifying toner (Caudalie's Vinopure, which has natural salicylic acid) on a cotton pad, then press in the Vinoperfect serum. You can wear it alone under sunscreen or add a moisturizer if your skin wants more. A little rose lip balm keeps my lips hydrated while I work. Then I smooth everything out with the Fiercely Smooth Face Primer so the skin is even and makeup has something to grip.
The glowy everyday makeup tutorial, step by step
Once skin is prepped, here's the exact order I follow in the video for a natural but powerful look:
- Smooth the canvas. After skincare, press on the Fiercely Smooth Face Primer to blur texture and even the surface.
- Prime and neutralize the eyes. I use an eye primer from the base of the lash line up to the brow bone to cancel darkness so eyeshadow reads true.
- Soft natural eye. I work through the Le Bottled Blonde 3-Well Eyeshadow Palette, light shade to the brow bone and the deepest shade smudged along the lashes with a tapered brush.
- Lashes and liner. Curl the lashes, tightline with a dark chocolate liner, smudge it up, then one to three coats of mascara for a jet-black finish.
- Color correct. Press the Just Peachy Color Corrector into the under-eye to cancel darkness, and dab the No Redness Color Corrector around the nose and chin to neutralize flushing.
- Conceal and base. A little concealer over the corrector, then foundation buffed in — I keep coverage light so the corrector does the brightening.
- Set the glow. Set just the under-eye with the Nikita Banana Brightening Powder so the concealer stays put without going flat.
- Frame the brows. A tiny bit of shaping underneath with a skinny brow pencil.
- Lips. Line and softly fill with the Unapologetic lip liner, then the Confidence lipstick — a rich berry that's about stepping into your power, not playing it safe.
- Warm the cheeks. A little Cream Blush in Palm Beach worked into the skin for a deeper-apricot glow that doesn't compete with the lip.
Third-party pieces I reach for — a Chanel concealer and foundation, a Valentino liquid bronzer, a Nars blush, and a Clarins setting mist — are just personal favorites, not Nikol Beauty products.
Who should consider a radiance serum?
If your skin looks dull or tired, or you're seeing sun-related dark spots — all more common after 40 — a brightening serum is one of the highest-impact things you can add. My advice: give it a full season of consistent use, apply it to clean skin before moisturizer, and always pair it with daily SPF so new spots don't form while you fade the old ones. Skin is personal, so patch-test any new serum first, and check in with a dermatologist or licensed professional about persistent pigmentation.
The bottom line
Caudalie's Vinoperfect is a serum I genuinely stand behind after more than 15 years — but the real lesson is that glowing, well-prepped skin makes every makeup product perform better. Ready to build your own fresh, radiant look? Explore our Face collection, our Color Correctors, and our Best Sellers.
Frequently Asked Questions
What serum does Nikol use in this video?
The serum is Caudalie's Vinoperfect Radiance Serum, a grape-polyphenol brightening serum. Nikol makes a point of saying it is not sponsored — she has simply kept it in her rotation for over 15 years because she likes how it works on pigmentation and how light it feels under makeup.
Does Caudalie really sell one bottle every 30 seconds?
That figure is Caudalie's own marketing claim, which Nikol repeats in the video — it isn't an independent statistic. What she can speak to is her personal experience: after more than 15 years of use, it remains one of the few products she keeps coming back to and repurchasing.
What does a radiance serum do for dark spots and dull skin?
A brightening serum is designed to help fade the look of dark spots, boost radiance, and even out tone over time. It is usually applied to clean skin before moisturizer. Results are gradual and everyone's skin differs, so patch-test a new serum and consult a professional for persistent pigmentation.
How long does it take to see results from a brightening serum?
Most people notice fresher, brighter-looking skin within a few weeks, but meaningful change in dark spots and tone usually takes about 8 to 12 weeks of consistent use. As Nikol's 15-plus years show, the biggest payoff comes from making it a lasting habit paired with daily sunscreen.
What makeup does Nikol use for this glowy look?
After skincare she smooths on the Fiercely Smooth Face Primer, does a soft eye with the Le Bottled Blonde palette, color-corrects with Just Peachy and No Redness, sets with Nikita Banana brightening powder, and warms her cheeks with the Palm Beach cream blush for a fresh, radiant finish.
Can mature skin use a brightening serum every day?
Most radiance serums are gentle enough for daily use on mature skin, morning and night. Because sun exposure is the main driver of new dark spots, pair the serum with daily SPF. If you have sensitive skin or a specific concern, patch-test first and check with your dermatologist.
