At 70, Chris went skydiving for the first time, and that fearless energy carries straight into the makeup chair. Licensed esthetician Nikol Johnson gives her a fresh, natural daytime makeover using colour-corrected under-eyes, a lightweight BB cream base, a soft Naughty Nancy eye with plum liner, a custom-mixed cream blush and a pink lip Chris never expected to love — proving that the best makeup for mature skin enhances what is already there rather than covering it up.
Key takeaways
- Chris's "shocking confession" is joyful, not scandalous — she jumped out of an aeroplane at 70 because a skydiving trip popped up on her community's activities calendar and she decided life was too short to ignore it.
- Working eyes-first lets Nikol clean up any shadow fallout before the base goes on, which means fewer touch-ups and less product sitting on mature skin.
- An orange colour corrector cancels deep under-eye darkness so concealer can brighten rather than pile on coverage — the two-step method uses less product overall.
- Plum eyeliner defines mature, slightly hooded eyes more softly than black, keeping the lash line visible without a heavy line.
- Mixing two cream blush shades — Paris and St. Barths — creates a custom muted berry-pink that flatters Chris's skin tone exactly.
- A pink lip was the happy surprise of the makeover — Chris said she never wears pink lipstick and loved how it looked against the warm, bronzed base.
Who is Chris and what is her Fierce Aging confession?
Chris is 70 years old and found Nikol after searching online for "makeup for older women." Her confession is simple and wonderful: she went skydiving for the first time at 70. It had been a lifelong bucket-list wish, and when a skydiving trip appeared on her community's activities email, she signed up on the spot. Nine people went; the oldest was an 82-year-old gentleman who jumped first. Chris describes the experience as both terrifying and amazing, and her advice for living fully in your later decades is characteristically practical — take baby steps, walk more, join a book club, stay involved and interested in the world around you. If something makes you smile, do it. That attitude is exactly what Fierce Aging celebrates, and it sets the tone for a makeover that is about confidence and warmth, not transformation into someone else.
Why does Nikol work eyes-first on mature skin?
Shadow fallout — the fine powder that drifts down from the eye area during blending — is the enemy of a clean base. On younger skin you can brush it away easily, but on mature skin, swiping at fallout can disturb primer, pull at thinner tissue, or drag product into fine lines. By completing the entire eye before touching the base, Nikol can wipe away any stray pigment with a clean cloth or brush and then lay the foundation work on pristine skin. It also means the base stays fresh rather than requiring a second pass of concealer to clean up shadows under the eye. For a full breakdown of this order-of-operations trick, the first Fierce Aging episode with Nikol's mom walks through the same approach at 71.
How does Nikol build this natural daytime look step by step?
Every product is applied lightly and buffed in — the goal is luminous, hydrated skin that looks like skin, not a mask. Here is the full sequence she follows on Chris.
- Skincare prep. Lightweight serums are pressed into the skin, then Nikol's new medical-grade silicone under-eye masks (a rose-patterned reusable set, teased as coming soon) help the product absorb into the delicate under-eye area while she works above.
- Eye primer. Eye primer is smoothed over the lids to even out discolouration so the shadow reads true to colour.
- Eyeshadow. The middle shade of the Naughty Nancy palette is washed across the lid, the lightest shade highlights the brow bone, and the darkest is placed at the outer corner and blended with a blending brush — soft and diffused, never harsh.
- Brows. Chris has faded permanent brows, so Nikol fills them with light, hair-like strokes using the Skinny Brow Pencil in Brownie, then brushes Cocoa brow mascara over the grays to unify the colour.
- Face primer. Fiercely Smooth face primer is pressed into the skin — not rubbed — for hydration and a smooth base that helps everything that follows last longer.
- Eyeliner. Waterproof Plum eyeliner is placed low and close to the lash line, kept thin because of slight hooding — plum defines without the heaviness of black.
- Mascara. Volume Up mascara is wiggled at the base and lifted through the lashes. No curler and no bottom-lash application, which keeps the look clean and daytime-appropriate.
- Under-eye correction. Extreme Cancel orange corrector goes on the darkest under-eye area first, then Creamy Concealer in Med is layered over and buffed in with a flat brush. Correcting first means less concealer is needed and the finish looks brighter, not ashy.
- Base. Two pumps of BB cream in Tan are buffed into the skin with the Foundation Buffing Brush, blended down onto the neck for a seamless finish. The coverage is sheer and luminous — skin, not mask.
- Lips. Rose lip balm hydrates first, then Rosé All Day waterproof lip liner shapes the lip with a tiny lift at the cupid's bow, followed by a sheer gloss to finish.
- Cheeks. Two cream blush shades — Paris and St. Barths — are mixed on the back of the hand for a custom muted berry-pink, then Crème Brûlée hybrid bronzer is swept along the jawline with an angled brush to add warmth.
- Set and finish. Nikita Banana brightening powder is dusted lightly under the eyes and in the T-zone, and a mist of pure rose water locks everything in without adding weight.
Why does plum eyeliner work better than black on mature eyes?
Black liner on mature skin can read harsh, especially when applied along a lash line that has thinned or when hooding pushes the lid down over the line. It creates a hard boundary that draws attention to the very texture most women want to soften. Plum, by contrast, defines the lash line with enough depth to read as liner but with a warmth that lifts the eye rather than weighing it down. It also complements a wider range of shadow palettes — the warm tones in Naughty Nancy blend seamlessly into plum, whereas black would sit on top of them as a separate element. Other soft alternatives Nikol recommends for mature eyes include charcoal, dark chocolate and navy, depending on the shadow colour and the look you are building.
| Liner colour | Best with | Effect on mature eyes | When to use |
|---|---|---|---|
| Plum | Warm neutrals, berry and mauve shadows | Soft, lifting definition that reads feminine without harshness | Daytime, date night, anytime you want colour without drama |
| Dark Chocolate | Gold, bronze, warm brown and khaki shadows | Warm, grounding definition that disappears into bronzed looks | Everyday wear, warm-toned palettes, summer looks |
| Charcoal | Cool-toned shadows, silver, grey, taupe | Almost-black depth with softer edges — the closest substitute for black | Evening looks, cool-toned eyes, when you want depth without warmth |
| Navy | Blue eyes, cool neutrals, denim-inspired looks | Makes the whites of the eye look brighter and the iris pop | Special occasions, when you want an unexpected but sophisticated colour |
| Black | Dramatic or smokey looks | High contrast — can emphasise texture and hooding if applied thickly | Best applied very thinly or as tightline only, not a full lid line |
How do you colour-correct deep under-eye darkness on mature skin?
The two-step method Nikol uses on Chris is the same approach she teaches across the Fierce Aging series, and it works because it addresses the undertone of the darkness rather than trying to opacify over it with concealer alone.
- Identify the undertone. Deep under-eye circles on medium to dark skin tones typically show blue, purple or brown. On lighter skin, the circles often read blue-grey or purple.
- Apply the opposite colour. Orange sits opposite blue on the colour wheel, which is why the Extreme Cancel orange corrector neutralises the darkest patches. For lighter circles on fair skin, a peach corrector like Just Peachy is usually enough.
- Keep it targeted. The corrector goes only on the darkest area — usually the inner corner and directly beneath the eye — not the entire under-eye zone. Spreading it too far adds unnecessary product.
- Layer concealer on top. Creamy Concealer in a shade matched to the skin goes over the corrected area and is buffed gently with a flat brush. Because the darkness is already neutralised, you need far less concealer, which means less creasing and a more natural finish.
- Set lightly. A thin veil of brightening powder locks the layers in place without caking. Press the powder in rather than sweeping it — sweeping can shift the concealer underneath.
The result is an under-eye that looks brighter and more awake without the thick, cakey layer that settles into fine lines by midday. For a deeper dive into under-eye correction, the Barbara episode walks through the same method on 76-year-old skin.
What makes cream blush better than powder blush on skin over 70?
Powder blush sits on the surface. On younger, smoother skin that is fine — the texture has nothing to catch on. On mature skin, powder settles into fine lines, clings unevenly to dry patches, and can emphasise texture rather than colour. Cream blush, by contrast, melts into the skin and moves with it. It gives a dewy, lit-from-within flush that reads as natural warmth rather than applied makeup.
Nikol's trick in this episode is to mix two cream blush shades — Paris (a cooler pink) and St. Barths (a warmer peach) — on the back of her hand to create a custom muted berry-pink that matches Chris's skin tone exactly. Mixing on the hand also warms the product, which helps it blend more seamlessly on the skin. The Crème Brûlée hybrid bronzer she adds along the jawline is the same cream-based philosophy: warmth and dimension without powder.
If you are new to cream blush, start with a shade close to the colour your cheeks naturally flush when you exercise or step out of a warm shower — that is always the most natural-looking starting point.
What are the biggest mistakes to avoid when doing natural makeup over 70?
Chris's makeover is a masterclass in restraint. Here are the mistakes Nikol avoids — and that many women make when trying for a natural look on mature skin.
- Applying concealer without colour correction first. Concealer alone over deep darkness just pushes the dark tone through a beige filter, creating an ashy or grey cast. Correcting the undertone first lets the concealer do what it is designed to do — brighten and even.
- Using black liner as the default. Harsh black draws a hard line across the lash line that can emphasise hooding and thinning. Switching to plum, chocolate, charcoal or navy gives the same definition with a softer, more flattering finish.
- Applying mascara to the bottom lashes. For a daytime look, bottom-lash mascara on mature eyes can draw attention downward and smudge into under-eye corrector. Nikol skips it entirely on Chris — the top lashes do all the work.
- Rubbing primer in rather than pressing it. Rubbing drags delicate skin and can pill the product. Pressing primer in with fingertips or a brush deposits it evenly without disturbing the skin underneath.
- Using a single powder blush shade. A single shade rarely matches any skin tone exactly. Mixing two cream shades on the back of the hand gives a custom colour that flatters the specific skin in front of you — warmer, cooler, sheerer or more saturated as needed.
- Over-setting with powder. Powder locks things in place, but too much turns a dewy, luminous finish into a flat, cakey one. Nikol dusts brightening powder only where she needs it — under the eyes and the T-zone — and leaves the rest of the face cream-finished.
- Skipping the neck. A face that ends at the jawline looks like a mask. Blending BB cream down onto the neck takes a few extra seconds and makes the entire look seamless.
What is Nikol's approach to brows on faded permanent makeup?
Chris has old permanent brows that have faded — a common situation for women who had microblading or tattooing years ago. The pigment has shifted or lightened, leaving a shape that no longer matches the natural brow colour or the gray hairs growing in. Nikol's fix is layered and forgiving.
- Pencil first. The Skinny Brow Pencil in Brownie adds light, hair-like strokes through the sparse areas. The pencil follows the existing shape rather than drawing a new one — the goal is to fill, not redesign.
- Brow mascara second. Cocoa brow mascara is brushed through the hairs to tint the grays, unify the colour with the pencil work, and add a little hold so the brows stay groomed.
The two-product approach takes under a minute and gives faded permanent brows a full, natural look without the hard-drawn edges that can come from pencil alone. If you are working with old permanent makeup that has shifted in colour, a brow pencil in a shade close to your natural hair colour is usually the best match — avoid trying to match the faded tattoo pigment, because that shade is no longer accurate.
The bottom line
Chris's episode is proof that fierce aging is about enthusiasm and confidence — whether that is jumping out of a plane at 70 or trying a pink lip for the first time. The makeup is intentionally light: colour-corrected under-eyes, a sheer BB cream base, soft shadow with plum liner, a custom-mixed cream blush, and a pink lip that surprised everyone, including Chris. If you want to recreate this look, start with the face collection for base and cheeks, browse eyes for shadow and liner, and explore lips to find your own unexpected favourite shade.
Frequently asked questions
What is Chris's shocking confession on Fierce Aging?
It is a joyful one: at 70, Chris went skydiving for the very first time. It had been on her bucket list for years, and she signed up when the trip appeared on her community's activities calendar. The oldest person in the group was 82, and he jumped first.
What kind of makeup look does Nikol create on Chris?
A fresh, natural daytime look for 70-year-old skin. Nikol colour-corrects and conceals the under-eyes, applies a lightweight BB cream, washes on a soft Naughty Nancy eye with plum liner, mixes a custom cream blush for the cheeks, and finishes with a pink lip.
Why does Nikol use an orange corrector under the eyes?
Deep under-eye circles have a blue or purple undertone. Orange sits opposite blue on the colour wheel, so the Extreme Cancel corrector neutralises that darkness before concealer goes on. This means less concealer is needed and the finish looks brighter, not ashy or grey.
Which eyeliner colours work best on mature eyes?
Nikol recommends plum, dark chocolate, charcoal and navy over black for mature eyes. These shades define the lash line with enough depth to read as liner but with a warmth or softness that avoids the hard-edged, heavy look black can create — especially on hooded or thinning lids.
How does Nikol mix a custom cream blush?
She takes two cream blush shades — Paris (a cooler pink) and St. Barths (a warmer peach) — and blends them on the back of her hand until the colour matches Chris's skin tone. Mixing on the hand warms the product, which helps it melt into the skin more naturally.
What brow technique works on faded permanent makeup?
Light, hair-like strokes with the Skinny Brow Pencil to fill sparse areas, followed by Cocoa brow mascara to tint the grays and unify the colour. Match the pencil to your natural hair colour, not the faded tattoo pigment.
Why does Nikol skip bottom-lash mascara?
For a clean daytime look on mature eyes, bottom-lash mascara can draw attention downward and smudge into under-eye corrector as the day goes on. Nikol applies Volume Up mascara to the top lashes only, which keeps the eye lifted and the look fresh.
Are the new silicone under-eye masks available?
Not at the time of filming. Nikol previews reusable, 100% medical-grade silicone under-eye masks with a rose pattern and says they are coming soon. Sign up for the Nikol Beauty newsletter to hear about the launch when it happens.
What is the best way to start if you are new to makeup over 70?
Chris found Nikol by searching "makeup for older women" — a common starting point. Begin with the basics: a good face primer, a lightweight BB cream, an under-eye corrector, mascara, and a cream blush. Those five products cover the essentials without overwhelming you.
