Nikol builds her full face slowly in layers: she lifts lid pigmentation with eye primer, builds eyeshadow with a three-shade blending technique, lines and curls lashes before mascara, color corrects discoloration before complexion products, warms the face with cream bronzer and blush, sets with a brightening powder, and finishes lips with liner, lipstick, and a gloss topper.
Key takeaways
- Apply eye primer with a concealer brush before eyeshadow so lid pigmentation doesn't dull your eyeshadow color.
- Layer three eyeshadow finishes (sheen, mid-tone matte, deep matte) and always blend toward the nose, stopping at the outer corner rather than sweeping past it.
- Line close to the lash base and lift up at the outer corner instead of winging out, which helps hooded eyes.
- Color correct discoloration first with Just Peachy, No Redness Color Corrector, or Simply Apricot so you need less complexion product on top.
- Use the top-of-the-ear-straight-down landmark to place cream bronzer along the jaw and temple.
- Finish lips with a clear border liner, a waterproof lip liner, a cream lipstick, and a gloss on top for shine without separating.
Nikol's step-by-step routine
- Apply eye primer over the lid with a concealer brush, going from the brow bone into the inner corner, to lift lid pigmentation.
- Build eyeshadow with a sheen shade swept up toward the brow, a mid-tone matte blended toward the nose, and a deep matte tapped at the lash base with a short smudge brush.
- Curl lashes, then line close to the lash base with a waterproof eyeliner pencil, lifting at the outer corner rather than winging out; soften with a smudge brush if needed.
- Apply mascara by resting the wand at the lash base, wiggling back and forth, then pulling up and separating lashes.
- Brush brows with a spoolie, fill with a brow pencil, and set with brow mascara.
- Color correct pigmentation and redness with a color corrector, buffed in with a foundation buffing brush.
- Lift remaining under-eye darkness with creamy concealer using a concealer brush, then blend with an eyeshadow blending brush.
- Apply BB Crème or Serum Foundation with a foundation buffing brush, using a face primer first in the T-zone if extra smoothing is needed.
- Warm the face with cream bronzer from the top of the ear straight down to the jaw, then layer on blush and highlighter.
- Set under the eyes and the T-zone with a brightening powder using the Soft Set Technique™ Brush.
- Outline lips with a clear border liner, fill with a waterproof lip liner and cream lipstick, then top with a lip gloss.
How do you prep the eyes before applying eyeshadow?
Nikol starts with the Eye Primer, using a concealer brush to sweep it from the brow bone into the inner corner and out across the lid. She explains that this step lifts the natural pigmentation on her lid first, so whatever eyeshadow color goes on top reads true instead of looking muddy.
What is Nikol's technique for getting the most out of a three-shade eyeshadow palette?
Using the Sweet Carol 3-Well Eye Shadow Palette, Nikol demonstrates her triple eyeshadow approach: the sheen shade is swept up toward the brow bone, the lighter matte goes through the center of the lid, and the darkest matte is blended toward the nose with a tapered blending brush, always stopping even with the outer corner rather than sweeping past the eye. For extra staying power, she presses a short smudge brush into the darkest shade and taps it along the lash base before moving on to liner.
How should you apply eyeliner and mascara on mature, hooded eyes?
Nikol works through her WaterProof Eyeliner Pencils in plum, deep green, navy, charcoal, and dark chocolate, choosing plum for tonight's look. She applies it close to the lash base and lifts up toward the crease rather than winging it out, since a wing can look odd with hooding. If the line isn't even, she softens it with a short smudge brush underneath or on top.
For mascara, she rests the wand right at the base of the lashes, wiggles it back and forth to coat even the shortest lashes, then pulls upward and uses the tip to separate the inner and outer lashes.
How do you color correct pigmentation and redness before foundation?
Nikol uses Just Peachy for pigmentation, No Redness Color Corrector for redness and broken capillaries, and Simply Apricot for deeper, more pigmented discoloration. She recommends following the pattern of your own skin rather than copying someone else's map, then buffing the corrector in with a foundation buffing brush so the complexion product applied afterward can be lighter.
BB Crème or Serum Foundation: how do you choose?
Nikol compares her BB Crème, a creamier semi-matte formula, with her Serum Foundation, a lighter, buildable option. She applies either with a foundation buffing brush, starting with just one pump, and notes she sometimes uses Fiercely Smooth Face Primer in the T-zone beforehand when her skin needs extra smoothing before either formula.
How do you warm up the face with bronzer, blush, and highlighter?
Nikol applies Classic Beach Glow with her fingers, placing the bronzer at the base of the cheekbone, letting the blush melt in just above it, and adding highlighter on top. She shares a simple landmark: find the top of your ear and go straight down to know where to sweep bronzer along the jaw and temple.
She also shows mixing powder blush palettes like In Full Bloom, Ballerina Rose, and After Glow together on an angled brush to create a custom cheek color.
What's the order for a long-lasting lip look?
Nikol finishes with lips: a Crystal Clear Invisible Water-Proof Lip Liner traced along the lip border to stop color from feathering, followed by a WaterProof Lip Liner Pencil (she chose Cameo) filled over the whole lip, then Aperitif Shiny Velvet Cream Lipstick. She tops it with a lip gloss, explaining she always layers a gloss over her lipsticks because the formulas are designed to move together without separating.
Shop the look
Nikol uses Eye Primer, Concealer Brush, Nikol Beauty Concealer/Lip Brush, Essential Makeup Brush Set. Explore the face collection for more of the pro-aging makeup she created for women over 40.
Frequently asked questions
What eyeliner color does Nikol suggest for green eyes?
She recommends the dark chocolate shade from the WaterProof Eyeliner Pencils, lined close to the lash line to make green eyes stand out.
What eyeshadow combinations work for brown eyes?
Nikol suggests a neutral matte palette like Strong Brew or a sheen palette like Le Bottled Blonde, then popping the look with a plum or navy eyeliner.
What should you do if you have hooded eyes?
Focus on eyeshadow placement that visually lifts the eye rather than relying only on liner, since liner can disappear under hooding; some days, just liner, mascara, or eyelid tape is enough.
Is BB Crème or Serum Foundation better in hot weather?
Nikol prefers the Serum Foundation in hot, humid, or dry heat because a little goes a long way and it stays looking fresh through the day; BB Crème can feel better if your skin runs drier.
Can you use cream bronzer on the jawline?
Yes, Nikol shows blending Crème Brûlée along the jaw to add warmth without leaving visible lines.
Do you need a primer under BB Crème?
It depends on your skin; Nikol uses Fiercely Smooth Face Primer in the T-zone first when she wants extra smoothness before applying her complexion product.
