Quick answer: The "soft set" is Nikol's technique for setting makeup on mature skin without a cakey finish. Instead of dusting powder over the whole face, you use a fluffy brush to press a fine brightening powder only where you need it — under the eyes, over your color corrector, and into smile lines — so makeup stays put while the skin still looks luminous.
Key takeaways
- "Soft setting" means setting sparingly and strategically — just enough to lock things in, never an all-over dusting.
- Heavy all-over powder sits on top of fine lines and texture and reads as cakey; a light, targeted set avoids creasing.
- Well-hydrated, prepped skin is what lets cream complexion products — and the soft set on top — look fresh for longer.
- Nikol sets with a fine pressed brightening powder (Nikita Banana) on a fluffy blending brush, used only where needed.
- Do your eyes first and clean up fallout before complexion, so shadow doesn't muddy your color corrector.
Hey ladies — if your makeup tends to sink into fine lines or look heavy by midday, this one's for you. In this full tutorial Nikol walks through her "soft set" method, a technique she coined and has been using on her Fierce Aging series, built specifically for mature skin.
What is the "soft set" technique?
Most mature women stay away from powder because it can emphasize texture — but Nikol's point is that you don't have to, if you know the right technique. Instead of loading a big brush and dusting powder everywhere, the soft set means picking up a small amount of fine powder on a fluffy blending brush and pressing it only into the areas that actually need setting. The result is makeup that's set but not cakey, with none of the heaviness that can age the skin.
How do you do the soft set, step by step?
Nikol builds the whole face first, then sets last and lightly. Here's the flow from the tutorial:
- Prep skin so it's hydrated, not greasy. She tones, layers a lightweight hydrating serum, then a rose moisturizer (all third-party skincare here) — enough hydration that cream products grip, but nothing so heavy that products slip and slide.
- Do the eyes first. A thin veil of Eye Primer to cancel lid pigmentation, then the Naughty Nancy palette (she also nods to her mom's Sweet Carol palette as a softer alternative), a plum eyeliner used as a cream-shadow base, curled lashes, and Volume Up Mascara.
- Clean up fallout, then do complexion. Just Peachy color corrector under the eyes and on any redness, followed by BB Cream in Light/Medium buffed in lightly.
- Soft set with a fine powder. On a fluffy blending brush, pick up a little Nikita Banana brightening powder and dust it like an airbrush only under the eyes, over the corrector, into the inner corner, and along smile lines to fight creasing — never all over the face.
- Finish with color. Brows brushed up and filled, a little Classic Beach Glow cream bronzer-blush-highlighter on the cheeks, and a Cameo lip lined and filled, topped with Aperitif lipstick.
Why does powder make mature skin look cakey — and how does this fix it?
A heavy all-over layer of powder settles on top of fine lines and texture and makes them more obvious, especially over creamy color correctors and BB cream. By setting only where movement and creasing actually happen — under the eyes and around the smile lines — you get the staying power of powder without the mask-like, cakey look. Nikol uses a pressed (not loose) powder specifically so you don't over-dispense and end up with powder everywhere.
What other mature-skin tips are in the tutorial?
- Eyes before face. Doing shadow first and cleaning up fallout keeps darkness out of your under-eye and concealer.
- Curl lashes before liner so the curler doesn't drag your liner around.
- Replace mascara every ~3 months — Nikol dates hers, and as an aesthetician she's firm on eye-area hygiene.
- Use a clear lip liner as an invisible border if lipstick feathers into the fine lines around your mouth.
As always, everyone's skin is different — treat these as techniques to experiment with, and patch-test any new skincare before working it into a full routine.
The bottom line
The soft set proves mature skin and setting powder aren't enemies — you just set less, and only where it counts. Ready to try it? Explore Nikol's face collection, browse color correctors like Nikita Banana and Just Peachy, or start with the best-sellers.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the soft set makeup technique?
It's Nikol's method of setting makeup sparingly instead of dusting powder over the whole face. Using a fluffy brush, you press a fine brightening powder only where makeup needs to stay put — under the eyes, over color corrector, and in smile lines — so the finish looks set but natural rather than cakey.
Why does setting powder make mature skin look cakey?
A heavy, all-over layer of powder sits on top of fine lines and texture and emphasizes them, especially over creamy products. Setting only where creasing happens, with a light hand and a fine pressed powder, gives you staying power without that dry, mask-like look that can age the skin.
What powder does Nikol use for the soft set?
She uses Nikita Banana, a very fine yellow-toned pressed brightening powder. Because it's pressed rather than loose, you don't over-dispense, and its brightening tone helps lift the under-eye area while it sets. She applies it with a fluffy blending brush in a light, airbrush-like dusting.
Should mature women avoid powder altogether?
No. Many mature women skip powder because it has looked cakey for them before, but Nikol's point is that the right powder and the right technique change everything. Set lightly and only where needed rather than all over, and powder can extend your makeup without emphasizing texture.
In what order should I apply eye and face makeup?
Do your eyes first — primer, shadow, liner, mascara — then clean up any fallout, and only then move to color corrector, BB cream, and setting. This keeps loose shadow from muddying your under-eye and concealer, which is a common reason eye areas look dark or messy.
How do I stop lipstick from feathering into fine lines?
Nikol uses a clear waterproof lip liner as an invisible border around the lips. It can be worn under any lipstick shade, and for deeper lines she presses it into the creases so they don't grab and pull the color outward, helping keep lipstick from migrating.
