For summer, Nikol prepped with a lighter hydrating layer and SPF, primed her eyes before anything else, color corrected redness and dark spots so she needed less concealer, then chose between BB Crème and Serum Foundation depending on how much coverage she wanted, finishing with a sheer blush, highlight, and a coral lip.
Key takeaways
- Switching to lighter hydrating layers and sunscreen in summer helps keep makeup from sliding or peeling.
- Priming eyelids with Eye Primer before shadow or bronzer keeps color true and helps it last without creasing.
- Color correcting redness and dark spots first means you can use less concealer overall.
- Nikita Banana Brightening Powder soft-sets concealer under the eyes so it doesn't look cakey or crease.
- BB Crème gives a lighter, blurred daytime finish while Serum Foundation feels more weightless but is buildable for evening.
- A sheer blush plus a cream highlighter gives a healthy summer glow without heavy contouring.
Nikol's step-by-step routine
- Apply a lightweight hydrating layer, then a broad-spectrum SPF 50 sunscreen, keeping layers thin for summer.
- Apply Fiercely Smooth Face Primer in a thin layer over the face.
- Apply Eye Primer to the eyelids before any eye makeup to neutralize pigmentation and help color stay true.
- Use Crème Brûlée as a soft eyeshadow and contour on the lids over the primer.
- Color correct with Just Peachy and No Redness Color Corrector; use Simply Apricot for deeper discoloration.
- Apply Creamy Concealer with the Concealer Brush only where needed, letting it set briefly before blending.
- Brighten the inner corners and under-eyes with Eye Brightener, blending with the Concealer Brush.
- Soft-set under the eyes with Nikita Banana Brightening Powder using the Eyeshadow Blending Brush.
- Apply BB Crème for a lighter day look or Serum Foundation for a thinner, more buildable evening look.
- Add blush and highlight using a blush palette and Classic Beach Glow, following the natural contour of the cheek.
- Finish lips with WaterProof Lip Liner Pencils, Beach House Shiny Velvet Cream Lipstick #122, and Defiance Lip Gloss #62.
How do you prep your skin for summer makeup?
Nikol starts by switching to lighter formulas once the weather heats up. Instead of a heavy cream, she uses a lightweight hydrating layer that feels almost like water on the skin but still quenches it, followed by a broad-spectrum SPF 50 sunscreen focused around the eye area and areas with pigmentation.
She finishes skin prep with a thin layer of Fiercely Smooth Face Primer, either all over the face or concentrated on areas with texture. Her reasoning: fewer, lighter layers mean less risk of makeup peeling or sliding once you add foundation on a hot, humid day.
Why prime your eyes before eyeshadow?
Before any color goes on the lids, Nikol applies Eye Primer. She explains that this step neutralizes pigmentation on the eyelid so that whatever shadow or bronzer you apply on top looks like the true color in the palette instead of turning muddy or gray.
She notes it also helps shadow last longer without creasing through the day. If your eyelids are oily, clean them first with an oil-free remover; if they're dry, be mindful that this is a creamy primer, not a moisturizer.
How can one product work as both bronzer and eyeshadow?
After priming, Nikol uses Crème Brûlée on the lids as a soft bronze eyeshadow, picking it up with a blush/bronzer brush. Because the lid was already primed, the color goes on true instead of mixing with underlying pigmentation and turning dark or muddy.
She also uses it for a touch of contour along the crease with a smudge brush for subtle definition, and the same product doubles as a cheek bronzer later in the routine, which she likes for travel or when you want to pack fewer products.
How do you color correct redness and dark spots before concealer?
Nikol stresses that if you have noticeable discoloration, concealer alone won't lift it; you need to color correct first. She uses Just Peachy Color Corrector to lift grays and blues under the eyes, and No Redness Color Corrector for redness around the nose or cheeks, pressing or striping it in with a finger or brush only where needed.
For deeper or more stubborn discoloration, she goes back over Just Peachy with Simply Apricot for extra lift. Her advice: figure out the one thing that bothers you most and concentrate your color correcting there instead of trying to fix everything at once.
How do you apply concealer without it looking cakey?
Once color is corrected, Nikol applies Creamy Concealer with the Concealer Brush in thin layers, letting it sit for a moment before blending so it builds coverage without looking heavy. She sometimes uses two shades together, dotting them in to match where her skin needs more or less brightness.
To avoid a cakey under-eye, she soft-sets with Nikita Banana Brightening Powder using the Eyeshadow Blending Brush, rolling the brush lightly into the powder and sweeping it under the eye rather than pressing in a heavy amount. She also uses Eye Brightener in the inner corners and along dark areas for extra lift, blending it in with the Concealer Brush.
BB Crème or Serum Foundation: which is better for summer?
Nikol compares the two side by side on her face. BB Crème has more of a bouncy, cushioned feel and gives what she calls a 'complexion blur,' making it a good daytime option. Serum Foundation is thinner, almost like touching your bare skin, and she reaches for it more for evenings when she wants a bit more buildable coverage without weight.
Both are buildable depending on how many drops or pumps you use, and she applies either with the Foundation Buffing Brush rather than her fingers or a sponge for a smoother, more even finish.
How do you add blush, highlight, and lips for a summer glow?
For color, Nikol uses a cheek palette (choosing between Ballerina Rose Blush Palette, After Glow Blush Palette, or In Full Bloom Blush Palette) layering a lighter shade as a base and a brighter shade where the cheek naturally flushes. She finishes with a touch of Classic Beach Glow as a highlighter applied with her finger for a healthy glow rather than shimmer.
She also demonstrates the Cream Blush Stick, which can be swiped directly onto skin for more pigment or applied with a brush for a softer wash of color, and shows mixing two shades together for a custom tone.
For lips, she hydrates first with Rose Lip Balm #100, lines with a coral WaterProof Lip Liner Pencil, applies Beach House Shiny Velvet Cream Lipstick #122, and tops it with Defiance Lip Gloss #62 for shine that complements a summer outfit.
Shop the look
Nikol uses Eye Primer, Fiercely Smooth Face Primer, Crème Brûlée, Just Peachy Color Corrector. Explore the face collection for more of the pro-aging makeup she created for women over 40.
Frequently asked questions
What's the first step in Nikol's summer skin routine?
A lighter hydrating layer followed by a broad-spectrum SPF 50 sunscreen, kept thin so later layers of makeup go on smoothly.
Why prime your eyelids before applying eyeshadow?
Eye Primer neutralizes pigmentation on the lid so eyeshadow or bronzer shows up as its true color and lasts longer without creasing.
What's the difference between BB Crème and Serum Foundation?
BB Crème gives a cushioned, semi-matte 'complexion blur' good for daytime, while Serum Foundation feels thinner and is more buildable, which Nikol prefers for evenings.
How do you keep concealer from looking cakey under the eyes?
Apply Creamy Concealer in thin layers, let it set for a moment, and soft-set it with Nikita Banana Brightening Powder using the Eyeshadow Blending Brush instead of a dense brush.
How do you choose the right color corrector?
Use Just Peachy Color Corrector for mild gray or blue discoloration, No Redness Color Corrector (green) for redness, and Simply Apricot for deeper discoloration on tanner skin.
