This video is all about making your makeup work for you, especially when you forget a key product. Nikol Johnson shares a clever brow pencil trick that can double as a lip liner, along with other creative ways to improvise your makeup look when traveling.
Key Takeaways
- Don't let forgotten products derail your look; get creative with what you have.
- A brow pencil can be a surprisingly effective lip liner, especially for mature skin.
- Hybrid bronzers can double as eyeshadow.
- Skincare prep, like eye patches and hydrating balms, makes a big difference, especially after travel.
Skin Prep Is Key, Even After Travel
After a long cross-country flight, Nikol's skin was showing the signs of travel: puffiness and discoloration. She started with hydrogel eye patches to combat the puffiness. She emphasizes that even if you don't feel your best, it's about taking what you have and making yourself feel better. Don't get stuck criticizing yourself; instead, focus on what you can do to improve how you look and feel.
She also shared a few other favorite prep products:
- Frownies: Used as a Botox alternative to smooth the forehead overnight.
- Luma Eye Drops: To brighten the whites of the eyes and combat redness.
- Embryolisse Cooling Eye Balm: A hydrating and cooling balm that fits easily into a travel makeup bag.
- Chanel Jasmine Oil: A lightweight oil for overall skin hydration.
Nikol also demonstrated dermaplaning using a Tinkle tool. She stressed the importance of using a tool that won't cut the skin and explained how it removes peach fuzz and dead skin, allowing makeup to sit better. She advised using short strokes and holding the skin taut for the best results.
Improvising Your Eye Makeup
For eye makeup, Nikol found herself without her usual go-to lip liner and eyeshadow. She started with her favorite eye primer, noting that it needs a powder or shadow over it to set. Instead of a traditional eyeshadow, she used her Creme Brulee Hybrid Bronzer with a blush brush to sweep color across her lids. This gave her eyes a subtle wash of color. Alternatively, she showed how a darker shade from the bronzer palette could be used with a smudge brush to add depth to the crease.
To clean up the edges and add a bit more precision, she used a cotton pad with a bit of makeup remover. She then curled her lashes and applied her Volume Up Mascara, emphasizing the importance of getting the brush right at the base of the lashes and wiggling it through to coat every lash.
Concealer and BB Cream for Flawless Skin
Nikol then moved on to perfecting her skin. She applied her Creamy Concealer under her eyes, explaining her technique of bringing it down slightly to blend with her natural skin tone and avoid a harsh line, especially given her pigmentation. She then used a foundation buffing brush to press the concealer into her skin.
She expressed excitement about her upcoming BB Cream, which is set to launch soon. She used a sample of the light shade, applying it with the same foundation buffing brush to even out her skin tone. She mentioned that she might add a touch of a slightly darker shade or bronzer if the BB cream looks too light after sun exposure.
The Brow Pencil Lip Liner Trick
The star of the show was how Nikol improvised a lip liner. Since she forgot her lip liner, she turned to her Skinny Brown Pencil (in the shade Brownie). She carefully outlined her lips with the brow pencil, explaining that it creates a subtle shadow and definition that is crucial, especially for mature skin where definition can be lost.
She then softened the edges with her finger. This defined lip line provides a base for lipstick or gloss, preventing it from bleeding and giving a more polished look. She applied her Aperitif lipstick (a mauve plum) and then added Coco 13 lip gloss on top. The brow pencil liner created a beautiful, defined lip without looking like a harsh liner.
Finishing Touches
As a final step, she used her Nikita Banana Brightening Pressed Powder under her eyes to set the concealer. This simple trick helped to brighten the under-eye area and keep the concealer in place.
Nikol concluded by encouraging viewers to get creative with their makeup. She highlighted that products can be interchangeable and that a brow pencil can be a fantastic lip liner, especially for mature women who benefit from added definition. She asked viewers to share their own makeup improvisation stories in the comments.
