Quick answer: The triple eyeliner hack is a three-pass method for making mature eyes look brighter and more awake. You layer a dark eyeshadow used as a soft liner, then a waterproof eyeliner pencil to define the lash line, and finally a nude or beige pencil along the inner waterline. That last step is the real wake-up trick — it cancels redness and makes the whites of your eyes look fresher without the harshness of stark white.
Key takeaways
- The "triple" refers to three layered passes, not three separate eyeliners — the first pass is actually eyeshadow used as liner.
- A soft charcoal or complementary eyeshadow builds a smoky base close to the lashes; a waterproof pencil then locks in definition.
- The beige/nude waterline pencil is the secret step that makes tired eyes look bright and rested.
- Nikol builds the whole look over an eye primer so it stays put through summer heat and humidity.
- The gradual build is flattering on hooded and mature lids, where a single thick line tends to look harsh or transfer.
Hey ladies! In this tutorial, licensed esthetician and Nikol Beauty founder Nikol Johnson shares one of her favorite tricks for mature eyes: the triple eyeliner hack. If your eyes ever look a little tired or you didn't sleep as well as you'd like, this layered technique is a great one to keep in your back pocket. Here's exactly how she does it in the video, plus why each step works.
What is the triple eyeliner hack?
The "triple" is about three layered passes along the lash line, each with its own job. In the video, Nikol works in a soft smoky gray story, but you can adapt the colors to whatever palette you already wear. Here's the sequence:
- Eyeshadow as your first liner. Using a small smudge or tapered blending brush, Nikol picks up a darker eyeshadow (the deepest shade in her Rewrite the Rules matte palette) and traces it right along the lash line, lifting it up slightly at the outer corner. Building with powder first keeps the shape soft and easy to adjust.
- A waterproof pencil to define. She goes back over that shadow with a waterproof eyeliner pencil — her Charcoal liner, freshly sharpened to a soft rounded point — following the shadow to the base of the lashes. A quick pass with a short smudge brush diffuses it so nothing looks jumpy. This layer is what gives the liner its all-day, summer-proof staying power.
- A nude waterline pencil to brighten. The finishing pass is a soft beige, nude-toned pencil on the inner waterline (Nikol uses a Dior beige waterproof kohl). This is the wake-up step that makes the eyes look whiter, brighter, and refreshed. Line your waterline at your own discretion if you have sensitive eyes.
Why does it work so well on mature eyes?
Mature lash lines tend to lose density and definition, so a single swipe of liner sits on top of the problem instead of solving it. Layering rebuilds the frame gradually: the eyeshadow base is soft and diffused, the waterproof pencil adds durable definition without a hard edge, and lifting the shape up at the outer corner counteracts the downward droop many of us notice with age. Because each layer is thin and blended, it flatters hooded and crepey lids where a thick line would only emphasize the crease or transfer onto the skin.
Why beige on the waterline instead of white?
Nikol is specific about this in the video: she finds a stark white waterline too harsh. A nude or beige tone gives you the same brightening, wide-awake effect but reads far more natural, quietly canceling the redness that makes eyes look tired. It's the kind of subtle adjustment that people notice without being able to say exactly what changed. If you only take one thing from this hack, she says, it's the beige waterline trick.
What else did Nikol use in the look?
Beyond the three liner steps, Nikol prepped with her eye primer (applied with a prototype angled concealer brush she's still developing), then built the eyes with her Rewrite the Rules matte palette using a flat eyeshadow brush, tapered blending brush, and short smudge brush. She curled her lashes and finished them with Volume Up mascara, groomed brows with her clear brow mascara, and completed the base with Just Peachy color corrector, BB Cream in Light Medium, a buffing brush, blush, and Nikita Banana brightening powder. On the lips she used her waterproof Rosé All Day lip liner, rose lip balm, the Actually, I Can lipstick, and a touch of gloss. A few third-party products also make an appearance (a La Mer eye balm, a Dr. Dennis Gross moisturizer, and the Dior beige waterline pencil), which we've kept as plain mentions rather than product links.
The bottom line
The triple eyeliner hack is a simple, layered way to make mature eyes look defined, lifted, and genuinely more awake — and the nude waterline finish is the step worth adding to your routine tomorrow. Ready to build your own version? Explore Nikol's eyeliners, browse the eyeshadows that give you that smoky base, and shop everything for the eyes to recreate the look.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the triple eyeliner hack?
It's a three-pass technique for defining and brightening mature eyes. You layer a dark eyeshadow used as a soft liner, then a waterproof eyeliner pencil to sharpen the lash line, and finally a nude or beige pencil along the inner waterline. Together the three passes look softer and last longer than a single line.
Do you need three separate eyeliners?
No. The "triple" refers to three passes, not three products. The first liner is actually eyeshadow, so you really need a dark shadow, one waterproof eyeliner pencil, and a nude or beige waterline pencil. Nikol used a charcoal pencil in the video because she was working in a smoky gray color story.
Why use a beige waterline pencil instead of white?
Nikol finds white too stark on mature eyes. A nude or beige tone still brightens the eye and makes the whites look clearer, but it blends in more naturally and quietly cancels redness. The result is a rested, wide-awake look that reads believable rather than obvious.
Does the triple eyeliner hack work on hooded eyes?
Yes. Because each layer is thin and diffused, the technique keeps the line delicate where lid space is tight and lifts the shape at the outer corner. That gradual build flatters hooded and crepey lids far better than one thick line, which tends to disappear into the crease or transfer onto the skin.
How do you keep eyeliner from smudging in summer heat?
Start with an eye primer so everything has something to grip, then rely on waterproof formulas for the pencil layers. Nikol builds the whole eye over primer specifically so it holds up through heat and humidity, and setting the shadow base before the pencil helps the liner stay crisp all day.
Where can I watch the full tutorial?
The complete step-by-step demonstration is embedded at the top of this post, where Nikol walks through each liner pass in real time along with the rest of her fresh summer makeup look.
