Quick answer: The unusual product Nikol Johnson tries is a colored burgundy mascara — an inexpensive drugstore find, around $11 — worn in place of her usual black. In this simple everyday tutorial she tests it on mature eyes and, being honest, finds it flatters best when layered over her Volume Up mascara on just the tips, rather than worn on its own. The real takeaway is to stay curious and experiment, even when a product doesn't become a keeper.
Key takeaways
- The unusual product is an affordable burgundy mascara Nikol tests against her own Volume Up mascara on mature eyes.
- Her honest verdict: worn alone the burgundy felt clumpy and didn't lift her lashes; it works best dabbed on the tips over Volume Up for a subtle pop of color.
- For mature eyes she reaches for dark chocolate liner instead of black, and always primes the lids first so shadow and liner don't crease.
- The look is a simple everyday base — primer, color corrector, concealer, and BB cream kept sheer so the eyes stay the focus.
- The bigger lesson is to experiment and figure it out: trying something new is a win even when it isn't a keeper.
Hey ladies — in this tutorial, Nikol Johnson (licensed esthetician, former Ford model, and founder of Nikol Beauty) keeps things to a simple everyday look and elevates it with one unexpected pick: a burgundy mascara. She walks through her full mature-skin prep and eye routine, then puts the colored mascara head-to-head with her own Volume Up so you can decide whether it's worth trying yourself.
What is the unusual product that flatters mature eyes?
The unusual product is a colored burgundy mascara Nikol picked up at the drugstore for around $11 — a shade she says she has never seen her mature clients or viewers reach for. Because she has hazel eyes, she was curious whether a warm, non-black tone would make them pop, and she's quick to point out that burgundy isn't only for green or hazel eyes; blue and brown eyes can wear it too. The point was never that burgundy is the objectively correct choice — it's that experimenting, rather than following rules, is how you land on what genuinely flatters you.
How does the burgundy mascara compare to Nikol's Volume Up?
This is where the video turns into an honest, unscripted comparison. Nikol applied the burgundy on one eye and her Volume Up Mascara on the other, and she didn't sugar-coat the result.
- The burgundy mascara: fun and different, with a subtle pop of color that shows up close — but she found it harder to control, a little clumpy, and it tended to weigh her lashes down and droop rather than lift them.
- Volume Up: the toothed wand grabbed and separated her lashes for the consistent, lifted, opened-up look she's used to — which she believes is exactly what mature eyes want.
Her takeaway: the experiment mostly proved how much lift her own mascara delivers. The way she'd actually wear the color is to apply Volume Up first, then dab the burgundy only on the tips and lower lashes for a hint of the unexpected — the best of both.
How does Nikol prep and build the everyday eye look?
Nikol keeps the base deliberately simple so the eyes stay the star. Here's the order she follows:
- Prep the skin. She uses Clarins Beauty Flash Balm as a quick moisturizer, then a thin layer of Fiercely Smooth Face Primer for a burst of hydration and grip.
- Prime the lids. A sheer veil of Eye Primer neutralizes the lid so shadow and liner don't crease — the step she says matters most on mature lids.
- Wash on shadow. Using the Le Bottled Blonde palette, she sweeps the middle shade across the lid, dusts the lightest shade on the brow bone, and smudges the darkest into the outer corner for a soft, everyday smoke.
- Curl the lashes. She lifts them with her long-time Shu Uemura lash curler before any mascara.
- Line the eyes. The waterproof Dark Chocolate eyeliner gives definition without the starkness of black, flicked up slightly at the outer corner.
- Add mascara. Her Volume Up Mascara for lift — followed by the burgundy experiment on top.
What completes the base, lips, and finish?
With the eyes done, Nikol evens out the skin and finishes the look:
- Correct, then cover. Just Peachy neutralizes under-eye darkness, a little Creamy Concealer lifts only where needed, and a buffed layer of BB Cream evens the skin without heaviness.
- Lips. She lines with the waterproof Silk lip liner, fills in with Figure It Out lipstick for a neutral, almost monochromatic finish, then tops it with Manifest & Glow gloss for a golden sheen.
- Cheeks and setting. A cream blush and bronzer, a non-glittery highlighter, a touch of banana powder under the eyes, and a brush of brow color to cover a few grays keep everything soft and radiant.
Then comes her second unexpected trick: instead of layering sunscreen under her makeup, she spritzes a mineral SPF 30 setting spray over the finished look to set everything in one light step. If you try a new SPF or setting spray, patch-test first and follow the label for sun-protection use and reapplication.
The bottom line
Burgundy mascara turned out to be more of a fun experiment than an everyday keeper for Nikol — but that's exactly the point. Trying something new is a win in itself, and the honest comparison only deepened her love for a lifted, well-defined lash. If you want to build your own flattering mature-eye look, explore Nikol's mascara, the full eyes collection, and her best-sellers.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the unusual product Nikol tests on mature eyes?
A colored burgundy mascara she picked up at the drugstore for around $11. The whole point was to experiment with something outside her usual routine and see whether a warm, non-black shade could make hazel eyes pop — rather than to crown it the definitive product for everyone.
Did the burgundy mascara flatter Nikol's mature eyes?
Honestly, not as much as she hoped on its own. She found it harder to control, a little clumpy, and it weighed her lashes down instead of lifting them. Her verdict: the experiment was fun, but it mostly proved how much lift her own Volume Up mascara gives.
What is the best way to wear a colored mascara on mature eyes?
Nikol's favorite approach was to apply her Volume Up mascara first for lift and definition, then dab the burgundy only on the tips and lower lashes. That keeps the lifted, opened-up eye while adding a subtle, unexpected hint of color that shows up close.
Why does Nikol choose dark chocolate eyeliner instead of black for mature eyes?
She feels black can look stark and heavy on mature eyes. Since 1996 she has reached for navy, plum, and dark chocolate on mature women because they give definition that reads rich and fresh rather than harsh, without overpowering the rest of the makeup.
Why is eye primer important on mature lids?
Mature lids have more slack and natural oils that break down shadow and liner faster. A sheer veil of eye primer neutralizes the lid and grips the product so it stays put and doesn't gather in the crease through the day. Skipping it is a common reason eye makeup slides.
What was the second unusual product in the tutorial?
A mineral SPF 30 setting spray, which Nikol spritzed over her finished makeup. She likes that it adds sun protection and sets everything in one light step instead of layering sunscreen underneath. Patch-test any new SPF and follow the label for reapplication.
