A warm, tropical summer look built with a khaki Dior palette, Palm Beach cream blush and an apricot lip — plus behind-the-scenes news on Fierce Aging casting, a first look at the new Angled Concealer Brush, and honest tests of press-on nails, a budget bronzing serum and the Zuvi Halo blow dryer (this video's sponsor).
Key takeaways
- Fierce Aging casting is officially open and filming has already started at the new purpose-built studio — application details live in the video's description box.
- The Angled Concealer Brush is sized for precise under-eye and inner-corner placement and matches the rest of the pink-handled brush line.
- Mixing a drugstore bronzing serum into BB cream warms the base for summer without adding weight to mature skin.
- A tropical eye built from a green-and-khaki palette reads surprisingly fresh on silver hair when it is blended into warm brown at the crease.
- Palm Beach cream blush and the Classic Beach Glow palette add warmth without the powdery texture that settles into fine lines.
- Honest press-on nail comparison: an inexpensive drugstore set outperformed a pricier gel-tip system in wearability and comfort.
What is new at Fierce Aging and how do you apply?
The team spent roughly a year building a dedicated Fierce Aging studio — a proper set with lighting, camera rigs and sound — and it is up and running. Filming is already in motion; Nikol recently featured her mom and her mother-in-law for Mother's Day week (she owned a genuinely human behind-the-scenes mishap where a wireless microphone receiver was never snapped in and the audio did not record, so her mother-in-law came back to refilm). Casting is now open to women who want to share their story and sit in Nikol's chair. She does not read the full application checklist in the video but directs viewers to the description box, where you will find the current submission email and instructions. If being on the show is calling your name, watch the video and follow the steps listed there.
Which new Nikol Beauty products are coming?
The headline launch teased in this episode is the Angled Concealer Brush. Nikol pulls out a working sample mid-look and cannot hide her excitement: it matches the other pink-handled brushes in size and finish, the bristles are dense enough to pack product precisely but not so stiff that they tug at delicate under-eye skin, and the angle tucks neatly into the inner corner and around the nose. She notes it is especially handy when you are wearing long nails and do not want to dip a finger into eye primer or colour corrector. No firm launch date is given in this video — she says it is "coming soon" — so signing up for the Nikol Beauty newsletter is the fastest way to be notified.
She also teases matte eyeshadows (her long-awaited "Rewrite the Rules" formula) arriving soon, plus a separate surprise related to washing your brushes. As always, newsletter subscribers hear about launches first.
How does Nikol build the tropical summer makeup look step by step?
The look is a fresh, warm everyday base paired with an adventurous tropical eye from a green-and-khaki Dior palette she is experimenting with. Here is the full order she follows on camera.
- Lip prep. Rose lip balm goes on first so lips can hydrate while she works on the rest of the face — essential in summer heat.
- Serum. A Dior Capture Totale serum rehydrates skin she felt the humidity had zapped. Any lightweight hydrating serum fills the same role.
- Eye primer. Eye primer smooths discolouration across the lid, applied with the new Angled Concealer Brush sample.
- Eyeshadow. A green shade from the Dior palette is laid down across the lid, softened with a lighter shimmer, then a warm brown is worked into the crease with a tapered blending brush to tame the colour into something wearable.
- Eyeliner. Waterproof Dark Chocolate eyeliner — freshly sharpened with her rounded-tip sharpener — is flicked up at the outer corner, then blended with a short smudge brush and balanced with a touch underneath.
- Lashes. A lash curler opens the eye, followed by Volume Up mascara to stretch out the lashes without clumping.
- Under-eye corrector. Just Peachy colour corrector goes under the eyes, over a base of Fiercely Smooth face primer, to cancel darkness before concealer.
- Concealer. Creamy Concealer placed where she needs extra brightness.
- Base. A light-medium BB cream mixed with a drugstore bronzing serum (Physicians Formula Butter Glow, about $17 from CVS) and buffed all over with a foundation brush, blended down the neck.
- Lips. Silk lip liner defines the shape, then an apricot gloss (New Beauty shade) adds a fresh, summery sheen.
- Cheeks. Palm Beach cream blush warms the cheeks with a tropical flush that melts into the skin.
- Highlight. A soft shimmer lifted from the Classic Beach Glow palette along the tops of the cheekbones — made for mature skin, so it melts in rather than sitting glittery on texture.
- Brows. Clear brow mascara combs the brows up for a lifted, groomed finish.
Does a green eyeshadow palette actually work on silver or gray hair?
Nikol teases herself over the "iguana" and "alligator" greens in the Dior palette — it is not her usual neutral territory — but the finished result proves the point. When a vivid green lid is softened with a lighter shimmer and anchored by a warm brown crease, the colour reads iridescent and tropical rather than costume-like. The key is blending: the green pigment should fade gradually into the crease colour so there is no hard line. Silver and gray hair actually amplifies the effect because there is no competing warm tone in the hair to fight the cool-toned eye, and the warmth from bronzed skin and a coral or apricot lip grounds the whole look.
| Factor | Green palette on silver hair | Green palette on warm-toned hair |
|---|---|---|
| Contrast | High — cool green against silver creates an eye-catching focal point | Moderate — warm hair can compete with or muddy the green |
| Blending strategy | Transition through warm brown at the crease to bridge the gap between cool lid and warm skin | Can go green-to-brown or green-to-taupe; both blend naturally |
| Lip pairing | Warm coral or apricot keeps the face balanced and avoids an all-cool look | Nude or berry works; warm coral is optional |
| Best for | Hazel, green or blue eyes on silver or gray hair — the colours lift each other | Brown or hazel eyes — the warmth in the iris echoes the warm blending shades |
| Risk | Can read costume-like if not blended; solve with a matte brown crease and diffused edges | Can look muddy if the green is too muted; solve with a brighter green or shimmer |
Why does Nikol use the Zuvi Halo blow dryer?
This video is sponsored by Zuvi, and Nikol is transparent about the partnership. She has used the Zuvi Halo for over a year and reaches for it because her hair is turning more gray, white and silver — and therefore more porous and delicate. Zuvi describes the tool as using light-based drying at a lower temperature, which is designed to be gentler on sensitive scalps than traditional high-heat dryers. Nikol adds that she likes how lightweight and quick it is and that she does not overheat while using it. Because this is a sponsored segment, the specific performance claims come from Zuvi's own marketing; if you are considering the switch, check independent reviews alongside the brand's materials.
How did the press-on nail comparison turn out?
Nikol tried two press-on nail systems and shared her unfiltered verdict — including a mid-event nail emergency.
- Kiss press-ons (drugstore, about $10). Bought at CVS, this traditional press-on set went on quickly and wore beautifully for days. Comfortable and low-maintenance.
- XCoat Tips (Amazon, about $26 for 128 nails in 16 sizes). These gel-tip nails require a base coat, top gel and an LED lamp to cure. They look thin and natural once applied, but in Nikol's experience they did not hold up as well — one popped off in an Uber before an event, and nail glue saved the day. Application takes more practice than the drugstore set.
Her honest take: the cheaper, simpler Kiss set was the more reliable option. If you want to try gel tips, keep nail glue in your bag as backup and allow extra application time until you find the right technique. Third-party brands are noted for context only; follow each brand's own application instructions.
What budget beauty finds does Nikol share?
Beyond the nail tests, two other finds made the cut in this catch-up episode.
- Physicians Formula Butter Glow bronzing serum (about $17, CVS). Nikol mixed this into her BB cream as a lower-cost alternative to a Valentino bronzing product. It adds warmth and a subtle glow to summer skin without extra weight — a smart way to customise your base shade seasonally.
- Estée Lauder Beautiful Magnolia fragrance. She stopped by an Estée Lauder event and loved the scent as a light, fresh spring-and-summer pick — a nostalgic choice, since she wore the original Estée Lauder Beautiful at her wedding.
As with any new beauty product, patch-test on a small area first, and check ingredients if you have sensitivities.
What are the best Nikol Beauty products for a summer makeup look?
The look in this video is built primarily from Nikol Beauty products. Here is every item she used, in the order it appears, with links to browse or buy.
- Rose lip balm — hydrating lip prep
- Eye primer — lid smoothing and discolouration correction
- Angled Concealer Brush — precise primer and corrector placement
- Eyeshadow Blending Brush — seamless crease blending
- Waterproof eyeliner (Dark Chocolate) — smudge-proof liner that stays put in humidity
- Pencil sharpener — rounded tip for safe, precise sharpening
- Volume Up mascara — length and lift without clumping
- Just Peachy colour corrector — cancels under-eye darkness
- Fiercely Smooth face primer — smoothing base for corrector and concealer
- Creamy Concealer — buildable, crease-resistant brightening
- BB cream — lightweight, luminous coverage
- Foundation Buffing Brush — streak-free, airbrushed base application
- Silk lip liner — waterproof shape and hold
- Palm Beach cream blush — tropical cheek warmth
- Classic Beach Glow palette — blush, bronzer and highlighter in one compact
- Brow Fixx — clear hold that lifts and grooms
Browse the full makeup collection or start with brushes and tools if you are building your kit from scratch. For a coordinated summer lip, explore lips or lip gloss shades.
The bottom line
This episode is part exciting behind-the-scenes news and part playful summer tutorial. Fierce Aging is casting, a new brush is on the horizon, matte shadows are in the works, and the makeup look itself proves that experimenting with colour — even an "alligator green" — pays off when you blend it into warm, bronzed skin and finish with a coral-toned lip. If you have been hesitant to try something outside your usual neutrals, Nikol's take is simple: summer is the time to go for it.
Frequently asked questions
How do I apply to be on Fierce Aging?
Fierce Aging casting is open and filming is already underway at the new studio. Nikol directs viewers to the application details in the video's description box, where you submit your answers and selfies for her team to review. Watch the video and check the description for the current submission email and instructions.
When does the new Angled Concealer Brush launch?
Nikol shows a working sample and says the Angled Concealer Brush is coming soon, with no firm date given in the video. It matches her other pink-handled brushes and is sized for precise under-eye and corner placement. Sign up for the Nikol Beauty newsletter for launch alerts.
What eyeshadow palette does Nikol use in this look?
She experiments with a green-and-khaki Dior palette she bought online, jokingly calling the shades "iguana" and "alligator." It is more tropical and adventurous than her usual style, but blended into a warm brown crease and paired with bronzed skin, it looks fresh and very South Florida — especially on hazel or green eyes.
Can you wear green eyeshadow with gray or silver hair?
Yes, and it can actually look better on silver hair than on warm-toned hair because the cool green creates a high-contrast focal point without competing colour in the hair. The key is blending through a warm brown transition shade at the crease and pairing the eye with a warm lip — coral or apricot — so the face stays balanced.
What is the Zuvi Halo blow dryer?
The Zuvi Halo is the blow dryer Nikol has used for over a year, and this video is sponsored by Zuvi. She reaches for it because her hair is turning gray and more delicate, and Zuvi describes it as using light-based drying at a lower temperature than traditional dryers. Check independent reviews alongside the brand's claims.
Which press-on nails does Nikol prefer?
She compared Kiss press-ons from CVS (about $10) with XCoat Tips from Amazon (about $26) and found the cheaper Kiss set wore better and stayed on longer. The XCoat Tips looked thin and natural but one popped off before an event. Keep nail glue handy with either system.
What drugstore bronzing product does she recommend?
Nikol mixed Physicians Formula Butter Glow bronzing serum (about $17 at CVS) into her BB cream as a budget alternative to a higher-end bronzing product. It adds subtle warmth to the base without extra weight — a simple way to customise your shade for summer.
What summer makeup look does she create?
A fresh, warm everyday base with a tropical eye. She preps with serum and primer, sets a soft green-and-brown eye, defines with waterproof Dark Chocolate liner and Volume Up mascara, warms the skin with BB cream mixed with bronzing serum, then adds Palm Beach cream blush, an apricot lip and a soft Classic Beach Glow highlight.
Are the matte eyeshadows Nikol teases available yet?
Not at the time of filming. Nikol teases the Rewrite the Rules matte formula as "coming soon" alongside the Angled Concealer Brush. Both launches will be announced through the newsletter first, so subscribe to stay in the loop.
