For a winter-ready blush look, Nikol Johnson first color-corrects redness and dark spots so the blush doesn't compete with pigmentation, then builds color with either a powder blush palette or a cream blush stick, placing it at the base of the cheekbone and blending upward for a natural, radiant finish.
Key takeaways
- Color-correct redness and dark spots before applying blush so the color reads clean instead of muddy.
- Neutralize eyelid pigmentation with a mid-tone matte shadow before adding darker definition.
- Curl lashes before mascara and apply from root to tip for lift on mature lashes.
- Powder blush palettes can be worn with one shade alone or mixed together for a custom color.
- Cream blush sticks can be blended with each other to create a custom berry or pink tone.
- Finish with concealer, an eye brightener, and a setting powder under the eyes before adding lip color.
Nikol's step-by-step routine
- Prep the skin with a hydrating serum, then apply Eye Primer before adding any eyeshadow.
- Press the mid-tone shade from the Rewrite The Rules 3-Well Eyeshadow Palette over the whole lid to neutralize pigmentation, then blend the lightest shade on the brow bone and the darkest shade along the lash line for soft definition.
- Curl lashes, then apply Volume UP Mascara from base to tip for lift.
- Apply Fiercely Smooth Face Primer with your fingers, starting in the T-zone and working outward.
- Use No Redness Color Corrector on red areas and Just Peachy Color Corrector on darker pigmentation, pressing the products in with the Concealer Brush and Foundation Buffing Brush.
- Blend BB Crème over the whole face with the Foundation Buffing Brush for sheer coverage.
- Choose a blush: a powder palette (Ballerina Rose, In Full Bloom, or After Glow) or a cream option (Cream Blush Stick shades, Crème Brûlée, or Classic Beach Glow), and apply with an angled blush brush starting at the base of the cheekbone.
- Layer Creamy Concealer and Eye Brightener under the eyes, then set with Nikita Banana Brightening Powder.
- Finish lips with a WaterProof Lip Liner Pencil and a cream lipstick, then top with a lip gloss for extra shine.
How do you prep skin before adding blush in winter?
Nikol starts with a hydrating serum to prep the skin, then follows with Eye Primer before touching any color. She explains that this order matters because you can't put eyeshadow or blush over unprepped, pigmented skin and expect it to look clean — it will read like a fourth, muddy color instead of a true shade.
She keeps the whole routine simple and quick, noting that the real focus of the tutorial is the cheeks, so the eye and skin prep stays light and efficient.
How do you neutralize eye pigmentation before eyeshadow?
Using the Rewrite The Rules 3-Well Eyeshadow Palette, Nikol presses the middle matte shade over the entire lid as a base wash to cancel out discoloration. She notes that if you prefer a warmer palette, the Strong Brew 3-Well Eyeshadow Palette works the same way in coffee tones.
She then flips her brush to the lightest shade for the brow bone and uses the darkest shade close to the lash line like a soft powder eyeliner, blending with a finger if the line looks skipped or uneven.
What's the best way to curl lashes and apply mascara on mature lashes?
After softly lining the lower lash line and blending it out, Nikol curls her lashes before mascara to get them lifted. She applies Volume UP Mascara in brown from the base of the lash to the tip, working to catch the smaller lashes along the lash line for a fuller, lifted fringe.
She mentions you can mix mascara colors — black on top, brown on bottom, or vice versa — depending on the look you want for the day.
How do you color-correct redness and dark spots before foundation?
Before any blush goes on, Nikol color-corrects the problem areas so the blush isn't competing with the skin's own tone. She uses No Redness Color Corrector on red or flushed areas like broken capillaries, and Just Peachy Color Corrector on grayer or darker pigmentation around the inner eye corners and sides of the face.
She presses these in with the Concealer Brush and Foundation Buffing Brush rather than concealing over them, explaining that correctors fix the actual color while concealer only hides it. From there, she blends BB Crème over the whole face for light, even coverage.
What are the best powder vs cream blush options for a winter look?
For powder blush, Nikol shows three 3-well palettes: Ballerina Rose for a soft pink cheek, In Full Bloom for a deeper rose or berry tone, and After Glow for a warmer peachy finish — each with three shades you can wear alone or mix together.
For cream lovers, she demonstrates the Cream Blush Stick shades, showing how two shades can be blended directly on the skin for a custom color, plus Crème Brûlée as a cream bronzer hybrid and Classic Beach Glow as an all-in-one cream highlighter, blush, and bronzer palette.
She places blush and bronzer starting at the base of the cheekbone, using the trick of running a brush straight down from the top of the ear to find the right placement for her own face shape.
How do you finish the look with concealer, brightener, and lips?
To finish, Nikol goes back in with Creamy Concealer in small, precise spots to brighten any remaining dark areas, then adds Eye Brightener under the eyes for extra lift for evening. She sets everything underneath the eyes with Nikita Banana Brightening Powder so the cream products stay put.
For lips, she defines with a WaterProof Lip Liner Pencil, fills in with a cream lipstick like Pretty Smart, and tops it off with a lip gloss such as Champs or Manifest & Glow for the final shine.
Shop the look
Nikol uses Eye Primer, Rewrite The Rules 3-Well Eyeshadow Palette, Strong Brew 3-Well Eyeshadow Palette, Essential Makeup Brush Set. Explore the face collection for more of the pro-aging makeup she created for women over 40.
Frequently asked questions
What blush should you wear with a golden tan and a red lip for the holidays?
Nikol suggests using the Cream Blush Stick in St. Barts as a soft pop of color on top of a golden tan, since the bronzed skin and red lip already give plenty of warmth and depth.
What does Manifest & Glow do over lipstick?
Nikol describes it as a gloss that goes over any lipstick to bring the lips to life, adding a golden glow finish on top of color.
Can you mix two cream blush shades together?
Yes — Nikol blends the Cream Blush Stick shades Paris and St. Barts together directly on the skin to create a custom petal-pink berry tone.
Where should you place bronzer on the face?
Nikol uses a simple guide: run your brush straight down from the top of your ear to find where to place bronzer along your natural bone structure.
Do you need to color-correct before every blush application?
Nikol recommends it if you have redness, broken capillaries, or dark pigmentation, since correcting the color first keeps your blush looking clean rather than muddy.
