9 Mermaid Makeup Ideas That Won't Make You Feel Like a Fish out of Water

Hoping to trade in your legs this Halloween? If a mermaid costume is on your radar, you’ve come to the right place. While seashells and fins (perhaps a dinglehopper—err, fork?) should certainly be part of your overall ensemble, a mermaid makeup look will take your costume from good to absolutely swimming. Not sure where to start? Below, we’re sharing nine mermaid makeup ideas—from face makeup to eye makeup to lip makeup—to try. Mix and match or wear one on its own!

MERMAID MAKEUP LOOK #1: DEEP BLUE SEA EYE MAKEUP

If you’ve been looking for a way to bring blue eye makeup back into your life, all we have to say is, what a time to be alive. In the midst of a serious mermaid moment, there’s no time like the present to get a little hands-on with varying blue hues.

What you’ll need:

L’Oréal Paris Colour Riche Pocket Palette Eye Shadow in Avant Garde Azure

L’Oréal Paris Unlimited Lash Lifting and Lengthening Washable Mascara

Iridescent glitter

Crease brush

Fluffy eye shadow brush

Get the look:

STEP 1: START WITH AN ALL-OVER WASH OF BLUE

Before blending any darker shades onto your lids, kick things off by painting your lids with the lightest blue from your palette.

STEP 2: ADD DEPTH TO YOUR CREASE

Next, dip a crease brush into your medium blue shadow. Use this color to help define your crease, blending it into your crease with windshield wiper motions. Create even more depth by layering the palette’s darkest shadow over top. Before moving onto the next step, use a fluffy eye shadow brush to blend between the different shades so that there aren’t any harsh lines of demarcation.

STEP 3: BLEND COLOR UNDER YOUR EYES

To bring your look full circle, add a touch of the same medium blue shade along your lower lash line.

STEP 4: ADD IRIDESCENT GLITTER TO YOUR INNER CORNERS

Give your statement eye an extra mermaid-y air by pressing a small amount of iridescent glitter onto your inner eye area. Just make sure the glitter is cosmetic grade and eye-safe—craft glitter won’t work for this!

STEP 5: FINISH WITH MASCARA

Top your statement eye off with a few coats of mascara.

MERMAID MAKEUP LOOK #2: SPARKLING SEAWEED PUCKER

If you were to dive into the deep blue ocean, you’d likely see a whole host of shimmery blue and green seaweed. This mermaid lip look allows those stunning colors to be the focal point of your makeup.

What you’ll need:

Teal lipstick

Navy lipstick

Light blue loose metallic pigment

Lime green loose metallic pigment

Cobalt blue loose metallic pigment

Lip brush

Get the look:

STEP 1: APPLY A TEAL LIPPY

With a teal liquid lipstick in hand, fill your lips starting at your cupid’s bow, working down to the corners of your mouth.

STEP 2: DARKEN THE OUTER CORNERS

Next, use a navy-blue lipstick to darken the outer corners of your lips. Use a lip brush to blend between the two colors—that way, you’ll end up with a natural-looking fade, not a harsh line of demarcation.

STEP 3: HIGHLIGHT THE CENTER OF YOUR POUT

Once you’ve finished creating your two-toned base, dip your finger into the light blue loose metallic pigment and gently dab the center of both your top and bottom lip. By placing the lightest metallic pigment at the center of your lips, you can help create a fuller-looking pout.

STEP 4: AMP IP THE SHIMMER

To help give your mermaid pucker a bit more seaweed flare, apply a very small amount of lime green loose metallic pigment on top of the light blue pigment, focusing the majority of it at your cupid’s bow for added highlighted definition.

STEP 5: FOCUS ON THE OUTER CORNERS

Lastly, add a bit more definition to the outer corners of your lips with the help of a cobalt blue loose metallic pigment—just like that your seaweed pucker is ready to be shown off!

MERMAID MAKEUP LOOK #3: TWO-TONED PURPLE AND TEAL EYE MAKEUP

This mermaid-inspired variation on the two-toned eye makeup trend is all about a side-to-side ombré that transitions from a gorgeous purple to a brighter blue at the inner corner. The striking color pairing helps create an otherworldly eye look that’s fit for a modern mermaid.

What you’ll need:

L’Oréal Paris Infallible 24 HR Eye Shadow in Burst into Bloom

L’Oréal Paris Infallible 24 HR Eye Shadow in Endless Sea

L’Oréal Paris Voluminous Lash Paradise Liquid Eyeliner in Black

L’Oréal Paris Voluminous Lash Paradise Washable Mascara

Fluffy eye shadow brush

Get the look:

STEP 1: START WITH PURPLE

Using a fluffy eye shadow brush, dust purple eye shadow onto your eyelid starting at your outer corner and blending inward toward the middle of your lid.  

STEP 2: ADD SOME TEAL

Next, wipe off your brush before dipping it into your teal shadow. Then, sweep the color from your inner corner out toward the middle of your eye.

STEP 3: BLEND BETWEEN THE TWO COLORS

Since you likely look like you have a straight line down the center of your eyelid, use your brush to blend between the two colors to get rid of any harsh lines and create a well-blended, ombré look.

STEP 4: CREATE A SMALL WING TIP WITH BLACK LINER

Using your black liquid eyeliner, create a wing that extends just past your outer corners.

STEP 5: FINISH WITH MASCARA

Top off your two-toned look with a coat of mascara, and you’re ready to show off your mermaid makeup!

MERMAID MAKEUP LOOK #4: METALLIC MERMAID SMILE

Mermaids and metallic go together like sand and summer—meaning you simply can’t go wrong with this siren-esque lip look.

What you’ll need:

L’Oréal Paris Colour Riche Shine Lipstick in Gleaming Plum

Teal lipstick

Lip brush

L’Oréal Paris True Match Lumi Shimmerista Highlighting Powder

Get the look:

STEP 1: FILL YOUR LIPS IN WITH PURPLE LIPSTICK

Start at your cupid’s bow and work your way out with a sheer plum lipstick.

STEP 2: DAB TEAL LIPSTICK IN THE CENTER OF YOUR LIPS, ACCENTUATING YOUR CUPID’S BOW

Squeeze a bit of teal liquid lipstick onto an angled lip brush to expertly define your cupid’s bow and the center of your bottom lip. Be sure to blend seamlessly between the purple and teal lipsticks to help create an ombré effect.

STEP 3: TOP IT OFF WITH A LILAC HIGHLIGHT

To finish your look, dip your finger into a highlighting powder and gently tap the shimmery color all over your lips. Use your finger instead of a brush to help prevent any smudging.

MERMAID MAKEUP LOOK #5: HOLOGRAPHIC SKIN

When it comes to getting a mermaid-like complexion, the holographic makeup trend will come in handy. Talk about a youthful glow!

What you’ll need:

L’Oréal Paris Infallible Up to 24HR Fresh Wear Foundation, Lightweight

L’Oréal Paris Infallible Blend Artist Foundation Blender

L’Oréal Paris Infallible Galaxy Stick

L’Oréal Paris Infallible Crushed Foils Metallic Highlighter in Rose Quartz

Get the look:

STEP 1: PERFECT YOUR BASE

Mythical creatures of all sorts are known for having flawless skin, and mermaids are no exception. Start by applying a full coverage foundation with the help of a makeup blender to give yourself a perfect complexion.

STEP 2: SWIPE ON A GLOWING CONTOUR

Ditch the bronzer—your holographic skin calls for using highlighter to contour. Yes, you read that right! Generously swipe on a stick highlighter to the hallows of your cheeks, temples, sides of your nose, and jawline—then blend! Feel free to layer more than one holographic shade to truly embrace a mermaid-inspired complexion.

STEP 3: STEP UP YOUR HIGHLIGHT

What’s holographic skin without an extra boost in radiance? Top off your look by applying a metallic rose highlighter to your cheekbones, tip of your nose, and cupid’s bow.

MERMAID MAKEUP LOOK #6: UNDER THE SEA UNDER-EYE MAKEUP

Take one scroll through your social media feeds and you’re sure to fall head over heels—or fins—for the under-eye makeup trend that’s taking the world by storm. Pair it with bold colors for a nautical twist, and you'll have a must-have mermaid look to take your mermaid costume to the next level.

What you’ll need:

L’Oréal Paris Colour Riche Pocket Palette Eye Shadow in Violet Amour

L’Oréal Paris Infallible 24 Eye Shadow in Endless Sea

Aqua liquid eyeliner

L’Oréal Paris Unlimited Lash Lifting and Lengthening Waterproof Mascara Blackest Black

Pencil brush

Small tapered crease brush

Get the look:

STEP 1: CREATE YOUR UNDER-EYE LOOK

Start by using your pencil brush to apply the darkest purple shadow from your eye shadow palette on the outer corner of your lower lash line. Opposite from that shadow, on the inner corner of your lash line, apply the next darkest purple with the same brush. To complete your under-eye look, use a small tapered crease brush to gently dust your teal shadow between the two shades of purple.

STEP 2: LINE YOUR EYES WITH WING TIPS

Define your eyes with a thin line of aqua eyeliner drawn across your upper lash line.

STEP 3: FINISH WITH MASCARA

Grab your mascara and coat your bottom lashes before moving on to the top. Voila!

MERMAID MAKEUP LOOK #7: SHIMMERING PEARL POUT

Add a little enchantment to your mermaid makeup with lips coated in an iridescent pastel hue that looks straight out of a storybook.

What you’ll need:

Lilac lipstick

Lilac metallic loose pigment

Get the look:

STEP 1: PAINT YOUR POUT

Grab your liquid lipstick and get to work.

STEP 2: ADD SOME SHIMMER

Use your finger to dab some holographic glitter all over your lips with extra-heavy concentration on the center of your pout.

MERMAID MAKEUP LOOK #8: SCALE CONTOUR

Mermaids are known for their scales—and with the help of an old pair of fishnet stockings, you can give yourself some scales of your own for the night!

What you’ll need:

Fishnet stockings

L’Oréal Paris Infallible 24 HR Eye Shadow in Timeless Blue Spark

L’Oréal Paris True Match Lumi Shimmerista Highlighting Powder in Sunlight
Fluffy contour brush

Tapered highlighter brush

Get the look:

STEP 1: GRAB YOUR FISHNETS

Cut the legs off of your fishnet stockings. Then, pull the fishnets over your face so that your complexion is covered. If needed, pin the fishnets to your hair with a few bobby pins to ensure they don’t move as you apply your makeup.

STEP 2: CREATE YOUR SCALES

Dip a contour brush into a blue shimmer eye shadow. Apply the eye shadow to the hollows of your cheeks, temples, and jawline—just as you would when you normally contour—overtop your fishnet stockings.

STEP 3: ADD SOME HIGHLIGHT

Apply a shimmery highlighting powder to your cheekbones overtop your fishnet stockings.

STEP 4: REMOVE YOUR FISHNETS

Gently remove your fishnet stockings and reveal your expertly applied scale contour. You mermaid for this Halloween look!

MERMAID EYE MAKEUP LOOK #9: TEAL INNER CORNER EYE MAKEUP

Want a subtler take on a mermaid eye makeup look? We’ve got you covered! Keep reading to make waves with this look.

What you’ll need:

L’Oréal Paris Infallible 24 HR Eye Shadow in Glistening Garnet

L’Oréal Paris Colour Riche Monos Eyeshadow in Mix and Matte

L’Oréal Paris Infallible Pro-Last Waterproof, Up to 24HR Pencil Eyeliner in True Teal

L’Oréal Paris Voluminous Lash Paradise Waterproof Mascara

Get the look:

STEP 1: COAT YOUR LIDS

Start by applying a nude eyeshadow all over your lid—this will serve as the base for the rest of your look.

STEP 2: ADD SOME COLOR

Grab your purple shadow and apply it to only the first third of your lid. Then, use your nude eye shadow to blend out any harsh lines, helping the purple shade fade across your lid.

STEP #3: LINE YOUR INNER CORNER

With your teal eyeliner, line around your tear duct for a pretty pop of blue.

STEP #4: GRAB YOUR MASCARA

Apply a few coats of mascara to finish off the look. Hello, mermaid vibes!

Next: 4 On-Trend Makeup Looks for Halloween 2019