Tik Tok is a source of endless beauty inspiration and is responsible for countless makeup, skincare and haircare trends going viral. The latest Tik Tok trend to grab our attention is Mermaid Skin, a shimmery, ethereal beauty look that’s made a name for itself just in time to feed into one of 2023’s biggest predicted trends: Mermaidcore.
What exactly is Mermaid Skin? It’s part “shower makeup”, or “wet look” makeup, which involves plenty of dewy skincare and makeup to resemble the look of just stepping out of the shower, part “glazed doughnut skin” (ultra-dewy-skin made popular by Hailey Bieber) and part shimmery makeup. Imagine a slightly more sparkly Ariel from The Little Mermaid, and you’ve got the right idea.
The Mermaid Skin trend is all about making skin look like it is shimmering, and there are plenty of ways to achieve this. Whether you’re after the dewy glow or full-on holographic glimmer, there’s an achievable level of mermaid skin for all of us. Here’s who to get it right:
Skincare
Mermaid skin is all about that sought-after wet-look and dewy finish, and this starts with skincare. Hydrating ingredients are your best friend. Start by cleansing the skin and then gently exfoliating to remove dry skin cells and give the skin a radiant appearance.
Try NIP+FAB Vitamin C Fix Cleanser (R250.00), followed by NIP+FAB Vitamin C Fix Scrub (R250.00), an energising and illuminating exfoliating scrub infused with Vitamin C, coffee seed extract and coconut oil to effectively cleanse, nourish and renew the skin.
Next up, you need to give your skin a moisture boost. A brightening serum and hydrating moisturiser will do the trick. Creightons Vitamin C Face Serum (R139.95) is ideal for a dull complexion and uneven skin tone. This 2% vitamin C serum melts into the skin quickly, releasing glow-inducing ingredients Vitamin C, natural fruit acids and enzymes, to hydrate and enhance your natural glow. Follow with Creightons H2O Boost Day Gel (R169.95), which contains hydrating hyaluronic acid to leave skin intensely moisturised and hydrated for 24 hours.
Makeup
Once your skincare is applied, it’s time to move on to makeup. Prime your skin with a radiance-boosting primer like wet n wild Prime Focus Primer Serum (R169.95). It creates the perfect canvas for a smooth, even complexion, allowing your foundation to glide on effortlessly for a luminous, flawless finish.
If you love the Mermaid Skin trend but you prefer going au naturel, then you can stop right here – your glowy complexion will already be mermaid-inspired. However, if you’re a makeup girl, the next step is foundation. Select a dewy formula that offers light coverage and allows your natural skin to shine through. We recommend wet n wild Photo Focus Dewy Foundation (R139.95) for its lightweight texture and dewy finish.
Keen to go full mermaid? Master Mermaid Skin makeup by applying shimmery or glittery products where there would traditionally be scales. You’ll need a product with micro fine sparkle, as chunkier glitter formulas will defeat the purpose of achieving that ethereal sparkle.
When it comes to eye makeup, the mermaid trend favours jewel colours like blues, greens and purples. You can also incorporate shades of iridescent gold or silver for an ethereal glow. We recommend using an eyeshadow palette with a variety of shades that work together harmoniously. wet n wild Color Icon 10 Pan Eyeshadow in Call Me Sunshine (R179.95) offers a gorgeous array of golden hues while Heart and Sol (R179.95) has all the right shades of pink and peach, and Lights Off (R179.95) offers a range of darker jewel tones and iridescent silver and gold. The Real Techniques Naturally Beautiful Eye Makeup Brush Kit (R480.00) makes eye makeup application a breeze, and features all the brushes and tools you need to apply and seamlessly blend your eyeshadow to perfect this look.
Next up is the cheekbones. When it comes to Mermaid Skin, some makeup artists like to treat the eyes and cheekbones as one, using the same jewel-toned eyeshadows to highlight the cheeks. If you’re not too keen on this idea (and frankly, for everyday makeup, we don’t blame you!), why not opt for a shimmery silver, gold or rose gold blush or highlighter on the cheeks instead? Try wet n wild Megaglo Blushlighter in Highlight Bling (R139.95) and wet n wild Megaglo Highlighting Powder in Blossom Glow (R119.95). Simply dab the product onto the skin with the Real Techniques Setting Brush (R170.00) and gently blend the colour to set it.
No mermaid is complete without sparkly nails. Apply a set of quality press-on falsies and enjoy the beauty of a salon manicure within minutes, in the comfort of your home. We love Kiss impress Press-on Manicure in Evanesce (R220.00), a combination of nude and rose gold nails that’ll leave your hands looking perfectly groomed with just the right amount of sparkle.
