A Magnificent Mermaid Makeup Look

A mermaid makeup look captures the ocean with iridescent blues, greens, and purples, shimmering highlight, and a signature fish-scale texture. The easy trick for scales is to stretch fishnet or netting over the skin and dab color through it, then add pearls and shimmer for an underwater, fantasy finish.

A mermaid makeup look is pure underwater fantasy — iridescent ocean colors, shimmering skin, and the signature fish-scale texture across the cheeks or temples. As this look’s creator says, inspiration is literally all around you in the colors and textures of nature.

Here is the step-by-step plus her original tips from the Albolene Makeup Challenge. For more imaginative looks, browse all of our makeup artist tips & tricks.

What you’ll need

A piece of fishnet stocking or netting for scales
Iridescent eyeshadows and pigments in blue, green, teal, and purple
A duochrome or pearlescent highlighter
Fluffy and detail brushes
Rhinestones, pearls, and lash glue
Setting spray and mascara or lashes

Iridescent pigment, glitter, and gems can cling to skin. Albolene Moisturizing Cleanser melts the whole look away gently, so removing your mermaid magic is effortless.

As an MUA, I always strive to break barriers, test boundaries and use my imagination! My biggest tip to create this look is, there is beauty LITERALLY all around you! I used the color and texture pallets already found in nature, and used them unconventionally! The world is full of so much beauty, from a speck of sand, to a rainbow! It is up to us to find and use it! Go for it, BEYOUTIFUL!

— Danielle Bridges, Albolene Makeup Challenge

How to Get the Look

Build a luminous base

Start with a glowing base so the ocean colors have something to shimmer against. Keep it dewy rather than matte to suit the underwater feel.
Wash on ocean colors

Blend iridescent blues, greens, teals, and purples across and around the eyes, drawing the color outward and up onto the temples for a watery, otherworldly effect. Use nature's palette unconventionally, as the creator advises.
Create fish scales with netting

Here's the signature trick: stretch a piece of fishnet or netting flat against the cheek or temple, then dab iridescent color through it with a sponge or brush. Lift it away to reveal perfect scales.
Add shimmer and highlight

Tap a duochrome or pearlescent highlighter onto the high points and over the scales so the whole look catches the light like the surface of water.
Embellish with pearls and gems

Press rhinestones and pearls along the scale lines or inner corners with lash glue for a treasure-from-the-deep finish.
Finish the eyes and set

Add dramatic lashes or mascara, balance the lip with a soft or iridescent shade, and lock everything in with setting spray.

Prep & Remove Any Look with Albolene

Start with a soft, moisturized base so makeup goes on smoothly — and when the look has done its job, Albolene Moisturizing Cleanser melts away glitter, face paint, and even waterproof makeup in one gentle step. No harsh scrubbing, no stripped skin.

Shop Moisturizing Cleanser

Frequently Asked Questions

Build a glowing base, then blend iridescent ocean colors — blue, green, teal, and purple — around the eyes and onto the temples. Create scales by dabbing color through stretched fishnet, add a pearlescent highlight, and embellish with rhinestones or pearls for an underwater fantasy finish.

Stretch a piece of fishnet stocking or netting flat against your skin, then dab eyeshadow or pigment through it with a sponge or brush. Carefully lift the netting away and it leaves a perfect scale pattern — the easiest way to get realistic mermaid scales.

Iridescent and duochrome ocean shades: blues, greens, teals, and purples, plus pearlescent and shimmering highlighters. Mixing several of these and letting them shift in the light recreates the magical, underwater quality of a mermaid look.

Reach for an oil-based cleanser. Massage Albolene Moisturizing Cleanser over the eyes and face to melt the iridescent pigment, glitter, and gem glue, then wipe gently with a soft pad — it lifts clingy sparkle without scrubbing and conditions skin.