How to Look Like a Mermaid on Dry Land

We totally understand the allure of a sultry, grown-up makeup look. Smoky eyes, rich red lips and matte makeup are all très chic and completely our style. However, there are other times when we feel the need to let our hair down and have a little fun with our beauty routine. Admit it, there’s a small part of you that wishes playing dress up was still a thing in adulthood.

To indulge this penchant for whimsy, we decided to do a makeup look inspired by a creature that is the epitome of all things bright and sparkly: the mermaid. These mythical beings are known for being bathed in color and iridescence, two things we definitely value in a cool makeup look. To help us channel our inner sea goddess, we enlisted the help of makeup guru Alana Dawn to take us to the sea — fins and seashell bra not included.

Step 1: Prep the eye area with an eye primer. Using a fluffy shadow brush, apply a pigmented lilac eye shadow on the entire lid. (We recommend using “Jilted” from the Urban Decay Electric Palette).

Step 2: Using a black gel liner (like NYX Gel Liner and Smudger in Betty), create a bold cat eye.

Step 3: Swipe a turquoise shade (like “Fringe” from the same palette recommended in Step 1) along the lower the lash line.

Step 4: Finish off the look by applying a bronze shadow on the inner corners of the eyes. Try L’Oréal Paris Infallible 24 HR Eye Shadow in Bronzed Taupe).