Fashion

Last Minute Mermaid Makeup For Halloween

by Sara Tardiff

Oct. 21, 2015

Dave Kotinsky/Getty Images Entertainment/Getty Images

As if finding a mermaid tail last minute wasn't hard enough, how exactly are you supposed to do your mermaid makeup for Halloween with so little time to spare? Luckily for you, getting your mermaid glow on isn't as complicated as you might think. The toughest part is finding a seashell bra to sport. In fact, you likely have most of the products in your makeup bag already — as long as you happen to be a shimmer fanatic. Putting together a Halloween costume when it's down to the wire is always tricky, but I've always found the beauty component of any costume to be both the easiest and most fun. Work with what you've got in your beauty bag, and have as much fun with it as possible!

Take Kim Kardashian's 2012 Halloween mermaid look, for example. Her makeup was all about the bronze, with a simple glossy lip and a little bit of sparkle around the eyes. The highlight of her look was definitely the blonde wig — but some simple beach waves to accompany the look should do the trick! But since you're already going with such a complex costume, going overboard on makeup isn't really necessary. In the name of being both lazy and fashionable — keep it simple, but shimmery. Stick to this simple guide to getting mermaid-ready for Halloween, even if there isn't much time to spare before the big night!

1. Start With A Shimmery Base

After just one day at the beach you get an unbeatable glow — now imagine a lifetime on the ocean, Ariel-style. Start your look off with luminous base that will keep the rest of your makeup stabilized, while giving you a glowing palette to work with.

Burberry Fresh Glow Luminous Fluid Base, $48, sephora.com

2. Get An All-Over Glow

Use a fluffy brush to apply bronzer all over — don't forget your neck and shoulders, too!

Tarte Amazonian Clay Waterproof Bronzer, $30, sephora.com

3. Add A Flush To Your Cheeks

The trick to looking truly sun kissed is to blend your blush into your bronzer. You don't want two doll-looking circles of red on your cheeks, you want more of a healthy flush. Using a blush stick, apply to the apples of your cheeks — then use your fingers to blend upward toward your hairline.

TrèStiQue Color & Contour Blush Stick, $34, birchbox.com

4. Give Your Cheekbones Some Added Sparkle

This might seem like overkill in the glitter department, but when you're dressed up as a mermaid you really can't get enough shimmer. Apply some illuminator right over your blush to enhance that glow.