Last Minute Mermaid Makeup For Halloween

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.

NYX Born To Glow Liquid Illuminator, $7.49, ulta.com

5. Opt For Sparkly Blue Liner

Either a sparkly cat eye or a simple lower lash line will do the trick!

Urban Decay Heavy Metal Glitter Eyeliner, $20, macys.com

5. Pair With Some Lash-Elongating Mascara

Give your eyes some more definition with black, lengthening mascara.

Clinique Lash Power Mascara Long-Wearing Formula, $14.85, nordstrom.com

6. Swipe On Some Gold Lip Gloss

Continue with the theme of this look — glitter, glitter, and more glitter — by applying some gold-infused lipgloss for an all-over bronzed look.

Nars 'Gold Digger' Larger Than Life Lip Gloss, $26, narscosmetics.com

7. Finish Up With A Dewy Setting Spray

Get that mermaid-like glow with a setting spray that will help your look last until the end of the night.

Tatcha Dewy Skin Face Mist, $48, tatcha.com

Now go have a whale of a time. A mermaid of a time? You get the idea.

Images: Courtesy Brands (7)