By Silvia Tarini. Cover image: Chanel Spring 2024. Courtesy Chanel.
The beauty enthusiasts around here may agree with me: this summer, we all feel like mermaids. Could this trend be making a comeback thanks to Taylor Swift? During her worldwide Eras Tour, the singer enchanted her fans with sparkling crystal-embroidered looks (and matching make-up), diving into the stage like a beautiful sea creature. But when it comes to the marine environment, the world of cinema becomes involved as well. Walt Disney Pixar has played a crucial role in promoting mermaid-core aesthetics.
With the release of the live-action remake of “The Little Mermaid” in 2023, originally a 1989 animated movie, the internet has been flooded with aethereal and glossy vibes make-up tutorials, influencing the latest beauty trends. And don’t forget the latest release on Disney+ called “Young Woman and the Sea”, a biographical movie about the first woman who swam across the English Channel.
It is undeniable that the ocean and its mysterious aura have their own charm. Get ready to take a huge dive into this powerful world and immerse yourself in multiple shades of the blue palette. It’s mermaid make-up time!
Mermaid make-up trend: see how Spring 24 Chanel Beauty is all about the marine environment
The sea has always had a unique place at the heart of this French brand, dating back to 1912 when Coco Chanel opened her first boutique in the seaside Deauville, France. Since then, the nautical world has continued to influence both the fashion collections and the beauty segment of the brand.
Today, the mermaid make-up trend is making waves in the luxury fashion house with an elegant, refined twist. The Spring 2024 Chanel Beauty collection created by make-up artist Valentina Li is inspired by the underwater world and aims to explore mysterious textures.
The collection uses light blue for the eyes and coral red shades for the cheeks and lips. A standout product in the collection is the Mermaid Glow, a reinterpreted version of the iconic Baume Essentiel featuring delicate contrast effects with iridescent hues of seashells and gold reflections.
Valentina Li encourages the versatile use of this blendable product—on the eyelids, inner eye corners, and lips—for a mermaid-like allure and a dazzling finish. This limited edition invites all beauty enthusiasts to create vibrant, iridescent and brightly coloured looks.
All we want for summer is blue-green mermaid make-up – and a wet hair look
Over the past year, many fashion houses have embraced the mermaid core aesthetics by introducing elements reminiscent of the marine environment. These include lustrous pearls, marine prints and bikini tops, classic crochet, and glittering fabrics. In addition to fashion, the make-up beauty world has also welcomed this new trend with multiple references to the oceanic world, including blended coloured eyeshadow on the eyelid, with small glitters glued on the face and nude lip gloss. To complement the look, you can use a nude brow pencil to create the illusion of invisible eyebrows. And, of course, don’t forget to top it off with the wet hair look!
A new TikTok obsession: the water transition
Famous make-up artists and beauty bloggers are now using the mermaid make-up style to create a fun trend that has gone viral over the past few months. The trend involves splashing a glass of water on their face to transition from a natural no-makeup look to a glossy and twinkling seaside make-up, giving off a mermaid vibe. Mermaid make-up is an amusing way to keep the ocean-inspired mania alive!
From make-up to perfumes, mermaids (and their world) are ready to take it all
The aquatic theme has been a valuable source of inspiration for creating new fragrances over the years. Some scents have taken the audience by storm, becoming iconic perfumes inspired by the sea. The list is endless, but one standout example is Dolce&Gabbana’s Light Blue, which is an ode to Italian culture with its olfactory notes of Sicilian lemon, apple, cedar, musk and amber. What about another cult favourite among perfume lovers, Aqua Celestia by Maison Francis Kurkdjian?
It’s an explosion of mimosa blossoms, cool mint, lime and musk. And don’t forget Fougères Marine by Montale, which evokes the sea’s freshness thanks to musk, patchouli, lavender and oak moss. We could go on and on. As you may have noticed, the marine environment is an invaluable source of inspiration, encouraging people to embrace the natural and stunning underwater world
