Introducing Pearl Skin — Mermaidcore’s Beauty-Obsessed Cousin

Remember the viral glass skin trend from last year? She’s all grown up now.

We all love a dewy glow. But have you ever thought about comparing your skin to a jellyfish, dolphin, or the inside of an oyster? The beauty girls clearly have, which is why these terms are generating countless impressions on social media. Their mothership, #PearlSkin has already racked up over 40 million views on Tik Tok. We’re talking about skin so glistening that you might have just emerged from a fairytale ocean. Like Sophia Loren in Boy On A Dolphin (1957) or Mandakini in Ram Teri Ganga Maili (1985).  

From Catfish to Catwalk 

It’s not just Tik Tok and Instagram. The runways are just as obsessed with the trend. At Maison Margiela Spring Summer 2024, celebrity makeup artist Pat McGrath created a doll-like rendition by spraying several layers of a watered down peel-off mask. Prabal Gurung turned it edgy with grunge makeup. And Diesel’s latest campaign was all about the iridescent vibes with models posing like they are in an Evian commercial. Want your skin to look like a mermaid, or a delicious, glazed cookie? Say no more. 

Get The Look 

1. Start with a hydrating moisturiser. We recommend COSRX’s snail mucin formula. Follow that with a hyaluronic acid serum if you have dry skin. 

2. Now on to the lightweight base. Mix a medium coverage foundation with a few drops of your favourite highlighter and apply a thin-ish layer all over. 

3. You want your skin to be the pièce de résistance so keep the rest of the makeup simple. Glossy pink lips and eyelids work best with the iridescent theme.  

4. Blend a high-shine strobing cream onto the apples of your cheeks and along the cheekbones to finish the look.  

Pearl Of Wisdom 

Don’t confuse this trend with #VampireSkin. Steer clear of anything that’s shimmery. Instead, stick to soft, milky shades and weightless formulas. We want to glow not sparkle.