Disney’s live-action adaptation of The Little Mermaid, led by Halle Bailey, has not only brought fantasy to life but inspired many to get in touch with their inner siren. If you’ve ever wanted to enter your mermaid era, you’re in luck. Due to popular demand, Bailey’s on-set makeup artist said no to gatekeeping and dropped all the products she used to create Ariel’s ethereal look.
“Some of you guys have been offering me your limbs for a breakdown, but that won’t be necessary!” wrote make-up artist Kat Ali on Instagram with some close-up pics of Halle Bailey in the make-up chair. From her glowy skin and the lip combo that has TikTok obsessed, here’s a rundown of how to re-create Ariel’s look from The Little Mermaid.
The secret to Ariel’s radiance starts with some lightweight skin care. Ali used Avène eye cream, Glossier’s priming moisturizer on the face, Glossier's Balm Dotcom on the lips, and switched between Glossier’s Body Hero and Weleda’s Skin Food Light on the body.
Part of the movie was shot in sunny Sardinia, so to protect Bailey's skin and secure her glow in place, Ali used the tried-and-true Black Girl Sunscreen and Kate Somerville's UncompliKated SPF Makeup Setting Spray SPF 50, a more heavy-duty option perfect for re-applying sunscreen while refreshing your makeup.
For the glam base, our Ariel wore Uoma Beauty concealer and MAC foundation. A hack for adding dimension to any makeup look is layering textures, and Ariel’s lightly flushed cheeks and soft glow are thanks to the Milk Makeup’s Lip + Cheek Cream Blush Stick shade “Quickie” and Dior Beauty’s Backstage Glow "Universal” Face Palette on the cheekbones.
Ariel’s look is balanced and neutral, so her shimmery eye is the star of the show. According to Ali’s breakdown on Instagram, Tom Ford’s "Suspicion" eyeshadow quad is the key to Ariel’s bronzed spotlight eye. Ali also used a MAC eyebrow pencil in the shade "Spiked" for a soft and fluffy brow.
Finally, Ali revealed Ariel's viral lip combo that TikTok has been trying to decode for weeks now. The MUA shared that her effortlessly natural lips were achieved using Chanel Beauty’s Rouge Allure lipstick in shade 174 “Angelique” and MAC’s lip liner in the shade “Cork,” blended with both brushes and fingers.
Now that you know the tools, have fun channeling your inner Ariel. All the products you need are listed below:
Want more like this from Teen Vogue? Check these stories out:
- Halle Bailey's Hair in The Little Mermaid Cost $150,000
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- In The Little Mermaid, Prince Eric Finally Gets a Personality
