This metallic mermaid makeup look is ideal for hot summer days

When it comes to experimenting with makeup, it can be difficult to know exactly how far to go. Sure, it's fun to go all-out, but it can also be time-consuming, and leave you feeling a little bit overdone. Striking the balance between interesting and relaxed can be more difficult than you may have imagined.

Going for a look which introduces some color and texture to the eye, but is fairly natural and soft on the rest of the face can be a perfect compromise. It takes your look to the next level without ever veering into "clown" territory. As for summer, there's really only one acceptable source of makeup inspiration: the ethereal mermaid, of course.

Materials
- Brow gel (Make Up For Ever Aqua Brow in 15 - Blonde)
- Angled brush
- Spoolie
- Tinted eyeshadow base (P.Louise Base in Shade 1)
- Flat eyeshadow brush
- Matte, loose powder (Cover FX Matte Setting Powder)
- Fluffy eyeshadow brush
- Warm toned eyeshadow palette (Colourpop Dream St. Palette)
- Detailer eyeshadow brush
- Black eye pencil (Sephora 12hr Colorful Contour Eyeliner in Black Lace)
- Flat eyeshadow brush
- Shimmery amethyst eyeshadow (NYX Prismatic Eye Shadow in Punk Heart)
- Black liquid eyeliner (Kat Von D Tattoo Liner)
- Black mascara (L'Oréal Original Voluminous Mascara)
- Face primer (Milk Makeup Hydro Grip Primer)
- Liquid concealer (NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer)
- Small, fluffy brush.
- Full coverage foundation (MAC Studio Fix Fluid Foundation)
- Buffing brush
- Liquid highlighter (Revolution Beauty Liquid Highlighter Unicorn Elixir)
- Mini beauty sponge
- Small powder brush
- Powder bronzer (NARS Bronzing Powder in Laguna)
- Bronzer brush
- Warm, shimmery blusher (MAC Mineralized Blush in Warm Soul)
- Peach and coral lipsticks (MAC Lipsticks in Crosswires & In A Heartbeat)
- Lip brush

1. Use an angled brush to apply a brow gel to your eyebrows. Comb through with a spoolie to ensure a natural finish.

2. Take a tinted eyeshadow base on a flat brush and apply across the entire eyelid, right up to the eyebrow. Pat gently to ensure even coverage.

3. Use a fluffy brush to set this primer with a loose powder.

4. Use the same brush to take a warm, caramel toned eyeshadow and work in into the crease. We used the shade Shooting Star from the Colourpop Dream St. Palette.

5. Take a smaller, detailer brush and a coral eyeshadow. We used the shade Spark from the same palette. Build this shade up in the crease. Use the same fluffy brush from before to blend out.

6. Apply black pencil eyeliner to the center of each upper lashline. Tap out with a finger. Don't worry if it looks a little messy at first!

7. Use a small, flat eyeshadow brush to apply a shimmer teal eyeshadow over where you've placed the black eyeliner. We used Mermaid Boy from the same Colourpop palette.

8. Use the same brush to add a shimmery, amethyst colored eyeshadow in the outer corners. Continue to build up your teal shade in the inner corners, creating a gradient effect.

9. Take the coral eyeshadow shade and use it to smoke out your lower lashline. Intensify the lower lashline using your amethyst shade.

10. Take a shimmery, champagne eyeshadow shade and apply to the tear duct to open up the eye. We used Moony from the same Colourpop palette.

11. Take a small amount of your teal shade and apply to the innermost part of your lower lashline to intensify the look.

12. Apply a thin line of black liquid liner on the upper lashline. This will make your lashes appear thicker and fuller.

13. Apply your black pencil liner to your upper waterline.

14. Apply black mascara to your top and bottom lashes. You can add a strip lash for even more drama, if desired.

15. Use your fingers to apply a face primer across the skin. This will ensure your base applies evenly and lasts as long as possible.

16. Apply a liquid concealer to your undereyes, and use the same product to highlight the high points of your face. Blend with a small, fluffy brush.

17. Use a buffing brush to apply a full coverage foundation across your face.

18. Apply a white liquid highlighter to the cheekbones. Blend out with fingers and a mini beauty sponge.

19. Use a small powder brush to set your undereye concealer. Take the excess across the rest of your face.

20. Use a brush to apply a bronzing powder to the contours of your face. focusing on cheekbones, the perimeter of the forehead, and the jawline.

21. Apply a warm toned, shimmery blush to the apples of the cheeks. Use the same champagne eyeshadow as before to intensify your facial highlight on cheekbones, temples, bridge of the nose and cupid's bow.

22. Finish the look by applying a mixture of a peach and a coral lipstick across your lips using a brush.