Mermaid skin, in popular imagination, is depicted as smooth, poreless, ageless, dewy, and soft, even when not submerged in water. This idealized image is frequently used in marketing for beauty products, such as serums and moisturizers, promising a similar effect on human skin. The term "mermaid skin" is associated with a youthful, healthy, and radiant complexion. Several products explicitly use the term "mermaid skin" in their branding, suggesting a connection to hydration and a luminous appearance. For example, Tarte's Mermaid Skin Serum aims to provide a hydrated, serum-like feel without the oily residue often associated with such products. Similarly, CANMAKE's Mermaid Skin Gel UV acts as both a facial lotion and a makeup base, promising a fresh, moisturized feeling. Even further, Earth Harbor Naturals' Mermaid Milk Nutrient Glow Moisturizer aims to provide a "mermaid glow" through hydration and balance.
However, the concept of "mermaid skin" is largely aesthetic and metaphorical. There is no scientific basis for a type of skin specifically belonging to mermaids. Discussions online regarding the visual representation of mermaid skin in games (such as in the video game Smite) highlight the challenges of translating the idealized concept into a visually consistent and appealing digital asset.
The use of the term in products emphasizes the desired outcome – a healthy, radiant glow – rather than a literal description of an actual skin type. Different cultural depictions and interpretations of mermaids also influence how this ideal is envisioned, with some emphasizing a rosy complexion, reflecting a connection to the sea's beauty.
