Dark siren makeup could be 2025's biggest beauty trend

If you want the jumpstart on the beauty trends to know for 2025, you've come to the right place. All signs are pointing to dark siren makeup having its moment in the moonlight – especially if Pinterest's Annual Pinterest Predicts report is anything to go by.

The picture pinning site has seen searches for “dark siren makeup” surge by a ginormo 695% over the course of 2024, making it one of the biggest headliners heading into next year. In fact sea witchery in general seems to be holding interest.

The trend has evolved from the mermaidcore movement that's been building momentum for the past few seasons and its taken a moodier turn, too. “It’s so much more than seashells and starfish,” the Pinterest report says. “In 2025, gen z and millennials will dive head first into sultry siren make-up, wet wavy hair and moody mermaid manicures from first light to moonlight,” they predict. Alongside the makeup, “wavy wet hair looks” have seen an 80% rise in searches, while “sea-inspired nails" are up 65%.

What is dark siren makeup?

Dark siren makeup picks up where mermaid makeup left off. Similar elements of ethereal skin, shimmery silver highlighters and metallic accents remain, but it's had a moodier twist with sharp black liquid liners creating an elongated siren shape and semi-matte or soft matte skin subbing in. Shimmery eyeshadows have been switched out for smoky greys and cool-toned browns, and instead of light, glossy lip shades, deeper nudes and dark ‘90s lip liners are featuring more heavily. Essentially it’s a grungy take on mermaidcore that's a little sassier and sexier.

How to wear dark siren makeup?

Already we've seen the trend hero'd by the likes of singer, Charli XCX, model Precious Lee, musician Gabbriette and actress Alexa Demie. We've seen silver details, dagger liner and even vintage remixes.

Keep it feeling a little grungy and moody with sharp black liner and smoky grey eyeshadow paired with ethereal lit-from-within skin.

The dagger liner, cool-toned grungy eyeshadow and skinny brows give a mash-up between '90s beauty and dark siren makeup, plus the wet waves keep the look feeling mermaidy.

Slick, snatched hot-girl makeup but with a witchy twist. The sharp stretched liner edges into dark siren territory.

Want to nod to dark siren makeup without going full force? This daintier take on dagger liner and softly diffused cool-toned eyeshadow is a more delicate rendition of the trend. And paired with a dewy complexion it brings in some trad mermaidcore details.

Wet-look pink curls, snatched contouring and an ombre red lip add some vintage glamour to the trend.

You don't necessarily have to go dark with dark siren makeup. This light blue-grey eyeshadow keeps the colour scheme cool and moody but it also feels ethereal.

This makeup look is a tale of two halves. While the eyeliner is all dark siren energy with a black dash across the waterline leading into a slick flick, the doll-like flush of baby pink across the cheeks and shimmery detailing around the eyes adds daintiness.

For extra grunge points, opt for a smudgier dark liner for a party-girl take on dark siren makeup.

Seductive dark siren liner, soft matte skin, cool-toned contour and a show-stopping pewter-silver metallic lip may just be the sassiest way to wear the trend.

For more from GLAMOUR's Senior Beauty Editor, Elle Turner, follow her on Instagram @elleturneruk

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