Too Faced Mermaid Tears La Creme Lipstick & Lip Topper Reviews, Photos, Swatches
Mermaid Tears
Too Faced Mermaid Tears La Crème Mystical Effects Lipstick ($22.00 for 0.11 oz.) is a dirty, almost gray-ish plum base with pink and green pearl. It ended up looking like a muted, blackened plum on my lips with multi-colored pearl and a lightly, glossy sheen. It had medium coverage that applied evenly and stayed out of my lip lines. The lipstick was smooth, creamy, and very emollient, so it did feel a bit slippery on my lips, though it was quite comfortable and hydrating over the three hours it wore for.
FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).
Top Dupes
- Urban Decay Backfire (DC, $18.00) is more shimmery, more pigmented, warmer (90% similar).
- Urban Decay Reverb (P, $18.00) is darker, less glossy (85% similar).
- MAC Metal Head (LE, $19.00) is less shimmery, darker, less glossy (85% similar).
- Urban Decay Monarchy (P, $18.00) is darker, less glossy (85% similar).
- MAC Pick Me, Pick Me (P, $19.00) is cooler (85% similar).
- MAC Royal Hour (LE, $19.00) is darker, less glossy (80% similar).
- Urban Decay Purgatory (P, $18.00) is darker, cooler (80% similar).
- Maybelline Smoked Silver (P, $7.49) is darker, more pigmented, less glossy (80% similar).
- Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics Strange & Unusual (DC, $17.00) is more shimmery, darker, warmer (80% similar).
- Urban Decay Delusional (P, $18.00) is darker, more pigmented, warmer (80% similar).
Formula Overview
$22.00/0.11 oz. - $200.00 Per Ounce
The formula is supposed to have "shade-shifting technology that changes the color depending on the body temperature," which was code for "turns lips fuchsia" on me for two of the shades (the other two did not seem to cause major color changes on me). It is a "one-swipe formula," which is not a term I'm familiar with as it lacked any indication about pigmentation or luminosity for what... one-swipe is supposed to achieve. Nevertheless, Too Faced has "swatches" on models of the new shades, and they certainly made them appear opaque/pigmented... which they were not. They were more medium coverage with a chunkier, glittery texture that wasn't rough but was textured that, for some, it may be too noticeable. They were pretty from afar but did not apply overly well. The wear time varied between the shades with lighter, less staining ones at two to three hours and the more staining ones to three to four hours. The formula had a sweet, lemony scent but no discernible taste.
Browse all of our Too Faced La Crème Mystical Effects Lipstick swatches.
Ingredients
Polybutene, Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil/Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Diisostearyl Malate, Polyethylene, Punica Granatum Sterols, Synthetic Fluorphlogopite, C12-15 Alkyl Lactate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Tridecyl Trimellitate, Triisostearyl Citrate, Isostearyl Hydroxystearate, Silica, Euphorbia Cerifera (Candelilla) Wax/Euphorbia Cerifera Cera, Trimethylolpropane Triisostearate, Isostearyl Isostearate, Hydrogenated Polydicyclopentadiene, Fragrance, Caprylyl Glycol, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Nelumbo Nucifera Flower Extract, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Phenoxyethanol, Sorbitan Isostearate, Tin Oxide, Tribehenin, Yellow 5 Lake (Ci 19140), Blue 1 Lake (Ci 42090), Red 27 (Ci 45410), Iron Oxides (Ci 77491), Titanium Dioxide (Ci 77891).
Disclaimer: Ingredient lists are as available by the brand (or retailer) at the time of publishing. Please always check product packaging, if it exists, for the ingredient list applicable to the product you're purchasing, or the brand or retailer's website for the most up-to-date ingredient list.
Mermaid Tears
LELimited Edition. $22.00.
Mermaid Tears
Too Faced Mermaid Tears Magic Crystal Lip Topper ($19.00 for 0.10 oz.) is a bright, light-medium green with warmer, yellow undertones and cooler blue and green sparkle. This shade seemed to have larger particles as well as finer pearl. It had very sheer coverage, though, and it applied somewhat unevenly. I found that this one seemed to be a bit more transformative as the shimmer particles were more contrasting with most lip colors. It lasted for two hours on me and was lightly moisturizing to wear.
FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).
Top Dupes
- ColourPop Stratus Update (LE, $10.00) is more shimmery, less pigmented (85% similar).
- MAC Yellow Jacket (P, $21.00) is darker, warmer (85% similar).
- MAC Peace, Love, Unity, Respect (LE, $21.00) is more shimmery, darker (80% similar).
Formula Overview
$19.00/0.1 oz. - $190.00 Per Ounce
The gloss formula was described as "super-glossy" and "non-sticky" that can be worn "on top of your favorite lipstick" or "alone for a pretty prismatic effect." It felt smooth, lightweight, and wasn't tacky, but it was a thinner gloss and did not have a plush, ultra-glossy finish. The wear time was dismal (two to three hours), though it was comfortable to wear and lightly to moderately hydrating over time. I could barely detect a sweet scent to it and no discernible taste. The pigmentation varied from shade to shade, but they were all very sheer, and sheerness was certainly expected based on the descriptoin of the product.
Browse all of our Too Faced Magic Crystal Lip Topper swatches.
Ingredients
Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Hydrogenated Polydecene, Ethylene/Propylene/Styrene Copolymer, Silica, Butylene/Ethylene/Styrene Copolymer, Microcrystalline Wax/Cera Microcristallina, Calcium Sodium Borosilicate, Mica, Bis-Diglyceryl Polyacyladipate-2, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, BHT, Fragrance, Pentaerythrityl Tetraisostearate, Tin Oxide, Carmine (Ci 75470), Blue 1 Lake (Ci 42090), Titanium Dioxide (Ci 77891).
Disclaimer: Ingredient lists are as available by the brand (or retailer) at the time of publishing. Please always check product packaging, if it exists, for the ingredient list applicable to the product you're purchasing, or the brand or retailer's website for the most up-to-date ingredient list.
Well the stick is certainly better 🙁
Yes, it’s a B product, and it could be so much better… but I find myself drawn to the lipstick regardless. Probably because I’m a sucker for plum colors. And glitter.
The lipstick is such a weird colour, but I’m sort of obsessed with it???? Went from befuddlement to curiosity to obsession reaaaallll fast, and now: Grey-green-purple, get on my mouth.
I was so excited for this launch and I am left a little underwhelmed. Really wanted to like mermaid tears but bite beauty in lavender pearl or peacock pearl just looks so much better to me than this. Money saved!!! Lol
The lipstick is so pretty, omg! They did a great job with these.
Love the lipstick, but that gloss just turns my stomach. A green gloss, or any green lip product needs to be opaque to look right.
Your earrings are beautiful!
I love the lipstick. I got it as a topper.
I’m honestly shocked at the way the lipstick actually appears on the lips. It looks like such a sickly green in the tube, but looks so pretty on. The gloss is just too green…
Obsessed with the lipstick!!
Will be grabbing it the day it becomes available in my country!