When Hailey Bieber is willing to trade her signature glazed donut skin for a different morning treat, you know it’s a beauty trend with staying power. Latte make-up, an effortless take on summer bronze, is as addictive as your daily caffeine fix—and has quickly come to dominate TikTok with its modern goddess appeal.
“Latte make-up is just that: makeup that focuses solely on shades of brown and nudes,” says makeup artist Katie Mellinger, who highlights the trend’s accessibility as a key factor in its popularity. “It’s super achievable and easy to do—there are no hard edges,” she says. “Also, it can apply to any skin tone. Granted, you have to adjust the shades you are using, going deeper as skin tones get darker, but it can be done on absolutely anyone.”
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The social media-sparked aesthetic was initially coined by content creator Rachel Rigler, who used a 2018 look by make-up artist Tanielle Jai as the inspiration for her off-the-cuff, and now insanely viral, trend definition. “I absolutely adore the name ‘latte make-up’—it perfectly captures the essence of the style,” says Jai.
“There’s an effortless, youthful dew to it that’s appealing to most, and perfect for the summer,” says make-up artist Carolina Dalí. “It’s a continuance of the monochromatic make-up trend we’ve been loving for several seasons, but spiced up.” Dalí recommends leaning into the sultry nature of the look, opting for eyeshadow that glistens, bronzers that lean especially glowy, and lips touched with a sheer, glossy brown tint then finished with a touch of creaminess at the center.
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“What truly sets the latte look apart is its undertones,” says Jai. “The secret lies in bronzers and brown shades that have caramel, yellow, and olive undertones, steering away from the warm orange and red undertones often found in typical bronze and brown shades.” (This goes for lip colour, too.) Mellinger recommends starting with with a luminizing primer like Milk Makeup’s Hydro Grip Primer followed by Kevyn Aucoin Stripped Nude Skin Tint, those layered and carved with bronzers like Tower28’s Bronzino Illuminating Cream Bronzer and Tom Ford’s Shade and Illuminate.
“Use your favourite nude or brown shadows on your eyes,” says Mellinger, who uses a simple brown pencil for the lash line, smudging as needed to avoid any hard lines. “You can use a cooler shade like a taupe or go warm with it, choose your fighter as long as it’s brown.” Should you desire a swirl of blush, reach for Laura Mercier Blush Color Infusion in Fresco or MAC powder Blush in Film Noir.
Though a swipe of sheer gloss may work for some tones, Dalí has a more intricate lip in mind. She suggests dipping a smudge brush in Chanel Les Beiges Healthy Glow Bronzing Cream and tracing along your natural lip line, overlining slightly at the cupid’s bow and beneath the center of the lower lip for a natural pout. Next, tap on the warm brown lip colour of your choice, punctuating the center of the lip with a creamy coloured gloss like Pat McGrath’s Lust in Nude Negligee.
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“I feel like, in the summer, people are more drawn to make-up looks that have a sort of effortless ease to them,” says Dalí. “Most of us don’t want to spend lots of time creating a very detailed make-up look that’s just going to crease and melt off in the heat, and the latte look is the perfect embodiment of that. If you wear it out in the heat, it will still look good hours in.”
The takeaway? Save the ice for your actual coffee order—this look only gets better as temperatures rise.
