With every new year comes a bevy of rising beauty trends to take note of, many of which relate to colour. From the latest go-to eyeshadow palettes to the tones our hair stylists are predicting a surge in, hues matter. However, few shades will have as much merit as Pantone’s official Colour of the Year. Last month, Pantone revealed their delectably named—and fittingly so—Colour of the Year for 2025, ‘Mocha Mousse’.
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Described by the institute themselves as “a warming, brown hue imbued with richness”, the shade immediately evokes the comfort of coffee and chocolate, in all of their “delectable qualities”. Decidedly more subtle than previous years’ selections, like last year’s ‘Peach Fuzz’ and 2023’s ‘Viva Magenta’, its understated appeal is a welcome change.
From chocolate glazed doughnut manicures to the renaissance of ’90s-esque lip combos, browns have only been seeing greater popularity in the beauty world as of late. And Mocha Mousse in particular is comforting within its simplicity—think cool and cosy rather than vivid and bronze. An inviting reflection of the energy we’re hoping to bring into the new year, perhaps.
Below, take in five ideas for pulling off Mocha Mousse beauty looks over the upcoming months, from hair to eyes and lips to nails and cheeks.
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Chocolate-brown locks
What better way to lighten up your colour scheme for 2025 than to adopt the cool hue for your hair? The chocolate brown shade carries with it connotations of quiet luxury, as seen on the likes of Hailey Bieber, Daisy Edgar-Jones and Barbara Palvin. Though it’s a classic shade, there’s still plenty of ways to incorporate it in a more playful way. Just be sure to enter the new year with a solid aftercare routine in place for your dyed locks.
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A (coolly) bronzed base
The past few years may have been defined by bright blushers, but one beauty go-to that has never gone away is the power of bronzing. While the tool may evoke images of party-ready vividness, opting for a subtler shade like Mocha Mousse creates a more subtle effect. As seen on Alessandra Ambrosio, a cool-toned illuminator like Giorgio Armani Beauty’s Luminous Silk Acqua Highlighter in Dawn adds depth to your mien.
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Rich coffee lips
Brown lipstick flew off our radars for a while, but now the trend beloved by the original ’90s supermodels has well and truly returned. For full effect, opt for a full matte lip in the shade like Simone Ashley with a traditional bullet lipstick—we love the likes of Charlotte Tilbury’s Matte Revolution Lipstick in So 90s. But for a thoroughly modern take on the timeless hue, a lip tint or liner will do the trick. To this end, Stila’s Plumping Lip Glaze in Brown Sugar and MAC’s Lip Pencil in Greige have got your back.
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Soft and smokey
To even mention the classic brown smokey eye within an article about trends may prove redundant—that’s how enduring and foolproof the look is. A long-time classic on red carpets, there’s nothing like playing with a palette of brown shades to enhance your eyes without veering into maximalism. Build up and layer the cooling Mocha Mousse shade to take advantage of its subtlety, with palettes like Chanel’s Les 4 Ombres Multi-Effect Quadra Eyeshadow in Clair-Obscur.
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Chomp-worthy nails
In a way, the declaration of Mocha Mousse as this year’s definitive colour may be incredibly validating for nail artists everywhere. After all, chocolate manis have been making waves in recent years. Seen here on Selena Gomez in its glamorous chrome format—dubbed “glazed chocolate doughnut”—the neutral coffee hue lends itself well to being incorporated in nail art looks, from a French tip to swirling the shade against another background. It’s that versatile—and looks good enough to eat.
