Let me be the first to say that I’m all for ending the internet’s obsession with naming beauty and fashion trends after seemingly random foods (tomato girl? blueberry milk nails? SOS). However, if there’s one food-or-drink named trend that I can get behind, it’s latte makeup. Aside from being admittedly aptly named, the viral look is easy to recreate and is uber-flattering on all skin tones and eye colors.
The latte makeup trend is essentially exactly what it sounds like a sultry, bronzed makeup look created with different natural shades of brown. Warm coffee colors are highlighted through a creamy bronzer, a smudged brown eyeliner, and a juicy but neutral-toned lip. For those of you with perpetually rosy cheeks, latte makeup is a win because it eliminates bright pink or red blushes and instead focuses on more bronze, neutral tones. The term was coined on TikTok by beauty guru Rachel Rigler, but the look itself originated from Australian makeup artist Tanielle Jai (who, for those invested, has stated that she is totally behind the “latte” name).
So, What Is Latte Makeup?
Say hello to “latte makeup.” And just like the countless coffee orders that range from every single shade of espresso and beige — the trend, too, is all about using natural shades of browns and bronzes to create a truly sun-lit glam.
Danielle Estrada, a makeup artist and one of the many creators who has shared her spin on the glowing look, notes that the viral underpainting methodsuits this glam the most — which, ICYWW, is a face contouring technique made popular by Mary Phillips, the celeb-loved artist who frequently works with the likes of Kendall Jenner and Hailey Bieber.
Why underpainting, you ask? Well, the method creates a softly contoured look underneath your favorite products. And to get the best results, you typically should be reaching for lightweight complexion products, like glowing skin tints with a more sheer, buildable finish.
As for the inspo pic that the latte glam is based on? Well, Australian-based Tanielle Jai is the makeup artist behind the look (which dates back to around 2018). In a recent Instagram post, she notes: “They call this the “latte makeup” but it’s just bronzed makeup using caramel tones.”
Of course, if you’re watching The Idol, you may see a similar sultry look on Lily-Rose Depp, throughout summer, this toasty, sun-kissed glam has been everywhere.
With over 28M views and counting, it’s time to sip on this café au lait trend. Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered with an easy breakdown on how to achieve the latte girl makeup look.
How to recreate the “latte” makeup look
The bronzy, glowy base
The base of the latte makeup look includes a sheer-coverage foundation or skin tint, cream bronzer, concealer, and a powder bronzer to seal it all in. To achieve a natural, sun-kissed effect, Rigler recommends putting your foundation or skin tint everywhere except your nose to let your natural freckles come through; you can also use a freckle pen to create freckles after finishing the base. Add a healthy amount of cream bronzer or contour to your cheeks, a little bit of concealer wherever you need it, and blend well. Finish with a powder bronzer, and you have a latte makeup base.
Rare Beauty by Selena Gomez Positive Light Tinted Moisturizer Broad Spectrum SPF 20 Sunscreen
Fenty Beauty by Rihanna Eaze Drop Blurring Skin Tint
MERIT Minimalist Perfecting Foundation Stick
MAKEUP BY MARIO SoftSculpt Shaping Stick
PATRICK TA Major Sculpt Contour & Powder Duo
SAIE Glow Sculpt Multi-Use Cream Blush
FRECK Original Freckle Pen
The shimmery brown eye
After watching dozens of latte makeup tutorials, I can confidently say that there is no “wrong” way to achieve a latte eye. For an everyday recreation of the look, you can blend your powder bronzer into your crease, add a bit of smudged brown eyeliner to your lash line, and call it a day. If you want to make your latte makeup look to be a bit more glam, use a darker brown eyeshadow in your crease, add a smudged brown eyeliner to both your lash line and water line, and pop a bit of gold eyeshadow on your inner corner for a sexier iteration. Regardless of how you opt to create your latte eye look, minimal mascara is key for allowing the brown tones to shine.
BENEFIT Hoola Caramel Bronzer
TOWER 28 Brown Oneliner
CHARLOTTE TILBURY Eyes to Mesmerize Cream Eyeshadow
LAURA MERCIER Caviar Stick Eye Shadow
HOURGLASS Glitter Eyeshadow
MAKEUP BY MARIO Matte Eyeshadow Palette
The glossy-but-neutral lip
To finish your latte look, a neutral lip is the way to go. Grab your favorite nude, caramel-toned, or brown lip liner, and finish with a gloss that contributes to the melted effect of the makeup. In her original latte makeup tutorial, Rigler takes the excess bronzer and foundation left over on her beauty blender and pats it over her lips before applying liner for an even more neutral look.
TOWER 28 Brown Oneliner
RARE BEAUTY Kind Words Lip Liner
FENTY BEAUTY Clear Gloss Bomb
SUMMER FRIDAYS Lip Butter Balm
How to recreate “latte” makeup on different undertones
If your initial reaction to latte-inspired makeup looks is “No way, that’s not for me,” think again. Many of the original pictures and videos of the viral trend are used on people with bronzed, olive complexions, but the look is just as flattering on fairer and deeper skin tones alike. (That’s right, fair-skinned gals—you don’t need to self-tan to high heaven to achieve the look).
Jai has released several follow-up videos explaining how to recreate latte makeup on different undertones. People with cool undertones should lean into ashy, taupe-y browns, while those with warm undertones should seek out browns with a pinker undertone. Prioritizing shades of brown that will compliment your skin tone—rather than wash it out—is the key to making latte makeup work for you.
For cool undertones
MERIT Minimalist Perfecting Foundation Stick
SUMMER FRIDAYS Sheer Skin Tint
MILK MAKEUP Sculpt Cream Contour Stick
FENTY BEAUTY Match Stick Contour
PATRICK TA Major Sculpt Contour & Powder Duo
NATASHA DENONA Glam Eyeshadow Palette
For warm undertones
FENTY BEAUTY Eaze Drop Skin Tint
MAKEUP BY MARIO Soft Sculpt Shaping Stick
MILK MAKEUP Sculpt Cream Contour Stick
PATRICK TA Major Sculpt Contour & Powder Duo
TARTE Bloom Clay Eyeshadow Palette
There you have it. A warm cup of coffee in the form of makeup. Will you be trying the latte girl makeup trend this season?
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