Sorry (not sorry) summer lovers, but we're officially in autumn mode – and the rise of autumn-beverage-inspired aesthetics like pumpkin-spice makeup proves it. Yes, you read that right: Pumpkin-spice lattes have officially come for our glam during a heat wave. Be mad about it!
“This autumn it’s all about warm, inviting looks reminiscent of a pumpkin-spice latte,” says Mat Wulff, professional makeup artist and Ulta Beauty Pro team member. His take on why the look is surging now? The (seemingly never-ending) rise in ’90s-inspired earth-toned beauty—think goth glam grunge à la The Craft—and recent resurgence in monochromatic bronzed glam like latte makeup and strawberry girl makeup.
'It's bronzy, milky and effortless…'
If you're struggling to envision pumpkin-spice-latte makeup, imagine a darker, autumn-friendly monochromatic makeup look. This means your eyeshadow and eyeliner match your bronzer and highlighter, which match your lips and so on.
As for what makes it pumpkin or cinnamon spice and not strawberry- or lemon-girl makeup? That would (obviously) be the colours: Strawberry and lemon embrace bright red and yellows, respectively, while pumpkin and cinnamon spice are all about brown, bronzed, and neutral earth-tone shades.
It's pretty much all of your favourite summer beauty trends, repackaged—and pigmented—for the cooler temperatures of autumn and winter.
So why exactly is the earthy aesthetic growing in popularity now? “Brown tones complement a wide range of skin tones and offer a simple method to enhance your daily makeup,” Mat says. “The monochromatic look is also universally appealing and adds a finishing touch to your entire ensemble.”
It also certainly doesn't hurt that matching your makeup shades to each other makes it easier to apply and conceptualise. Why do we need so much colour anyway? Maybe we don't, and that's what these makeup moments are telling us. Worth considering.
While pumpkin-spice makeup as a trend is (obviously) tied to autumn, you've likely seen the monochromatic bronzed look before. Celebrity makeup artists Patrick Ta, Hung Vanngo, Nikki Wolff, and Ash K Holm are especially fond of the style, and so it's no surprise many of their clients are pumpkin-spice pioneers: Anitta, Vanessa Hudgens, Lori Harvey, Gigi Hadid, Shay Mitchell, and Florence Pugh have all rocked their own takes on the look as of late.
The best thing about pumpkin-spice makeup, however, is how easy it is to DIY. “Using your bronzer as eye shadow is a clever way to bring warmth and depth to your eyes, while matching the tone on your cheeks for a cohesive look,” says Mat.
Some of Mat's favourite products for the job include Estée Lauder Bronze Goddess Powder Bronzer and Natasha Denona Tan Bronze & Glow.
Another easy way to nail the aesthetic? “Apply a highlighter over the bronzer base on the eyes and cheeks to add a subtle shimmer and glow,” Mat says. “Then complete the look with a brown lip liner paired with a clear gloss on the lips to get that natural autumn hue.” His favourite lip product? The Mac Lip Pencil in colours Cork, Chestnut, and Oak.
No matter where you land in the pumpkin-spice-latte season debate, one simply can't deny how good pumpkin-spice makeup looks. So if you're feeling inspired—I can't blame you—shop everything (else) you need for your own autumn-friendly monochromatic makeup moment below.
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A version of this article originally appeared on GLAMOUR US.
