Makeup Artists Share How to Master Latte Makeup—Our Favorite Cool-Weather Look

It’s officially hot latte season, and along with switching up my go-to coffee order, I’m also matching my makeup to the cozy drink. Latte makeup is team Cosmo’s favorite cool-weather makeup trend that feels luxe and elevated with minimal effort.“Latte makeup proves neutral beauty doesn’t have to be boring,” says Lori Taylor Davis, global pro makeup artist at Smashbox Cosmetics. “With the right warmth, thoughtful blending, and a great lip combination, you can create a look that feels effortless, sophisticated, and completely your own.”And Davis assures that latte makeup is more than your average monochromatic look. “It’s about layering different depths within the same color family. Think caramel, honey, toffee, cinnamon, and espresso tones blended across the eyes, cheeks and lips for a soft, sun-kissed glow.”Sounds dreamy, right? Below, learn how to master the latte makeup trend with tips from Davis and celebrity makeup artist Brandy Allen.Latte makeup, unsurprisingly, was inspired by the popular coffee order. “This trend is all about warm, coffee-inspired shades: Creamy beiges, caramels, toffees, and espresso browns,” says Allen. “Instead of mixing colors, you keep the eyes, cheeks, and lips in the same warm family so everything melts together. The result is soft, glowy, and sculpted, but never heavy. It looks like your skin, just a little warmer.”Latte makeup isn’t new by any means. For the past three years, we’ve seen it surge in popularity right as the weather starts to cool down. “It’s basically the beauty version of switching from iced coffee to hot,” jokes Allen. However, the real reason we keep coming back to the look is its wearability.“Warm neutrals can complement every skin tone when you choose the right depth and undertone,” says Davis. “Plus, it’s also easy to recreate with just a few essentials, like bronzer, complementary eyeshadows, and a glossy lip.”How to achieve latte makeupOnce you’ve laid down your desired face base, follow these tips.Build warmth with bronzerAccording to Davis, bronzer is the heart of latte makeup. It’s what creates warm dimension across your face and keeps the cozy makeup look cohesive. “Choose a shade that complements your undertone and sweep it across the temples, cheekbones, and perimeter of the face, blending thoroughly,” says Davis. Keep things softly sculpted rather than sharply defined with an extra creamy, blendable formula, like the Makeup by Mario SoftSculpt Shaping Stick.Experiment with deep red, brown, or rose blushContinue to add warmth to your face with blush. This is also your opportunity to add a little pop of color. Depending on your skin tone and undertones, deep red (almost burgundy) and brown hues can really amplify your features. If you’re fair, opt for a soft rose.“I love the LYS Beauty Higher Standard Cream and Powder Multidimensional Blush Duo in Confident, a terracotta rosy shade that sits perfectly with all those brown tones,” says Allen. “Tap the cream onto your cheeks and blend up toward the temples, then press the powder on top to build the color, which helps it last all day.”Create a soft coffee-inspired smokey eyeDraw attention to your eyes with warm-neutral shadows, ranging from caramels and medium browns to chocolates and espressos. The Smashbox Always On Eye Shadow Sticks in No Angel and Hot Shot are ideal for deepening your crease and outer corner for sultry, smoked-out eyes. Davis reminds us to “blend until the colors melt together, creating a diffused, dimensional effect rather than a sharply outlined smokey eye.” Once you’ve blended out all the harsh lines, you can keep the look matte or add a touch of gold shimmer on your lid.For a completely tonal and cohesive look, Allen says to swap your black liner for a brown pencil, and smudge it into the lash line for more definition. (Try the Sephora Collection 12HR Colorful Waterproof Retractable Eyeliner in Matte Brown.) Then complete your eyes with a few swipes of mascara. “Brown mascara keeps it soft, but black works if you want more contrast,” she adds.Finish with a nude-brown lipYour brown lip liners were made for the latte makeup trend! Define your natural lip shape with a caramel or dark brown liner, diffusing out harsh edges. Top it off with a nude gloss (my favorite is the YSL Beauty Loveshine Plumping Oil Lip Gloss), to give lips a glassy finish. Whatever gloss you choose, Allen says that it should be in the same tonal family as the rest of your makeup. “Nothing should compete,” she reminds us.Meet the expertsLori Taylor Davis is a professional makeup artist with over 25 years of experience. She’s also the global pro lead artist for Smashbox Cosmetics.Brandy Allen is a celebrity makeup artist who has worked with Sheryl Lee Ralph, Jordan Chiles, Skai Jackson, and more.Why trust Cosmopolitan?Mary Honkus is a contributor for Cosmopolitan with over eight years of experience researching, writing, and editing beauty stories. She’s an authority in all beauty categories, and adores playing with makeup. For this story, she tapped makeup artists for tips on how to achieve the latte makeup look.Mary Honkus is a freelance writer who covers beauty, home, fashion, health, and wellness (just call her a jack of all trades!). She has held staff roles at Real Simple, People, and InStyle, and her bylines can be found in numerous other publications. When she's not testing the latest and greatest products, she can be found chilling on her Hell's Kitchen rooftop, checking out NYC's hottest new restaurants, or recording her podcast Good Trouble NYC. Follow her on Instagram.