As we step deeper into 2025, makeup isn’t just about beauty—it’s about self-expression, sustainability, and emotional connection. The color trends leading the charge this year are anything but ordinary, and according to Sensient Beauty’s forecast, they’re rooted in earthy undertones, wellness vibes, and surprising metallic infusions.

This season’s shades are so much more than pigments — they’re moods, mindsets, and statements. If you’re looking to update your glam game, here are the five shades that are set to dominate vanities and runways alike.

Burnt Clay Rose – The “New Nude” Everyone’s Obsessed With

Move over beige. The soft yet grounded Burnt Clay Rose is taking over as the universal nude. With warm undertones and a terracotta-pink base, it works seamlessly across lips, cheeks, and even lids. Brands are leaning into its versatility with multipurpose balms and tints.

It gives your face life without trying too hard,” says celebrity makeup artist Amira Lune. “It’s your skin’s favorite color — even if you didn’t know it yet.

Metallic Sage – The Wild Card No One Saw Coming

If you told us green shimmer would trend in 2025, we’d have raised a brow. But Metallic Sage, a reflective mossy green with gold undertones, is popping up everywhere—from editorial eye looks to clean beauty palettes. It’s earthy, edgy, and oddly luxurious.

Wear it as an eyeliner, foil it on the lid, or use it to top off a minimalist look. Either way, it turns heads.

Golden Dusk – The Glow-Up Color of the Year

This shade is the golden-hour sunset bottled. Golden Dusk is a soft, dusty amber with peach-gold reflex — ideal for highlighters, bronzers, and eye glosses. It delivers that coveted “sun-kissed but celestial” effect, even in winter.

Expect to see it across liquid highlighters, dewy sticks, and shimmering blushes.

Cocoa Mauve – Comfort in a Color

Rooted in feelings of grounding and self-care, Cocoa Mauve brings cozy vibes to any look. Think of it as brown’s romantic cousin — muted yet rich, especially stunning on deep and olive skin tones. Paired with a barely-there base and fluffy lashes, it feels editorial yet wearable.

Perfect for eyeshadow, lipsticks, and even nail polish trends going into fall 2025.

Chili Orchid – The Statement Shade That’s Replacing Red

Bold but balanced, Chili Orchid is a red with a pinky-purple twist. It’s passion with personality, a shade that demands attention without screaming for it. From velvet matte lips to satin eye paints, it’s the ideal power color for Zoom calls or date nights.

It’s the color you wear when you’re owning your day,” notes trend forecaster Jules Renner.

Why These Colors Matter

Sensient Beauty’s research shows these shades tap into three major global themes:

• Raw Beauty & Nature: People want products that connect with the earth and feel honest.
• Emotional Wellness: Shades that soothe, ground, or energize us.
• Diversity & Flexibility: Shades that flatter all tones and work across formats.

These aren’t just trends. They’re signals of how consumers want to feel, not just look.

Move over bold contouring and neon liners — 2025’s hottest beauty trend is whispering, not shouting. This year, makeup lovers are embracing a new aesthetic that’s both refined and radiant: “quiet luxury beauty.” And the one trend that’s stealing the spotlight? The soft halo blush technique — a surprisingly simple yet transformative look that’s blowing up on TikTok, red carpets, and even boardrooms.

It’s giving expensive skin without the effort,” says celebrity makeup artist Lina Marquez, whose A-list clientele is already obsessed with the technique.

Let’s break it down.

The Soft Halo Blush: Why It’s Everywhere in 2025

Unlike the sharp, angular blush placements of past years, the halo blush technique focuses on creating a diffused, lit-from-within glow around the cheekbones, temples, and sometimes even across the nose bridge — giving the illusion of naturally flushed, youthful skin. Think of it as the makeup equivalent of golden hour lighting… on your face.

The result? Photoshop-smooth cheeks, a lifted look, and a romantic softness that suits every skin tone.

It’s no surprise that #HaloBlush has already racked up over 42 million views on TikTok this year alone.

2025’s Beauty Philosophy: Skin Over Everything

2025 is seeing a massive shift toward skin-first makeup. Foundations have become lighter, blurring tints are replacing full-coverage formulas, and heavy baking is officially passé.

Here are the biggest shifts we’re seeing:

• Glass Skin 2.0: Dewy, but with a soft-matte finish that looks expensive.
• Lid Glazing: Glossy eyelids in neutral tones — like champagne, rosewater, and bronze.
• Underpainting Returns: Concealer and contour under the foundation for a second-skin effect.
• Feathered Brows: Full, boyish brows with zero harsh lines.
• Lip Oils Over Lipsticks: Hydrating, tinted shine that looks and feels effortless.

Color of the Year? Say Hello to “Burnt Rose”

If 2024 was about bold reds and frosty silvers, 2025 is all about “Burnt Rose” — a versatile, moody pink with a hint of brown that flatters every undertone. From blush and lip oils to nail polish and eye tints, this hue is dominating vanity shelves worldwide.

Makeup brand MavenBeauty even reported that their Burnt Rose Glow Balm sold out in under 24 hours after launching this March.

Why Gen Z and Millennials Can’t Get Enough

This new wave of beauty taps into a collective desire for authenticity, minimal effort, and maximum elegance. With most routines clocking in under 10 minutes and using multifunctional products, it’s low maintenance—but high reward.

It’s not about hiding flaws anymore,” says beauty content creator Nia Park. “It’s about enhancing what’s already there.

Quick Guide: How to Nail the ‘Soft Halo Blush’ Look

1. Start with a blurred base using a light skin tint or BB cream.
2. Dot cream blush (in a shade like burnt rose or apricot) in a “C” shape from cheekbones to temples.
3. Blend upward with a damp sponge or fluffy brush.
4. Optional glow: Tap a light liquid highlighter over the blush for dimension.
5. Finish with brushed-up brows, lip oil, and glossed lids.

Minimal effort. Maximum glow.

If you thought 2024’s beauty wave of clean girl glow and soap brows would stick around forever, think again. 2025 is rewriting the makeup rulebook, and not everything in your vanity bag will survive the shake-up.

We asked top artists and backstage pros which trends are skyrocketing this year — and which once-loved looks are quietly bowing out. If you want your makeup game to stay ahead of the curve, here’s exactly what to keep and what to toss.

Rising: Glazed Blush and Dewy Draping
Forget powdery cheeks — in 2025, blush is taking center stage in the softest, glossiest way possible. Creamy blushes with a wet sheen are draped high on cheekbones and temples for that fresh-from-the-spa flush. It’s the next evolution of glazed skin, now with a rosy glow.

Falling: Heavy Contour and Baking
Kim Kardashian’s contour era defined a generation but makeup artists say 2025 is all about subtle shaping, not harsh lines. Over-baked, matte under-eyes are also fading fast. Instead, lighter concealers and soft, diffused bronzer sculpt without masking natural skin texture.

Rising: Jewel Toned Liner and Unexpected Color Pops
Monochrome nudes are on pause as bold color stages a comeback. Think emerald green cat eyes, cobalt lashes, and even neon underliner. Playful pops are trending on TikTok and on runways alike, proving that color is confidence in 2025.

Falling: Matte Lips with Zero Shine
That ultra-matte lipstick you clutched since 2016? Time to retire it. This year’s lips crave moisture and dimension — lip oils, balm-gloss hybrids, and satin-finish bullets are flooding shelves. Expect soft, kissable textures that still pack pigment.

Rising: Skinimalism 2.0
Natural, glowing skin remains queen. But instead of heavy primers, people are loving skincare-infused tints that melt into the complexion. A few taps of concealer, a swirl of cream blush, and brushed-up brows — that’s the new everyday look.

Falling: Overdone Brows and Lash Extensions
Bold, blocky brows and super-long false lashes are seeing a slowdown. Instead, fluffy, feathery brows and natural-length mascara are winning hearts. Brow gels with microfibers help achieve that effortless fullness without the sharp edges.

What does this mean for your makeup bag?
2025 is your permission slip to lighten up — on your skin, your routine, and your rules. Ditch the heavy sculpting powders, stash a colorful liner in your bag, and let that natural skin breathe. Beauty insiders promise: this year’s biggest flex is looking like you, just brighter.