TOASTY MAKEUP: THE TIKTOK TREND EVERYONE’S CALLING THE MAKEUP OF THE SUMMER
Forget contour maps and colour theory, this summer's biggest makeup trend can be summed up in one word: warmth.
Toasty makeup has taken over TikTok, with #toastymakeup racking up over 30 million views. The term first surged when Hailey Bieber posted her "toasty glam" look earlier this year, and it's now having a full summer moment. Think bronzed skin, a flush that looks sun-warmed rather than painted on, and lips and lids in matching cinnamon browns. It's less specific and more that golden, just-off-the-plane glow, minus the actual sunburn makeup look.
We've broken down exactly what the trend is, pulled together the skincare and complexion buys that make it work, and put together a step-by-step guide so you can try it for yourself. Bookmark this one, it's going nowhere before autumn.
- What is toasty makeup
- The complexion buys
- The cheek buys
- The lip and eye picks
- How to create toasty makeup, step by step
- FAQs about toasty makeup
WHAT IS TOASTY MAKEUP?
Toasty makeup is exactly what it sounds like: warm, bronzed and glowy, like your skin's been kissed by the sun rather than covered up by it. Instead of the cool pinks and rosy tones we've leant on for years, TikTok creators are reaching for warm browns and terracottas on cheeks, eyes and lips, all blended together for a look that reads more sunkissed skin than makeup look.
There are two ways in, and both are equally valid. Go full glam with bronze eyeshadow, a lived-in liner and a warm brown lip, or keep it simple with just a wash of bronzer, a dot of blush and a glossy pout. Either way, the finish is dewy rather than matte, so skincare-forward, glow-giving formulas do a lot of the heavy lifting here.
THE COMPLEXION BUYS
A toasty base starts with skin, not powder. The goal is glow, so reach for dewy, tinted formulas over anything flat or heavily set.
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Glow Recipe Watermelon Glow Niacinamide Dew Drops - a tinted serum that deposits a warm, sunkissed wash of colour while brightening with niacinamide Saie Slip Tint Dewy Tinted Moisturizer - sheer, flexible coverage with broad spectrum protection and a dewy finish Summer Fridays Illuminating Drops - a lightweight, hydrating formula that leaves skin with a soft, lit-from-within radiance NARS Sheer Glow Foundation - sheer to medium coverage that leans into radiance rather than matte coverage
THE CHEEK BUYS
This is where the "toasty" part really comes in. Layer a warm bronzer with a terracotta blush for that lit-from-within flush.
Tower 28 Beauty Bronzino Illuminating Cream Bronzer - a cream formula with a multidimensional sheen for an effortless summer glow Fenty Beauty Sun Stalk'R Instant Warmth Bronzer - buildable and transfer-resistant, with mango and papaya extracts for a healthy-looking glow Milk Makeup Matte Bronzer - a stick formula that doubles as a bronzer and contour, swiped straight onto cheekbones GUERLAIN Terracotta Blush - a long-lasting powder blush with argan oil for a naturally radiant flush benefit Terra Terracotta Blush Powder - a warm, earthy shimmer blush for a year-round sunkissed effect
THE LIP AND EYE PICKS
Brown is the through-line here, whether that's on the lids, the lash line or the lips.
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Too Faced Natural Eyeshadow Palette - nine honeyed taupe and bronzey brown shades in matte and shimmer finishes ZOEVA Basic Moment Eyeshadow Palette - a mix of natural nudes, burnished bronze-gold and shimmering chocolate brown Natasha Denona Bronze Palette - molten coppers, terracotta mattes and duo-chrome hazelnuts for a richer, glam take Hourglass Graphik Eyeshadow Palette in Vista - champagne gold, rich brown and bronze in a compact five-pan edit Kosas Soulgazer Intensifying Gel Eyeliner - for that lived-in, smoked-out lash line the trend calls for
Fenty Beauty Poutsicle Hydrating Lip Stain in Toasty Brown - the shade practically has the trend's name on it, a sheer, buildable warm brown tint Summer Fridays Lip Butter Balm - nourishing and glossy, layer over a stain for extra shine Lanolips Tinted SPF30 Balm in Perfect Nude - a sheer universal nude with SPF 30 built in Kosas Wet Lip Oil Gloss - for a glassy, non-sticky finish over any of the above
HOW TO CREATE TOASTY MAKEUP, STEP BY STEP
1. Prime for grip and glow
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Start with clean, moisturised skin and SPF, then smooth on a dewy primer like the Milk Makeup Hydro Grip Primer to give everything that follows something to hold onto, without sacrificing that natural, skin-like finish the trend relies on.
2. Build a glowy base
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Warm 1-2 pumps of a tinted skin drop, such as the Glow Recipe Watermelon Glow Niacinamide Dew Drops, between your palms and press into skin. This is your glow-from-within base layer, so resist the urge to reach for anything full coverage or matte.
3. Warm up the complexion
Using a fluffy brush, sweep a cream or powder bronzer across the high points of the face: cheekbones, temples, jawline and the bridge of the nose. Build gradually, checking your reflection in daylight if you can, since toasty makeup should look sun-warmed rather than heavily contoured.
4. Add the flush
Blend a terracotta blush onto the apples of the cheeks, pushing up and out towards the temples so it melts into the bronzer underneath. There shouldn't be a hard line between the two, it should all read as one warm, sunkissed wash.
5. Set the base with a bronze eye
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Sweep a warm bronze or honeyed brown shadow across the lid, then use a slightly deeper shade, like the terracotta mattes in the Natasha Denona Bronze Palette, through the crease for depth. Blend well, this is a soft, smudged eye rather than a sharp, graphic one.
6. Line and lift the lash line
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Using a brown gel liner such as Kosas Soulgazer, draw a thin line along the upper lash line and gently smudge with a brush for that lived-in, sunset-kissed finish. Curl lashes and add mascara to finish.
7. Add liquid warmth
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Dab a drop of liquid highlighter, like the ICONIC London Illuminator, onto the tops of cheekbones, down the centre of the nose and along the cupid's bow for that final, dewy shimmer.
8. Finish the lips
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Layer a warm brown stain, such as Fenty Beauty Poutsicle in Toasty Brown, then top with a glossy lip oil for that sun-warmed, lived-in pout that ties the whole look together.
9. Lock it all in
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Mist over with a setting spray, like the Cover FX Illuminating Setting Spray, to add one final layer of glow and help the look hold from golden hour through to last orders.
FAQS ABOUT TOASTY MAKEUP
What does toasty makeup mean?
Toasty makeup is a warm, bronzed makeup look that mimics the golden, sunkissed glow of a day spent in the sunshine. Rather than reaching for pink or rosy tones, the trend leans on browns and terracottas across cheeks, eyes and lips, all blended together with a dewy, glowy finish rather than anything matte or flat, chef's kiss.
How to do toasty makeup for autumn?
Toasty makeup transitions into autumn with so much ease, since its warm, earthy palette already leans into cosy vibes. Swap your usual bronzer for a slightly deeper shade, layer a richer brown across the lids, and reach for a warm brown or berry-brown lip instead of a lighter summer stain. Keep the dewy base, it's what stops the look from feeling heavy as the temperature drops.
How to get the toasty makeup look?
Start with a dewy, tinted base, then layer a warm bronzer and terracotta blush for that sunkissed flush. Add a bronze or brown eyeshadow, a smudged brown liner and a warm brown lip to finish. For the full breakdown, scroll on up to our step-by-step guide above.
