Happy Happy New Year my friends of SAACA! I have recuperated from my 8 day road trip with my family where we trekked up to Lake Placid, NY from Georgia for a quick ski trip, the kids are now back in school, and I’m reinvigorated to start this new year with some fresh content for you ladies! If you didn’t catch my last of post of 2024 on my Low Key Winter Beauty Checklist, please do so! To kick off my first post here for 2025, we are going to talk about how to incorporate the Pantone Color of the Year into your makeup routine and why this specific shade is a fabulous choice.
WHY does Pantone pick a Color of the Year? A single and distinct hue is chosen to engage the design community and color enthusiasts in a conversation that surrounds the relationship between color and culture. The color chosen is to help express a global mood for the year that captures the global zeitgeist.
WHAT Color did they pick this year? Pantone has unveiled its Color of the Year for 2025… and it is PANTONE 17-1230 Mocha Mousse. This shade is described as a mellow, warm, rich brown hue that nurtures us with a suggestion of delectable qualities of chocolate and coffee, that exudes a desire for comfort and sophistication. Personally, I love the idea of feeling comfy, yet chic and sophisticated heading into 2025, what a great combo.
Why Choose Pantone Color of the Year Mocha Mousse?
Mocha Mousse is a universally flattering shade that complements a wide range of skin tones and is the perfect cozy shade for this winter season. Its earthy warmth adds depth and dimension, making it ideal for us mature ladies.
Shop the Post
Incorporating the Pantone Color of the Year can provide a subtle yet impactful update to not only your makeup, but can also to be added into: your home with a luxury faux fur Pottery Barn blanket, $125, your wardrobe with a rich pair of suede Jeffrey Campbell boots, $189, and nails with Essie polish in shade “Crochet Away,” $10, as well.
How to Incorporate Mocha Mousse into Your Makeup Routine
I’ll be doing my makeup for this look in kind of a reverse order than normal, so I’m just trying new things this year! Let me know what you think.
Pantone Color of the Year for Skin
Hydrated skin, that not only feels, but appears hydrated and glowy, is very important to me for using these tones of brown. Mature skin often benefits from well-hydrated products. So opt for cream-based formulations in one or all of eyeshadows, blushes, or foundations to maintain a dewy, youthful appearance.
I used the following skin TRIO to ensure my skin doesn’t look dry like brown dirt! First, my new obsession is the viral Amazon product – d’Alba Piedmont Italian First Spray Serum, $24, that I spray before I apply my makeup and then throughout the day to get my dewy appearance back! Feels and smells incredible. Second, the Haus Labs Triclone Skin Tech foundation, $48, in shade 120. This foundation is made with 20+ skincare ingredients, specifically arnica to help reduce redness, and delivers ultra-comfortable, medium coverage that is weightless with a serum-like texture.
And finally this Laura Mercier Real Flawless Weightless concealer, $33, in shade 2C2, to spot treat over my dark circles and to brighten up high points of my face. Always using the BK Beauty kitten paw concealer brush, $24, to flawlessly apply my concealer each and every time!
Shop the Post
Blush
A blush shade that leans more bronze-like is a great choice to add warmth and dimension to your complexion. These shades can provide a healthy, natural-looking glow that enhances your features gracefully without being super bright.
One of my go-to shades for a pink with a hint of bronze and champagne, is Charlotte Tilbury “Pillow Talk original” blush, $42. It’s perfect for this look because of its subtle warmth with a hint of glow due to the pearlescent center. This powder blush gives a dewy glow without being a cream formula. If you’ve been looking for a gorgeous neutral-ish blush, this is a keeper!
Lip Color
A lipstick or gloss in this warm brown shade adds sophistication to your look. It’s versatile enough for daily wear and can be layered for a more dramatic evening appearance. My lip combo of the Buxom lip liner in “Hi Def Honey,” $22, with one of my all time fave cheap glosses, NYX Butter gloss in shade “Praline,” $6, aligns nicely with the Mocha Mousse trend. If you’re more of a true lipstick girly, treat yourself to a YSL Candy Glaze lipstick in “Scenic Brown,” $42, you won’t regret it.
Shop the Post
Pantone Color of the Year for Eyeshadow
A Pantone Color of the Year mocha mousse-inspired eyeshadow look can create a soft, smoky eye that’s perfect for both day and night. Its warm undertones enhance eye color and add depth without being overpowering. I chose to use the liquid eye paint shadows by About Face, $16, in shades Capulet (soft brown) and Cloned (warm terracotta) to create the most gorgeous brown-inspired eye!
If you haven’t tried this formula yet, go do it if you love cream shadows. They blend out softly like a dream, you only need a slight dab of the color, then diffuse edges with a plush eyeshadow brush, $24, for best results.
Pantone Color of the Year for Eyeliner
You could use a true brown-toned eyeliner to define your eyes subtly, offering a softer alternative to traditional black, like the Victoria Beckham Satin Kajal liner in “Cocoa,” $34. (You all know how much I looove her eyeliners 🙂 However, I chose to use a deep black shade liner and then added the darker of the two liquid paint shadows on top to diffuse the black and give it a smokey vibe without being too dark! I lined my inner lower waterline and upper lash line with the black, then added the shade “Cloned” on top of both with my trusty skinny M443 eyeliner brush, $8, to smudge out.
Finish off with curled lashes and lots of mascara of course. I’ve loved the Caliray Come Hell Or High Water tubing mascara, $24, these days.
Don’t forget to Blend Well! Blending is crucial, especially with darker shades like browns. Ensure seamless transitions between colors to avoid harsh lines, which can be unflattering on mature skin. Need a great blush brush, foundation brush, and/or eye makeup brushes to ensure your blending is on point for the rest of 2025? Then check out BK Beauty brushes now on Amazon – they’re some of the best-made quality brushes I’ve ever used.
The rest of my look details: Similar brown 2 piece loungewear set on Amazon, $48. // My zodiac charm + semi-precious choker necklace combo from Sequin Jewelry gets worn quite often, $200. Such a personal piece. // Brown faux fur jackets similar to mine here at Urban Outfitters, $99 and here at Neiman Marcus, $695. // My double Drusy Kendra Scott ring, is now half off, $78.
If you have any burning makeup or skincare questions or topics you’d like to see covered here on SAACA this year, please leave me a comment below this post. I’d love to hear what you’re most interested in when it comes to the beauty category!
Shop the Post
About The Author
Love that look on you! Beautiful! Also, your hair is gorgeous.
Thanks so very much Pam! And I appreciate you noticing the new hair color – my hairdresser who hasn’t done color in years, is now back to doing color and I was her recent guinea pig!
Great highlights in your hair
I appreciate you noticing my new color Jane! I was very happy with the results this time 🙂 Happy New Year to you!
Gorgeous look on you! Your hair is absolutely beautiful!
I ordered the Sequin jeweled initial necklace for my husband to give me for my birthday. Foolproof way to get whatcha want! 😂 I LOVE it! Great quality. I’ve worn it almost everyday since opening it!
That’s AMAZING Robyn that you got yourself a guaranteed winning gift! I am a huge fan of their brand and wear their jewelry often. I’ve had one of their pieces for over 3 years now and it still looks brand new so you’ve got a lot to look forward to with it. Happy New Year and thanks for being here.
Love your hair color. What is it? I do something similar but always adjusting. I live in Athens too!
HNY Carole and hey Athens neighbor! My hairstylist who I’ve gone to for over 8 years now and who usually just cuts my hair, has recently gotten back into color and I was her recent guinea pig, and it came out like this! I was obviously thrilled with the results – she did a warm caramel balayage on me (bc I color my own gray roots from home with a sally beauty combo she recommended). I go to Lyric at Republic Salon in downtown Athens.
You look amazing in this post. The colors as wonderful. But I noticed your hair the most. It is beautiful. Thanks for keeping me trying new things even tho I am in my mid 70s, I still like to try new products.
Why thank you Claudia for the kind comment and noticing my new and improved hair color! I had just had it done a couple days before shooting this post. and I plan on being just like you in my 70’s and continuously being curious and trying new things! Thanks for being here 🙂
You look incredible! The color palate is beautiful on you. While I don’t use eye shadow much anymore , these shades would be my go to. Also, thanks for the tip on the lip glosses from Amazon – I ordered a few months ago based on one of your posts and I love them.
This is great to hear Celine that you had success with one of my suggestions! That’s why I do what I do here! I was honestly super thrilled with how flattering these browns were when applied – sometimes brown can feel boring and flat, but these liquid eye paints were something special. If you ever decide to get back into shadow, I’d highly suggest you pick one of these to just experiment with.
Jennifer , Your family is beautiful and I’m glad you had a wonderful family vacation.
I was wondering about your manicure? It’s very pretty . I know makeup is your thing but maybe a post on nails ?
I appreciate you noticing my sweet family AND my nails! They’re actually my go-to press on nail brand, impress nails. I was able to wear them for 2.5 weeks and only had to reapply a few that fell off from the extras they include in the box. I couldn’t find my exact style anymore, but I’ll include a link to a similar style with the natural nail bed shade with a dark tip like I’m wearing here if you’re interested. https://bit.ly/3WhNQp8
Jennifer,
You look so beautiful. Thanks for your blog where I have been inspired by your makeup tips.
Mary
Thank you so much Mary for taking time to comment and I’m thrilled to hear you’ve been inspired to try some new things with makeup! If you ever have any topics you’d like me to cover, please let me know. Thanks for being here and keeping up with me on SAACA.
I have always used a bronzer in brown tones, dark brown eyeliner and brown eye shadow. Since I have green eyes last week I switched to dark green eyeshadow and it looks much better. Brown tones in some things work. In blush and lipstick with my very pale skin tone doesn’t seem to work, but every thing else it works well. Interesting how you applied the Pantone color to makeup. A very interesting approach to makeup. I enjoy your posts very much!!!😊Cindi
So happy to hear you’re enjoying my posts Cindi – that means a lot. If you have green eyes, you should give a plum shadow or eyeliner a try as well bc plums and shades of purple/eggplant are super flattering with your eye color! It’s all about experimenting when it comes to makeup bc the beauty of it is it’s not permanent and can always be switched up! Thanks so much for being here.
Love your hair! Very shiny and healthy looking!!!♥️👏🏼
Cindi
Thanks Cindi – I had just gotten new color a couple days before I shot these photos, so I appreciate you noticing 😉
I guess if the color is supposed to fit the mood of the year, it would be blah! And believe me I can relate!
But…it looks gorgeous on you, and your hair is beautiful!
Once again, I’ll not be getting on board with the color of the year! Oh well!
I giggled at this comment Nancy – and that’s 100% okay if you can’t get on board with it! Just a suggestion for those that feel a liking to this brown shade. But I super appreciate you noticing my new hair color (had just gotten it done days before these photos were shot). I hope that your 2025 turns out NOT blah and it becomes more INCREDIBLE! Thanks for being here.
Oh my. Your hair looks gorgeous!! And so shiny! What did you do and what colors did you use? Also your makeup colors look amazing. Love it!
Thanks a bunch Victoria! My hairstylist was the one who created my new updated color, and so I have no idea exactly what colors/brand she used, but she just said she wanted me to have “bright caramel balayge!”
How do you prep your lips before using lipsticks. Also do you have an alternative blush to the charlotte tilbury you use here. This original pillow talk blush is not available in canada
Hey there Brenda! I am a huge advocate of brushing my lips with a dry old toothbrush at night (after my teeth have been brushed) and I add in any sort of lip balm to my lips before I buff them. My faves range from good old aquaphor, to the Laneige lip sleep masks. I’ll link here. Also, the closest similar blush I could find to the CT one, would be the Milani baked blush in shade “rose d’oro.” It’s pretty close, just maybe a tad warmer. blush here https://bit.ly/4gbmTKS and laneige sleep lip mask here https://bit.ly/4g8z0Z6