It may not officially be fall until September 22, but many of us are already breaking out the cozier colors and clothes. But if you’re one of the people reluctant to give up that “I-summer-off-the-Amalfi-coast” summer glow, the good news is you might not have to. This fall is all about keeping the summer warmth with the toasted beauty trend.
Toasted beauty is all about giving your natural skin added warmth and a soft, effortless glow, and a manicure to match. The look works on every skin tone and you can dress it up or down, making it a look that works for any occasion. It’s taken over TikTok, and our favorite It Girls are all wearing it, too. Even better: It’s what experts have been calling a timeless look.
“[It’s] all about a warmed, luminous glow that feels effortless and natural,” says celebrity makeup artist and founder of her eponymous makeup line Lisa Eldridge. “Unlike the bronzed looks we might be familiar with, which can sometimes feel quite heavily sculpted, this trend is softer, more diffused, and more focused on warmth than golden sun-kissed; it’s about enhancing the skin’s natural radiance rather than layering color on top.”
“It’s like we’re holding on to summer a little bit with all the bronzing effects,” adds celebrity nail artist Tom Bachik. “But then also it’s kind of spicing up as we go into autumn by taking those burnt oranges and tones, and giving [your look] a little bit of a bronzing effect as well.”
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Toasted Makeup
Toasted makeup can fall into two camps: soft and natural-looking or ultra glam. And it’s important to note that looking “toasty” is more than just grabbing a bronzer and calling it a day. You’ll want to weave in other warm shades as well. “What makes it different is…it also pulls in shades of orange, copper, golds, caramels, and even red, plum, and berry,” says celebrity makeup artist Kirin Bhatty. “Lean heavily into a fall palette.”
Au Naturel
Eldridge says that creating a natural toasted look is about building warmth gradually and blending seamlessly. For the base, she recommends going lightweight with a skin tint or a foundation that hydrates the skin. “The goal is to even out the skin without masking its natural texture,” she says.
To create that warm bronze-like glow, you reach for, you guessed it, a bronzer and apply it where the sunlight would naturally hit your face: the forehead, cheekbones, nose, and temples. Those with fair skin should opt for caramel bronzer shades that will warm skin without making it too orange, like the Saie Dew Bronze in Sand. Medium to olive skin should try a golden, honey-toned bronze, like the Fara Homidi Essential Bronzer in Lumen, while those with dark and deep tones should try a rich golden and caramel bronze like the Fenty Beauty Sun Stalk’r Instant Warmth Bronzer in Mocha Mint for that effervescent glow. Sweep an apricot blush for added color and a highlight if you want more of a glow.
