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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.

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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!

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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.

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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!