There are two beauty moods dominating TikTok, Instagram, and editorial spreads right now. Both are food-inspired, camera-friendly, and surprisingly quick to pull together.
One is juicy and blush-heavy with freckles and gloss. The other is bronzed, sculpted, and grounded in coffee tones.
Together, Strawberry Girl makeup and Latte makeup define the season’s style conversation. But which one actually takes the crown in late 2025?
Let’s break down what each trend means, why editors and creators are so obsessed, and how to pick the one that fits your skin tone, routine, and vibe as the weather shifts.
Key Points
What Exactly Is Strawberry Girl Makeup?
Think of flushed cheeks after a sunny walk, paired with glossy lips and that barely-there base. That’s Strawberry Girl makeup in a nutshell.
The look went viral in August 2023 after Hailey Bieber posted her routine, and major outlets like Allure and Vogue quickly labeled it the face of the moment.
Key Elements
The goal is glow without effort. It’s not about sculpting angles but letting color and shine bring life to the face.
Why It Stuck Around
Food-inspired names like “tomato girl” and “latte” have helped trends spread quickly on TikTok. Strawberry Girl was part of that wave, and by 2024, it had evolved into berry-inspired flushes.
In 2025, editors still call blush-forward looks one of the hottest categories in beauty, with Vox even pointing out a full “blush boom.”
What Exactly Is Latte Makeup?
Latte Makeup is all about monochrome warmth. Imagine soft browns, caramels, and cocoa shades layered across lids, cheeks, and lips.
Creator Rachel Rigler coined the name in 2023, and fashion magazines locked onto it because the palette works universally.
Key Elements
The appeal is easy sophistication. A latte look doesn’t scream trend; it reads polished, put-together, and camera-friendly under both natural and indoor light.
Why It Stuck Around
Latte makeup launched in summer 2023 but transitioned effortlessly into fall with deeper browns and taupes.
Vogue and Harper’s Bazaar have both highlighted how it pairs with seasonal wardrobes and evening lighting. By now, latte feels less like a passing moment and more like a modern staple.
The Season’s Backdrop
Fall 2025 beauty coverage has been clear: editors are calling for two main directions.
- Skin-first minimalism with barely-there bases.
- Moodier, richer statements with depth on lips and eyes.
That’s why both strawberry and latte still work right now.
Latte slips easily into the brown lip and cozy neutral wave dominating day-to-day looks.
Strawberry’s energy morphs into cherry-coded lips and berry cheeks for nights out and holiday parties.
Pinterest’s 2025 predictions even flagged red-family shades as a big seasonal driver.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Aspect | Strawberry Girl | Latte Makeup |
| Core palette | Pink to red blush, glossy strawberry lips, and optional freckles | Brown to caramel to cocoa, monochrome across eyes/cheeks/lips |
| Finish | Dewy, fresh, “sun-kissed flush” | Softly bronzed, hazy depth |
| Eyes | Light wash, kitten liner, brown mascara | Taupe/caramel wash, cocoa crease, subtle shimmer |
| Cheeks | Blush high on apples + nose bridge | Sculpted bronzer, muted blush |
| Lips | Sheer strawberry gloss or balm | Nude-brown, often ombré or lined |
| Everyday slot | Spring-summer days, casual shoots | Year-round, especially fall-winter |
| Time to apply | 5-12 minutes | 8-15 minutes |
| Best lighting | Pops on phone cameras, outdoor shoots | Photographs polished under warm evening lights |
| Inclusivity | Scales with blush depth/undertone | Scales with brown depth/undertone |
How to Get Each Look with Products You Already Own
Sometimes the best makeup routines don’t need a shopping trip.
With a few everyday staples already in your bag, you can recreate both the Strawberry Girl and Latte looks quickly and with ease.
Strawberry Girl Steps
- Apply moisturizer + sunscreen.
- Keep base light with tinted moisturizer or just concealer.
- Tap cream blush across apples and lightly over the nose.
- Add freckles with a pen or brush if you like.
- Do the kitten liner with a brown pencil and sweep on brown mascara.
- Finish with strawberry-tinted gloss or balm.
- Optional: mist to set for a dewy finish.
Latte Makeup Steps
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- Prime with a dewy base.
- Apply tinted moisturizer or sheer foundation.
- Sculpt with cream bronzer, set with light powder bronzer.
- Layer taupe/caramel shadows, add shimmer on the lid.
- Define brows, but keep them fluffy.
- Tightline or haze brown liner at the lash line.
- Finish with nude-brown lipstick topped with gloss.
What Beauty Editors Are Saying
- Allure and Vogue describe Strawberry Girl as having flushed cheeks, freckles, and shine.
- Glamour UK and Vogue attribute Latte’s viral rise to Rachel Rigler and highlight its brown-and-nude dominance.
- Allure’s fall roundup emphasizes skin-forward polish, which leans into latte, while Pinterest flags berry and cherry-coded accents, reinforcing strawberry’s ongoing role.
The editorial verdict is less about rivalry and more about layering: latte for daily polish, strawberry for statement pops.
Shade Matching and Undertones
Finding the right tones makes both Strawberry Girl and Latte makeup shine. The trick is adjusting blush or brown depth to match your undertone.
Strawberry Girl Blush & Lips
- Fair/light: cool or neutral pinks with red undertone.
- Medium/tan: rose, raspberry, or watermelon.
- Deep/rich: blue-red creams, berry stains, or brick tints.
Latte Makeup Browns
- Fair/light: taupe, pale caramel, soft cocoa.
- Medium/tan: honey, camel, warm chestnut.
- Deep/rich: chocolate, espresso, amber-gold shimmer.
Wear-Time, Lighting, and Climate Tips
- Hot, humid days: Latte holds better when set with powder, as gloss-heavy strawberry can slip.
- Overcast or indoor evenings: Strawberry pops more on camera thanks to blush and sheen.
- Office/webcam: Latte’s taupes and caramels photograph cleanly under harsh light.
- Golden hour outdoors: Strawberry’s blush and gloss shine bright in photos.
Common Mistakes and Fixes
Even the most viral looks can go sideways if the application isn’t quite right. Here are a few quick mistakes to watch for, and easy ways to fix them.
Strawberry Girl
- Too much blush near the nose tip? Pull placement higher on the apples.
- Gloss feathering? Use a neutral liner first, then apply tint.
Latte Makeup
- Using all-warm browns on cool skin can look orange. Stick to taupe or neutral browns.
- Flat effect with all matte browns? Add shimmer or vary the depth slightly.
The Quick Decision Guide
Choose Strawberry Girl when you want:
- A quick, fresh face in under 10 minutes.
- Youthful energy on camera without heavy eyeshadow.
- A look that pairs naturally with denim, white tops, or summer dresses.
Choose Latte Makeup when you want:
- A versatile day-to-night look.
- Makeup that reads polished at work or dinner.
- A palette that harmonizes with fall knits, trench coats, or suiting.
So, Who Wins This Season?
@rachelrigler LATTE MAKEUP ✨☕️ cheers 🙂 #makeup #makeuptrends #beauty #lattemakeup #summermakeup #makeuphacks #greenscreen ♬ original sound – Rachel Rigler
For fall and winter 2025, Latte Makeup is the everyday winner. Editors are leaning toward brown-based lips, neutral sculpting, and minimal-but-polished faces.
Latte fits the mood of cozy layers and office-to-evening transitions. But Strawberry Girl isn’t fading.
The rise of cherry-coded beauty in 2025 shows that red-pink accents are surging, especially for lips and cheeks.
The smart move is to wear latte as your everyday base, then layer strawberry elements when you want extra vibrance.
Practical Verdict
- Latte = your go-to daily framework.
- Strawberry = your seasonal pop of energy.
- Together = a flexible routine that works in any setting.
Inclusivity, Skin Types, and Finishes
Final Word
Trends come and go, but both Strawberry Girl and Latte Makeup have longevity because they’re wearable, adaptable, and fun to play with.
If you’re running late to class or work, strawberry blush and gloss can get you out the door in minutes. If you’re heading to dinner or need to look polished on camera, latte’s browns will never fail you.
The sweet spot of 2025 beauty is blending them, choosing latte as your anchor and strawberry as your accent. That way, you’re always camera-ready, season-appropriate, and a little bit trend-savvy without trying too hard.
