As the leaves change color, we gravitate toward deeper lip combinations. And, as expected, brown lipstick is a year-round staple. While BLACKPINK’s Lisa recently rocked the popular milk tea lips, the latest variant is terracotta. The color is experiencing a resurgence after becoming fashionable in the 1990s. It’s a versatile color that flatters everyone, with burned orange, toffee, and even touches of rose.
Sheika Daley, Global International Artist at Lancôme, explains to Teen Vogue that terracotta brown is a timeless color that reinvents itself every few years. It has a warm, sun-kissed undertone that complements any complexion, particularly deeper skin tones. What I like about it is how it immediately adds depth and elegance without feeling heavy. “It provides the warmth we crave in the fall, like a cozy sweater but for your lips.” This trend isn’t about profound drama, but rather about an earthy pout, which, as Daley says, gives warmth and depth while remaining both cozy and confident. It’s classic, but with a cool twist this season.
Who wouldn’t adore a trend in which your lips appear to have been kissed by fall light? The burnt-rose-meets-toffee hue seems to be everywhere right now, even on TikTok and celebrity red carpets. So, if you’re feeling inspired and want to join the terracotta trend, we’ve assembled all you need to know below.
One of the first terracotta comebacks was seen on trendsetter Zendaya at Valentino’s Spring/Summer 2023 show during Paris Fashion Week. Then, Leni Olumi Klum initiated the trend this year by totally committing to the color with a color-coordinated look at Michael Kors’ Spring/Summer 2025 show during New York Fashion Week. Selena Gomez dressed rustic but playful during a date night with Benny Blanco in March. At Milan Fashion Week last month, TWICE’s Momo wore a lighter, glossier variation of the style for the Onitsuka Tiger show. In addition, she chose for a monochrome look that matched her blush and hair, fully embracing the fall emotions.
Terracotta brown seems like a reset: it’s earthy, wearable, and versatile enough to work with a variety of styles and skin tones. It’s part of a noticeable trend toward lighter brown tones. While dark mocha dominated prior years, Pantone named mocha mousse the color of the year for 2025, which beauty artists embraced. Terracotta adds a fall twist to the style as the temperature cools.
