Pantone’s Color of the Year Is a Universal Makeup Shade

2024 is all about peach fuzz. No, we’re not talking about downy patches of baby hair, but rather Pantone’s color of the year, an adaptable neutral sure to sweeten your daily makeup routine. 

“PANTONE 13-1023 Peach Fuzz evokes a new modernity,” says color expert Leatrice Eiseman, Executive Director at the Pantone Color Institute and founder of Eiseman Center for Color Information and Training. “It is a clean tone with a vintage vibe, reflecting the past, yet rephrased to have a contemporary ambiance.” Pantone’s latest choice comes on the heels of 2023’s Viva Magenta, which Eiseman describes as a welcome shot of adrenaline post-seclusion, and 2022’s Very Peri, a color of reassurance. “Peach Fuzz encourages us to reach out to others with kindness and tenderness and grant ourselves some quiet time to ourselves as well.”

It’s also a universally flattering makeup hue, one that communicates those same feel-good vibes.

“What I love about a peach makeup palette it is familiar and warm,” says makeup artist Fara Homidi. “I’ve really been into the idea of ‘cozy makeup’ and peach makeup feels like exactly that, soft and achievable.”

“Peach one of the few colors that can be used on eyes, cheeks, and lips,” says makeup artist Melanie Inglessis, who relies on the shade for monochromatic looks and touches of airy romance. “I think a monochromatic look that uses peachy tones on the lips, cheeks and eyes can look elevated without looking like you are wearing much at all,” agrees Homidi. “It’s counterintuitive that using color all over the face looks less made up, but somehow applying the same color ties it all in and softens the overall look.” 

Inglessis favors daily touches of peach for its potential for subtle radiance—a quick pick-me-up for sapped complexions. “I almost always end my makeup looks with a coral or peach gel cream blush on the apple of the cheeks, it keeps the look fresh regardless of night or day makeup,” she says. “I also love a shimmery peach cream eyeshadow in the center of the lid to open up the eyes.” In addition to its application options, Eiseman notes that the delicate, buildable hue suits most skin tones, deeming it “a natural without pretense.”

Though peach does function as a covetable neutral, its bright and youthful nature—and its versatility, lending itself matte, glittery, and glassy finishes alike—make it perfect for playful moments, too. “Peach is a great color if you want to make a statement, like a glossy peach eyes or a bold lip,” says Inlessis. “You can also create a bold smoky eyes and use peach as the setting color then build around it.” 

So why not warm up the winter months with a hint of peach? Determining how the mutable shade works within your personal palette is a great way to prepare for a brand new year in beauty.