The colour of sunsets, Aperol and its namesake citrus fruit, orange is a colour that screams summer. It’s bold, zesty and is the perfect shade to wear throughout August at the height of summer, all the way through into the beginning of September as more Autumnal tones start to creep in. Even if the weather is not up to scratch, this shade brings the spirit of summer with it.
We first spotted this trend on Margot Robbie who wore a peachy-orange at the premiere for the latest Tarantino flick, Once Upon A Time In Hollywood, and we’ve been obsessed ever since. Although orange admittedly is a bright tone and is often outside of our comfort zone, it is surprisingly versatile and can be worn lightly for a subtle nod to the trend or built up and worn in multiple ways for more impact.
We got some tips from our in-house makeup artist Emily on how to find the right orange shade for you and how to wear it.
Whether you’ve got warm or cool toned skin, light or dark, orange is a shade that everyone can pull off. If you’re new to brighter hues though, Emily has some suggestions on where to start for different skin tones. “It’s about finding the shades that will be most complimentary – but if you’re feeling bold we say wear any shade of orange that takes your fancy! If not, for fairer skin tones I suggest a soft peachy shade of orange that will blend in more subtly. If you’re slightly more tanned or olive toned then a brighter, coral orange is a good match, and for darker skin tones a punchy tangerine orange looks great.”
A good place to start with orange is on the eyes. Emily recommends opting for a wash of colour all around the eye for a summery haze that’s just the right amount of edgy. “For a subtle eye look use a powder eyeshadow or a cream that blends well, such as Ilia’s Multistick in I Put A Spell on You. Using a soft fluffy brush, apply the pigment to the lash line and blend it upwards towards your crease for a graduated wash of colour. Using a smaller detail brush, apply a small amount of the same shade to the bottom lash line.”
If you’re not afraid of rocking the boat, Emily suggests using a bold cream shadow. “I love creating a bold pop of colour on the eyes by sweeping a bright cream shadow across the eyelid, like Ilia’s Multistick in Cheek to Cheek, stopping before the crease for an unstructured graphic look. Pair this with a clean complexion and balmy lips for a fresh approach to summer makeup.”
Orange is also a shade that works surprisingly well on the lips and Emily has a few favourites that work well for different skin tones. “For lips you can be more adventurous. Fair skin tones suit a true orange/tangerine shade with peach/coral undertones such as RMS Lipstick in Flight of Fancy or Ilia Tinted Lip Conditioner in Dizzy. For medium/olive skin tones opt for a deep orange hue such as RMS’s Firestarter and for darker skin tones a blood-orange shade like RMS Lip Shine in Sacred. For a fresh take on a bold lip we recommend blending the edge of your lipstick ever so slightly for a more lived-in look rather than a perfectly structured lip.”
If you’re not quite sure you’re ready to go orange with your makeup, why not dip your toe in (quite literally) with an orange nail polish like Kure Bazaar’s Coquette.
From summer nights out to casual picnics in the park, this is a summer hue that’s bold, yet works for everyday life. You can browse all of our favourite peach, tangerine and orange-y makeup products online at Glasshouse Shop here and inject a little sunshine into your makeup look.
Featured image: Pati Dubroff
Words: Phoebe Grace Ede
