Radiant Orchid

 YSL Rouge Pur Couture no 28, MAC Craving, MAC Plumful, Benefit Kiss You, Revlon Berry Allure

So Pantone's colour of the year is 'Radiant Orchid' which apparently is not just one colour, but a range of colours on the purpley pink spectrum. I'm definitely not the sort of person you'll find often sporting purple anywhere but my eyelids, but a stash rummaged proves I actually have a few products that fit the spectrum. It's a pretty colour actually, definitely one that can be easily incorporated into your makeup routine.

One of my favourite ways (without realising it) to wear this shade is on my cheeks. Benefit's Hervana Boxed Blush gives a purple tinged glow to the cheeks, subtle, but definitely purple. A shade that looks kind of pinky in the pan, but swatched and on the cheeks is possibly the epitome of 'Radiant Orchid', is the Sleek Blush in Dolly Mix, from the Sweetcheeks Blush by 3 palette. This is a really gorgeous blush colour that I've been reaching for a lot recently, it's definitely a purple, but there's enough pink in there for it to be really wearable. 

I find that wearing purple around my eyes really pulls out the colour of my eyes, so it's actually a shade I wear quite a lot. The NARS Shades Monosque, Kalahari, Brousse & Tokyo (all in the A Fairy's Kiss Palette but also available separately except Monosque) are shades I often use to create a 'Radiant Orchid' kind of eye look. I also reach for the Smashbox Eye Liner in Imperial a lot, for just a hint of purple to line the eyes.

On the lips, I'm not a fan of the full on purple-pout. There are a few products in my collection that fall under an orchid/berry hat, but they're all pretty subtle. The most out there is the YSL Rouge Pur Couture no 28,Pink Plum, a pretty mauve shade that I sport a lot on colder days. Then there's the MAC Lipstick in Craving and Plumful. They are basically the same colour, except Plumful has a sheer finish making it a little more subtle. 

I love wearing purple toned lipglosses over pink lipsticks, just to add a little purple tinge. The Benefit Ultra Plush Lipgloss in Kiss You is a true 'radiant orchid' shade, a lilac with a hint of pink to it, definitely my favourite pick of the bunch. The Revlon Super Lustrous Lipgloss in Berry Allure is a similar shade with a bit more pink in it, and is the more subtle option.

If purple is not a shade you plan on sporting on your face, I'd head for the nails. I love the Rimmel 60 Seconds Nail Polish in 615 Fast & Fuchsia as a bright shade, and the Rococo Nail Apparel in Versalille Metallic for something less in your face.

Will you be sporting Radiant Orchid this year?


P.s. I did a guest post for the lovely Beth, that went live on her blog yesterday, you can check it out here.