It’s that time of year again! With the new year approaching, Pantone has announced the new “it” color for 2014: Radiant Orchid.
A modern and surprisingly versatile shade, Radiant Orchid enlivens the skin, making all who wear it feel more healthy and energetic. Blending both cool and warm undertones, purple is an appealing hue for distinctive combinations and flattering to many hair, eye and skin tones.
This multifaceted hue is seductive when combined with red and pairs well with its sister shades of lavender, purple and pink, which provides an assortment of lipstick and blush options. Radiant Orchid’s exuberance also acts as a brilliant finishing touch to nails.
– via BeautyPress
Personally, this soft shade of purple is my favorite – I love pairing it with something edgy, like a thick cat eye, lots of mascara, and a leather jacket.
Here are some of our favorite picks for 2014’s color of the year.
Lips
OCC Lip Tar Matte: Hoochie Affiliate
A high-opacity lipstick concentrate with unparalleled pigment intensity and wear time. Only the smallest amount is needed for opaque coverage. Hoochie is described as an “extreme magenta” – I actually received a Lip Tar in this shade in my goodie bag at The Makeup Show NYC last year, but I might have lost it during my move from Boston to Houston. I’m really sad about that now that I know it would have been perfect for next year’s Color of The Year.
NARS Velvet Matte Lip Pencil: Never Say Never Affiliate
Combining the convenience of a pencil with the application of a lipstick in a jumbo-sized crayon design, these pigment-rich sticks provide a matte, creamy finish that will not dry the lips.
I have a few of these pencils and I absolutely love them – they make application so easy and they last forever!
NARS describes Never Say Never as “lilac rose.”
MAC Cosmetics Lipstick: Up The Amp Affiliate
From Anisha’s recent post: “It’s a pretty pastel pink that looks almost purple in some lights and wears beautifully on both cool and warm skin tones. It’s my absolute go to for fresh, youthful looks and suitable to wear all year around because youthful never goes out of style. “
I’ve seen other swatches of this lipstick and it does show up more purple on lighter complexions.
Eyes
OCC Creme Color Concentrate: Miriam Affiliate
Hot on the heels of “Lip Tars,” OCC has now introduced multi-purpose “Crème Colour Concentrates.” These pods are available in six shades at Sephora for $20.00 each. They are meant to be applied anywhere blendable, buildable, long-wearing pigment is needed–eyes, cheeks, and lips.
Gigi reviewed this shade a few months ago – read her post here!
Laura Mercier Caviar Stick Eye Colour: Orchid Affiliate
Inspired by Laura Mercier’s cult classic Caviar Eye Liner, Caviar Stick Eye Colour is offered in a range of beautiful shades and in a creamy formula to provide endless options for a flawless smoky eye.
Orchid is a shimmery lilac color that is sheer but buildable.
Affiliate
While this isn’t part of Pantone’s official Radiant Orchid collection due for next year, Elderberry is a pretty close match for 2014’s Color of The Year. This eye pencil is inspired by the element of Air. The smooth, creamy texture helps glide color on effortlessly, allowing just enough blending before locking in pigment. Create a bold, defined line or a smudged, blended look with multidimensional color and intense payoff.
Dip your nails in liquid chrome with this full-coverage metallic lacquer. Its captivatingly rich color goes on sleek and smooth with a luxurious finish that intensifies as it dries. The brush design was engineered to complement the highly pigmented, three-free formula, giving you the most even and precise lacquer application. Racy is described as a metallic lavender.Sephora Formula X Nail Polish – Chromes: Racy Affiliate
Illamasqua Nail Varnish: Velocity Affiliate
Christina Pham
Chrissy is a programmer and web designer based in Houston, Texas with a passion for beauty and cosmetics. mySQL book in one hand and mascara wand in the other, she writes about her experience as a beauty and fashion-crazed material girl living in a world of ones and zeros.
Comments
Maria J. Cardoza
I Love this shade of purple for the color of the year because it's so much a wearable color for may skin tones and is […] Read MoreI Love this shade of purple for the color of the year because it's so much a wearable color for may skin tones and is more safe opposed to last year's emerald green. Read Less
Kami Dumis
Purple has always been my favorite color, from the lightest to the darkest shade. I am excited it is this upcoming year's color. […] Read MorePurple has always been my favorite color, from the lightest to the darkest shade. I am excited it is this upcoming year's color. I thoroughly enjoyed green in 2013 and I can see combining the 2colors in fashion for that back to the 80's preppy look. Read Less