How To Wear Orange Lipstick (The Right Way)
Pout à l'orange!
By now we’re sure you’re all aware of the post-pandemic colour resurgence. Whether it’s on the runways in New York or in the galleries in Paris, colour is back in a big way and people are feeling more creative and experimental than ever.
And the same can be seen in the makeup industry. While we spent close to two years rocking the minimalist beauty look and letting our skin do all the talking, it’s now time to step out of our comfort zones and bring bold beauty back. And no, we’re not talking about your typical, run of the mill red lipstick or winged eyeliner. We’re talking about orange lipstick. Yep, orange lipstick.
Often flying under the radar, orange lipstick is actually one of the most wearable and universally flattering lipstick shades. Depending on your skin tone, you can go for a really rich amber orange or a more subtle coral tone. The orange lipstick is your oyster!
Here, we spoke to the makeup maestro behind the incredible orange lipstick look you see in this article, Merton Muaremi, to get the lowdown on this bright and beautiful trend.
Finding The Perfect Shade
Like with everything in life–be it a partner, cocktail or dress–finding the perfect one for you can be a journey. The same can be said for finding the perfect shade of orange lipstick. Too warm and it could scream clown makeup and too cool and it could be giving the random frosted lip colour your great aunt wore when you were 11.
It’s a very serious quest. So, Muaremi recommends a little bit of trial and error (in store, before you commit). “The best way to find the perfect shade is by trying them on personally. Going into a makeup counter such as MECCA or MAC that has a large range of lipstick shades is your best bed,” he recommends. “Once you’ve tried the colour with the assistance of an artist, step outside into natural sunlight to see how it looks on. That’s the best way to see if the colour suits you.”
The Skin Tone Conundrum
The good news? Every skin tone and texture can rock an orange lipstick! The bad news? Gotcha, there is none. But there is one important consideration to take into account when selecting your perfect sunshine shade. “Going beyond just the shade, you’ll need to try on different textures and finishes to see what suits you and your skin tone best,” says Muaremi. “It could be that you love a matte lipstick more so than a satin finish or orange tinted gloss. Finding one you love will make all the difference in how confident you feel to rock it.”
Photography: Rebecca Tang / Makeup: Merton Muaremi
How To Nail The Application
What’s the use of a perfect shade or orange lipstick if you butcher it when you get to the application? Answer: not much. Muaremi recommends taking your time to perfect the application as this will give the most long-lasting (and crowd-pleasing) finish. “The best way to apply lipstick to create crisp, sharp lines is with a lip brush,” he says. “Firstly, outline your lip shape making sure it is even on both sides, then fill in the rest of your lip with your favourite shade.” Once applied, pat off any excess by lightly pressing a tissue on your lips.
Et voila! The perfect orange pout for your next black tie event, important work meeting or, better yet, afternoon spent sipping Aperols in the sunshine.
Gritty Pretty Loves:
- Hermes Poppy Lip Shine, $100 from Hermes
- MAC Matte Lipstick in Chili, $32 from MAC
- Chanel Rouge Coco Ultra Hydrating Lip Colour in 416 Coco, $62 from Myer
- Revlon Colourstay Stain Ink Liquid Lipstick in Smoking Hot, $15.99 from Chemist Warehouse
- Gucci Rouge à Lèvres Satin Lipstick in 302 Agatha Orange, $66 from Sephora
Finding The Perfect Shade
Like with everything in life–be it a partner, cocktail or dress–finding the perfect one for you can be a journey. The same can be said for finding the perfect shade of orange lipstick. Too warm and it could scream clown makeup and too cool and it could be giving the random frosted lip colour your great aunt wore when you were 11.
It’s a very serious quest. So, Muaremi recommends a little bit of trial and error (in store, before you commit). “The best way to find the perfect shade is by trying them on personally. Going into a makeup counter such as MECCA or MAC that has a large range of lipstick shades is your best bed,” he recommends. “Once you’ve tried the colour with the assistance of an artist, step outside into natural sunlight to see how it looks on. That’s the best way to see if the colour suits you.”
Photography: Rebecca Tang / Makeup: Merton Muaremi
The Skin Tone Conundrum
The good news? Every skin tone and texture can rock an orange lipstick! The bad news? Gotcha, there is none. But there is one important consideration to take into account when selecting your perfect sunshine shade. “Going beyond just the shade, you’ll need to try on different textures and finishes to see what suits you and your skin tone best,” says Muaremi. “It could be that you love a matte lipstick more so than a satin finish or orange tinted gloss. Finding one you love will make all the difference in how confident you feel to rock it.”
How To Nail The Application
What’s the use of a perfect shade or orange lipstick if you butcher it when you get to the application? Answer: not much. Muaremi recommends taking your time to perfect the application as this will give the most long-lasting (and crowd-pleasing) finish. “The best way to apply lipstick to create crisp, sharp lines is with a lip brush,” he says. “Firstly, outline your lip shape making sure it is even on both sides, then fill in the rest of your lip with your favourite shade.” Once applied, pat off any excess by lightly pressing a tissue on your lips.
Et voila! The perfect orange pout for your next black tie event, important work meeting or, better yet, afternoon spent sipping Aperols in the sunshine.
Gritty Pretty Loves:
- Hermes Poppy Lip Shine, $100 from Hermes
- MAC Matte Lipstick in Chili, $32 from MAC
- Chanel Rouge Coco Ultra Hydrating Lip Colour in 416 Coco, $62 from Myer
- Revlon Colourstay Stain Ink Liquid Lipstick in Smoking Hot, $15.99 from Chemist Warehouse
- Gucci Rouge à Lèvres Satin Lipstick in 302 Agatha Orange, $66 from Sephora
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