Summer Trend: Can You Wear Orange Lips?

Some trends just look so complicated on paper. And of the colors that are a challenge to incorporate into a look, orange is pretty high up there. It might actually be top of the list, maybe topped only by canary yellow on the difficult-to-apply charts. But the flip side of orange is that when it’s impressive, you can kind of fall in love with it. (I have a muted yet vibrant orange Whole Foods tote that stays on a hook in the kitchen because it is so adorable.)

It’s not just orange that’s big this season, but orange lips. But as you take in the safety orange on some color stories this season, it helps to remember that runway looks are always super intense. Orange is actually wearable, at maybe a 20% saturation of what you see in illustrative, promotional pics. Here are five orange lip products that will set off your summery self-tan:

1.) NARS Lip Gloss in Babe: Color saturation is a big thing with wearing intense hues, which is not to say you can’t rock out a mega bright orange. But NARS’ Babe is a pretty muted coral, enough orange to invoke the trend and play up bronzed skin, but not enough to call to mind a traffic cone. A really nice, understated option for orange lips.

2.) Smashbox Limitless Lip Stain & Color Seal Balm in Guava: If I had to choose one single method of coloring my lips for the rest of my days, it would be a stain/balm combo. (Is that cheating?) Nothing lasts as long, adjusts as well and feels as natural as this particular pout power couple. Stains can also be a bit truer-wearing than lipsticks or lip glosses. You can get the general feel of the color’s undertones and be reasonably sure it won’t fade to an unintended shade. Smashbox’s Limitless Balm and Stain in Guava describes itself as a “bright coral orange,” but in truth, it’s an eminently wearable muted shade. Intense, yes, but still believably natural.

3.) Stila Convertible Color in Gladiola: Okay, this is not a product for shrinking violets. But the application method (it’s in a pan) is well-suited to building color, and the hue can be applied to cheeks, too. A light hand and a dusting of bronzer could seriously make this color work for summer.

4.) Guerlain Rouge G Série Noire in Orange Euphorique: This color is limited edition- but so is the orange lip trend. Compact envy is a huge part of this product’s appeal, but the hue is true orange yet soft. And a mirror is built in, eliminating the danger or over-application or too-bright lips.

5.) MAC Sheen Supreme Lipstick in Gotta Dash: Billed as a coral, this shade is a fairly true, workable orange. The Sheen Supreme line is described as a lipstick/Lip Glass “hybrid,” and the glossy aspect will allow for indiscriminate touch-ups.

Have you given orange lips a try this season? Are you digging the look, or a bit apprehensive?