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Pair an Orange Lip With a Bronze Smoky Eye

Photo: Robin Black
Photo: Robin Black

Why not make the most of the remaining hot summer nights with gorgeous bronze smoky eyes and a pop of orange!  Extra points if you skip the foundation and let your freckles shine through.

Believe it or not, orange lipstick really does look good on just about everyone.

Finding the perfect shade, however, can require a bit of experimentation.  There are some general guidelines to help you find the right one. For starters, if you find the idea of wearing a statement lipstick intimidating, try a sheer version of the color. Or apply the opaque version and blot it several times to create a stained lip look. Also, deeper skin tones look best when there is less white pigment in the lipstick so avoid corals and sherbets.  Instead, reach for intense fire shades. And finally, don’t use a nude lip liner under this color, a matching red or orange pencil is much more flattering. (For an extra pop, fill in your lips with a bright orange pencil and then apply the lipstick.)

As you can see in the image above, bronzed cheeks and natural looking skin are the best accompaniment to this statement lip. Here’s how to get the look:

1. Sweep a bronze shadow all the way around your eye, blending just past the crease on the top lid and all the way across the bottom lash line.  Tom Ford Eye Color Quad ($79) in Cognac Sable is staple in my kit and NARS Eye Paint ($25) in Baalbek is a gel with intense color payoff. Apply more densely along the lash line and blend outward for soft edges.

2. Using a black gel or liquid liner, draw an even line across the base of the upper lashes.  Depending on the level of drama you prefer, thicken the liner or keep it subtle. I often use Eyeko Skinny Liquid Eyeliner ($16) in Black and Hourglass Calligraphy Liquid Eye Liner($32) in Ebony 

3. Apply two coats of black mascara to your upper lashes and one to your lower lashes.  Clarins Be Long Mascara ($26) in Black helps your lashes grow! I also love Le Volume De Chanel Mascara ($30) in Noir. Curl for the maximum ingénue effect!

4. Pair with a bright orange lipstick and just a touch of bronzer. NARS Audacious Lipstick ($32) in Geraldine is a vibrant orange color that’s completely opaque with a creamy texture. Rouge Dior ($35) in #543 Rendez-Vous is a sophisticated red/orange with a luxurious satin finish while Lipstick Queen conveniently makes the same shade, Fire Red, in both opaque and sheer.