It was announced a few weeks ago that Pantone (the supreme color authority) chose it’s color of the year as Tangerine Tango. I couldn’t be happier about that choice because in spring and summer tangerine and orange colors are an absolute favorite of mine.

Whether pigmented or sheer, leaning red or blazing orange, all tangerine shades hold a special place in my heart. It’s like a saucy señorita; confident and bold, fun and energetic. It’s a shade that I feel sexy wearing, even more so than when I wear a pure red lipstick. Orange just feels lively and liberating.

Swatches L-R (Daylight): MAC Optimistic Orange Cremeblend Blush, NARS Turks & Caicos Multiple Tint, Annabelle Volume Lip gloss So Sanguine, MAC Caqui lipglass, TopShop Infared lipstick, MAC Neon Orange lipstick, MAC Entertain Me lip pencil, MAC Purring Tendertone

Swatches L-R (flash): MAC Optimistic Orange Cremeblend Blush, NARS Turks & Caicos Multiple Tint, Annabelle Volume Lip gloss So Sanguine, MAC Caqui lipglass, TopShop Infared lipstick, MAC Neon Orange lipstick, MAC Entertain Me lip pencil, MAC Purring Tendertone

Optimistic Orange is currently being repromoted by MAC in their Shop/Cook collections so if you fancy this shade, head over to their website and snatch it up before it’s gone. Turks & Caicos has a lovely texture, but it’s also quite sheer. The Annabelle gloss is amazing (this is a Canadian brand, and the lovely Arianne of Glitter Geek sent me this in a swap last summer). Arianne also sent me that amazingly vivid MAC Neon Orange lipstick. Caqui lipglass is another stunner and pairs nicely with Entertain Me lip pencil. Purring doesn’t really have much pigmentation, but it’s a lovely balm to use over any of the lip products here. TopShop Infared is stunning and the packaging is one of my favorites (Thanks again to my dear friend J of Lil Lady’s Life for this one).

Swatches L-R: Sleek Aruba, MAC Devil, NARS Taj Mahal, NYX Cinnamon

An orange blush for every budget! NYX Cinnamon is the lightest and also the most affordable (around $5) and Sleek Aruba is like a pure traffic cone orange (I believe this may have been limited edition). MAC Devil (PRO shade) is a red-orange and Taj Mahal has hint of red but also has an amazing golden sheen to it.

Swatches L-R: OPI Red Lights Ahead…Where?, Essie Vermillionaire, Zoya Sienna, Essie One of a Kind

OPI Red Lights Ahead…Where? is new for spring in their just-released Holland collection and it’s a perfect reddish-orange. Essie’s One of a Kind is a bit more orange/coral than Red Lights Ahead, but Vermillionaire is the most orange of the two. Zoya’s Sienna is the NARS Taj Mahal equivalent for nails (if it were just a bit more red).

What are your recommendations for tangerine-hued products? Anything I missed that’s a must have for you?