Orange You Glad To See These Lips? — Our 10 Favorite Blaze-Colored Lipsticks And Glosses

Last year, coral was trumpeted as the “new pink,” with makeup brands reviving a beleaguered color once associated with oceanic formations and tacky Hawaiian print blouses, infusing it with new undertones and creating yummy textures that propelled it into modern times, transforming it into a must-have beauty buy. And, while coral is still going strong for Spring/Summer 2011, beauty hounds are now venturing into bolder territory, navigating through a newly remodeled, reconceptualized, restructured Orange Lip Color County with a surprising sense of adventurousness.

In a time during which our spirits are so often dampened by political strife, social unrest, and economic turmoil, something as simple as sporting a tangerine-colored pout can work as a form of color therapy, adding a bit of sunshine to your day as you splash some happiness into the often dreary world.

From bright kumquat to deep vermilion and fluorescent safety vest orange, there’s a bevy of shades available to satisfy your appetite for fiery lips.

Want to give orange a squeeze? Check out or top lipstick and lip gloss picks below!

1. ILLAMASQUA LIPSTICK IN FLARE

Illamasqua Flare Lipstick, $22. Available at Sephora.com

Part of Illamasqua’s new Toxic Nature collection, the Flare lipstick shade features a semi-matte finish and  a deliciously creamy texture. The color is incandescent and lush, like the petals of an orange Nasturtium flower.

Check out what the Illamasqua Flare color looks like on skin:

2. ELLIS FAAS MILKY LIPS IN L204 AND GLAZED LIPS IN L304

Ellis Faas Milky Lips L204 and Glazed Lips L304, $35 each. Available at EllisFaas.com

These glossy colors both come in the sleek, silver-toned tubes we’ve come to associate with the Ellis Faas brand (which look like elongated, vampire-slaying silver bullets) and feature soft brush applicators tips that dispense pigment as desired (when you rotate the grooved piece along the bottom of the tubes). The L204 is more reddish, reminiscent of a tomato soup color, while the L304 looks a bit more brownish, like a ripened squash.

Below, you’ll fintd swatches of the Ellis Faas L204 (at left) and L304 (at right):

3. ESTEE LAUDER PURE COLOR GLOSS IN ORANGE CRUSH

Estee Lauder Pure Color Gloss in Orange Crush, $20. Available for a limited time at Estee Lauder counters.

The name of this limited-edition Pure Color Gloss says it all: rather than wimpy sheer coverage, this gloss is heavily pigmented, mimicking the flavored liquid inside a can of Crush soda. The Estée Lauder Pure Color Gloss in Orange Crush has a glazed finish that makes your lips look icy and inviting — think of orange Flavor Ice sticks fresh out of the freezer, and you’ll get a pretty accurate visual of the final effect.

Here’s a look at the Orange Crush gloss:

4. YSL PUR COUTURE SPF 15 IN 13 LE ORANGE

YSL Rouge Pur Couture SPF 15 in 13 Le Orange, $30. Available at Sephora.com

Think of Michelle Pfeiffer’s Elvira Hancock character in Scarface — her blunt bangs, the rounded ends of her chic bob, her smoky eyes, and those red-orange lips. It’s that type of decadent glamour that YSL manages to capture with the Rouge Pur Couture 13 shade. This lipstick, which offers SPF 15 protection, is considerably redder than many of the other orange shades currently in vogue, but therein lies its charm. In terms of the actual color, it’s stunning and ever so vivid — in fact, it reminds me of the sindoor powder many Hindu women wear in the parts of their hair as a symbol of their wedded status.

Check out a swatch of the YSL Pur Rouge Couture 13 shade:

5. MAKE UP FOR EVER LIPSTICK IN 401

Make Up For Ever Lipstick in 401, $19.Visit MakeUpForEver.com to find a store near you.

If you want a true, robust orange that would make Tony the Tiger give you a thumbs up (and perhaps an “it’s grrreeeeaaat!” squeal), check out this classic Make Up For Ever shade: the 401. Admittedly, it’s a bit harder to locate these days since most Sephora stores are pushing the recently-launched Rouge Artist Intense rage of lipsticks (which is phenomenal, by the way), but it’s worth the trouble of hunting it down. And, if you want another alternative from Make Up For Ever, I’d suggest the No. 40 shade in the Rouge Artist Intense line.

Check out a swatch of the 401 below:

6. ILLAMASQUA LIPSTICK IN BLAZE

Illamasqua Blaze Lipstick, $22. Available at Sephora.com

I first tried the Blaze lipstick in September 2009, as British brand Illamasqua was making its foray into the U.S. market. In fact, it was the first Illamasqua product I tested out. And let’s just say the deal was sealed with an orange kiss because I’ve been singing the brand’s praises ever since!  This particular color reminds me of an orange sea pen, but the creamy texture and the semi matte finish make this lipstick have an almost confectionery decadence to it, so that it might even remind you of a Good Humor orange Creamsicle.

Below, you’ll find a swatch of the shade:

 7. MAC COSMETICS LIPSTICK IN NEON ORANGE

MAC Lipstick in Neon Orange, $14.50. Available at MACcosmetics.com

Initially unveiled as part of the Stylishly Yours collection, the MAC Neon Orange lipstick is a Fraggle Rock-worthy vermilion shade reminiscent of Franka Potente’s choppy ‘do in her breakout film: Run Lola Run. Like Rihanna’s current hair color, it commands the attention of onlookers.

Check out the swatch below:

8. SONIA KASHUK FOR TARGET LIP GLOSS QUAD IN BRONZEY CORALS

Sonia Kashuk for Target Lip Gloss Quad in Bronzey Corals, $17.99. Available at Target.com

Among Sonia Kashuk’s new offerings for Spring 2011 is this affordable lip gloss quad, which practically screams out for a spot in your summertime makeup bag. The quad features four complementary colors, all so sheer that they’ll suit women of any age and skin color. The four gloss hues range from a punchy coral orange to a bronze-tinged nude, a glazed guava pink, and a practically translucent shade packed with golden sparkle.

Here’s what the four colors look like on my skin:

9. KOH GEN DO MAIFANSHI LIPSTICK IN OR02

Koh Gen Do Maifanshi Lipstick in OR02, $39. Available at KohGenDoCosmetics.com

If you’re still a bit hesitant to experiment with orange lipstick, you can slowly ease into the look, starting with some muted interpretations of the salacious color. The Koh Gen Do Maifanshi Lipstick in OR02 looks rather vibrant inside its tube but, when it’s applied to lips, the color goes on as a sheer, peachy hue with warm neutral undertones.

Here’s a look at the paraben-free, jojoba- and shea butter-enriched lip color, which boasts moisturizing properties:

10. MILANI LIPSTICK IN ORANGE GINA

Milani Color Perfect Lipstick in Orange Gina, $3. Available at most drugstores and mass retailers. 

Thinking about playing with orange but afraid to fully commit? Well, you don’t have to drop $30 on a lipstick and feel guilty if it winds up sitting on your vanity untouched. For just $3, you can flirt with the current orange fascination. Milani’s Orange Gina shade is a shimmering, slightly sheer, somewhat transparent, sunset orange color with hints of pink and enough golden glimmer to boost the tan you’re bound to get this summer.