Enough with blood and dark superstitions, I want to focus on the possibility of things. Because I walk down Bush St in San Francisco with the sun set at 70, and there are spring hues popping off A-line dresses. I see peep toe shoes, and brightly painted toenails that punctuate long, alabaster white legs. (SF girls don’t let lack of pigmentation stop them, and I like that.)

But I’m merely an observer because my wardrobe is soooo blah right now. Sooo four years ago. Most of my purchases have been for a bouncy baby boy turned fashionable toddler. The mini male extension of myself.

But no matter how frumpy and tired I feel some days, I’ve realized that simple shots of color are an instant pick-me-up. Marigold yellow, tangerine tango, cobalt blue…don’t mind if I do. They add pop to my basic blacks and grays.

Right now, I’m loving Radiant Orchid. Call it a conspiracy , but if you follow fashion–you know it’s the Pantone Color of the Year. Sounds gimmicky, right? I really did not know this was a real thing until I started working in beauty. But alas, the powers that be deliberate in secret meetings twice a year somewhere in Europe, and discuss the current social climate and the mood-enhancing powers of particular shades, and then they miraculously land on Pantone XX-XXXX almost a year in advance.

So let me enlighten you to the powers of Radiant Orchid:

It intrigues the eye and sparks the imagination, while instilling confidence and magical warmth. It’s an expressive, creative and embracing purple—one that draws you in with its beguiling charm. Radiant Orchid emanates great joy, love and health.

So I’m embracing you, wrapping my arms around you Radiant Orchid, especially since purple is the universal color of creativity. And I’m finally hitting my stride this year.

Pump me up, purple

Cool weekend kicks

I’ve also gotten into wearing orange makeup as of late, or peachy shades. Since my sun-worshipping days are over and my once gold-tinted olive complexion is now white as paper, peach shades help me look a smidge healthier. It’s a good substitute for bronzer which can sometimes look like dirt streaks, and a muddy tint is only appealing to vittle toddler boys.

If interested, here are some nice pointers on how to apply orange makeup at Into the Gloss.

I’d throw in a third color to make this a nicely rounded set of 3, but I’d have to scour the Internet, and the dishwasher needs unloading for the umpteenth time.

So let me ask you, which color turns you on most?

[click image below to read larger type]

Borrowed from Paper Source

And there you have it. A fluffy beauty post. No life or death, grim or glory. Some days a girl just needs to look good to feel good.

– Pantone Peggy