As most of you know, Pantone declared that the It colour for 2012 is Tangerine, a vibrant coral hue that is absolutely perfect for Spring and Summer. With spring approaching I can’t imagine a better time to break out the gorgeous tangerine clothes, accessories and of course, makeup! But this bright shade can sometimes be a little intimidating to wear, a hot coral lipstick or blush can very easily cross the line from chic to clown. However fear not, there are plentiful ways to work this colour into your routine.

Firstly, start off with a little fake tan or a gradual tanning lotion like Dove Summer Glow ($12) to create a nice bronzey-golden base. Coral looks absolutely phenomenal against tanner skin and by making your skin a few shades darker, you can tone down the stark in-your-face nature of the coral without detracting from its brilliant colour. Next, work some gold jewellery into day-to-day accessories. Gold compliments coral perfectly and the two shades balance each other out, the classic gold with the trendy tangerine. In this case, try a bold coral lip like Revlon Kiss Me Coral ($21) with a classic gold chained pendant necklace for a polished look.

A little bit unconventional, but tangerine can also be worked into eye makeup- yes you read that right, tangerine eyes! Now I’m not saying that you should slather bright orange all over your lids (though if that’s your thing then go right ahead and rock it!) but rather use it as a crease colour. It provides a very new and interesting dimension to your everyday eye makeup and is only visible in brief flashes when you blink. By putting a little in outer crease of your eyelid over a soft champagne all-over-lid colour it will add a little fun to your ordinary routine. Try MAC’s Rude ($36) for a soft rusty tangerine or if you’re feeling more daring, Napoleon Perdis’ Orange Sherbet ($24.65) will pack a pretty punch.

Then come the nails. Here you definitely won’t find a shortage of coral, with nail polish brands pumping out shade after shade of coral, tangerine, peach, orange… you get the picture. For the summer you may want to switch up the generic crème tangerine/corals for a polish with golden shimmers or a clean neon, two definite hits. Try Chanel’s Miami Peach ($39) or China Glaze Sun Worshipper ($6). Keep the nails short and neatly filed for a more subtle pop of colour, however slightly longer nails are great for those who would love to make a bold statement.

Let me know if you guys have any different ways to work this colour into your beauty routines! Are you going to jump on the tangerine bandwagon this spring?

XX Jen