How to boost your beauty looks with Pantone's 2019 Colour of the Year, 'Living Coral'

When Living Coral was announced as the Pantone Colour of 2019 the beauty world went bonkers. Unlike other years, where it was a stretch to incorporate the hue into your beauty regime (think 2017's Greenery - "zesty yellow-green" isn't a makeup look that everyone is willing to weather) this year's colour is quite literally a match made in makeup heaven. Pantone describes Living Coral 16-1546 as "an animating and life-affirming coral hue with a golden undertone that energises and enlivens with a softer edge". Simply put, this vibrant pinky-orange colour is very wearable. Being an unapologetic pink enthusiast myself, this is just another step on the sunset spectrum and I am 100% here for its versatility. It can be worn on the lips, cheeks, eyes, nails and is even making a statement as a standout hair colour.

A Shade For Everyone

Jane McKay, MAC Cosmetics Senior Artist is feeling the coral love too. "Coral is such a great colour as it is warm, healthy and lively. Coral has the ability to warm up our skin and it looks great on pink or yellow undertones. I always think of the beach when wearing peachy shades of makeup. It is an under-rated, timeless colour that never goes out of style."

A big part of the appeal is that it compliments such a variety of skin tones. Julie Campbell, General Manager of Butter London (Pantone's official US beauty partner) is also excited about the " gorgeous hue that looks good on everyone" .Campbell says, "The hue is light and soft enough to flatter fair complexions yet features warm undertones to complement olive and deep skin tones."

Beauty trends coming up coral

McKay says the first Spring/Summer 2019 makeup trends to capture with coral trend is that natural, flushed from within healthy glow. ""Brighten skin with an illuminating moisturizer, then dust a soft warm bronzer over the face with a large brush to appear windswept. Add a peach blush and peach lip gloss to complete this warm, healthy look. Whether you have a pink or yellow undertone skin, this time of year we may feel pale and coral brightens like no other" says McKay.

You can also go vibrant with bright and saturated hues. "The easiest way to achieve this hot statement trend is to either sweep a bold eye shadow over the eyelid or wear it as an eyeliner."

Like all else, the coral trend doesn't have to be an all or nothing approach. As Campbell explains, "If you're wanting to dabble with coral, start by incorporating one signature item into your beauty look." McKay suggests wearing it sheer, like a soft gloss on the lips, noting "Sheer coral looks great on everyone! Once you've developed comfort wearing sheer colour, amp up the volume and try it more intense, such as an opaque lipstick."

Here are some of our favourite products to give your beauty kit a Living Coral lift:

This high-shine, long-lasting lipgloss is enriched with vitamin E, keeping lips hydrated while it colours. The lightweight lippie has a sheer finish which blends beautifully when layered over lipstick. Amplify an already bold coral lip or for a softer look, layer over a blush pink pout or simply wear on its own. The deliciously sweet scent of this lipgloss is icing on the cake for this Made in Canada keeper.

Cheekbone Beauty SUNDANCE Soft Coral Lipgloss, $24, cheekbonebeauty.ca

This cult-classic offers full-coverage with a smooth as butter finish. A blend of conditioners and antioxidants keep your pretty pout moisturized, nourished and protected while you wear it. The lipstick is also available in a satin and semi-matte finish for a richer, velvety look.

NARS Barbarella Sheer Lipstick, $28, narscosmetics.com

Let your nails do the talking with these vegan-friendly and cruelty-free laquers in creme, shimmer and glitter finishes. Each polish is in this travel friendly set is made with good-for-you 8-free ingredients that help strengthen and brighten nails. With a gel-like cushion finish & shine that lasts for up to 10 days of wear, get a polished-manicure look without a trip to the nail salon. Try the limited edition Living Coral Plush Rush lip gloss to complete your coral look.

Butter LONDON Living Coral Lacquer Set, $22, butterlondon.com

Good things come in small packages. This super compact eyeshadow palette is a must-have for your makeup bag. With 2shimmer and 7 creamy matte highly-blendable shadows, the combination of reds, burnt orange and dusty pinks in this palette allow you to create a myriad of sophisticated and stylish looks across the coral spectrum. Bonus: the extra big mirror is big-time handy on-the-go.

HUDA BEAUTY Coral Obsessions Palette, $27, shophudabeauty.com

Feeling cheeky? This long-wearing, highly pigmented blush will give your cheeks a pinky coral glow for up to 10 hours. With the smoothness of a cream, blendability of a liquid and finish of a powder, this hydrid blush packs a pretty punch. Used wet or dry, the light-reflecting blush delivers a smooth as silk second-skin look on the apple of the cheek .

MAC Cosmetics Cheeky Bits Extra Dimension Blush, $33, maccosmetics.ca

Cloud Paint's gel-cream formula is one of the easiest blushes to apply. Simply dab the cheek colour on with your fingertips, and build to your heart's desire, going as deep as you want with this sunny coral shade. The sheer formula delivers a warm flushed-from-within glow, with a soft, seamless finish.

Glossier Dawn Cloud Paint, $22, glossier.com

Who doesn't love an on-demand tan? The vacation may be a distant memory, but your sun-kissed glow doesn't have to fade away. Made with light-reflecting pigments, this mineral bronzer boosts the skin's complexion giving it a natural bronzed sheen without any heavy glitter or shimmer. Made in Canada, this vegan-friendly and cruelty-free bronzer looks gorgeous on all skin tones and shades.

Vasanti Cosmetics Sun Peach Glow Mineral Bronzer, $29, vasanticosmetics.com

Pink hair just got a trendy upgrade. This semi-permanent hair colour in pastel tone Dreamsicle will certainly turn heads for all the right reasons. To achieve this peachy coral hue pre-lighten hair to a light blonde before applying colour. With this kind of major coral commitment, just stick to one coral accent to complete the look. Add a bold coral lip or a peachy pop to the cheeks and you are truly living in coral.

MANIC PANIC Creamtone Pastel Semi Permanent Hair Dye Color, $15.99 (On Sale Now $7.99), beauty.shoppersdrugmart.ca

Make a statement with this neon coral lip stain . This bold tattoo-like lip colour is not for the faint of heart. The lightweight formula is ultra-matte yet moisturizing to keep lips looking freshly inked for up to 8 hours. The liner-like precision applicator helps to create well-defined lines so you can skip out on liner without worrying about spilling over the lip line.

Yves Saint Laurent Coral Anti-Mainstream Tatouage Couture Liquid Matte Lip Stain, $44, sephora.com

This shimmering one-stick wonder is formulated to highlight, blush, bronze and enhance. This peachy-pink shade compliments a variety of skin tones and the lightweight, long-wear formula is highly blendable so layer on Yacht Lyfe to create your custom coral look.

Fenty Beauty by Rihanna Yacht Lyfe Match Stix Shimmer Skinstick, $31, sephora.com