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5 Shades of Rose Quartz

Not one but two shades were selected as “Color of the Year” by Pantone for 2016. Their decision of choosing two hues, a pastel blue and pink, commonly associated as gender-specific colors, was explained as, “In many parts of the world we are experiencing a gender blur as it relates to fashion, which has in turn impacted color trends throughout all other areas of design. This more unilateral approach to color is coinciding with societal movements toward gender equality and fluidity, the consumer’s increased comfort with using color as a form of expression, a generation that has less concern about being typecast or judged and an open exchange of digital information that has opened our eyes to different approaches to color usage.” That’s what I like to hear! Here are five existing shades that line-up with the concept of Rose Quartz, which is a “warmer embracing rose tone.”

  1. Buxom Feather Boa
  2. NYX French Kiss
  3. Estee Lauder Desirable
  4. Zoya Rue
  5. Inglot #356

See side-by-side swatches!

23 Comments

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Katherine T. Avatar

I love the thought of incorporating some pastel pinks and blues in my stash, but I’m surprised they didn’t pick yellow as a gender neutral color. I love that Zoya Rue nail polish, so spring like!

Zoe Avatar

I thought the same thing. Marsala is so flattering on so many skintones, and was the only color in a long time that actually looked good on me (orchid, emerald, tangerine were all misses).
Have you tried incorporating pink or blue with another colors- maybe in an eyeshadow look?

Zoe Avatar

I agree with the nail sentiment.
The only way I can wear orange is if it’s in a 2-4 color look using red and purple as well. Same for yellow.
Maybe try experimenting with combinations? Light blue and deep sparkly purple. Pastel pink with emerald green?
Duochromes are some of my favorite colors. Especially the MAC club variants. I would never wear green otherwise, haha.

Andrew Avatar

I was really excited to see them pick two very subdued hues this year; it’s a nice break from the bold and deeper colours they’ve selected the last few years. What I’ve seen from the upcoming Sephora+Pantone collection looks very interesting, I’m a very excited for the glosses, but given the last watercolor glosses I tried were total letdowns (*cough* BITE BEAUTY *cough*) I’m definitely going to need to see them in store.

I really hope they end up releasing a cheek palette again this year with a neutral, greyish brown contour shade, a Rose Quartz highlighter (like Hourglass’s Mood Light, only a tad warmer), and a pearly highlighter with a very soft, subdued Serenity sheen (think Becca’s Pearl SSP, only with ever-so-subtle baby blue pearlescence)!

Andrew Avatar

Here’s to hoping! I’ve been a little disappointed with the cheek palettes this year. I feel bad saying that because I’ve had this feeling that my comments have been so negative lately, but NARS, Hourglass, and Tarte put out decent-but-not-special cheek palettes this year that just left me sad and wanting. I’m really trying to be positive when I comment, I promise haha!

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