2016 Color of the Year Has Psychological Focus

Sephora has released its Pantone Color of the Year 2016 Collection, featuring the colors in several formats, including Color of the Year Layer Lipstick (pictured; $18.00), Color of the Year Matte Lipstick ($18.00), Color of the Year Modern Watercolors Lip Gloss Set ($28.00) and Color of the Year Modern Watercolors Eye Palette ($39.00).
Sephora has released its Pantone Color of the Year 2016 Collection, featuring the colors in several formats, including Color of the Year Layer Lipstick (pictured; $18.00), Color of the Year Matte Lipstick ($18.00), Color of the Year Modern Watercolors Lip Gloss Set ($28.00) and Color of the Year Modern Watercolors Eye Palette ($39.00).

If 2015's Pantone color of the year, Marsala, evoked robust earthiness, its 2016 choices, Serenity and Rose Quartz, deliver a toned down palette focused on harmony, "tranquility and inner peace."

Previously: Spring 2016 Color Report Revealed

Pantone 15-3919 Serenity and Pantone 13-1520 Rose Quartz were selected for their anti-stress connotations, offering welcome "reassurance and security." This psychological approach dovetails well with beauty's focus on wellness.

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.

The relaxing mood evoked by Serenity seeks to counteract the stressful, turbulent world, according to Pantone, while Rose Quartz delivers "compassion and a sense of composure."

They also dispel traditional gender color associations.

“With the whole greater than its individual parts, joined together Serenity and Rose Quartz demonstrate an inherent balance between a warmer embracing rose tone and the cooler tranquil blue, reflecting connection and wellness as well as a soothing sense of order and peace,” said Leatrice Eiseman, executive director of the Pantone Color Institute.

Eisman added, “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 consumers’ increased comfort with using color as a form of expression which includes 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.”

Paired together, Pantone says the colors bring a "cool, refreshing tone" and "lighthearted, healthy glow."

Rose Quartz and Serenity offer a natural feel that works with many skin tones. Rose Quartz is appropriate for lip, check and eye applications, while Serenity can be applied to an eye shadow or nail polish. Paired together, Pantone says the colors bring a "cool, refreshing tone" and "lighthearted, healthy glow."

Pantone adds, "Juxtapose with neons for a bold and interesting contrast. Appealing in all finishes, matte, metallic and glossy, a layer of silver sparkle creates added drama."

To illustrate, Sephora has released its Pantone Color of the Year 2016 Collection, featuring the colors in several formats, including Color of the Year Layer Lipstick (pictured; $18.00), Color of the Year Matte Lipstick ($18.00), Color of the Year Modern Watercolors Lip Gloss Set ($28.00) and Color of the Year Modern Watercolors Eye Palette ($39.00).

"[T]he scent needed to represent the merging of these two colors and simultaneously emit a sense of tranquility and ease.”

Meanwhile, Firmenich has perfumer Nathalie Lorson has created a fragrance, Harmony, that blends the moods of Serenity and Rose Quartz. The genderless scent comprises rose Centifolia, musks and incense for a weightless effect.

“For me, creation is all about expressing and sharing emotions," said Lorson. "I search to build upon initial concepts, and my creativity comes from comparing and contrasting different sources of inspiration. This was particularly relevant when it came to developing Harmony as the scent needed to represent the merging of these two colors and simultaneously emit a sense of tranquility and ease.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

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