Best Ways to Wear Marsala

ByCordelia

Best Cruelty Free and Vegan Ways to Wear Marsala

I’m not a reddish brown fan. When Pantone named Marsala as the color of the year, I groaned. What a snooze fest! However, I know many of you are fans of this color, so I wanted to share some ways to wear Marsala. Hopefully you’ll like these options! And who knows, maybe it will grow on me!

I feel like there are a lot of interpretations of Marsala. From reddish-brown to burgundy-brown, to wine-brown. I wish there was more purple tones to the shade, but sadly there are not.

All products below are cruelty free and many are vegan.

Best Ways to Wear Marsala

Eyeshadows

Marsala eyeshadow. See the tutorial.
Marsala eyeshadow. See the tutorial.

Urban Decay Vice 3 (limited edition, I can only find it for sale at Macy’s, so if you want it, snap it up fast!)
I used Reign and Sonic from the Vice 3 palette to create this Marsala inspired look.

 

Melt Cosmetics Enigma Eyeshadow Swatch

Melt Cosmetics Enigma
Enigma, from the Dark Matter stack, is a great reddish-brown matte.

Makeup Geek Bitten
This is a perfect matte deep maroon red.

Meow Cosmetics Play Room
This is a rich burgundy wine with golden sheen.

Darling Girl Cosmopolitan
This is a very fun way to wear Marsala! It’s a metallic burgundy with coppery undertones and color shifting lavender iridescence.

Darling Girl Dark Ember
This is a deep, metallic smoked burgundy with a coppery rubdown.

Notoriously Morbid Hearts of Black Lace
A deep blackened maroon.

Urban Decay Eyeshadow in Roach (vegan)
Deep burgundy metallic brown.

Urban Decay Naked 3 Palette
I figure rosy-toned neutrals fit right in with marsala.

Silk Naturals Bare Necessities 3 (vegan)
If you want the vegan version of Naked 3, you need to see Silk Naturals. See my comparison swatches between the two. They’re both awesome.

Silk Naturals Burnout (vegan)
It’s a deep burgundy red with little flecks of copper.

Concrete Minerals Arsenic (vegan)
This is a shimmery red-brown with blue undertone.

Glamour Doll Eyes Madhouse Mona (vegan)
This is a burgundy base with a red shift and golden red sparkle.

BFTE Marcella
This is a light russet eyeshadow with gold shimmer and magenta micro-glitter.

Eyeliner

Urban Decay 24/7 Eye Pencil in Corrupt
This is a dark metallic reddish brown. In addition to using it as a liner, you could use it as an eyeshadow base.

Kat Von D Lightning Liner in Hex
You might like this metallic deep burgundy take on the color.

Nail Polish

KBShimmer Men are From Mars-ala Nail Polish
Now, this is more my type of Marsala! It’s a gorgeous linear holo in the earthy red-brown shade of Marsala. This is a unique and fun way to wear Marsala.

butter LONDON Nail Polish in Tramp Stamp (vegan)
If you want a creme nail polish for Marsala.

Lips

OCC Colour Pencils in Black Dahlia, Sebastian and Lydia mixed together
OCC Colour Pencils in Black Dahlia, Sebastian and Lydia mixed together

Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics Colour Pencils (vegan)
You can mix Black Dahlia, Sebastian and Lydia to make your own custom marsala shade to flatter your skintone.

Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics Stained Gloss in Nomad (vegan)
This gold-laced maroon is another nice interpretation of Marsala.

Colour Pop Lip pencil in Bound with Lippie Stix in Frida on top and Inglot 544 gloss at the center
Colour Pop Lip pencil in Bound with Lippie Stix in Frida on top and Inglot 544 gloss at the center

Colour Pop Lippie Stix and Lip Pencils (vegan)
You can mix shades like Colour Pop Lip Pencil in Bound with Lippie Stix in Frida to create a more sheer version. Or go bolder with Dahlia pencil topped with Frida Lippie Stix. While I used Inglot 544 (iridescent red) gloss, any red gloss you like can work.

butter LONDON Lippy Tinted Balm in Tramp Stamp
This is a sheer take on marsala.

Silk Naturals Kisser Slicker sheer lipstick in Nectar
This is a sheer, moisturizing deep brown berry, very similar to Clinique Black Honey.

Blush

NARS Contour Blush
Instead of a marsala blush, I’m going to recommend trying the NARS Contour blush. This sort of blush goes with everything.

These are my picks for Pantone Color of the Year 2015 Marsala.

What do you recommend for wearing marsala?

[inlinkz_linkup id=476115 mode=1]

Cordelia Frost is the creative force behind Phyrra, a treasure trove for cruelty-free indie and goth makeup enthusiasts. She's the author of the game-changing 'Hooded Eyes Makeup Manual' a must-read for hooded eyes makeup.

Cordelia's world is a kaleidoscope of alternative beauty, gothic fashion, and life-enhancing tips, making every visit to Phyrra a journey into a more colorful and inspired self.

57 Comments

  2. I agree with you Phyrra – marsala is such a warm colour and it does not suit everyone. I could not wear it as an eyeshadow and I don’t think it would be your perfect choice either (being cool toned like me.) But I think it makes a great lipstick shade and that would suit a lot of complexions.

  3. Okay, Marsala isn’t a super-exciting color, but the range of colors encompassed by Marsala happen to work exceptionally well on me. This’ll be a good year to look for some very useful (hopefully non-limited edition) neutral basics.

  7. I’m glad I’m not the only one who found it boring. I feel it’s a good color, but more of a blending or layering color – not the standout color. Eh. It’s lovely but I loved emerald and radiant orchid way more. haha

  16. Great suggestions!! I think Marsala is more wearable for most people than Radiant Orchid was.

  17. Ha ha! I cheered for marsala after emerald, tangerine tango and radiant orchid – finally a color I already own and wear all the time! Beautiful eyeshadow look you did with Vice 3. Wow – talk about popping those gorgeous eyes of yours!

  24. Great looks, and the colors are beautiful on you. That eye look really makes your eye color stand out.

  25. Oh honey, for someone who doesn’t like the color it sure looks gorgeous on you!! I’ve worn some sort of this shade forever since it really looks nice with my dark red hair, thanks for sharing these

    1. It’s one of those ‘ I really hate this color on me and would never wear it out in public’. I bet it looks great with your hair!

  27. I love the color of the year! I hated the Radiant Orchid because it is noooot a color for my skintone, but this is perfect for me!

    1. Radiant Orchid is like my all time favorite lip color – bright pinky-purple (like OCC Hoochie). Glad this one works for you 😉

      1. Reaaalllly? I’m pale but I have warmer tones so I just can’t pull off cooler toned colors well. I looove bright purply-pinks though.. where it’s more on the pink end (like NYX Hera) and think I can pull those off well!

  31. I am a fan of marsala, and I love the shades that you used to come up with the color

  36. I’m OBSESSED with those Melt stack, but am still just stalking them online. I think I’ve put them in my cart a dozen times, but found an reason to not buy. This might be the excuse I need…I mean it’s Marsala! Love your picks!

Comments are closed.