Each season represents a specific blend of skin undertone, eye color, and hair color, along with the types of shades that enhance these features. Let’s take a closer look at the characteristics of each season, and some of their defining traits.

Winter: Cool, Clear, and Deep

• Skin: Cool undertones with a rosy or bluish tint. May range from very pale to dark olive or deep brown.
• Hair: Dark brown, black, or ash shades with little to no warmth. Sometimes white or silver hair also falls into this category.
• Eyes: Bright and clear, often icy blue, steel gray, or deep brown/black.

Best Colors: 

Jewel tones: Royal blue, emerald, ruby red 

Icy colors: Cool white, icy pink, silver, and steel gray 

Neutrals: Black, charcoal, navy, and crisp white 

Colors to Avoid: 

Muted, earthy, or soft pastel shades (like beige, mustard, or peach) tend to make Winter types look dull.

Summer: Cool, Soft, and Muted

Summer types also have cool undertones, but their coloring is more soft, muted, and low-contrast than Winter’s. Think of delicate, elegant shades that harmonize with gentle features.

Characteristics of a Summer Type:

• Skin: Cool or neutral undertones, often with a pinkish or bluish hint. Can be fair to medium.
• Hair: Ash blonde, light brown, or soft gray, with no reddish or golden undertones.
• Eyes: Soft blues, grays, or muted greens.

Best Colors:

• Pastels: Lavender, soft pink, powder blue
• Soft cool shades: Dusty rose, mint green, light gray
• Neutrals: Dove gray, soft navy, white

Colors to Avoid:

Harsh black, bright orange, or bold primary colors can overpower Summer types. Stick to soft and subdued tones.

Spring: Warm, Light, and Bright

A Spring type has warm undertones and often looks fresh, radiant, and delicate. Spring people shine in light, vibrant colors with a hint of warmth, and their features tend to be bright and cheerful.

Characteristics of a Spring Type:

• Skin: Warm undertones, often with a peachy, golden, or ivory glow.
• Hair: Light or golden blonde, strawberry blonde, light auburn, or warm brown.
• Eyes: Bright blue, green, warm hazel, or light brown.

Best Colors:

• Bright warm tones: Coral, peach, warm pink
• Fresh greens: Mint, apple green, turquoise
• Neutrals: Cream, ivory, camel

Colors to Avoid:

Dark or overly muted colors like burgundy, olive, and charcoal gray can dull the glow of a Spring palette.

Autumn: Warm, Rich, and Earthy

The Autumn palette is warm and deep, drawing from the rich colors of fall. These individuals look best in earthy, muted tones that highlight their natural warmth.

Characteristics of an Autumn Type:

• Skin: Warm undertones with golden, olive, or beige hints. Skin can range from light to dark.
• Hair: Warm brown, red, auburn, or deep blonde with golden highlights.
• Eyes: Warm greens, hazels, amber, or deep browns.

Best Colors:

• Earth tones: Rust, olive green, mustard, burnt orange
• Rich colors: Chocolate brown, brick red, forest green
• Neutrals: Beige, cream, espresso

Colors to Avoid:

Cool, icy colors like bright blue, pink, or black can clash with Autumn’s natural warmth. Stick to warm and muted shades.

Quick Reference for Each Season

 

Season	Undertone	Key Features	Best Colors	Avoid
Winter	Cool	High contrast, deep hair, bright eyes	Jewel tones, icy shades	Earth tones, muted colors
Summer	Cool	Soft, low contrast, muted features	Pastels, soft cool shades	Bold black, primary colors
Spring	Warm	Bright, light features	Warm pinks, corals, fresh greens	Dark, muted colors
Autumn	Warm	Rich, earthy features	Rust, olive, mustard	Cool, icy shades

 

This guide should help you embrace your seasonal palette and bring out your natural beauty through color! Each season is unique, and experimenting with your recommended colors can make a noticeable difference. If you want to find out more about color analysis, check out our Ultimate Guide to Color Analysis. If you would like to get your own seasonal color palette, check out or seasonal color fans.