What Light Summer coloring looks like
Light Summer is the lightest of the cool seasons. Everything about the coloring is light, and there is a soft, cool or rosy quality throughout. The overall look is delicate and airy.
Typical Light Summer coloring includes the following.
- Skin that is fair to light, with a pink, rosy or neutral cool undertone. It often flushes easily and may burn before it tans.
- Hair that is light, such as ash blonde, pearl blonde, light ash brown or soft silver.
- Eyes that are light and soft, such as light blue, gray blue, soft green or light gray.
- Contrast that is low. Hair, skin and eyes are all light, and close together.
How to tell if you are a Light Summer
- Black, chocolate and other dark colors make you look tired or pale.
- Cool pastels look fresh, while bright, warm colors look loud.
- Silver and white gold suit you better than yellow gold.
- Soft white looks better than cream, and powder blue looks better than navy.
If warm pastels such as peach and butter look just as good, you may be a Light Spring. If slightly deeper cool colors such as raspberry and jade look better, you may be a True Summer. Our free color analysis can tell you which way you lean. For hair ideas for very light skin, see our guide to the best hair colors for pale skin.
How to wear the Light Summer palette
The Light Summer palette is light, cool and calm. It includes Blush, Ballet pink, Rose, Petal, Heather rose, Wheat, Fresh mint, Spearmint, Soft jade, Robin egg, Aqua, Powder blue, Sky blue, Hydrangea, Thistle and Lilac.
- Near your face, wear light cool colors. Powder blue, Lilac and Ballet pink make your skin look fresh and your eyes look brighter.
- For neutrals, choose Snow, Mist and Silver gray for light pieces, and Smoke, Pewter and Granite for darker ones. Soft navy works for suits and coats.
- Keep contrast gentle. Pastel with gray, or two pastels together, suits you better than strong contrast.
- For prints, small to medium prints in light, cool colors, such as soft florals, fine stripes and gingham.
- For accessories, silver, white gold, rose gold and pearls, with stones such as rose quartz, aquamarine and moonstone.
A simple Light Summer capsule wardrobe
A small wardrobe in your colors means almost everything goes with everything else. Start with these pieces and add color from your palette over time.
- A Snow white shirt and a soft gray knit.
- Light gray, Pewter and soft navy trousers.
- A Powder blue or Ballet pink top for everyday freshness.
- A Lilac or Aqua dress for summer and events.
- A soft gray or pale blue coat.
- Light gray shoes, a pearl or silver bag and white gold jewelry.
Common Light Summer mistakes
- Black and chocolate brown near the face. Soft navy and pewter are lighter options.
- Warm, golden pastels such as butter and peach, which can look yellow on cool skin.
- Heavy, dark eye makeup. Soft gray and lavender look brighter on you.
Light Summer at every skin depth
People of every skin depth can be a Light Summer. The season describes how your coloring fits together, not how light or deep your skin is. Within the palette, though, skin depth still guides which tones look best right next to your face.
- If your skin is on the lighter side, lean on the lighter tone of each color family, such as Blush, Wheat, Robin egg and Thistle.
- If your skin is on the deeper side, the stronger tones carry more presence, such as Pink sand, Straw, Aqua and Lilac.
Either way, the test is the same. Hold the color under your chin in daylight and keep it if your skin looks smoother and your eyes look brighter.
Makeup for Light Summer
- Foundation with a cool or neutral cool undertone in a light, sheer finish.
- Lips in ballet pink, soft rose, cool pink and sheer berry.
- Blush in light rose, cool pink or petal pink.
- Eyes in soft gray, lavender, light taupe and powder blue. Gray or soft brown liner is kinder than black.
- Brows in soft ash blonde or light ash brown.
Hair colors for Light Summer
Ash blonde, pearl blonde, champagne blonde and light ash brown suit you. Fine, cool highlights add brightness around the face. Avoid golden copper and very dark shades, which add warmth and contrast that can overpower light, cool coloring.
Light Summer compared with its neighbours
Light Summer sits between True Summer and Light Spring on the season wheel.
- Light Summer and True Summer are both cool. True Summer can wear slightly deeper colors such as raspberry and cornflower.
- Light Summer and Light Spring are both light first. Light Summer is cool and softer, Light Spring is warm and clearer. Many people sit close to the line and can wear soft colors from both.
The colors to avoid come from Deep Autumn, the season furthest away. They are deep, warm and earthy, the opposite of light and cool.
Light Summer at a glance
| Best metals | Silver, White gold, Rose gold |
|---|---|
| Lips | Ballet pink, soft rose, cool pink and sheer berry |
| Blush | Light rose, cool pink and petal pink |
| Eyes | Soft gray, lavender, light taupe and powder blue |
| Hair color | Ash blonde, pearl blonde, champagne blonde and light ash brown. Avoid golden copper and very dark shades. |
