Makeup Colors for Your Color Season: Lipstick, Blush and Eyeshadow

Makeup sits right next to your face, which makes it the fastest place to see color analysis working — or not working. A lipstick in the right family makes your skin look clearer and your eyes brighter; the wrong one can make you look tired even when you are not. The good news is you do not need a new makeup bag. You need to know which color families to reach for.

The rule behind every recommendation

The same three variables that define your season apply to makeup: undertone (warm or cool), depth (light or deep) and chroma (clear or soft). A flattering shade usually matches your undertone and sits at a similar depth and intensity to your natural coloring. That is why a bright cool fuchsia can look striking on one person and harsh on another.

Spring: fresh, warm and clear

• Lips: coral, warm pink, peach and clear warm reds.
• Blush: peach and apricot rather than cool rose.
• Eyes: golden browns, warm bronze, soft teal and champagne shimmer.
• Go easy on: heavy black liner, deep plum and ashy taupes, which can look heavy on light warm coloring.

Summer: soft, cool and blended

• Lips: rose, dusty pink, soft berry and mauve.
• Blush: cool pink and soft rose.
• Eyes: taupe, soft grey, dusty lavender and cool brown.
• Go easy on: orange-based corals and very saturated brights, which can overpower soft coloring.

Autumn: rich, warm and muted

• Lips: brick, terracotta, warm nude, rust and deep warm red.
• Blush: warm bronze, burnt peach and soft terracotta.
• Eyes: olive, copper, bronze, deep chocolate and moss green.
• Go easy on: icy pinks, frosted pastels and blue-based purples.

Winter: bold, cool and high-contrast

• Lips: true blue-red, fuchsia, deep berry and plum.
• Blush: cool pink or berry, applied lightly.
• Eyes: charcoal, silver, navy, deep plum and crisp black liner.
• Go easy on: warm oranges, muddy browns and peachy nudes, which can look flat against high contrast.

A 30-second test before you buy

Swatch the shade on your lips or cheek (not your hand) and look in daylight near a window. If your skin looks more even and your eyes look brighter, it is working. If you notice more shadows under your eyes, redness around your nose, or the color seems to sit on top of your face, it is probably outside your family. Our quiz result page shows your season palette, so you can hold a product up against it for a quick match.

Remember these are starting points, not rules. Plenty of people wear shades from a neighboring season beautifully, especially if their coloring sits between two seasons.