Light Summer Personal Color Analysis

What the Light Summer season is

Light Summer is the lightest, most luminous variation of Summer, on the border with Spring. The palette is cool, yet light and delicate, with soft pastels.

It suits those with a light appearance and low contrast, flattered by cool, light colors that preserve their natural softness.

Light Summer is the airiest, most luminous corner of the Summer season. People in this sub-season look light in every sense: light hair, light eyes, delicate skin and very little difference in depth between the three. The undertone is cool, but without the intensity of Cool Summer; here, lightness is in charge. That's why the most flattering colors are the ones that reflect light, as if they'd been mixed with plenty of white.

The Light Summer palette brings together families of light, fresh tones: yellows in butter and pastel lemon, blues from ice blue to French blue, pinks from baby pink to peony, and aqua greens that recall shallow water. Pearl grays and rosy nudes round it out. The stronger shades, such as bright raspberry and deep teal, work as small accents rather than as the base of an outfit.

The biggest challenge for a Light Summer is weight. Dark, earthy and very warm colors overpower delicate features and end up dominating the face. With the right palette, the effect is the opposite: skin looks more even, light eyes stand out and you look rested even with minimal makeup.

Light Summer color palette

Core colors

Neutrals for your wardrobe base

How to wear Light Summer colors

Light Summer neutrals are light and airy: light gray, pearl gray, off-white, white, rosy nude and blue-gray. When you need something deeper, the medium slate blue and soft burgundy from your palette stand in elegantly for black and dark brown. A set of basics in these shades lets you mix almost everything, and the more colorful pieces slip in on top with no effort.

The most flattering outfits are monochrome or built from neighboring pastels: ice blue with pearl gray, baby pink with rosy nude, lavender with white, aqua with light blue. A one-piece look, like a lavender knit dress or a rose quartz skirt with a white tee, is the perfect shortcut on busy mornings. For a pop of color, use the stronger accents in your palette (raspberry, French blue or deep teal) in a single piece, such as a bag, a belt or a shirt under a light blazer.

At work, a light gray or blue-gray blazer with off-white trousers looks authoritative without hardening your look. For evening, fabrics with a soft sheen, like pearly satin, pale lace and chiffon in ice blue or peony pink, work better than dark velvet. Small, delicate prints, watercolor florals and fine stripes in light tones keep the scale right for your features; large graphic prints tend to take over.

Light Summer makeup

Light Summer makeup should look like skin, just more rested. A light foundation with a pink or neutral base avoids a mask effect. On the lips, the stars are light pink, rosy nude, soft watermelon and cool medium pink; for special occasions, a sheer fuchsia or fuchsia gloss adds color without weight. Brown, terracotta and deep wine lipsticks make the mouth too heavy next to light eyes.

For blush, baby pink and rose quartz blended high on the cheekbones create a natural flush. On the eyes, choose light pink, rosy nude, lavender, sky blue and light taupe shadows, matte for daytime and satin at night. Trade black eyeliner for gray-brown or gray, and intense black mascara for dark brown: your eyes stay defined without losing their delicacy.

Best hair colors for Light Summer

Light Summers look best with light, cool hair: light ash blonde, beige blonde, pearl blonde and light ash brown. Fine highlights in cool beige or pearl, blended well at the root, brighten the face without harsh contrast. Golden or copper reflections tend to look yellow on this skin, and going much darker, to dark brown or black, breaks the low-contrast harmony and makes the face look more tired. If your natural blonde has darkened over the years, lifting it a shade or two with a cool toner often brings back that signature lightness.

Light Summer accessories and metals

Light, softly shining metals suit a Light Summer's delicacy: polished or brushed silver, white gold and rose gold. Yellow gold can work in a pale shade and in fine pieces, like a dainty necklace. Pearls, rose quartz, aquamarine and light blue topaz echo the palette. For glasses, pick clear, light gray, blush, light blue or thin silver frames; thick black or dark tortoiseshell frames weigh the face down.

Light Summer: frequently asked questions