Light Summer is the airiest season in seasonal color analysis: cool, light and gentle. If powder blue, lavender and soft rose make your skin look fresh while black and orange make you look drained, you may be a Light Summer. Here is the full light summer color palette, plus hair, makeup and the difference between Light Summer and Soft Summer.
What is a Light Summer?
Each season is defined by hue, value and chroma. Light Summer is:
- Light first. Lightness is your defining quality. Pale and mid-light colors harmonize with you.
- Cool second. A gentle cool lean, so Light Summer sits next to Light Spring.
- Soft-ish. Not as muted as Soft Summer, but not suited to intense brights either.
Light Summers often have light ash-blonde to light brown hair (or were blonde as children), light blue, grey or soft green eyes, and fair to light skin with a pink or neutral undertone. Overall contrast is low.
The light summer color palette
| Color family | Light summer shades | Example HEX |
|---|---|---|
| Blues | powder blue, periwinkle, light denim, soft aqua | #B0C4DE, #A7B5E4, #8DA7C4, #A6D5D3 |
| Pinks | soft rose, ballet pink, watermelon pastel | #E8B7C0, #F2C9D2, #EE9FAA |
| Purples | lavender, lilac, soft orchid | #C3B1E1, #C8A2C8, #D4A5D2 |
| Greens | mint, soft sea green, light jade | #B8E0D2, #9FD4C4, #8CC7B1 |
| Neutrals | dove grey, soft white, light cool taupe, light navy | #C7C9CB, #F5F5F0, #BFB3AC, #4A5E80 |
| Yellows | pale lemon (small doses) | #F4EFB0 |
Best neutrals
Dove grey, soft white, light cool taupe and soft greyed navy. These replace black, beige and camel. Light navy is your go-to dark neutral.
Colors to avoid
- Black: almost always too heavy.
- Warm, dark earth tones: chocolate, rust, olive, mustard.
- Orange and golden yellow.
- Very saturated brights: neon pink, electric blue.
Light summer hair colors
- Light ash blonde and champagne blonde.
- Cool beige blonde and pearl blonde.
- Light ash brown with soft babylights.
- Soft cool rose-gold for a playful option.
Avoid golden, brassy and very dark shades. Preview them first with the hair color changer.
Light summer makeup
- Lips: pink nude, soft rose, light berry, sheer raspberry.
- Blush: baby pink, soft rose.
- Eyes: soft taupe, grey, lavender, light mauve; brown-grey liner instead of black.
Jewelry and metals
Silver, white gold, platinum, rose gold and pearls.
Light Summer vs. Soft Summer
- Light Summer is lighter and a little clearer: powder blue, lavender, mint, soft pink.
- Soft Summer is deeper and more muted: slate blue, mauve, dusty rose, soft charcoal.
If dusty, mid-depth colors make you look grey, you are likely Light Summer. If pastels look too sweet and washed out, Soft Summer may suit you better.
Light Summer vs. Light Spring
Both are light. Light Spring leans warm (peach, warm pink, light camel, ivory); Light Summer leans cool (powder blue, lavender, dove grey, soft white). Gold vs. silver jewelry is a quick test.
How to know if you are a Light Summer
Try the free color analysis quiz, then confirm with the photo-based AI color analysis, which compares Light Summer with Light Spring and Soft Summer.
FAQ
What colors should a light summer wear?
Light, cool, gentle colors: powder blue, periwinkle, lavender, soft rose, mint, dove grey, soft white and light navy.
Can light summers wear black?
Black is usually too strong. Use light navy, soft charcoal or grey instead.
What is the best hair color for a light summer?
Light ash blonde, champagne, pearl or cool beige blonde, and light ash brown.
What is the difference between light summer and soft summer?
Light Summer is lighter and slightly clearer; Soft Summer is medium-depth and more muted.
Is light summer warm or cool?
Light Summer is light first and cool second, so it is a neutral-cool season.
