This guide has everything you need to know about the Soft Summer color palette. It covers colors, prints, combinations, makeup tips, and more—all in simple, easy-to-follow steps. Sit back, relax with your favorite drink, and enjoy the reading.

Before We Begin

If you’re not sure about your season yet, you can get your personal color analysis here. Simply upload the requested images, and a color expert will analyze them and deliver a complete report within 72 hours.

Reading time: 8' 

1. Features – Muted & Cool

You’re a Soft Summer because your overall look is soft and muted, with cooler tones that enhance your natural beauty.

Muted colors are your best friend, blending perfectly with your skin, hair, and eyes.

Your features have a "greyed out" quality—gentle and subdued rather than bold or vibrant. The contrast between your skin, eyes, and hair is low to medium, creating a natural, harmonious look.

1.1 Eyes

Your eyes are soft and muted, often with shades of grey, blue, or green.

They may have a crackled glass pattern and lack the brightness seen in other seasons, giving them a calm and understated beauty.

1.2 Hair

Soft Summer hair ranges from medium ash blonde to light or medium ash brown. It’s naturally muted and ashy, never looking bright or saturated. Sunlight may bring out soft ash-blonde highlights.

1.3 Skin

Your skin tone is neutral to neutral-cool with ashy undertones, and it may have a hint of pink. Both silver and gold can suit you, but silver tends to flatter more. Skin tones can range from fair to tan, often with a subtle, muted glow.

In the case of Bella Hadid, her skin is fair with neutral undertones.

1.4 Contrast

Your contrast level is low to medium, meaning the difference between your skin, hair, and eyes is subtle. This gentle blending is what makes muted colors work so well for you.

In the images above, you'll observe that the hair is darker than the skin, but the contrast remains relatively subtle.

The image doesn't have distinct light or dark areas, and its overall coloring stays within a medium value range.

2. Color dimensions

Soft Summer colors lean towards cool tones with soft, muted qualities. Think blues, pinks, and greys with subtle blue undertones. There are no bright or vibrant colors here—everything is balanced and understated.

Your palette has a medium value, meaning it includes both light and dark shades but stays away from extremes. These colors create a calm, harmonious look that complements your natural features.

3. Color Palette

Your palette is like a soft summer day with muted skies and gentle breezes. Imagine soft blues, greys, and pinks blended with cool greens and purples. These colors are delicate and soothing, perfect for your understated beauty.

3.1 Best Colors

Your best colors include:

• Dark neutrals: Muted browns, greyish dark greens, and soft navy.

• Light neutrals: Light greys, sandy tones, and muted beige.

• Accent colors: Dusty pinks, lavender, and soft blues.

True black, a Winter color, is too harsh for you. It can make you appear aged and unhealthy. Instead, opt for softer, muted, greyish dark browns as your dark neutrals.

Pure white, a Winter color, is too intense for your soft coloring. Instead, opt for light greys, sand tones, and muted browns as your light neutrals.

3.2 Worst Colors

Your least flattering colors are those that are vibrant and warm.

Apart from white and black, bold colors clash with your inherent softness. Intense pinks and blues, for instance, may overpower your natural appearance.

Warm, rich colors, such as orangey reds and earthy browns, are also unflattering for you as they will clash with your cool undertones.

4. Metals & Accessories

For Soft Summer transitioning into Autumn, both warm and cool metals can work.

However, silver is generally more flattering and reliable. When choosing gold, opt for a less orange, dark, or rich hue; rose gold can be suitable if it leans towards pink.

Embrace gentle and muted metal finishes such as brushed, matte, satin, and hammered.

Antiqued metals can also complement your palette, as long as they aren't overly dark.

Avoid overly bright and shiny metals, as they may overpower your delicate coloring. Consider pearls with complex coloring, spanning from light to medium-dark.

5. Color Combinations

Technically, you can combine any colors from the Soft Summer palette. However, the best combinations are those that match the natural low-to-medium contrast in your appearance.

Opt for monochromatic combinations, like pairing different shades of the same hue, for a harmonious look.

You can combine neighboring hues with the same value, like lavender purple with a lighter blue. Instead, mix a neutral with a similar-value accent color, such as light beige with a similarly light yellow.

6. Prints

6.1 Colors

Choose prints that stick to Soft Summer colors. Avoid patterns with bold or bright hues that clash with your soft palette.

6.2 Contrast

Look for patterns with a low to medium contrast, mirroring your natural coloring. High-contrast prints may feel too harsh.

6.3 Pattern arrangements

Soft, flowing patterns like watercolor florals or delicate textures work best for you. Avoid geometric shapes or stiff patterns that don’t align with your gentle appearance.

7. Makeup

Soft Summer makeup should enhance your muted and cool tones while staying natural and understated. Avoid bright or overly warm shades that can clash with your delicate features.

7.1 Foundation & concealer

Choose foundation and concealer with a matte or satin finish and neutral to cool undertones. Avoid dewy or radiant finishes, which can feel too shiny for your muted complexion.

7.2 Bronzer & contouring

Use bronzers with a soft, pinkish-gold tone for a natural glow. Avoid orangey shades, and make sure to blend well to maintain a subtle, seamless look.

Avoid creating harsh lines that may appear too prominent on your soft features.

7.3 Blush Palette

Blush colors like dusty pinks, soft plums, and muted rose work beautifully. Choose matte finishes and avoid overly warm or sparkly blushes, which can feel out of place.

7.4 Lipstick

Soft Summer lipsticks include cool pinks, mauves, and soft berry tones. Stick to matte or satin finishes for a polished look. Avoid glossy or overly bright shades.

8. Eye makeup

8.1 Eyeshadows

Neutral eyeshadow shades like cream, taupe, and cool greys are ideal. Accent colors like lavender, soft pinks, and muted greens add a touch of interest. Avoid shimmer or glitter for a more natural look.

8.2 Mascara

Opt for soft brown or dark grey mascaras. Black can feel too harsh against your muted features.

8.3 Eyeliner

Choose eyeliner shades like grey, navy, or muted brown for a natural effect. Avoid overly bright or dark colors that might overwhelm your look.

Opt for non-saturated colors with subtle transitions. When using eyeshadow, choose an eyeliner color different from the eyeshadow but not significantly darker for a seamless appearance.

9. Conclusion

The Soft Summer palette is your key to looking and feeling your best. With cool, muted colors and gentle tones, you can build a wardrobe and makeup routine that highlights your natural beauty every day.

To dive deeper into your season, the Soft Summer Guide offers a comprehensive resource.

It expands on the information from this blog, covering best and worst colors, color combinations, and more—all packaged in a 30-page PDF you can conveniently access anytime on your phone.

Written by Alexandra Stan