Your Color Season Cheat Sheet: The Complete Reference Guide

Aurotype Team · · 14 min read

One page. All 12 seasons. Every color you need — hex swatches, clothing colors, makeup shades, metals, and glasses frame colors. Save this to your phone and use it every time you shop.

How to use this cheat sheet

This cheat sheet is your quick reference for all 12 color seasons. Find your season family (Spring, Summer, Autumn, Winter) and sub-season (Light, True, Bright, Soft, or Deep), then use the swatches and color lists when shopping, choosing makeup, or picking glasses frames.

Don't know your season yet? Take the free AI color analysis first — it takes about 2 minutes and gives you your exact sub-season.

How to read the swatches

Each row of colored circles shows the core palette for that season. Seek these colors for clothing, accessories, and glasses near your face. The "colors to avoid" section lists tones that clash with your natural coloring.

Don't know your season yet?

Find out in 2 minutes with our free AI color analysis. Upload a photo and get your exact season with a full personalized palette.

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🌸 Spring Seasons

Spring types have warm, golden undertones with clear, bright coloring. Best metals: yellow gold, copper. All three Spring sub-seasons share warmth — they differ in depth and clarity.

Light Spring

Warm Light depth Clear

Core Palette

Best clothing colors

  • Warm ivory, peach, golden yellow
  • Light coral, wheat, warm beige
  • Honey, salmon, caramel

Makeup shades

  • Lips: Peachy nude, warm coral, apricot
  • Blush: Peach, warm pink
  • Eyes: Warm taupe, golden brown, champagne

Metals & glasses frames

  • Metal: Light gold, rose gold
  • Frames: Light gold, honey brown, warm tan, light tortoise, warm peach

Colors to avoid

  • Black, stark white, cool grey
  • Icy blue, deep burgundy, dark navy

True Spring

Warm Medium depth Clear

Core Palette

Best clothing colors

  • Coral, warm orange, golden yellow
  • Amber, terra cotta, copper
  • Warm red, bronze, goldenrod

Makeup shades

  • Lips: Warm coral, tomato red, amber
  • Blush: Warm peach, tangerine
  • Eyes: Copper, bronze, warm brown

Metals & glasses frames

  • Metal: Yellow gold, copper
  • Frames: Copper, warm gold, warm tortoise, amber, sienna

Colors to avoid

  • Black, icy white, cool grey
  • Navy blue, burgundy, silver

Bright Spring

Warm Medium depth Clear / vivid

Core Palette

Best clothing colors

  • Vivid coral, hot pink, bright turquoise
  • Electric gold, clear orange, vivid green
  • Lime, bright tomato, warm magenta

Makeup shades

  • Lips: Vivid coral, hot pink, tomato red
  • Blush: Bright pink, vivid peach
  • Eyes: Electric gold, turquoise, lime

Metals & glasses frames

  • Metal: Yellow gold, bright copper
  • Frames: Vivid coral, bright turquoise, electric gold, hot pink, lime green

Colors to avoid

  • Muted tones, dusty colors
  • Deep black, muddy browns, cool pastels

🌊 Summer Seasons

Summer types have cool, pink-tinged undertones with soft, muted coloring. Best metals: silver, white gold, rose gold. All three Summer sub-seasons share coolness — they differ in depth and saturation.

Light Summer

Cool Light depth Soft

Core Palette

Best clothing colors

  • Lavender, powder blue, icy pink
  • Pale lilac, soft mint, blush
  • Pale aqua, soft white, light mauve

Makeup shades

  • Lips: Soft pink, blush, dusty rose
  • Blush: Icy pink, pale rose
  • Eyes: Lavender, pale blue, soft taupe

Metals & glasses frames

  • Metal: Silver, pale rose gold
  • Frames: Pale silver, pale rose gold, soft lavender, icy blue, blush pink

Colors to avoid

  • Orange, warm brown, gold
  • Mustard, olive, rust, terra cotta

True Summer

Cool Medium depth Muted

Core Palette

Best clothing colors

  • Dusty rose, steel blue, slate grey
  • Mauve, muted purple, greyish blue
  • Soft teal, dusty plum, cadet blue

Makeup shades

  • Lips: Dusty rose, mauve, berry
  • Blush: Dusty pink, cool rose
  • Eyes: Slate blue, mauve, cool grey

Metals & glasses frames

  • Metal: Silver, gunmetal
  • Frames: Cool grey, dusty rose, steel blue, mauve, silver

Colors to avoid

  • Orange, warm gold, rust, olive
  • Bright warm red, camel, bronze

Soft Summer

Cool-neutral Medium depth Muted

Core Palette

Best clothing colors

  • Dusty mauve, muted rose, greyed lavender
  • Taupe, matte silver, greige
  • Soft blush, muted teal, warm grey

Makeup shades

  • Lips: Muted mauve, dusty rose, nude rose
  • Blush: Greyed pink, soft blush
  • Eyes: Greyed lavender, taupe, warm grey

Metals & glasses frames

  • Metal: Rose gold, matte silver
  • Frames: Matte silver, dusty rose, greyed lavender, warm taupe, lavender grey

Colors to avoid

  • Vivid orange, bright warm red
  • Electric blue, hot pink, deep black

🍂 Autumn Seasons

Autumn types have rich, warm undertones with earthy, muted coloring. Best metals: yellow gold, bronze, copper. All three Autumn sub-seasons are warm — they differ in depth and saturation.

Soft Autumn

Warm-neutral Medium depth Muted

Core Palette

Best clothing colors

  • Warm taupe, camel, muted terracotta
  • Dusty peach, warm beige, mushroom
  • Sand, buff, warm khaki

Makeup shades

  • Lips: Warm nude, peach-brown, dusty terracotta
  • Blush: Warm peach, dusty salmon
  • Eyes: Warm taupe, camel, muted gold

Metals & glasses frames

  • Metal: Matte gold, rose gold
  • Frames: Warm tortoise, camel, matte gold, warm taupe, dusty terracotta

Colors to avoid

  • Black, icy white, cool blue
  • Bright pink, silver, navy

True Autumn

Warm Medium depth Muted

Core Palette

Best clothing colors

  • Rust, pumpkin, olive green
  • Warm brown, deep gold, brick red
  • Bronze, forest green, chocolate

Makeup shades

  • Lips: Brick red, terracotta, warm burnt sienna
  • Blush: Warm terra cotta, pumpkin spice
  • Eyes: Bronze, deep gold, forest green

Metals & glasses frames

  • Metal: Yellow gold, bronze, copper
  • Frames: Dark tortoise, bronze, deep gold, olive, copper

Colors to avoid

  • Cool pink, silver, navy
  • Black, icy white, lavender

Deep Autumn

Warm Deep Muted

Core Palette

Best clothing colors

  • Oxblood, deep rust, forest green
  • Espresso, dark chocolate, deep olive
  • Warm burgundy, dark bronze, maroon

Makeup shades

  • Lips: Oxblood, warm dark burgundy, deep brick
  • Blush: Deep warm copper, dark terracotta
  • Eyes: Deep bronze, forest green, espresso

Metals & glasses frames

  • Metal: Antique gold, bronze
  • Frames: Dark tortoise, deep copper, oxblood, forest green, deep bronze

Colors to avoid

  • Light pastels, silver, cool pink
  • Icy white, navy blue, lavender

❄️ Winter Seasons

Winter types have cool or neutral undertones with high-contrast, clear coloring. Best metals: silver, platinum, white gold. All three Winter sub-seasons share clarity and coolness — they differ in depth and contrast level.

True Winter

Cool Medium depth Clear

Core Palette

Best clothing colors

  • Pure white, icy blue, royal blue
  • Clear magenta, navy, cool pink
  • Icy lavender, slate blue, true red

Makeup shades

  • Lips: True red, cool berry, icy pink
  • Blush: Icy pink, cool rose
  • Eyes: Slate blue, icy lavender, cool grey

Metals & glasses frames

  • Metal: Silver, platinum, white gold
  • Frames: Silver, navy, icy blue, cool black, periwinkle

Colors to avoid

  • Orange, warm brown, gold
  • Olive, rust, camel, mustard

Deep Winter

Cool Deep Clear

Core Palette

Best clothing colors

  • Black, deep navy, dark plum
  • Charcoal, deep indigo, midnight blue
  • Dark teal, jewel tones, deep cool burgundy

Makeup shades

  • Lips: Deep plum, dark berry, jewel red
  • Blush: Deep cool rose, charcoal pink
  • Eyes: Deep navy, indigo, black

Metals & glasses frames

  • Metal: Silver, gunmetal, platinum
  • Frames: Black, midnight blue, deep plum, charcoal, dark navy

Colors to avoid

  • Warm orange, camel, gold
  • Olive, rust, peachy pink, pastels

Bright Winter

Cool Medium depth Clear / vivid

Core Palette

Best clothing colors

  • True black, pure white, vivid red
  • Electric blue, hot pink, cyan
  • Magenta, bright violet, true emerald

Makeup shades

  • Lips: Vivid red, hot pink, magenta
  • Blush: Bright cool rose, vivid pink
  • Eyes: Electric blue, violet, true black

Metals & glasses frames

  • Metal: Polished silver, platinum, high-gloss
  • Frames: True black, pure white, vivid red, electric blue, hot pink

Colors to avoid

  • Muted tones, earthy browns
  • Warm gold, beige, dusty colors, olive

Quick Reference: All 12 Seasons at a Glance

SeasonUndertoneKey ColorsBest MetalAvoid
Light SpringWarmIvory, peach, honey, caramelLight goldBlack, cool grey, navy
True SpringWarmCoral, amber, terra cotta, goldenrodYellow gold, copperBlack, navy, silver
Bright SpringWarmVivid coral, hot pink, electric goldYellow goldMuted tones, dusty colors
Light SummerCoolLavender, powder blue, blushSilver, pale rose goldOrange, gold, rust
True SummerCoolDusty rose, steel blue, mauveSilverOrange, warm gold, camel
Soft SummerCool-neutralDusty mauve, greige, taupeRose gold, matte silverVivid orange, electric blue
Soft AutumnWarm-neutralCamel, warm taupe, dusty peachMatte gold, rose goldBlack, icy white, navy
True AutumnWarmRust, olive, bronze, terracottaGold, bronze, copperCool pink, silver, lavender
Deep AutumnWarmOxblood, forest green, espressoAntique gold, bronzeLight pastels, silver, navy
True WinterCoolPure white, royal blue, icy pinkSilver, platinumOrange, warm brown, olive
Deep WinterCoolBlack, deep navy, dark plumSilver, gunmetalWarm orange, camel, gold
Bright WinterCoolVivid red, electric blue, magentaPolished silverMuted tones, earthy browns

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I use a color season cheat sheet?

Find your season family and sub-season, then reference the swatches and color lists when shopping. Save it to your phone for in-store use. The most valuable use is for face-framing items: tops, scarves, and glasses.

Which metal jewelry suits each color season?

Warm seasons (Spring and Autumn) look best in yellow gold and copper. Cool seasons (Summer and Winter) look best in silver and white gold. Neutral or transitional seasons can often wear rose gold. Bright seasons can wear polished or high-contrast metals.

Can I wear colors outside my season palette?

Yes — color analysis is a guide, not a rule. The goal is to understand which colors harmonize near your face (tops, scarves, glasses). Colors outside your palette work better in accessories, shoes, or bags further from your face.

What is the difference between Light Spring and Light Summer?

Both are light-depth seasons but differ in undertone. Light Spring has warm, golden undertones (peachy nudes, honey yellows). Light Summer has cool, pink-tinged undertones (lavender, blush, powder blue). Quick test: warm gold jewelry flatters Spring, silver flatters Summer.

How do I find my color season if I feel like I fit two?

This is very common — these are called "sister seasons." Use the Aurotype AI analysis to get a data-driven result, then compare both sister seasons side by side. See our guide on sister seasons for more detail.

Get your personalized palette

Use this cheat sheet as your reference — but first, make sure you know your exact season. Our free AI analysis gives you a full palette in 2 minutes.

Find Your Season Free