Create your own colour analysis test: Which seasonal colour palette suits you?

Summary/Overview

Your sense of style is like a fingerprint. Individual and uniquely yours. Colour analysis can help you find colours and tones that complement your natural colouring.

A colour analysis test considers everything from the tone of your skin and the colour of your hair and eyes to the blush of your cheeks. In essence, it can help you discover your most flattering style.

Colour theory and analysis have been around for decades. It’s how fashion stylists coordinate their clients’ outfits and why Paddington Bear looks fantastic in primary colours.

Read on to learn more about finding your seasonal colour palette with Adobe Express. Learn how wearing different colours can affect your appearance, discover your perfect palette match, and discover what Richard from Gilmore Girls really meant when he said, ‘I am an autumn’.

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How does colour impact your appearance?

Depending on the colour of your skin, hair and eyes, colours can either flatter your appearance, or have the opposite effect. This isn’t just a rumour either. Colour analysis is a well-researched concept that explores how the colours you choose to wear can flatter you and brighten your complexion. They can even help make the colour of your eyes and hair ‘pop’ and reduce the look of imperfections.

On the other hand, ‘unflattering’ colours can have the opposite effect. Pick the wrong palette, and you could appear a little drained of colour, and things like dark circles could be emphasised.

It’s why some people say they’re ‘an autumn’ – they just so happen to suit warm tones like reds and browns, while cooler blues and greys (winter tones) can wash them out. The key is understanding colour theory.

The key elements of colour theory.

Colour theory looks at what layers, or dimensions, different colours are made of and how these constructs affect our appearance.

Colour theory is often broken down into three layers when conducting personal colour analysis:

1. Temperature (or hue). Do you suit warmer (reds, browns, yellows) or cooler (blues, greens, greys) undertones?
2. Chroma (or clarity/intensity). Here, we look at how bright or ‘intense’ a colour is. Some people may suit highly saturated tones, while others, more muted.
3. Depth (or value). Refers to how ‘deep’ or light/dark a colour is. It also considers the different amounts of white needed to make a colour lighter (tints) or black needed to make a colour darker (shades).

There are a lot of words flying around when it comes to colour theory and analysis. Just to simplify things a bit, you might also see these colour dimensions simply referred to as:

• Warm/cool
• Clear/soft
• Dark/light.

However they’re referred to, these identifiers help break down each colour season into tonal palettes to find an even closer colour match.

What is a colour analysis test?

A colour analysis test can help you find colours that complement and enhance your natural palette. From your hair and eye colour to your skin’s undertones, colour analysis charts use the three pillars of colour theory to match colours and hues to your appearance. They can also be applied to the world of interior design to find harmony in your home.

Science. Psychology. Witchcraft. Call it what you will. It’s the same reason why different make-up and jewellery metals can complement and contrast with your appearance. It’s why some hair colour choices can look more striking and why that jet black you went for in high school washed you out. Or why certain shades of lipstick just seem to look better than others.

Remember, colour analysis is simply a suggestion. If you still love a certain colour, yet your test is saying NO, you don’t have to follow the rules. Wearing what you love is the most important thing. Nothing can top the joy of wearing your favourite pink jumper (even if your colour analysis test pegged you as an autumn).

How does seasonal colour analysis work?

Spring.

Think warm, bright and light colours with yellow undertones that embody springtime. The flowers are blooming – and so are the colours. Tones are almost luminous with new life, and it’s where bright and blossoming pinks, bold baby blues and fresh greens come into play.

People who suit more luminous spring shades tend to have lighter hair, perhaps with streaks of natural highlights. They may have a warm, golden undertone to their skin and bright eyes.

Essentially, if you find your eyes pop perfectly in a field of wildflowers, then spring might be your season.

Summer.

Summer is often muted and cool-toned, like blue skies and fresh raspberry pink tones. Summer shades are awash with sunlight, so things feel a little more delicate and hazy – certainly less brash and bright than spring.

Summer colours are often best worn by those with cooler undertones. Blonde or ashy hair and blue and green eyes work wonderfully here. Because summer colours aren’t typically deep, they complement softer, brighter shades that won’t contrast too harshly. If you know someone who simply glows on a sunny day – they’re likely a summer.

Autumn.

As you might expect, the autumn palette features rich, earthy tones—from rust orange to forest green. Think warm and muted hues, those you might expect to see in orange-topped forests, like rich browns and hearty reds.

Those suited to an autumn palette come alive in a candlelit room. These hues belong beautifully on those with darker skin or skin with a deep, warm undertone. They also suit those with warm hair and eyes, especially if there’s a hint of gold about you.

Winter.

The final piece of the colour analysis puzzle. Bold and cool, the winter palette features deep shades of blue, green and purple like natural gems. This season is associated with contrasting (but complementing) colours – it’s the season of red berries against snow and green pines touching a clear sky.

With this in mind, winter colour wearers tend to have dark hair and eyes, and their skin may be quite light in comparison. These colours often look for people with pink or blue undertones – those who simply light up in snowfall.

Colour analysis examples from Adobe Express.

What are the benefits of a colour analysis?

You can take a colour analysis quiz or test to help discover what colours suit you best based on your appearance.

For example, if you’re a true winter, your complementary colours might include shades of bright indigo, hot pink, cerulean blue and ruby red—among others. These hues can help wake up your natural complexion and marry your clothes, hair and eye colour for a complete, polished look.

Here are a few advantages to introducing seasonal colour analysis in your life:

• Develop your understanding of colour and design. Colour analysis can help you understand the nuances of colour hue, value and saturation, including what colours work in harmony together.
• Find your personal colour palette. Wearing the right colours can help naturally enhance subtle undertones in your complexion and the colour of your eyes. Essentially, styling with seasonal colour analysis can help you look more brilliantly ‘you’.
• Work out what colours might not suit you. Likewise, colour analysis can help identify shades that don’t quite compliment your appearance. This could help you make more conscious shopping and styling habits.
• Align your style to your colour palette. If you fall in love with your personal colour palette, you’ll have an easy benchmark to match your wardrobe to your complementary colours.
• Elevate your home interiors. Understanding colour theory and complementary tones can help you dress your home more cohesively too. Knowing what colours will match your wood floors, or bring balance to the size of your rooms, can help to elevate your space.

How to do a personal colour analysis.

Life is better in technicolour. If you’re thinking of revitalising your wardrobe or interior design based on traditional colour analysis, it’s a fun and easy process. Follow our steps below to find your season.

1. Clean base, natural light.

Start your colour analysis trial with a completely blank slate. If you wear make-up, it’s a good idea to take it off and begin with a bare face. You should also sit in natural light where you’ll see the true tones of your appearance more clearly.

You could choose to compare different colours in person or take a photo of yourself and find your colour palette digitally. Whatever you decide, wear a white T-shirt as a blank canvas to add your colours to. That way, what you’re currently wearing won’t confuse your colour matches.

2. Determine your undertone.

Gaining a better understanding of your natural undertones can help reinforce your colour analysis test. Your skin could be warm, cool or neutral toned, and this can affect what colours suit you best.

Look away if you’re squeamish. The age-old test to find out the natural undertones of your skin is to check your veins. If you can see the veins on your inner wrist, check if they appear green or blue in colour.

If they look green-tinted, you’re likely to have warm undertones. Whereas, if you have blue or purple-tinted veins, your skin will likely have cool undertones. If you have a mix of both, this makes you neutral-toned.

Combine with your hair and eye colour, and you’ll have a good idea of whether your colour analysis might lean towards warm or cool-toned.

3. Try out different colour seasons.

The next step is to try out different colour swatches from each seasonal colour palette to see how they complement your appearance. You can use colour samples, scarves, clothing or try it out digitally.

You can take photos to record each result or look in the mirror to compare each one. Just make sure you’re sat in natural, indirect light for an accurate impression.

Compare the same colour from different seasons, such as a dark winter blue with a light spring blue, and see the results next to your complexion.

Here are some fun ways to play around with colours using Adobe Express:

• Use remove background to flood your image with seasonal colours.
• Create a video slideshow of your photos to easily scan through different colour choices.
• Play around with photo layouts and collages to compare options side by side.

4. Decide on your natural colour palette.

Take your time switching between different seasonal colours while focusing on your face. Complementary colour palettes will make you look bright and awake. Your skin might look healthier with more of a glow as it enhances your natural colouring.

Sometimes, finding your colour set can be a light bulb moment. But it can also be a surprise too. What you thought you loved might be different from your colour analysis results. The main thing is to have fun playing with colour and finding the sweet spot.

5. Address your wardrobe.

Whether you’re a true winter or a bright summer, there’s no need to reinvent the colour wheel when facing your wardrobe. Look at clothing, accessories, and make-up items and see what you already own that complements your colour set.

There’s no need to make rash decisions and overhaul your wardrobe, but colour analysis can help you make more intentional choices in the future. Trends come and go, but now you’ll always know your true colour match.

6. Explore different textures and materials.

You don’t have to stick to block colours. Find different textures, patterns and materials that sit within your colour analysis palette.

For example, if you’re a dark autumn, this might mean looking for muted patterns in dark brown, charcoal, mossy green and mustard.

Colour palette ideas based on your colour analysis.

Turn colour analysis into your very own colour palette with Adobe Express.

Don’t be green with envy. Once you’ve locked in your seasonal colour analysis, you can use Adobe Express to generate a free colour analysis palette and apply it to different areas of your life.

Design a colour palette for your dream bedroom aesthetic. Create colour palettes for mood boards, shopping or as an on-the-go guide for organising your wardrobe.

Whether posting online is a hobby or you’ve got a strong social following, why not make a TikTok or Insta Reel sharing your colour analysis journey? Flip through different colour palettes and style outfits to see how they compare.

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Useful things to know.

Is a colour analysis worth it?

There are no hard and fast rules to colour analysis. It can help you discover which colours look the most flattering on you. But maybe wearing lilac, olive green or amber gives you a dash of dopamine. If that’s the case, being true to yourself is always the best approach—regardless of what your colour analysis says.

What is the most universally flattering colour?

There are various colours that are universally flattering, including classic neutrals. Deep teal, aubergine purple and true red are three bold colours that tend to complement everyone. However, different tones may suit you better, such as a cool or warm-toned red.

Can you do a colour analysis on yourself?

Yes! You can complete your own colour analysis test from the comfort of your home. Here are our top tips:

• Sit in natural, indirect light.
• Remove any make up.
• Wear a white T-shirt.
• Take your time experimenting with different seasons.
• Use the Adobe Express image editor to play around with colour backgrounds and palettes.

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