Personal color analysis (or seasonal color analysis) is a popular trend in recent years because it helps you discover the colors that suit your look and appearance. The idea is simply to know how colors next to your skin and facial features can make you look your best.
Personal color analysis divides the colors that suit you according to the four seasons, and each season has sub-types. This is an easy way to help you determine your style and choose the most appropriate colors for your clothes and makeup. Stay with me to learn about the basics and principles of personal color analysis.
Color Theory Basics
Color analysis is based on color theory, which includes three elements: hue, value, and saturation. These elements help determine the type of colors that suit you.
Hue: Cool colors such as green, blue, and purple, and warm colors such as red, orange, and yellow.
Value: Is the brightness or darkness level of a color. Darker colors are closer to black, and lighter colors are closer to white.
Saturation: Means the strength of the color. Bright colors (like fuchsia pink or neon green) are highly saturated colors, while subdued colors (like dark pink or olive green) are closer to gray.
Based on your skin tone and facial features, you'll find that a certain season suits you best. Traditional analysis divides seasons into four main categories, and each season has transitional types.
How is personal color analysis done?
Not all shades of red are equal. Colors in the spectrum vary according to precise details in hue, value, and saturation. For example, warm olive green and cool turquoise green are the same "green" color, but how they look on you is completely different. When you compare similar shades, you'll know what kind of colors suit you.
Your skin tone: Warm or cool? Your underlying skin tone doesn't change. How to know your skin tone? If gold jewelry suits your skin, or if the veins on your hands are closer to green, your skin tone might be warm. But if silver suits you better or the veins on your hands are blue or purple, your skin is cool.
Value and Saturation: Are darker or lighter colors more suitable for you? And bright or subdued colors? Professionals use a technique called "draping" to analyze suitable colors, by placing fabrics of different colors next to the face to see the effect of the colors on your features. Some colors might hide your beautiful features, and show dark circles or skin redness. Focus on the effect of colors on your skin texture to find the perfect colors for you.
Personal color analysis at home
If you want to try color analysis yourself at home, there's a Korean app on iPhone and Android called
It helps you analyze colors. Try comparing different colors with your skin and get your friends' opinions.
For me, I noticed that bright colors look strong next to my skin, and cool colors bring out dark circles and make my skin uneven. After I finished the analysis, the results were 77% soft autumn and 23% deep autumn. The colors that suit me best are rich, warm colors like brown, olive green, and orange-red.
Autumn-appropriate outfits
Based on my personal color analysis and the upcoming season, I've put together a couple of outfits suitable for all types of autumn.
Soft Autumn: Embrace warm earthy tones like beige, cream, and sage green. For example, you can wear a white turtleneck top with corduroy brown pants, a beige jacket, and a brown bag. Also, accessorize your look with delicate gold and green accessories to truly feel the autumn spirit.
Deep Autumn: Darker colors like black and distinctive classics give you a look closer to winter. Try completing your look with a black leather bag and short leather boots. For the main outfit, you can rely on a dark green sweater with a beige shirt and jeans. Add a warm touch with gold accessories.