Can I borrow colours from the neighbouring season?

Usually yes, especially away from the face. Borrowing works best when the borrowed shade still respects your dominant characteristic such as depth, softness, or brightness.

Why do online quizzes place me in both seasons?

Quizzes infer from self-reported traits, while close neighbouring seasons often overlap on some traits. Direct draping is more accurate because it measures the actual visual result on your face.

What is the simplest final decision rule?

Choose the season that makes you look clearer with less correction from makeup, lighting, or styling. The easiest, most repeatable result is usually the right home base.

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Comparisons • 21 March 2026

Light Spring vs Light Summer: how to tell the difference

Both are soft and light, but Light Spring runs warm while Light Summer runs cool. Here's how to tell them apart.

How to read Light Spring vs Light Summer, the practical way

Here's where most comparisons go wrong: people argue over labels instead of watching what actually happens on their face. Forget the name for a second. The question is simple. Which palette makes your skin look clearer, your features look sharper and your shadows look softer in normal daylight? Start with that, then let undertone, value and chroma explain why one season wins.

The real difference between Light Spring and Light Summer

Light Spring looks its best in warm, light, fresh shades like peach, apricot, butter yellow and aqua. Light Summer covers the same light, delicate ground but runs cool instead of warm, so it glows in soft, cool colours with a gentle powdery quality. You're both light, that part's settled. The real question is temperature: does your skin warm up in golden pastels (Light Spring) or in cool, rosy ones (Light Summer)? Skip the single-chip test. Watch which family your face keeps rewarding.

Draping tests that sort it out faster

Run a few quick comparisons and keep the conditions steady: minimal makeup, hair off the face, consistent light. The better season lifts your eyes and evens your skin with less effort than its neighbour.

Check temperature
This is the one that matters most here. Do warm, golden pastels lift your skin (Light Spring), or do cool, rosy ones look cleaner (Light Summer)?
Check depth
You're both light, so notice which shades feel airy and right rather than too heavy.
Check softness versus clarity
Light Spring runs a touch clearer and fresher; Light Summer is softer and more blended.

Shopping signals once you know your side

Light Spring wardrobes settle around warm, light neutrals like soft white, light camel and warm beige. Light Summer leans cooler, with soft greys, cool navy and cool-toned beige. If it still feels random, lock in three dependable neutrals and three repeat accents before you touch trend colours.

Mistakes that trip people up

The most common one? Picking the season you wish you were instead of the one that actually flatters you. Full stop. The other trap is testing colours away from your face, where almost anything looks fine. Keep every decision anchored to what happens right next to your skin, and check it more than once in daylight.

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