Whether you’re shopping for a new lipstick or overhauling your wardrobe, color analysis can be a valuable tool

A few weeks ago, I found myself standing in the makeup aisle at Target while picking up some last-minute things for a wedding. For a solid ten minutes, I stared at what felt like a boatload of nearly identical lipstick shades. Normally, I’d grab something random and hope for the best. But instead, I opened the TikTok search bar and typed in “Cool Summer lipstick.” I bought a mauve-y Revlon shade recommended in a video, cracked it open in the car and loved how it looked.

For that, I can thank color analysis: a decades-old style tool. Color Me Beautiful books and department store consultations have evolved into full services that offer makeup recommendations and style guides, and the practice has only been amplified by social media.

During a typical analysis, fabric swatches are draped beneath the face to determine which shades best complement a person’s natural coloring. The right ones can brighten the complexion, while the wrong ones can emphasize skin impurities.

Different analysts use different systems, but one of the most common is seasonal color analysis. Clients are assigned to a palette based on spring, summer, autumn or winter, each with its own set of hues and undertones. Springs tend to shine in warm, clear colors while summers are flattered by cooler, softer shades. Autumn palettes lean earthy and warm, while winters typically look best in cool, high-contrast colors.

“When you’re wearing colors that work with your undertone, they naturally brighten and soften your features,” says Erin Samborski, owner of Color Club KC (colorclubkc.trafft.com). “Colors that clash can emphasize shadows, redness and other things people often try to minimize with makeup.”

Samborski’s system includes categories such as Cool Summer, Warm Spring, Warm Autumn and Cool Winter. The goal isn’t to limit someone’s options but to provide a roadmap for choosing colors that naturally work with their features.

“It literally airbrushes away shadowing,” Samborski says. “A good color lightens, brightens, softens and pops your features naturally.” Many clients use their palette as a shortcut when shopping for makeup, especially lipstick, blush and eyeshadow. Warm-toned clients often gravitate toward peachier blushes, terracotta tones and orange-based reds while cooler palettes tend to be complemented by rosy pinks, berries and blue-based reds.

With her services at Lead Through Style (leadthroughstyle.com), Beth King helps clients build or audit their wardrobe after completing a color analysis. “Some people think color is the cherry on top,” King says. “My model is that it’s the foundation.”

Many clients are surprised by their results. Both Samborski and King agree that although black has a reputation as a universal neutral, it actually tends to wash out a lot of people. Instead, shades like charcoal gray, chocolate brown, camel and navy can often be more flattering, depending on a person’s palette.

Another common surprise is yellow. Many clients arrive convinced they can’t wear it only to discover they simply haven’t found the right version. A buttery spring yellow, for example, creates a very different effect than a cool lemon yellow or a muted mustard.

Your results don’t mean you need to toss your entire closet and start over or skip every color trend that doesn’t match your season. “The important color is what’s up near our face,” King says. If you want to play with a shade outside your palette, she recommends trying it in a skirt, pants, handbag or shoes instead of a top. Or, layer a more flattering color near the face with a jacket, scarf or cardigan.

“It helps build a cohesive wardrobe,” King says. “If you’re consistently shopping within your palette, everything starts to work together.”

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