Deep Winter vs Cool Winter
In Deep Winter vs Cool Winter, the two seasons are close cousins, and the one thing that sets them apart is depth.
The one test that settles it
Does dark burgundy suit you more than bright royal blue paired with icy pink?
You're Deep Winter if gunmetal and dark burgundy match your inborn depth, while royal blue with icy pink feels too frosty.
You're Cool Winter if icy pink with royal blue keeps your skin looking clear, while heavy burgundy pulls your face downward.
Deep Winter and Cool Winter side by side
Deep Winter
Signature colors
- Deep Burgundy
- Deep Emerald
- Dark Violet
- Deep Cherry
- Sapphire
Skip
- Bright Copper#D56400
- Pale Coral#FFC4B5
- Soft Coral#DA8F7C
- Dusty Apple Green#90B07F
- Mahogany#742F25
Cool Winter
Signature colors
- True Red
- Emerald
- Bright Cobalt
- Fuchsia
- Icy Lilac
Skip
- Moss#647C36
- Bright Peach#FFC299
- Bright Copper#D56400
- Pale Coral#FFC4B5
- Aqua#65D2D2
Both seasons share cool undertones, so black and white with silver give a sharp look.
Deep Winter looks best in dark, rich colors, while Cool Winter looks best in clear, icy ones. Both seasons have cool undertones and tend to look sharp in black, white and silver.
- Quick check: which wins for you; dark burgundy, or bright royal blue paired with icy pink?
- Deep Winter: gunmetal and dark burgundy are your winners
- Cool Winter: icy pink and royal blue are your winners
- Both: black, white, silver
How to check yourself at home in daylight
Stand in front of a window during the day, with a bare face. Daylight is more honest about your skin than indoor lighting, which changes how colors appear.
- Put dark burgundy under your chin, then switch to royal blue or icy pink.
- Watch for shadows under the eyes and around the mouth, plus any gray tone creeping across your skin.
- Hold gunmetal to your cheek, then bright silver, and notice which one evens your skin out.
You belong to Deep Winter if dark burgundy and gunmetal fit your natural depth and icy pink and royal blue feel too frosty. Cool Winter is your season when icy pink and royal blue make your skin look clear while deep burgundy weighs your face down.
Have black and dark brown tops at home? Hold each one under your chin in daylight. Black is the best neutral for both seasons, and brown with a golden tint tends to look yellow or muddy on Deep Winter.
The palette rundown for each season
| Deep Winter | Cool Winter | |
|---|---|---|
| Warmth direction | Neutral-cool | Cool |
| Darkness | Deep | Medium |
| Brightness level | Bright | Bright |
| Best metals | Silver, platinum, gunmetal | Bright silver, platinum |
| Standout shades | Deep Emerald, Dark Violet, Deep Cherry, Sapphire, Deep Burgundy | Emerald, Fuchsia, Icy Lilac, True Red, Bright Cobalt |
| Avoid | Pale Coral, Soft Coral, Dusty Apple Green, Mahogany, Bright Copper | Bright Peach, Moss, Aqua, Bright Copper, Pale Coral |
Clues you're Deep Winter
This season is cool and dark, made for people who shine in rich, shadowy colors worn with high contrast.
- Black held right under your chin leaves your skin smooth and clear.
- Pale pastels drain the life from your face and leave you looking washed out.
- Warm orange and golden brown turn your skin yellow or muddy.
- A dark berry lipstick wakes up your face without seeming like a lot of makeup.
- Silver and dark gunmetal flatter you more than yellow gold does.
Clues you're Cool Winter
This season is cool and bright with high contrast, and icy shades, jewel blues, crisp white and true black are its best friends.
- Fabrics in orange or warm peach leave your skin looking sallow and tired.
- Pure white lifts your face, while cream seems a bit grimy.
- Bright silver jewelry looks sharp against you, while gold fights your skin.
- Fuchsia and cobalt blue sharpen your eyes instantly.
- Black worn close to your face feels natural even without much makeup.
What the two seasons share
Each season carries a cool undertone, so black, white and silver look crisp on both. Bright copper and pale coral appear on both skip lists, so pass them by whichever season you land in.
If you're still between them
Begin with what the seasons have in common, like black, white and silver, then work through the rest one color at a time in daylight. Set icy lilac beside dark violet near your face. Whichever one leaves your skin clearer and more even is pointing you toward your season.
A quiz only gets you started. Mirror checks in daylight, or a draping session in person where fabrics are held near your face, can settle the answer.
Common questions
Is dark winter vs true winter the same comparison?
Yes. Dark Winter is just a second name for Deep Winter; True Winter means the same as Cool Winter. Color systems differ in naming, not in the seasons themselves.
Does brown work in either winter season?
On Deep Winter skin, warm golden brown reads yellow or muddy. Warm colors like orange and peach tend to make Cool Winter skin look sallow and tired, so brown is a color to test carefully in either season.
Does having dark hair and dark eyes make me a deep winter?
No. Hair and eyes on their own aren't the deciding factor. Draping fabric below your chin shows whether depth or icy clarity is what you need.