Light Spring vs Warm Spring

The single trait that tells them apart

Every one of the 12 seasons takes its name from its dominant trait. For Light Spring, that trait is lightness, and warmth comes second. For Warm Spring, warmth leads and brightness follows.

Depth describes whether your features, taken together from skin to hair to eyes, look light or deep. Light Spring lives at the light end. Warm Spring lands in the medium range.

Warm Spring reads as a fresh, sunlit palette, and every single color in it starts from a clear golden yellow base with no cool undertones anywhere. Light Spring is built from fresh pastels that carry a soft sunny glow. It sits nearer to neutral, tipped toward warm.

Trying the test yourself in daylight

A phone camera and indoor bulbs both change how skin looks, so a mirror beside a window shows you more truth than a selfie can.

1. Stand near a window in daylight with a mirror, letting the light hit your face evenly.
2. Put something pale apricot under your chin, such as a top or a bit of fabric. Watch your skin, not the color itself.
3. Change to something rich marigold and study the same spot again.
4. Give the metals a try as well: rose gold or light gold near your face, then brass or yellow gold.

What the mirror shows you

The color that suits you will leave your skin looking even and fresh. The one that doesn't usually creates shadows under the eyes, a grayish tone or a washed out effect.

When deep marigold feels heavy and too orange on you, that leans toward Light Spring. When pale apricot drains you while marigold matches the golden quality in your coloring, that leans toward Warm Spring.

Signs you're Light Spring

• Black worn near your face leaves you looking drained and tired.
• Peach and coral tones wake your face up instantly.
• Light gold and rose gold jewelry sit softly against your skin.
• Dark lipstick takes over, so your mouth is all anyone notices.
• Pure white looks too severe compared with soft cream or ivory.

Your signature shades include soft apple green, light aqua, light coral, butter yellow and bright peach. The ones to skip are dark cognac, emerald, dark magenta, navy and black.

Signs you're Warm Spring

• Black worn near your face turns your skin sallow and deepens the shadows under your eyes.
• Yellow gold jewelry melts into your skin and adds warmth, while silver looks chilly and out of place.
• Lipstick in warm coral or peach lifts your whole face with barely any eye makeup.
• Icy pale pink or cool lavender leaves your lips looking washed out and drained.
• Rich camel and warm cream bring out your eyes more clearly than stark white ever will.

Your signature shades include poppy, bright turquoise, apple green, bright marigold and coral. The ones to pass over are teal, dark rose, lilac, bright cobalt, rose and black.

What about True Spring?

You may also see Warm Spring called True Spring. It's the same season, so everything here applies.

What do both palettes have in common?

Your undertone is the warmth or coolness that sits beneath your skin's surface. Both seasons run warm, so both shine in sunny, fresh shades and in gold jewelry.

Black is on both skip lists, so it won't help you choose. Try holding black, then dark brown, near your face and compare them.

Torn between the two?

If neither color is a clear winner, try the apricot and marigold test again on another day by a window.

A quiz or a check at home is a good starting point. If you want a firm answer, an in-person draping session lets you see many colors held near your face side by side.