Light Summer makeup

Picking your light summer lipsticks

Soft watermelon, sheer rose pink, pinky mauve, light dusty rose and cool petal pink are your 5 lipstick shades. Each one falls between light and medium in depth, and every shade pulls pink instead of orange.

For a soft, barely-there look, sheer rose pink and cool petal pink sit nearest your natural lip color. Soft watermelon brings a touch more pigment while staying fresh. Light dusty rose and pinky mauve sit a touch softer and more muted, which is handy when you want a polished mouth without going dark.

The one thing to watch out for is dark lipstick. On Light Summer features it dominates, so all anyone notices is your mouth.

Blush for light summer coloring

For blush, reach for soft rose pink, dusty pink, cool baby pink or light peony. Of the group, cool baby pink and light peony rank palest, made for days when a whisper of color is enough. Soft rose pink and dusty pink run slightly deeper, so they show up better at night.

A gentle cool pink wakes up a Light Summer face almost instantly. Warm orange peach does the reverse and can turn your skin sallow.

Eyeshadow and eyeliner

Your eyeshadow palette holds rose quartz, shimmering shell pink, dusty lavender, cool taupe and soft dove grey. Shell pink and rose quartz run pale enough to wear all over the lid. Dove grey, dusty lavender and cool taupe carry a bit more depth, so they're good when you want extra definition around the eyes.

For liner, charcoal grey, cool cocoa brown or slate blue will define the eye without the bite of black. Black worn near your face can drain color from your skin and draw attention to dark circles.

Which finish suits Light Summer?

Gentle coloring calls for gentle finishes. Sheer formulas leave some of your own skin visible, which keeps things airy. Satin offers a soft glow that lands between matte and gloss.

A delicate shimmer (shimmering shell pink swept over the lid, say) brings in light without any weight. Dense, highly pigmented products are tricky here, since bold color easily swamps this season. When a shade feels too strong, one thin layer usually solves it.

Nail polish colors

On nails, pastel lavender, powder blue, soft mint and sheer ballet pink all work. Sheer ballet pink reads as the most low-key option for daily wear. The trio of pastel lavender, soft mint and powder blue plays as quieter pastels drawn straight from the Light Summer palette, whose signature colors include powder blue, soft mint and light lavender.

An everyday look

1. Dab cool baby pink or light peony blush on your cheeks for a gentle flush.
2. Brush shimmering shell pink or rose quartz over your lids to wake up your eyes.
3. Draw a fine line of cool cocoa brown liner along your upper lashes, so your eyes get shape without harshness.
4. For lips, sheer rose pink or cool petal pink finishes the look.

An evening look

1. Go with soft rose pink or dusty pink blush, both of which read better than the paler pinks.
2. Place rose quartz on the lid, then blend dusty lavender, cool taupe or soft dove grey through the crease to add depth.
3. Trace your upper lashes in charcoal grey or slate blue rather than black.
4. Add pinky mauve, light dusty rose or soft watermelon to your lips for richer color that still fits.

Makeup shades to skip

These 4 groups usually miss the mark for Light Summer coloring:

• Liquid eyeliner in jet black, along with a thick coat of black mascara
• Berry or burgundy lipstick in a dark, vampy finish
• Orange peach blush with warm undertones, and heavy bronzer
• Eyeshadow in copper and warm gold

Deep colors weigh down fair, delicate features and drag the eye to a single point. Warm, golden tones fight a cool undertone, the same way yellow gold jewelry can turn brassy on you while silver just disappears into your look. Bold warm shades such as mustard or rust can also give your skin a yellow cast.