When it comes to makeup, finding the right colors for your skin tone is KEY: soft summer
essential. If you have a soft summer complexion, you’ll want to use makeup shades that complement your natural coloring. Soft summer skin tones tend to have a neutral undertone that is neither too warm nor too cool. The best makeup colors will enhance your natural beauty without being too overpowering.
In this article, we’ll discuss how to determine if you have a soft summer complexion and recommend the best makeup shades for soft summer color palettes. From foundation to lipstick, we’ll cover all the makeup must-haves for soft summer women. Read on to learn how to make your features pop with harmonious makeup colors.
How to Tell if You Have Soft Summer Coloring
Here are some of the defining characteristics of a soft summer complexion:
- Fair to medium skin tone
- Neutral undertone that is neither too pink nor too yellow
- Low to medium contrast between hair, eyes, and skin
- Ashy blonde, mousy brown, or gray hair
- Blue eyes, gray eyes, hazel eyes, or green eyes
- Premature graying or gray streaks
- Tans easily and retains tan well
If this sounds like your natural coloring, you likely have a soft summer complexion. Your overall look is soft and muted rather than high contrast. Finding makeup in harmonizing soft summer shades will help enhance your natural beauty.
Best Foundation Shades for Soft Summer
When selecting a foundation, it’s important to find a shade that matches your skin’s undertones. Here are some of the best foundation shades for soft summer complexions:
| Foundation Brand | Soft Summer Shade |
|---|---|
| NARS | Mont Blanc, Deauville |
| MAC | NW20, NW25 |
| Clinique | Alabaster, Vanilla |
| Maybelline | 120 Classic Ivory |
| L’Oreal | Classic Ivory |
Look for neutral and peachy undertones rather than foundations with yellow or pink hues. A sheer luminous foundation finish will let your natural skin show through.
Best Concealer Shades for Soft Summer
When picking a concealer, make sure to complement your foundation shade rather than going too light or dark. Here are flattering concealer shades for soft summers:
| Concealer Brand | Soft Summer Shade |
|---|---|
| NARS | Vanilla, Custard |
| Maybelline | Fair 20 |
| L’Oreal | Fair 332 |
| MAC | NW20 |
Using a concealer 1-2 shades lighter than your foundation will brighten and illuminate without being stark.
Best Blush Shades for Soft Summer
Soft muted blush shades harmonize beautifully with soft summer complexions. Look for neutral rose, peach, and apricot blushes with a matte or satin finish. Here are some flattering blush shades to try:
| Blush Brand | Soft Summer Shade |
|---|---|
| NARS | Douceur, Luster |
| Clinique | New Clover, Sunset Glow |
| MAC | Peaches, Melba |
| Milani | Romantic Rose |
Apply blush to the apples of your cheeks in a soft, diffused style. A brushed style application is more flattering than a strong blush circle.
Best Eye Shadow Colors for Soft Summer
Aim for neutral, low contrast eyeshadow shades that complement your eye color. Soft muted shades enhance your natural beauty without being overly bold. Here are the best eyeshadow colors to try:
- Shimmers: champagne, pewter, dove gray
- Mattes: brown, taupe, mauve, slate gray
- Liners: dark gray, dark brown
A wash of soft shimmery shadow across the lid with defined matte crease shades creates a lovely everyday look. For evening glam, try a smoky neutral eye in gray, bronze or muted navy.
Best Eyeliner Colors for Soft Summer
Swap black eyeliner for softer shades like dark brown, charcoal and navy. These liner shades deliver definition without being too harsh:
| Eyeliner Type | Soft Summer Colors |
|---|---|
| Pencil | Taupe, dark brown |
| Liquid | Dark brown, navy |
| Gel | Chocolate, charcoal |
Apply liner close to the upper lash line and smudge slightly. Keep the lower waterline bare for a more wide-eyed look.
Best Mascara Shades for Soft Summer
For a naturally defined eye look, use brown or gray mascara rather than black. Here are complementary mascara colors for soft summers:
- Dark brown
- Gray
- Navy
- Deep plum
These shades give soft definition without too much intensity around the eyes. Use waterproof formulas to avoid smudging and flaking throughout the day.
Best Lipstick Shades for Soft Summer
Lipstick with pink, mauve or nude undertones complements soft summer coloring. Sheer formulas are more harmonizing than heavy opaque lipsticks. Here are the most flattering shades to try:
| Lipstick Color | Shade Examples |
|---|---|
| Nudes | Honey beige, rose brown |
| Pinks | Mauve pink, soft rose |
| Berries | Muted berry, rosewood |
Sheer and satin finishes will give you a soft, polished lip look. Stay away from bright, clear colors and opt for softer hues instead.
Best Nail Polish Colors for Soft Summer
Like your makeup, nail colors for soft summer complexions should have muted undertones. Sheer neutral pinks, nudes and grays flatter soft summer nails:
- Ballet slipper pink
- Muted rose
- Dove gray
- Mushroom
- Sand
- Greige
Sheer neutrals complement your skin without being too flashy. Stay away from bright creams and bold reds, which can overwhelm soft summer coloring.
Tips for Applying Soft Summer Makeup
Here are some tips for applying your makeup in soft summer shades:
- Use a light hand with powder products to avoid looking washed out.
- Blend eyeshadow and blush well for a seamless look.
- Add definition with taupe or gray-brown eyeliner rather than black.
- Try a MLBB (my lips but better) lipstick shade for a polished but natural look.
- Use a luminous foundation and keep the rest of your base sheer.
- Curl lashes and apply brown mascara for soft definition.
- Fill in brows with a light, ashy powder.
The overall effect should enhance your natural coloring without being too overpowering. Aim for muted, neutral and sheer shades across your makeup look.
Makeup Products to Avoid for Soft Summer
Some makeup shades will clash with soft summer coloring, making you look washed out or sallow. Avoid these shades:
- Bright, clear lip colors like fire engine red
- Vibrant pink blush circles
- Inky black eyeliner on lower waterline
- Frosted or shimmery eyeshadow
- Pure white highlighter
- Bold orange-red nails
- Chalky matte foundation
These shades tend to be too cool, too warm, too bright or too pale for the soft summer complexion. Stick to your harmonizing colors for a naturally gorgeous look.
Celebrity Inspiration for Soft Summer Makeup
These celebrities also have soft summer coloring, so take inspiration from their signature makeup looks:
- Jennifer Aniston – Honey nude lip, peach blush
- Nicole Kidman – Rosy pink pout, gray eyeliner
- Kate Winslet – Sheer berry lipstick, brown shadow
- Cindy Crawford – Neutral matte eyes, apricot blush
- Gwyneth Paltrow – Mauve lipstick, champagne lid
- Julia Roberts – MLBB lip, bronzy smoky eye
Their makeup looks are polished yet understated. They stick to soft summer shades that glow without clashing.
Conclusion
From foundation to nails, choosing the most flattering shades for your soft summer complexion is key. Look for muted, neutral and sheer tones across your makeup to complement your natural coloring. Avoid brights, frosts and opaque finishes. With the right colors, your soft summer beauty will shine through for a gorgeous look.
