Color Analysis Tips
What Is a Color Season, Really?
You’ve heard your friend say she’s a “True Summer.” But what is a color season? Seasonal color analysis is a way of figuring out which colors actually flatter your skin tone, hair, and eyes. The idea is that everyone has a natural palette—and when you wear colors that match it, you look more alive, fresh, and glow-y.
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How I Use My Soft Summer Colors When Shopping (and How It Takes the Stress Out of It)
As someone who’s always loved clothes but hated feeling like I was guessing what would look good on me, I can honestly say knowing my color season has totally changed the way I shop. I'm a Soft Summer, which means my best colors are those cool, muted tones. Think dusty rose, soft mauve, muted teal, and smoky blues. Once I found my color season, shopping went from overwhelming to kind of fun (yes, really!). I Keep My Color Palette Saved on My Phone First things first: I never shop without my color palette. I have my Soft Summer color palette saved as a photo in my favorites folder on my phone, and I pull it out anytime I’m thinking about buying something. Whether I’m at Target, scrolling through Nordstrom’s sale section, or eyeing something in a boutique, I literally hold up my phone next to an item and compare. Does this sweater match one of my dusty blues or soft lilacs? If not, I know to skip it. It’s like having a little color expert in my pocket. And honestly? It takes so much of the stress out of shopping. I don’t waste time trying on a dozen things that are “meh” on me. I already know what shades are going to flatter me. Shopping Online? I Filter by Color First When I’m shopping online I always use the color filter first. I’ll head straight to the “blue” or “green” categories and scan for shades that look like they’ll fall into my Soft Summer world. Once you know what tones work for you, it’s easier to spot when a “blue” is too bright (hello, Clear Spring) or when a “green” is too warm (probably better for a Warm Autumn). Filtering by color saves me from endless scrolling and frustration. And bonus: I’m not constantly returning things because “it just didn’t look right” when I put it on. How Accessories Like Scarves Make Everything Work One of my favorite ways to make an outfit look pulled together is to throw on a scarf in one of my best colors. Like, I can be wearing a super basic white tee and jeans, but if I add a scarf in that perfect muted plum or dusty teal? Instantly looks intentional. Hats work too a Soft Summer taupe or soft gray beanie has saved many a rushed school drop-off look for me. Why This Makes Shopping (and Life) Easier Before I knew my color season, I would stand in stores holding things up and hoping they’d look good. I’d buy something because it was trendy or on sale, only to let it sit in my closet untouched because it made me look tired (and who needs that?). Now? If something doesn’t fit within my colors, I don’t even bother. And the stuff I do buy? I actually wear it, because it looks like it was made for me. Want to Find Your Color Season? If you’ve ever wondered, what’s the best color for me? That’s literally why I started The Glow Guide. I wanted to make finding your color season simple and affordable (because I didn’t have $300 and a whole day to go see someone in person either!). You just send me a few selfies, answer some easy questions, and I’ll do the color analysis for you. You’ll get a personalized color palette, like the one I keep on my phone, so you can start shopping with confidence too. Get My Color Season
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Spring Clean Your Closet (and Your Life) With Color as Your Guide
Spring cleaning doesn’t have to mean chaos. This guide walks you through how to refresh your closet, home, and even your kids’ wardrobe using your color season as your compass. Thoughtful edits, less clutter, and a whole lot more glow.
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Quiz vs. Pro. Can You Really Trust Online Color Tests?
Think you're a Cool Summer because a quiz told you so? Online color season tests can be fun. But they’re rarely accurate. In this post, we break down why self-diagnosing your color season is tricky, and why a professional online color analysis (done by a real person) gives you better results.
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How to Wear Spring Colors (Even If You’re Not a Spring)
Think you can’t wear spring colors just because you’re not a Spring? Think again. This guide shows you how to bring fresh, spring-inspired shades into your wardrobe, no matter your color season. Yes, even Winters.
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You Might Just Be Wearing the Wrong Color
Hi, I'm Jill, creator of The Glow Guide, and if you've ever stood in front of the mirror wearing something that technically should work but just... doesn't? Same. That weird feeling where it doesn't look bad, but you still don’t feel like yourself? For me, it wasn’t just one outfit. It was a pattern. Certain colors made me feel fresh and confident, while others washed me out or made me feel dull or too red. I didn’t have the words for it yet, but I knew something was off. Then I stumbled into the world of seasonal color analysis and everything clicked. Why I Created The Glow Guide When those beautiful, curated TikToks of in-person color mapping started floating around my feed (you know the ones), I was so jealous. I wanted someone to tell me which colors made me glow. But between two little kids, a busy job, and a $300+ price tag, the whole thing felt wildly out of reach. So I built it myself. I’m a digital marketing strategist with a deep love for color and skincare. I knew I could combine those passions to create something better. Something accessible, personalized, and actually helpful. That’s how The Glow Guide was born. So…What Is Color Season Analysis? Color season analysis is the process of identifying which shades and tones work best with your natural features like your skin tone, hair, and eyes. Instead of guessing what might look good, you get a clear guide to the colors that make you look like your most radiant self. It's not just about aesthetics. It’s about harmony. When you wear the right colors, your skin looks smoother, your eyes pop, and you don’t look like you're wearing the color. The color just belongs on you. Understanding the Color Seasons There are four main color seasons: Spring, Summer, Autumn, and Winter. Each one has a few subtypes (like True Spring, Soft Summer, Deep Winter, and so on). Think of it like a spectrum based on a few things: Undertones – Are you warm or cool? Contrast – Are your features soft and blended, or high-contrast? Here's a quick breakdown: Spring: Warm, light, and clear. Think golden undertones and fresh, bright colors. Summer: Cool, soft, and muted. Rose undertones and more blended colors. Autumn: Warm, rich, and earthy. Golden undertones with deep, spicy hues. Winter: Cool, bold, and dramatic. Cool undertones with striking jewel tones and crisp contrast. Knowing where you fall helps you build a wardrobe (and beauty routine) that actually works with your coloring, not against it. The Benefits of Finding Your Color Season You don’t have to throw out your entire closet (I’m a mom, I get it), but once you know your season, everything else gets easier. Smarter Shopping No more buying something “cute” that never leaves the hanger. You’ll know what works before you check out. Better Makeup Picks From the right foundation tone to your perfect blush and lip color, everything just clicks. Time and Money Saved Avoid the cycle of trial and error. When you know your palette, decision fatigue goes out the window. Effortless Confidence When your colors match your natural glow, you just look more like you. Brighter, clearer, more put together. Have you ever put on an outfit and felt like something was off, but you couldn’t quite figure out why? The answer might be color. Finding your color season can make shopping easier, styling effortless, and even boost your confidence. Get My Color Season
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New Year, Fresh Closet: Step-by-Step Guide for New Year Closet Organization and Cleanout
Let’s talk about that corner of your closet, you know the one. The section that’s holding onto a pair of shoes you wore to a wedding in 2016 and a jacket you keep “just in case you go camping,” even though you haven’t so much as seen a pine tree in three years. January (and honestly, March) is peak “clean slate” season. Everyone’s scrubbing their baseboards and decanting pantry snacks into asthetic jars. And while I fully support a home that smells like grapefruit cleaner, I’d argue that your closet is where the real magic happens. A refreshed wardrobe doesn’t only look nice. It makes getting dressed less stressful, helps you actually wear the clothes you own, and makes room for the ones that actually suit you. And no, this isn’t about throwing everything out and building a capsule wardrobe from scratch (unless that’s your thing, in which case... let's goooooo). It’s about editing. Intentionally. Kindly. Colorfully. 1. Start With a Color-Check Before you pull everything off the hangers and spiral into regret, do a little pre-work. Know your color season. It’s the fastest way to figure out which pieces are making you glow. If you already know your season (hey, star students!), you’re halfway there. Scan your closet and see what’s already aligned with your palette. Spoiler: you might already own more “right” colors than you think. Not sure what your season is? The Glow Guide makes it super easy (no awkward lighting or in-person sessions required). You send selfies. We do the analyzing. You get your custom Glow Guide, and suddenly your closet makes way more sense. 2. Sort Smart: Keep, Store, Let Go Time to channel your inner editor. Pull out everything (yes, everything) and sort into three piles: Keep: These are your heavy hitters. Great fit, solid colors, and in regular rotation. Bonus points if they’re in your season. Store: Off-season items or “maybes” that aren’t ready to be donated but don’t need daily real estate. Let Go: Wrong fit? Wrong color? Wrong energy? It’s not doing you any favors. Someone else will love it more than you do. Be ruthless, but not mean. Some things are just meant to be with someone else now. 3. Re-Shop Your Closet Now that you’ve edited, let’s romanticize what’s left. Try pairing things in new ways, like mixing two colors from your season you haven’t worn together yet. Your soft lavender sweater? Shockingly chic with camel. Give your old faves a chance to feel new again. This is where knowing your color season can be the game changer in your organization and editing. Sometimes the best outfit isn’t new, it’s just newly styled. 4. Make a Glow-Worthy Wishlist Once you’ve done your clean-out, notice what’s missing. Do you need: A go-to layer that isn’t gray? A top in your power color? A dress that fits your season and your life? Make a wishlist,r not a shopping cart. Give yourself time to buy with intention. And always double-check that what you're buying actually lives in your color world. 5. Try a Mini Wardrobe Challenge Want to take it for a test spin? Try a 10x10 challenge: 10 items, 10 days, all outfits from those pieces. It’s like speed dating your closet. Or go full Glow Mode and create a mini-capsule from just your best colors. The point isn’t perfection. It’s practice. And it’s kind of fun. Final Thoughts (a.k.a. Permission to Be a Little Lazy) Listen. No one said you have to color-code your hangers or label your drawers (unless that brings you joy). What you can do is take a little time to make your closet feel less like a museum and more like a tool that works for you. It’s not about owning less, it’s about owning what works. If you’re still guessing your season, now’s the time. The Glow Guide take only a few minutes - no stylist, no weird lighting, no pressure.
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How to Wear Winter Colors (No Matter Your Color Season)
Winter colors aren’t just for Winters. Icy pastels, bold reds, and inky navies can work on just about anyone when you wear them the right way. In this guide, we’ll show you how every color season can tap into the cool, crisp vibe of Winter shades without throwing off your natural glow.
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Discover Your Color Season
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Personal Color Season Analysis (Custom Palette, Email or Text Delivery)
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