True Winter color palette
True Winter, also called Cool Winter, is the coolest season of all: pure white, black, true red, royal blue, emerald and icy pastels. Colors are blue-based, crisp and high-contrast, never warm or muted.
- Undertone:
- cool
- Value:
- medium-deep
- Chroma:
- bright
The True Winter palette
18 signature colors with hex codes. Tap a color to copy its code.
Best neutrals
Build your wardrobe base from these instead of black and stark white.
Colors to avoid
Keep these away from your face; they work better as shoes, bags or trousers.
How to recognize a True Winter
True Winter has a cool undertone, medium-deep value, bright chroma. Typical, but not required, features:
Skin
cool porcelain, rosy beige, cool olive or cool deep brown
Hair
dark ash brown, black or silver
Eyes
cool blue, grey, dark cool brown or clear green
Not sure? Take the color analysis quiz or check your undertone first.
Hair colors
cool black, dark ash brown, blue-black, silver.
Makeup
Lips: true red, blue-red, cool fuchsia, berry.
Blush: cool pink and fuchsia.
Eyes: charcoal, navy, cool grey, plum.
Jewelry
Silver, platinum, white gold.
True Winter vs. neighboring seasons
These seasons share one trait with True Winter, which is why they are easy to confuse. Compare the palettes side by side.
Colors in this palette
Other winter seasons
FAQ
What colors look best on a True Winter?
True Winter looks best in true red, blue red, raspberry, fuchsia, magenta, royal purple and the other colors in the palette above. The best neutrals are pure white, black, charcoal, navy.
What colors should a True Winter avoid?
True Winter should avoid orange, camel, olive, mustard, peach, warm brown near the face. They clash with the cool undertone or overpower the bright coloring.
What hair colors suit a True Winter?
Flattering hair colors for True Winter include cool black, dark ash brown, blue-black, silver.
What metal jewelry suits a True Winter?
True Winter looks best in silver, platinum, white gold.
How do I know if I am a True Winter?
True Winter typically has cool porcelain, rosy beige, cool olive or cool deep brown skin, dark ash brown, black or silver hair and cool blue, grey, dark cool brown or clear green eyes. The best test is draping: hold colors from this palette and from neighboring seasons under your face in daylight, or take our free color analysis quiz.
Recommended app · ColorScan
Check if a color fits your palette
In a store or at home, point ColorScan at a sweater, a lipstick or a wall and get its exact color, so you can compare it with your True Winter palette.
- Identify any color from a photo or the live camera
- Closest matches from Benjamin Moore, Sherwin-Williams, Behr and Farrow & Ball
- HEX, RGB, HSL, CMYK and LAB in one tap
- Color harmonies and palettes from any shot
