Cool Winter Color Palette
By the Skintonic team · SKINTONIC LLC · Updated
Cool Winters have fully cool, crisp, high-contrast coloring. Hair is often dark ash brown, black or silver, skin is cool with pink or blue undertones, and eyes are cool blue, gray, dark brown or icy hazel. Cool, clear colors make you look striking. Warm colors make you look sallow. The Cool Winter color palette stays clean and cool from the palest icy shade to the deepest jewel tone.
You are likely a Cool Winter if:
- Your undertone is clearly cool: pink or blue, never golden.
- Your hair is dark and cool, or has turned a bright silver.
- There is clear contrast between your hair, skin and eyes.
- Pure white and black look crisp on you.
- Orange, camel and mustard make your skin look yellow.
What a Cool Winter looks like
Coolness is your main feature, followed by contrast. Your coloring is crisp and clear, like snow against dark branches. Nothing about it is golden or earthy.
That is why warm colors look wrong on you even when they are fashionable. Cool, clear colors, from icy pastels to deep jewel tones, match your undertone and make your skin look clean.
Cool Winter color palette
- True Red#C8102E
- Royal Purple#3E1E6E
- Deep Emerald#023D2E
- Deep Navy#101E3A
- Black#0F0F10
- Royal Blue#1E3F8F
- Emerald#04724D
- Fuchsia#C2298A
These are cool, clear colors with strength. Combine them with black, white or navy for a crisp look. Other good neutrals are charcoal, cool gray and pewter.
Three easy outfits
Weekend
A Royal Blue sweater with gray jeans and white sneakers. Fresh and fully cool.
Smart casual
A white shirt with a Deep Navy jacket and charcoal trousers. Add a Fuchsia or True Red accent near the face for color.
Going out
A Royal Purple or Emerald top with a black jacket and silver jewelry. Bold, cool and elegant.
Colors that work against you
Avoid anything warm or earthy. Orange, mustard, camel, peach, warm brown and olive all clash with your cool undertone. They bring out yellow in your skin and soften your contrast.
If you like warm neutrals, swap camel for cool gray, brown for charcoal and cream for pure white.
Cool Winter or Cool Summer?
Both are fully cool. The difference is contrast. Cool Winter carries high contrast, so black, pure white and vivid colors look crisp. Cool Summer is softer and looks better in calmer cool colors.
If black and pure white look crisp near your face, lean Cool Winter. If they look harsh and soft navy looks better, lean Cool Summer.
Cool Winter or Deep Winter?
Both are cool with high contrast. Deep Winter is darker overall. Cool Winter is the coolest winter and can wear icy pastels very well. If icy pink and icy blue suit you, you are more likely a Cool Winter.
Quick tips
- Metal: silver, white gold or platinum.
- Glasses: black, silver, navy or cool clear frames.
- Hair: cool, ash or natural silver. Golden highlights tend to fight your undertone.
Questions
What is the best neutral for a Cool Winter?
Black, pure white, navy and charcoal. They match your contrast and coolness.
Can a Cool Winter wear pastels?
Yes, icy pastels like icy pink and icy blue, not warm or dusty ones.
Is Cool Winter the same as True Winter?
Yes. Some systems call it True Winter because it is the coolest, most typical winter.
Check any color against your season
Holding something in a shop and not sure? The free color checker takes any color and tells you whether Cool Winter carries it near the face, lower down, or not at all.
More on Cool Winter
Cool Winter hair color · Cool Winter makeup · Cool Winter outfits · Cool Winter colors to avoid
If this is you
Colors for cool undertones · Colors for deep skin · Colors for black hair · Colors that make brown eyes pop
Often confused with
Cool Winter vs Cool Summer · Cool Winter vs Deep Winter
Related
The whole winter color palette · Color analysis quiz · All 12 seasons · Undertone test · Color combinations · How the four factors work