Light Summer vs Soft Summer: how light is your coloring?

The lighter ones, yes. Dusty rose, soft blue-grey and sage are close enough to the Light Summer palette to wear, especially away from the face. Slate navy, rose brown and soft charcoal tend to be too heavy and can make light coloring look tired.

Pastels with some grey in them can work when a medium neutral such as soft grey or slate navy gives them weight. Very light, sweet pastels on their own, like powder blue or baby pink, often leave a Soft Summer looking washed out.

Natural light ash blond to light ash brown is typical of Light Summer, while Soft Summer hair is usually medium: ash brown, dark blond or mousy. Hair is only one part, though. Your eyes and your coloring as a whole count as much, and a dyed color says little about your natural depth.

Both can, in the right shade. A Soft Summer wears slate navy as its main dark neutral. A Light Summer does better with a lighter, greyed blue such as light grey-blue, and keeps darker navy for trousers or shoes rather than a top.

Light Summer suits sheer, light shades: rose or pale pink lips, a cool pink blush and soft grey or taupe eyeshadow. Soft Summer takes a little more depth and more grey: mauve and dusty rose lips, a rose brown blush and grey-brown liner. Neither suits an orange bronzer.

You are one season, but you can sit near the border. If your coloring falls between light and medium, the middle tones of both palettes may suit you. The edges still decide: powder blue or slate navy, whichever looks like part of your face.