SOFT AUTUMN: THE ULTIMATE GUIDE TO YOUR COLOR PALETTE AND CAPSULE WARDROBE

Soft Autumn combines the warm, inviting undertones of autumn with the soft, understated qualities of summer, making it a distinctive category in the 12-season color analysis system. This seasonal blend is perfect for those who have an overall gentle warmth in their features, where no single element stands out prominently. If you find yourself drawn to soothing, neutral tones like beige and olive, and feel a sense of calm at the sight of a misty forest morning, Soft Autumn may be your ideal match.

This guide will explore the Soft Autumn profile in detail, including physical characteristics, makeup recommendations, and a tailored color palette. You’ll also discover essential wardrobe staples for Soft Autumns and learn how to create a custom palette that enhances your natural beauty. Keep reading to uncover how to fully embrace and elevate your Soft Autumn style.

THE 12 SEASONS OF COLOR ANALYSIS

Seasonal color analysis is a transformative tool that reveals which colors enhance your natural beauty and boost your confidence. By assessing the undertones of your skin, eyes, and hair, this system places you into one of 12 unique color categories, each offering a tailored palette that highlights your best features.

This approach is based on six key color elements: warm, cool, deep, light, soft, and bright. Within the warm spectrum, the Autumn color family is distinguished by its medium to dark, muted hues.

The Autumn palette includes:

  • Soft Autumn (your focus today)
  • Warm Autumn
  • Deep Autumn

In this guide, we’ll explore the Soft Autumn palette—a harmonious blend of warm undertones and subtle contrasts that creates a soothing, refined look.

SOFT AUTUMN IS WARM AND SOFT

Soft Summer is characterized by the following attributes: warm hue, medium value, and muted chroma.

Warm Hue: Soft Summer has a warm undertone, typically red, though it can sometimes appear cooler due to various pink or white overtones. This can make it challenging to differentiate between Soft Autumn and Soft Summer.

Medium Value: Soft Summer features medium-value colors. While Soft Autumn generally leans towards medium to dark values, Soft Summer colors may range from medium pinks and reds to deeper greens and blues, depending on the specific family.

Muted Chroma: The most defining trait of Soft Summer is its muted chroma. Unlike bright colors, Soft Summer colors are subdued and lack intense vibrancy. Bright hues are not suitable for this palette and can help distinguish it from Soft Autumn.

While Soft Autumn shares warmth with its seasonal counterparts, its defining characteristic is its muted gray undertone. This gives Soft Autumn a softer, more subtle appearance compared to the more vibrant Autumn types.

Skin: Soft Autumn skin often ranges from gentle beige to taupe. Skin tone may shift from a golden glow in the summer to an ashy warmth in winter due to sun exposure.

Eyes: Eyes in Soft Autumn are usually brown, green, or blue with a soft, opaque quality. Unique patterns, such as olive overlays and brown specks, are common.

Hair: Hair color in Soft Autumn is generally in the brown family, from light to medium or dark shades, and may include gold, red, or faint auburn highlights. Dark blonde and occasionally medium blonde hair are also seen. Hair color complements the overall muted, harmonious look of the Soft Autumn palette. Features are balanced and unassuming, coming to life when paired with the appropriate colors for the season.

MAKEUP FOR THE SOFT AUTUMN WOMAN

To enhance the Soft Autumn look, your makeup should reflect its warm and soft characteristics.

Eyes: Opt for light neutrals such as cream, blush, and copper, or rich tones like brown and olive. For accents, consider soft plum or warm teal to add subtle depth.

Cheeks: Choose neutral warm shades like sand, coral, and peach to create a natural, peachy glow that complements the Soft Autumn palette.

Lips: Nude shades, along with copper and caramel, work beautifully for everyday looks. For a bolder statement, try chestnut, mocha, or coral red.

Avoid cool tones such as pink or berry red lipsticks, cool blue or green eyeshadows, and soft pink blushes. Dark lip colors are also best avoided as they can overpower the Soft Autumn’s gentle aesthetic.

INSPIRATION: THE NATURAL BEAUTY OF SOFT AUTUMN

The Soft Autumn palette is renowned for its serene warmth and subtle elegance, beautifully reflected in the imagery of a fog-draped landscape. This season’s colors blend the warmth of browns, reds, oranges, yellows, and greens with a gentle hint of gray, creating a harmonious and muted visual experience.

Nature provides rich inspiration for Soft Autumn. Consider the soft transition of a leaf changing colors, where summer’s vibrant hues gradually give way to autumn’s deeper tones. Similarly, the tranquil beauty of a spring scene illuminated by a setting sun offers a glimpse of the warm teal blues that define this palette. These colors capture the essence of Soft Autumn, balancing warmth with softness.

VISUAL INSPIRATIONS:

Leaf Transition: Observe a leaf in mid-transition, where summer’s brightness subtly merges with autumn’s rich, muted colors, embodying the essence of Soft Autumn.

Marigold Glow: The soft, muted glow of marigold leaves under gentle lighting highlights Soft Autumn’s range, connecting deeply with the natural cycle of change.

Sunset Brilliance: The warm yellow hues of a cloudy sunset, blending seamlessly with ivory and taupe, illustrate Soft Autumn’s palette as it transitions from day to night, capturing the season’s tranquil beauty and warmth.

These natural scenes offer a visual guide to embracing the Soft Autumn palette, encouraging you to explore and incorporate these muted, warm colors into your wardrobe and personal style.

SOFT AUTUMN COLOR PALETTE

When creating a Soft Autumn palette, begin with neutral tones and then explore the major color families.

For Soft Autumn, black and white are too harsh, so replace black with brown and denim, and white with ivory. Essential neutral colors for this palette include olive, blush, and camel.

Soft Autumns benefit from rich, muted hues. Burgundy and squash are ideal soft tones. Given the blend with summer, there’s a wider range of pinks available, though warm pinks like blush are particularly suitable. Yellows in this palette can include soft brass, flax, and marzipan. Greens should be medium to light, while blues can be cool but should have a green undertone to fit the autumnal theme. Warm purples, especially those with red undertones, complete the palette.

While most colors can be adapted to fit any season, some may be challenging to match for Soft Autumn. Warm pinks often translate well into blush, but cooler reds and blues without green can be unsuitable. Opt for purples with a red base rather than blue.

Certain colors should be avoided by Soft Autumns. Stark black and white are too high-contrast, and bright, saturated colors can be overwhelming. Instead, focus on warm pastels and soft hues, particularly blush and olive, to complement your Soft Autumn palette.

CHOOSING PRINTS FOR SOFT AUTUMN

Choosing the right patterns can significantly enhance your Soft Autumn style. To ensure your patterns complement your color scheme and align with your scale and contrast preferences, follow these guidelines:

  • Color Consistency: Limit patterns to less than 10% of colors that fall outside your Soft Autumn palette. This keeps your look cohesive and harmonious.
  • Scale: Choose prints with a small to medium scale. Large, bold patterns can disrupt the gentle and soft aesthetic of Soft Autumn.
  • Contrast Level: Opt for low-contrast prints. Soft Autumn’s charm lies in its muted, blended appearance, and low-contrast patterns will emphasize this quality.

Adhering to these principles will help you refine your Soft Autumn wardrobe and boost your confidence in pattern selection. Browse our curated image collection below for examples that perfectly embody these guidelines.

WARDROBE ESSENTIALS FOR SOFT AND WARM COLORING

Regardless of your style or personal aesthetic, there are essential items every woman should have in her wardrobe.

Begin with neutrals, which form the foundation of any wardrobe. Opting for similar shades of the same color can create a sophisticated, cohesive look through layering.

If you prefer a more vibrant approach, the basics remain important, but you can add flair with fun and quirky accessories in yellow, orange, purple, and blue. These colorful accents will bring interest and personality to your outfits.

CONCLUSION

The Soft Autumn palette offers a harmonious blend of warm, muted tones that can complement a variety of skin tones and hair colors. By incorporating these colors into your capsule wardrobe, you can create timeless and versatile outfits that reflect your personal style.

Top Picks for Moisturized, Plump Lips, Featuring the Best Korean Lip Balm of 2023

When it comes to the skincare industry, we have to admit that Korea has the most worth-trying, affordable cosmetic products ever. They have everything we need from a skincare item, nice packaging, pleasant smell, reasonable price. And if you’re considering what you should add to your shopping list next time, we are pretty sure you want to try out lip balms from Korea. As the summer is coming, it’s getting hotter and drier these days, lip balms will be a lifesaver to your chapped, crusty lips. Here are the best Korean lip balm you can find on the market.

Top 10 Korean Lip Balms that are Perfect for Dry Weather

Hanyul Rice Essential Lip Balm – For those who have sensitive lips, this is probably their best option ever. Hanyul Lip balm is made with rice bran oil, which is rich in antioxidants and helps to protect the lips from environmental damage. It is also free from artificial fragrances and colors, making it a great option for those with sensitive skin. Many customers praised this product for its affordable price and they really love its tint of color and how Hanyul lip balm is the best lip balm for sensitive lips they can find on the market. However, many people who want to try Hanyul lip balm find it difficult to buy as it’s not always available.

A’pieu Honey & Milk Lip Oil – If you’re finding a non comedogenic lip balm, you might want to try A’pieu lip oil. It is formulated with a blend of natural oils, including jojoba, argan, and sweet almond oil, to deeply moisturize and nourish the lips while not aggravating acne-prone skin. Most consumers that have bought this item, have a positive experience as it is really thick which can help users soften their lips really fast. But due to its stickiness, many customers have trouble keeping their hair clean when they put on A’pieu lip oil.

Laneige Lip Glowy Balm SPF 15 – Laneige is one of the most chosen brands by consumers from all over the world. It is one of the best lip balms with SPF 15 to protect your lips from UVA/UVB rays. It also contains shea butter and murumuru butter which do wonders in moisturizing your lips. People love this product of Laneige thanks to its light flavor and smooth formula. However, the price of Laneige Lip Glowy Balm is pretty high for people who are on the cheap.

Innisfree Canola Honey Lip Balm – If your lips are intensely dried and chapped, you should be considering adding this lip balm by Innisfree to your shopping cart as it has extracted canola honey which can soften and heal any crusty lips. It also has a very pleasant honey smell and no flaky texture after drying. But there are also people who got annoyed by its honey scent and claimed that the smell was too strong.

The Mamonde Overnight Moisturizer Treatment with Pomegranate – Formulated with natural oils and butter, this overnight lip mask helps to repair and rejuvenate the lips while you sleep. Users have praised it for its hydrating and nourishing properties, with many reporting that it left their skin feeling soft and supple. The product’s pleasant scent has also been a hit with reviewers, and many have noted that a little goes a long way, making the product a great value for money. Some users with dry or sensitive skin have reported that the product caused a slight tingling or stinging sensation upon application, but it was not a common complaint.

Aritaum Ginger Sugar Overnight Lip Mask – People who are desiring healthier and plumper lips might want to try out this lip mask as there are ginger extract and sugar crystals which are really good for exfoliating in the ingredients. Many users have complimented it for its effectiveness in softening and smoothing dry, chapped lips, and have noted that it provides long-lasting hydration. The pleasant and invigorating scent is also a huge contribution to its popularity. Like the Mamonde overnight moisturizer, slight tingling and stings are inevitable when you apply it to your lips.

The Sun Bum CocoBalm Variety Pack – The Sun Bum CocoBalm Variety Pack is a set of three highly rated lip balms that are designed to moisturize and protect the lips. Each balm in the pack contains a blend of coconut oil, cocoa butter, and aloe vera, which work together to nourish and hydrate the lips. Many customers love this product for its effectiveness in treating dry, chapped lips, and its long-lasting, non-greasy finish. However, some users have reported that the balms can be a bit too soft and may melt easily in warmer temperatures which is a big minus for people who live in hot areas.

I’m From Honey Lip Balm – Another honey lip balm in this list is a lip balm from a brand with a quite unique name: “I’m From”. People go for I’m From lip balm thanks to its natural ingredients such as beeswax, coconut oil, and shea butter which provides customers with a soft, non-irritating, effective product.  Additionally, the product’s compact size and easy-to-use tube applicator make it convenient to carry and apply on the go. But according to other reviews, many users weren’t satisfied with the stickiness of the product. They claimed that the sticky and greasy texture made it less suitable for use under lipstick or other lip products. 

TONYMOLY Mini Cherry Lip Balm – If you’re into products with cute packaging, you should check out this lip balm from Tonymoly. It is liked by many consumers thanks to its adorable and compact packaging, as well as its effectiveness in treating dry, chapped lips. The lip balm’s cherry scent and flavor are also its biggest plus, with many describing it as sweet and pleasant. Moreover, the product’s smooth, non-greasy texture makes it easy to apply and wear under lipstick or other lip products. But like the Sun Bum CocoBalm Variety Pack, the hot temperature will affect the quality of the product.

Klavuu Nourishing Care Lip Sleeping Pack – For those who are searching for the best lip balm for eczema, Klavuu lip balm can satisfy your demands. The lip sleeping pack’s natural ingredients include avocado oil, shea butter, and hyaluronic acid, which is very gentle and non-irritating for people with sensitive or eczema-prone skin. However, some customers experienced greasy and sticky products, making it less suitable for daytime use or under lipstick.

Korea has one of the biggest beauty industries in the world, and Korean beauty products are well-liked and used by people from all over the world so you don’t have to worry about their products’ qualities. Even when you’re on a budget, you can still purchase an effective and expensive-looking lip product from Korea.

Factors to Consider When Choosing a Korean Lip Balm

Like other skincare items, it’s important to consider your skin status and preference before purchasing a product if you don’t want it to end up in your trash can. If you’re experienced with choosing the best option, we’re here to help.

Skin Type: Consider your skin type and any specific concerns you have, such as dryness, sensitivity, or eczema. If you’re having any of these listed skin conditions, you should look for a lip balm that is formulated to address your specific needs for the best result.

Ingredients: Check the ingredients list to make sure the lip balm contains nourishing ingredients, such as natural oils, shea butter, or hyaluronic acid as well as avoiding any ingredients that can cause you irritation, drying or even allergic reactions, such as menthol or camphor.

Texture: Choose a lip balm with a texture that you find comfortable and easy to apply. Some people prefer thicker, more emollient balms, while others prefer lighter, gel-like textures. It’s really up to your preference, but we highly recommend a thicker-texture product for heavily chapped lips.

Scent and Flavor: If you prefer scented or flavored lip balms, look for one with a fragrance or taste that you enjoy. Be aware that some fragrances or flavors might aggravate sensitive skin or certain allergies.

Packaging: Consider the packaging of the lip balm, especially if you plan to carry it with you on the go. Some lip balms come in convenient tubes or pots, while others may be more difficult to apply or prone to leakage.

Lip Balm vs Chapstick 

Lip balm and chapstick are both types of lip moisturizers that are designed to prevent and treat dry, chapped, or cracked lips. They indeed have a lot in common but there are still differences between these lip products.

Formulation: Lip balm’s ingredients usually have a mix of oils, butter, and waxes to create a barrier on the lips that helps to lock in moisture and protect the skin from environmental stressors. Chapstick, on the other hand, is typically made with petrolatum or beeswax as the main ingredient, which provides a protective layer to the lips.

Branding: Chapstick is actually a brand name for a particular type of lip balm made by Pfizer. Over time, the term “chapstick” has become synonymous with lip balm, and many people use the two terms interchangeably. However, there are many other brands of lip balm available, and they may have different formulations and ingredients.

Purpose: While both lip balm and chapstick are designed to moisturize the lips, some lip balms may have additional benefits, such as providing sun protection, exfoliating the lips, or adding a tint of color.

Whether you choose to use lip balm or chapstick depends on your personal preferences and the specific needs of your lips. It’s important to choose a product that works well for you and provides the moisture and protection that your lips need to stay healthy and comfortable.

Korean skincare products have always been a staple in my heart as these items are so affordable as well as various ingredients, designs and scents. There is always a Korean lip balm out there that is perfectly suitable for your lips status as well as your wallet. If you’re a fan of the Korean beauty industry or just really a lip balm, don’t forget to check out our list.