Discover your color palette and your style type.

True Autumn Makeup Word Cloud

10/15/2018

This was one of the few makeup word clouds that came out more or less exactly as I would have predicted. Maybe that's because the True Autumn palette is such an intuitive palette; it's very easy to explain. I mean, it's right there in the name.

True Autumn's colors are somewhat saturated, a bit on the darker side, and very, very warm.

If you're a True Autumn, your best colors are also somewhat saturated, a bit on the darker side, and very, very warm. Your least flattering colors are probably very cool and very light -- True Summer and Light Summer are probably really bad for you. You avoid white, pale blue, and light pink for your face.

Here's the word cloud showing which color words appear the most often on a list of over 400 cosmetics matched to the True Autumn palette:

Brown, bronze, gold, copper, spice. No surprises here, right? I think this is what we all picture when we picture True Autumn.

Except maybe that "fuchsia" floating over on the left. True Autumn does have a pinky red that edges into "hot pink" territory. But you know this fuchsia is "spiced fuchsia" or "golden fuchsia" or some other version that warms and deepens the color enough to make it True Autumn.

Isn't it funny how so many of the food names -- which you find in lots of cosmetics -- are warming foods? Coffee, tea, paprika, ginger...?

Last week, after remarking on pink's importance for Soft Autumn, I predicted we'd see much less of it, and in fact pink's role in True Autumn makeup is small. By moving from Soft Autumn to True Autumn, our palette becomes both darker and warmer. Add enough warmth to pink, and you can't really call it pink anymore -- you have peach or coral instead. In True Autumn makeup, the role played by pink -- mainly lipstick and blush -- is often played instead by earthy reds and oranges.

Here are pics of beautiful True Autumn makeup. (Minus, of course, some obligatory black liner and mascara; when will Hollywood make-up artists give this up? Years from now, we'll look back at pictures from this era and see a sea of faces with tiny black eyes. True Autumns are better in brown liner and mascara.)

Based on sales of my makeup lists, I believe True Autumn is actually the rarest season. Are you a True Autumn?

- - - -

I want to take a moment to talk about something unrelated to True Autumn makeup, but absolutely related to empowering women: life coaching. In particular, a life coach named Alexandra Gould.

I want to brag on her for no other reason than that she is a rock to me, and I would love for every woman to have her in their life as well.

Alexandra is, hands-down, the most positive and inspiring person I know. She is wise, practical, results-oriented, and endlessly patient. If you feel stuck, Alexandra can help you get unstuck.

She's on Instagram and Facebook -- check her out! :-)

23 Comments

10/15/2018 12:11:05 pm

Rachel, I would like you to create make up clouds for style ID :) or just write about. Red lips are good for Romantic and Dramatic, no red lips for Natural and Ethereal? Am I right? but what about blended types? If someone is ED how does it affect makeup?And what about eye make up? You never write much about makeup for specific types.

10/15/2018 12:57:57 pm

I forgot to add in my comment - so there is no option for TA to look good in red lipstick?

10/15/2018 02:38:40 pm

Red's in the word cloud. It would likely be a warmed, tomato-y red rather than a crimson or cranberry, but I've seen a True Autumn look absolutely devastating in a full, matte red lip. Or even a red lip with a gold gloss sitting atop it. My mind is awash with possibilities! <3

Melina

10/16/2018 03:38:25 am

A, there are plenty of red TA lippies ;) NYX Alabama being one of the most common (and affordable), and also NYX Snow White, though that might be a bit on the DA side.

Megan

10/15/2018 02:45:55 pm

I'm also curious about makeup and something I've been wondering lately is whether the two-combo blends can do makeup looks that might not necessarily work for one of the blends alone. For instance, I agree that red lips probably aren't great on Natural, but what about a Classic Natural (since red lips seem like a pretty classic element...) if someone has a very strong element of Natural, are they never going to look their best in red lips (or dark eyes) or does it depend on what their other essences are?

Nicole

10/18/2018 01:00:14 am

I agree with you, A! I would LOVE to see Style ID clouds as well! Or maybe a post with the ideal makeup colours, makeup types (ie, gloss vs matte, blush vs bright lip, mascara vs eyeliner), haircuts, hairstyles, & haircolours for each Style ID. Of course, it'd all have be intertwined with our own personalities and colourings, but it'd still be a great foundation to begin with.

A., I have found myself in a similar predicament as an RNG (which is interesting because I notice many RNGs are initially for mistaken for EDs). It seems we both have Style IDs with essences that are innately contradictory, which gives off the appearance that quite a bit of contrast resides within ourselves. (I remember I once saw a website claim Dramatic-Ingenue was a myth because they conceptually "contradict" each other... I don't believe that, but anyhoo.... :)

I, too, am having trouble figuring out appropriate makeup (as well as haircut and color). I own a wide range of lipsticks & blushes which all suit my colouring, yet I just can't find a good makeup "look" that feels like me or reflects my physical beauty. So I usually just skip it.. which stinks because I'm actually really into makeup.

Additionally, I'm a curly haired RNG (similar to this: tinyurl.com/yc978js8) and it's been agreed upon countless times that I look so much better with straighter hair, especially wavy. At first I thought it was just a cultural/media thing, but I see what they mean by it. Even though curly is natural for me and easily believable/expected for my ethnicity, the wavy hair looks 100x better on me because of my Style ID. In comparison to wavy, my curly hair almost seems less natural- as if I went out of my way to "do" my hair. I guess I can't figure out if being NG(R) and keeping my curly hair (which is natural & low mantaince) will actually look better or only in theory, LOL?

I considered cutting it shorter (like this: tinyurl.com/y6u5rbln) but short hair does seem to impede on the Romantic. Honestly, longer hair is the only thing I know consistently looks good on me regardless of hair texture. LOL.... all this to say, I feel a long overdue beauty overhaul coming on!

Janet

10/19/2018 10:47:51 pm

I know that Rachel has said she's working on style ID makeup guides, and I guess there are a lot of us who will be very excited when they come out!

And I totally agree- I would love to see more on hairstyles. I loved that shorter hairstyle that you linked to, and I imagine it would be gorgeous on an RNG. I hope your beauty overhaul is fun, and that you love the results!

I'm trying to figure out makeup and hairstyle too. It's taking a while, but I feel like I'm getting a better sense of what's good for me and what's not good.

My other big question is about eyeglasses. I have horrible vision, and while I wear contacts most days, I like to give my eyes a break from time to time. I'd like to find a pair of glasses in my style ID too.

10/22/2018 11:27:14 pm

Janet, I found the style ID shopping guide was helpful for finding glasses by looking to the "shapes" section. I found that using my best shapes, combined with good secondary colors/materials, helped me narrow down to the best glasses. Conversely, the most flattering shapes on one's face can really help you see your ID. I find I have a lot of natural - way more than I thought at first. I used to wear oval wire frames, but I've realized they look kind of odd on me. For new glasses, I tried these, thick, blunt-edged rectangular, menswear-inspired frames (in a clear seasonal-neutral plastic, for a slight ethereal touch.) They are very flattering and they look fresh and modern - confirming that I can wear straight up menswear and it looks quite fitting on me. This goes against conventional wisdom that since I have a squarish jaw, I ought to avoid squarish frames.

But I would maybe check that shapes section. I knew "blunt edged geometrics" - especially rectangles - would be my best bet, and in a weight that was thick, yet light. For classics, I'm thinking ovals in, say, tortise shell? Or would romantic gamines rock the cat-eye? :)

10/15/2018 02:18:13 pm

Interesting that True Autumn might be the rarest season, at least as indicated by sales--could you give us a breakdown of where the other seasons fall and which you believe are rarest/most common?

Enjoying your content as always :)

10/16/2018 03:34:43 am

I actually think True Spring is the rarest season, have seen comments by e.g. Christine Scaman to that effect ;)

10/16/2018 05:44:10 am

I agree with you completely, as TSp I have difficulites with buying jewellery and clothes in my colors. I have tried to sygnalise the problem in one of the biggest jewellery components shop in my area - they sell their products abroad, "to the whole world" as they say;) but doesn't have idea about PCA. I have discussion with the owner and told him he doesn't understand PCA. LOL ;D
There was no point, he still doesn't understand. Nothing has changed.They still offer mosty TSu items.

10/16/2018 10:14:16 am

Interesting, thanks for this! I wonder if warmer seasons are rarer in general...

10/16/2018 11:59:06 am

Or True warm seasons, maybe ;)
(That's the main reason that keeps me from declaring TA as my season, even when most things seem to match...)

10/16/2018 06:59:10 pm

I thought Christine Scaman said Light Spring was the rarest?

10/17/2018 03:25:13 am

C. Scaman said it depends on when you live. In Canada she mostly see Winters, Ss, Bsp, Tsu. She didn't mention about TA, Tsp and Lsp.

10/17/2018 03:59:40 am

Much of the old content has now been removed from the 12blueprints site, unfortunately, but I distinctly remember her saying TSp is the rarest... Of the seasons she's seen (draped), at least. :)

10/15/2018 02:51:23 pm

K, I noticed :) and that's way I was confused, because Rachel put „RED” in the cloud, but among examples of perfect make up she didn't include any red lips. Tomato red - that was my first idea when I saw word "red" :) I can imagine that red-golden lips, shame we don't have pictures here. Crimson is only for Light Summer, I guess.

10/16/2018 03:32:25 am

Ah, finally entering my territory, as this is one of my likeliest seasons ;) (And yet one I'd never have thought a few years back, I was convinced of being some kind of Winter or maybe Bsp.)

Interestingly, all this fits - "Your least flattering colors are probably very cool and very light -- True Summer and Light Summer are probably really bad for you. You avoid white, pale blue, and light pink for your face."
Light colours truly are my cryptonite (mostly), but interestingly enough I can pull off light pink in the summer at least, if it's not too cool.

And I've also ditched the black eyeliner years ago, dark brown is much better - but the mascara is still mostly black, as there are very, very few other options on the market (as discussed here before).

And I knew the cloud would have a lot of brown ;), and in eye makeup that's absolutely fine for me, but in lippies, no-no. Something brown-ish, yes, but not full-on brown! (And I know I'm by far not the only Autumn who can't do brown lips, so I wish so many of the lippie recs would be that.)

10/16/2018 03:43:14 am

The last line was suppsed to read "wouldn't be that", of course. ;)

10/18/2018 11:59:59 am

Just to add - in my experience, spice, cinnamon and copper are great search words for searching lipsticks online, like ebay - the ones that come up using those are mostly flattering ;) (If not too dark.) So in these, the word cloud is spot on. But mocha, caramel or bronze not so much, they're usually too light (though there are exceptions).

10/17/2018 08:45:49 pm

Random question: I'm looking for a (relatively) easy-to-walk-in, Romantic-Dramatic shoe for a warm climate. Thoughts on what type of shoes I should get?

I'm also open to a purely Romantic or purely Dramatic shoe if that's easier.

(I just got these glittery pointed-toe ballet flats that I thought were good... but then I realized that the glitter might read as Ethereal and that while a pointed toe is dramatic, the ballet flat may still have a partially Classic or Ingenue vibe.)

10/19/2018 10:22:33 pm

Those ballet flats sound gorgeous! But then, I'm EDI and maybe a little biased. :-) I really don't know how the glitter would read on you, but I find that when I'm not sure about something, it really helps to take a full-length picture of myself in the mirror. If you get a few pictures of yourself in outfits you would wear with those shoes, you'll probably be able to tell if they'll work for you or not. I also noticed that on the pure Romantic and pure Dramatic style boards, Rachel has shown some examples of flats and sandals that look like they might be comfortable to walk in. I hope the ballet flats work and that you're able to find other comfy shoes that look amazing on you!

10/20/2018 06:29:12 pm

Thanks for all this! I've started taking your advice about the pictures and I think the flats work better than I thought. I don't think they're perfect--the glitter does seem pretty ethereal--but I think the silouhette may be working with my lines

Truth is Beauty

True Autumn Makeup Word Cloud

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