The Lip Tint Said Dusty Rose. My Face Said Otherwise.
You've got three ways to pick a makeup color, and none of them are foolproof. There's a better one.
We shop for makeup the way we shop for clothes — by what looks good in the tube, the pan, the swatch photo. But a lip color that looks gorgeous on the shelf can shift entirely once it's on your skin, next to your eyes, against your hair color. The question isn't Do I like this color? It's Do I like this color on me? And that's not something you can answer by holding it up to your wrist in the store.
I found this out firsthand. I ordered Thrive Causemetics' Sheer Strength® Hydrating Shine Lip Tint in Kaisa (Dusty Rose) — a shade name that had me sold. "Dusty Rose" sounds exactly like what I'd chose for my summer season: soft, cool, muted. It arrived, and it was a warm coral. Before I knew my colors, I would have worn it anyway and wondered why it never quite looked right on me. But because I knew my palette, I could see immediately: this wasn't mine. I need to pass it along to a friend who's a Toned Spring, it will be perfect on her.
(By the way, it’s a great lip product. Just the wrong color for me!)
So Where Are We Actually Getting Our Color Advice?
Most of us are choosing makeup one of three ways, and none of them are actually built around your coloring:
Scrolling and ordering online. You're working off a product photo, a swatch on someone else's skin, and a name like "Dusty Rose" that may have nothing to do with the actual shade in the tube.
Standing in front of a wall of options at Target or Ulta. No guidance, just trial and error — and often a return trip when it doesn't look the way you expected.
Sitting down with someone at a makeup counter. This feels like the "expert" option. But it comes with its own blind spots.
Why the Counter Isn't Always the Answer
Makeup counter associates are genuinely skilled — but they're trained to sell their brand's products, not to understand color theory. A few things they're usually not accounting for:
They likely don't have a background in seasonal color analysis.
Store lighting is rarely natural light, which changes how every shade reads on your skin.
If you walked in already wearing a top in a color that isn't actually in your palette, it can influence what they reach for next — matching what you have on.
What Changes Once You Know Your Season
When you know your season, you stop guessing. You know the descriptive language for what actually works for you — cool vs. warm, light vs. deep, matte, sheen or shine — and you can use that language whether you're shopping online, standing in the Target aisle, or sitting at a counter.
And here's the part that surprises people: knowing your season doesn't mean more products. It means fewer, better ones. Things that just work, every time, without a second thought. Things you order on repeat as they run out.
For me, as a Pure Summer, that's:
A powder that is light with a cool undertone
A dark blonde brow pencil
Brown mascara and eyeliner
A soft pink lip with low sheen - my favorite is called Soft Sweet Pink and this one actually does work for me!
That's it. You can edit your make up drawer
Your Makeup Bag Deserves the Same Clarity Your Closet Does
You don't need to become a makeup expert. You need to know your undertone — the same information that already makes getting dressed easier. Once you know your season, every purchase gets simpler, whether you're standing in an aisle, sitting at a counter, or clicking "add to cart."
At North of Neutral, a Colors That Flatter session gives you exactly that clarity — not just for your closet, but for the makeup, jewelry, and hair color choices that just work! Not to mention, your swatch book works great for selecting eye shadow, blush and lip colors!
