If you’ve spent any time on beauty TikTok in the last few years, you’ve probably come across someone getting draped in fabric swatches while an analyst tells them they’re a “soft summer” or a “bright spring.” And this has perhaps made you wonder: What do the seasons spring, summer, autumn, and winter have to do with which colors look best on you?
Color analysis, the practice of determining which shades complement your natural coloring, isn’t new. While it’s been around since the 1800s, its last big boom was in the 1980s, popularized by color consultant Carole Jackson’s book “Color Me Beautiful.”
Once again, it’s had a huge comeback over the last five to six years, and nowhere has it taken off quite like South Korea—the world’s capital for all things beauty and aesthetics.
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A staple stop for locals and tourists
In Seoul, color analysis studios have become a staple stop for both locals and tourists alike. Walk through Hongdae or Myeongdong, and you’ll find no shortage of shops offering the service, typically ranging from 50,000 to 200,000 KRW depending on the package.
It’s become so embedded in Korean beauty culture that it’s practically a rite of passage—a way of approaching personal style with the same intention Koreans bring to skincare. Even Robert Pattinson was given a color analysis during his press tour in Korea for “Mickey 17.”
Naturally, it was only a matter of time before it flooded my For You page. With great curiosity, I just had to know: Is this service legit? What in the world is my season anyway?
The experience
Though you can practically just head to any touristy shopping street in Seoul and walk into one of the many shops offering a color analysis, I took to my beloved clock app, TikTok, for recommendations.
My search led me to Diana Bae, also known as Glimmer on Instagram—a professionally trained Korean color analyst who was raised in Baguio. Speaking in Taglish definitely isn’t a requirement for an informative session, but it sure helped elevate the whole experience, allowing me to communicate and banter with her comfortably.
Bae first asked me what I thought my season was and which colors I enjoyed wearing before bringing out some drapes to test my hypothesis (“Either winter or autumn because I like dark clothes,” I say. “We’ll see,” she responds rather ominously). Once she sat me down in front of a mirror and began going through various hues, Bae quickly discussed my undertone (neutral, leaning warm), my best colors, and of course, my worst.
It was a reaffirmation of what I already knew—that I looked great in dark colors, and terrible in pastels. She identified my skin as pale and lacking natural color, so shades that are too light or cool-toned could wash me out and essentially make me look like a ghost.
My season is deep autumn: maroons, forest greens, charcoal blacks, rich browns, dark blues. I was pretty satisfied with this and, for the most part, agreed. After all, she had just validated my entire wardrobe filled with green tops and brown skirts. But then she pointed out my worst colors, which I wasn’t too pleased to hear about: blues, purples, and grays. I loved all of those colors! I just wore a lavender dress to a wedding a month ago.
“You can still wear them,” Bae says reassuringly. “But just make sure to add color to your cheeks and lips.”
Phew.
Bae then sent me off with physical information cards of my color analysis results, makeup recommendations, as well as instructional decks to my email, and I was overjoyed, finally knowing my season. ChatGPT color analysts be damned.
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Final thoughts
Experiencing this color analysis with Bae made me realize just why I felt so comfortable in darker clothing and strange in pastels. I had just bought a dainty, powder blue dress months beforehand, but always wondered why I looked dull and gray in my selfies with it. The term “not my color” actually had some truth to it. Bae just helped me see it.
Apart from confirming what I’ve always known instinctively, I learned other new things about myself. The rosacea I suffered from, as well as my blue veins, had always tricked me into thinking I ran cool. Finding out I was actually neutral-warm was probably the most genuinely surprising thing to come out of the session—something no online quiz had ever flagged for me.
For my 200,000 KRW full package, Bae also offered a body type analysis. Mine came out as “wave,” which apparently means that my pear-shaped form (straight top, curvy bottoms) suits soft, fitted silhouettes and high-waisted cuts. Some of it rang true.
But to me, this part felt more subjective, and if you already have a strong sense of your own style, you might find yourself nodding along politely more than taking notes. This would probably be better for someone who’s still figuring out what types of clothes work for them.
So, is it a scam?
Not even close. For 200,000 KRW (roughly P8,000) that included both color and body analysis—and even decks and information cards—this was a bargain. It’s even cheaper, priced at 100,000 KRW for just colors. P8,000 in the Philippines would get you a professional color analysis alone.
I know it’s one of those things that sounds fussy and pseudoscientific, until you’re actually sitting in front of the drapes and watching the difference a shade makes in real time. But booking Bae was a treat—she was warm, funny, and genuinely great at what she does. My husband sat through the whole session and was jealous that he didn’t book one for himself.
Though there are skilled color analysts back home in the Philippines, having it done in Korea adds something memorable to the trip. You walk out knowing exactly what to look for when you hit the beauty stores, which makes shopping all the more fun and satisfying. A 10/10 experience, if you ask me.
Color analysts in Manila
- Color Analysis Studio PH – @coloranalysisstudio.ph
- Enzo Villacorta – @enzovillacorta
- Makeup Science Asia – makeupscienceasia.com
- Ingrid Nieto-Pagulayan – @missingridnieto
