Colors That Wash You Out: How to Spot and Fix Them
Colors that wash you out are shades that are too light, too soft, too bright or the wrong temperature for your natural coloring, so your skin looks pale or gray and your features seem to fade. Common examples are beige on fair skin, black on light, soft coloring, and mustard on cool undertones. The fix is to find the colors that match your undertone, depth and brightness, and keep the rest away from your face.
If you keep asking "what colors wash me out?" and can't figure out the pattern, Swatch Fan finds your color season from quick yes/no questions and shows the colors that don't: Find my colors.
What washed out means
When someone says "that color washes you out," they mean the color is making you look less like yourself. It's not about the color being ugly. It's about the color being wrong for you.
What does it mean when a color washes you out?
Your face is losing to your clothes. The color either reflects an unflattering tone onto your skin or is so much stronger (or weaker) than your coloring that your face looks blank next to it. People notice the shirt, not you.
Signs a color washes you out
Stand in daylight, face a mirror, and hold the color under your chin. Look for:
- Gray or yellow cast: your skin looks dull, sallow or ashy.
- Darker shadows: under-eye circles and smile lines look deeper.
- Pale lips: your lips lose their natural color.
- Uneven skin: redness or blotches look more obvious.
- Flat eyes: your eye color looks muddy instead of clear.
- "Tired" comments: friends ask if you slept badly.
Now try a color you know works. If your face suddenly looks clearer, that first color was washing you out.
A quick washed out test
| What you see | Likely cause |
|---|---|
| Skin looks gray | Color too cool or too muted for you |
| Skin looks yellow or green | Color too warm or too yellow for you |
| Face looks faded | Color too dark or too bright for your contrast |
| Face looks blurry | Color too close to your skin tone |
| Face looks harsh | Color too strong for soft coloring |
Why it happens
Every person's coloring has three dials: undertone (warm or cool), depth (light or deep) and chroma (bright or soft). A color that's far from yours on any dial can wash you out.
Why do some colors wash me out and not others?
Because the problem color disagrees with you on at least one dial. Beige might match your depth but be too close to your skin tone. Black might match your undertone but be far too deep for light coloring. It's rarely "all colors" or "all neutrals," just specific versions.
Common culprits by season
Here are typical unflattering colors for each family (there are exceptions):
Spring
- Black and charcoal near the face
- Dusty, grayed colors like mauve and slate
- Icy cool pastels
Summer
- Black, especially Light Summer
- Orange, mustard and rust
- Very saturated neon colors
Autumn
- Icy pastels and bright white
- Cool, clear jewel tones like fuchsia
- Pure black (for Soft and True Autumn)
Winter
- Beige, camel and khaki
- Muted earth tones like olive and mustard
- Dusty pastels
For specific colors, see does black wash me out, what skin tone looks good in yellow and who looks good in olive green.
Colors that wash out pale skin, olive skin and dark skin
- Pale skin: beige, nude, pale gray and very pale yellow can blend right in.
- Olive skin: yellow-greens, some mustards and some grays can turn olive skin sallow.
- Dark skin: very muted, dusty browns and grays close to your skin tone can look flat, even though deep skin handles bold colors beautifully.
Here's the hard part: judging yourself in a mirror is tricky, and remembering which of 30 shades worked is even harder. Swatch Fan asks quick yes/no questions to find your season, then lets you check any top, dress or lipstick from your camera or a shop screenshot and says yes, close or skip. Find my colors
Fixes when you love the color
You don't have to throw out every piece that washes you out. Here's how to wear colors that wash you out:
- Move it down. Wear the color as pants, skirts, shoes or a bag.
- Add a buffer. A collar, scarf or necklace in a flattering color between your face and the problem color.
- Layer it. Wear it as a jacket open over a better color.
- Adjust makeup. Your palette's lip color or blush can bring life back. See what skin tone looks good in red for picking a lipstick.
- Swap the version. Love yellow? Try lemon instead of mustard. Love black? Try navy.
- Change the fabric. Shiny fabrics bounce more color onto your face; matte fabrics bounce less.
How to look less washed out for photos
- Face a window for soft daylight.
- Pick your best color for the top half of the outfit.
- Avoid a color that matches your skin tone exactly.
Colors that don't wash you out
The best colors to not look washed out are the ones that match your three dials. Flattering colors generally:
- Share your undertone (warm with warm, cool with cool).
- Match your contrast (high contrast wears bold; low contrast wears soft).
- Sit near your natural depth.
Some colors that work for many people:
- Soft white or off-white (rather than stark white or beige)
- Navy (easier than black for most)
- Teal (sits between warm and cool)
- A true red that matches your undertone
- Medium blue like denim
Get colors that don't wash you out in the next minute
Swatch Fan asks quick yes/no questions about your veins, jewelry, hair, eyes and how you tan, with no selfie needed, and gives your season's 12 named colors with hex codes. That's your list of colors that don't wash you out, ready to use the next time you shop.
FAQ
What does it mean for a color to wash you out?
It means the color makes your skin look pale, gray or tired and makes your features less noticeable. The color is fighting your natural coloring instead of supporting it.
How do I know what colors wash me out?
Hold colors under your chin in daylight and look for gray or yellow skin, darker shadows and pale lips. Compare against a color you know works.
Does beige wash me out?
Beige often washes out people whose skin is close to beige, and it's hard for Winters. Warm, soft seasons like Soft Autumn can usually wear it.
What colors don't wash you out?
Colors that match your undertone, depth and contrast. Navy, teal, soft white and your own version of red are good starting points for many people.
Can makeup fix a color that washes me out?
It can help a lot, especially lipstick and blush in your palette. Pairing that with a buffer color at the neckline makes an even bigger difference.