The highly anticipated 2024 film adaptation of "Wicked" brings us stunning performances by Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba and Ariana Grande as Galinda. Beyond their magical performances, these characters present fascinating cases for seasonal color analysis, particularly given their distinct appearances and the symbolic color choices in their costumes.

Elphaba: The Emerald-Skinned Witch

Cynthia Erivo's portrayal of Elphaba presents a unique case for color analysis due to her signature green skin. While traditional color analysis typically focuses on natural skin tones, we can analyze how Elphaba's emerald complexion interacts with various color palettes.

Elphaba's Color Season: Dark Winter

Despite her unconventional skin tone, Elphaba's features align most closely with the Dark Winter season:

• Deep, rich skin tone (though green, it maintains deep and cool undertones)
• Dark, intense eyes
• Black hair with cool undertones
• Medium to strong strong contrast between features

Comprehensive Makeup Guide for Dark Winter (Elphaba's Season)

Foundation and Base

• Foundation undertone: Cool to neutral-cool
• Best finish: Demi-matte to satin
• Concealer: Slightly lighter than skin tone but never more than one shade
• Powder: Transparent with cool undertones

Eyes

Best Eyeshadow Colors:

• Deep navy blue
• Charcoal grey
• Burgundy
• Dark purple
• Forest green
• Black for smoky looks
• Metallic gunmetal

Eyeliner Options:

• Deep black (signature look)
• Dark navy
• Deep plum
• Forest green

Mascara:

• Rich black
• Blue-black

Brows:

• Cool-toned dark brown
• Soft black
• Avoid warm brown shades

Cheeks

Blush Colors:

• Cool berry
• Deep rose
• Plum
• Cool pink (for a subtle look)

Contour:

• Cool-toned taupe
• Grey-brown
• Avoid warm bronzers

Highlighter:

• Ice white
• Silver pearl
• Cool champagne
• Avoid gold or warm-toned highlighters

Lips

Best Lipstick Colors:

• Deep cherry red
• Cool-toned burgundy
• Plum
• Berry
• Cool-toned deep rose
• Blue-based red
• Deep mauve

Avoid:

• Coral
• Orange-reds
• Brown-based nudes
• Peach tones

Based on the Dark Winter Color Palette, let's explore Elphaba's signature makeup palette, featuring colors that enhance her season and identify shades that should be avoided:

If you got inspired by the character and Elphaba’s looks, here is a list of Wicked makeup palettes that might interest you :

From the r.e.m. beauty, Ariana Grande’s makeup brand :

Elphaba Makeup Set : buy here

Other picks :

e.l.f. Liquid Metallic Eyeshadow : buy here

This seasonal designation is reinforced by how magnificently she wears:

• Deep, saturated colors
• Rich jewel tones
• High-contrast combinations
• Cool-toned blacks and greys

The costume designers brilliantly played to these strengths, dressing Elphaba in deep, dramatic pieces that enhance rather than compete with her unique complexion.

Galinda: The Good Witch

Ariana Grande's Galinda presents a classical case for color analysis with her fair features and light coloring.

Galinda's Color Season: Light Summer

Galinda's natural coloring strongly suggests a Light Summer palette:

• Fair, cool-toned skin with pink undertones
• Light eyes with a soft quality
• Light hair
• Low to medium contrast between features

Comprehensive Makeup Guide for Light Summer (Galinda's Season)

Foundation and Base

• Foundation undertone: Cool to neutral-cool, light to light-medium
• Best finish: Dewy to satin
• Concealer: Light-reflecting formulas
• Powder: Soft-focus, illuminating

Eyes

Best Eyeshadow Colors:

• Soft rose
• Cool pink
• Periwinkle blue
• Soft grey
• Light lavender
• Pearl white
• Silver shimmer

Eyeliner Options:

• Soft navy
• Cool grey
• Plum
• Avoid harsh black

Mascara:

• Navy blue
• Soft black
• Grey-black

Brows:

• Soft taupe
• Cool medium brown
• Avoid dark or warm browns

Cheeks

Blush Colors:

• Cool pink
• Soft rose
• Light mauve
• Watermelon pink

Contour:

• Soft cool grey
• Light taupe
• Avoid traditional bronzers

Highlighter:

• Pearl white
• Pink pearl
• Cool opal
• Avoid golden or warm highlighters

Lips

Best Lipstick Colors:

• Rose pink
• Soft coral-pink
• Cool-toned mauve
• Watermelon
• Soft berry
• Light plum
• Cool-toned nude pink

Avoid:

• Brown-based colors
• Orange tones
• Deep vampy shades
• Warm reds

Let's reframe Galinda's signature makeup palette through the lens of the Light Summer Color Palette, focusing on shades that enhance her season and avoiding those that clash.

Her most flattering colors include:

• Soft pastels
• Light to medium blues
• Cool pinks
• Pearly whites and silvers

Our top picks for the Galinda Palette :

e.l.f. Liquid Metallic Eyeshadow : buy here

Galinda Makeup Set : buy here

The costume department masterfully emphasized these qualities through her iconic pink gowns and delicate pastel accessories.

The Symbolic Color Contrast

The color seasons of these two characters brilliantly underscore their narrative opposition while highlighting their individual beauty. Where Elphaba's Dark Winter palette emphasizes drama and intensity, Galinda's Light Summer colors reflect her initial lightness and perceived innocence.

Application in Personal Color Analysis

This analysis demonstrates several key principles of seasonal color theory:

1. The importance of considering overall contrast levels in addition to individual features
2. How different seasonal palettes can emphasize character traits and personality
3. The way costume design can work with natural coloring to create powerful visual impact

Conclusion

The 2024 "Wicked" film offers a masterclass in how seasonal color analysis principles can be applied to character design and costume choices. Whether you're a Dark Winter like Elphaba or a Light Summer like Galinda, understanding your color season can help you harness the transformative power of color in your own wardrobe.

Resources

For more information about your personal seasonal color analysis, visit:

• Seasonal Color Quiz
• My Color Analysis AI tool

Related seasonal color guides

• Spring Family:
  • True Spring Colors
  • Light Spring Colors
  • Bright Spring Colors
• Summer Family:
  • Light Summer Colors
  • True Summer Colors
  • Soft Summer Colors
• Autumn Family:
  • Soft Autumn Colors
  • True Autumn Colors
  • Dark Autumn Colors
• Winter Family:
  • Dark Winter Colors
  • True Winter Colors
  • Bright Winter Colors