diff --git a/assets/css/extended/essays.scss b/assets/css/extended/essays.scss
index 0881a4a..686bb73 100644
--- a/assets/css/extended/essays.scss
+++ b/assets/css/extended/essays.scss
@@ -8,10 +8,12 @@ color candidates:
 body.type-essays {
   --signature: #48C0A3;
   --signature-bg: rgba(72, 192, 164, 0.427);
+  --siguature-bg-dim: rgba(72, 192, 164, 0.298);
   // override theme-vars
   --link-hover-color: var(--signature);
   --link-hover-underline-color: var(--signature);
   --link-hover-underline-shadow: 0 2px 0 var(--link-hover-underline-color);
+  --link-background-color: var(--siguature-bg-dim);
 
   .post-entry {
     /* same as .post-header h2 */
diff --git a/assets/css/extended/newsletter.scss b/assets/css/extended/newsletter.scss
index a1a8fef..fa1d286 100644
--- a/assets/css/extended/newsletter.scss
+++ b/assets/css/extended/newsletter.scss
@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@ body.type-newsletter {
   --link-hover-color: var(--signature);
   --link-hover-underline-color: var(--signature);
   --link-hover-underline-shadow: 0 2px 0 var(--link-hover-underline-color);
+  --link-background-color: var(--signature-bg-dim);
 
   @media screen and (max-width: $small) {
     --icon-length: 40px;