There’s no need to book a trip to Greece to figure out if you have olive skin. Humans come in a wide range of skin tones, owing to their various levels of melanin.
People with olive skin have a higher concentration of melanin in their skin than those with lighter skin.
Knowing the sort of skin tone you have might help you determine which skincare products work best for you, how to protect your skin from the sun, and what colors will look best on you.
You’ll also learn about the best makeup, hair, and clothing colors for olive skin. To determine if you have olive skin, look at your skin’s undertone. Are you yellow, green, or golden? If you have a yellow or green undertone, you likely have olive skin.
People with olive skin can pull off a wide range of colors, depending on where they rank on the Fitzpatrick Scale. Those with lighter olive skin can wear colors that are a bit brighter, while those with darker olive skin can wear richer colors.
No matter your undertone, always wear sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher when going outside.
The Fitzpatrick Scale
The Fitzpatrick Scale is a system that ranks skin tones from one to six, with one being the lightest and six being the darkest.
People with olive skin have a type 3 or 4 skin tone on the Fitzpatrick Scale.
Below is a look at the different skin tones on the Fitzpatrick Scale, along with the corresponding colors that look best on them.
- Type I: Very fair complexion with light eye color and blonde or red hair. This skin type easily gets sunburned and they are most likely to suffer from skin cancer. They have a low risk of increased melanin production.
- Type II: White skin, blue eyes, blonde or red hair. They burn easily and can tan a light brown under the sun. The risk of increasing melanin production is higher after prolonged sun exposure.
- Type III: White to pale skin tone with blonde or red hair and green, hazel, or blue eyes. Skin burns easily and tans to a golden brown. The risk of melanoma is low for this skin type.
- Type IV: Light tanned skin with brown eyes and black or brown hair. They can tan to a moderate brown in the sun and are at risk of increased melanin production. The use of sunscreen and protective clothing will help.
- Type V: Moderate brown skin with black eyes and brown or black hair. They tan well, but they experience increased melanin production when exposed to the sun for long. Care is needed to prevent hyper pigmentation.
- Type VI: Dark brown to black skin with black curly hair and brown eyes. They produce the most melanin compared to other skin types. This skin type is less likely to burn, but they should still use sunscreen when going outside.
Olive Skin Undertones
Now that you know your skin type, it’s time to determine your skin undertone. An undertone is a color that is seen underneath the surface of your skin. This color can be seen in your veins and is usually yellow, green, or golden.
To determine your undertone, look at the inside of your wrist. Are your veins more blue or green? If they are bluer, then you have a cool undertone. If they are more green, then you have a warm undertone.
Having these undertones is what separates the olive complexion from others. If you have a yellow or green undertone, then you have olive skin.
Olive skin tone is found all around the world, from Europe to parts of Asia and Africa. They also look best in colors like white, beige, cream, and gold.
Common Characteristics of an Olive Skin
Olive skin is common around the world and has some unique characteristics.
A few questions you should ask yourself to see if you have olive skin are:
- Do you have a yellow or green undertone?
- Can you tan to a moderate brown
- Do you look okay in both gold and silver, but great with gunmetal grey or bronze?
- Are your veins have a subtle green color?
- Is it difficult for you to locate the correct blush for your skin?
- Do you prefer brown eye shadow or liner instead of black?
- Are you of Eastern European, Mediterranean, Indian, East Asian, or Hispanic ethnicity?
If you answered yes to most of these questions, then chances are you have olive skin.
Olive skin tones are often thought to be darker. However, you may be pale or lighter and still have some olive undertones.
No matter your undertone, always wear sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher when going outside. The sun can cause skin problems, even in those with olive skin.
Final Thoughts
It can be a bit tricky to figure out where exactly your skin tone fits in, but once you’ll do it prevents fashion and beauty errors.
The best way to determine if you are olive-skinned is to look at your natural hair color, eye color, and skin tone. If you have black hair, brown eyes, and a medium to dark skin tone, you are probably olive-skinned. People with olive skin tones usually have a yellowish undertone to their skin, and they often tan very well.
If you have olive undertones, it can help you to identify the right cosmetics, skincare products, jewelry, and colors for you. The same thing goes for clothing – knowing your skin tone can help you to choose colors that look great on you and make you stand out.
