Having olive skin is a blessing and a curse. On one hand, you have the ability to achieve an amazing sun-kissed glow with very little effort. But on the other hand, maintaining your skin’s health can be a bit more challenging because of the sheer variety of products available on the market.
In this blog post, we’ll break down what you need to know about taking care of your olive skin and share our top tips for keeping your complexion looking its best.
Keep reading to learn more!
What undertones are best for olive skin?
This is a question that a lot of people have, and it’s not always an easy one to answer. Olive skin can have a wide range of different undertones, so it’s important to figure out which ones will look the best on you.
Golden Undertones
If your veins look green, you likely have golden undertones. If they look more blue-ish, you’re most likely a silver girl.
For those with golden undertones, it can be a little bit more difficult to find products that won’t turn your skin orange. Luckily, this is a pretty easy problem to solve. Instead of wasting money on products that may or may not work for you, it’s best to go straight to the professionals for a skin analysis.
Silver Undertones
Olive skin with silver undertones is much easier to handle, as most moisturizers and serums will look great on you without causing any unwanted discoloration.
However, this also means that it might be more difficult for you to find makeup shades to give your complexion depth and contrast.
Do note that if you have a lot of pink/red in your complexion, chances are that you’re going to want a color corrector. The last thing you want is two different colors battling it out on your face.
What color looks best on olive skin?
Now that we’ve established that you most likely have warm or cool undertones (or possibly both), it’s time to figure out which colors look best with your skin tone.
When it comes to clothing colors, golden olive skin tones look great in pinks, browns, oranges, yellows, and navy colors.
Cool Undertones
If you have golden or cool undertones, it is recommended that you avoid reds and oranges because they’ll make your features appear dull and faded. Instead, opt for deep purples, corals, pinks and even blues to add a bit of life to your skin tone.
If you have cool undertones, avoid orange colors.
Instead, opt for pinkish tones because they’ll make your features appear more alive, while still matching your olive undertone.
If your undertones lean more towards the silver side of the spectrum, try wearing deep purples or blues with your makeup for an accentuated look.
Warm Undertones
Those with warm undertones have a bit more freedom when it comes to their clothing choices. Since gold and orange tones aren’t the best match, you can wear a wide range of different colors without fear.
If your skin leans more towards pink or has golden undertones, give light purples a try. If you don’t like it, you can always go back to the safe side with pink.
If your complexion is olive-gold, consider wearing jewel tones like deep reds, blues, and greens.
What skin tone is olive skin?
For most people with olive complexions, you will have some combination of both pink and yellow undertones in your natural complexion.
The key to getting the right shades is finding which color family complements your specific olive undertone. Here are some great base products that are perfect for creating a flawless-looking olive skin tone.
Makeup for Olive Skin
- Foundation For Olive Skin
Using a foundation with pink undertones helps neutralize any yellow in your complexion and gives you a healthy, natural-looking glow.
You can find olive skin-friendly foundations at most major retailers, including this Covergirl + Olay Simply Ageless Liquid Foundation.
If you have very oily skin, using an oil-control product on top of your makeup will help reduce shine throughout the day.
- Concealer
If you have dark circles or other discoloration around the eyes, concealer is great for evening out your complexion while still remaining true to your unique undertone.
Choose a concealer that’s either blue toned or has golden undertones to make your olive skin look even and beautiful.
- Eye Shadow for Olive Skin
Eye shadow is the next step in creating a perfect look for your olive skin tone. You can play up any color you like, but keep in mind that it might be difficult to pull off colors with pink undertones if you have very golden or orange-y skin
To avoid looking chalky and dull, try using a shimmery white color with a matte black.
This look is perfect for dark olive complexions and can be achieved by starting with an eye shadow primer.
If you’re looking for an elegant take on this classic look, pair deep purples, and plums with a soft brown like this Sephora Collection Palette. For green-toned complexions (with yellow undertones), opt for pink and purple shades that are perfect for complementing your unique undertone.
- Lipstick for Olive Skin
Neutral hues are the way to go if you’re struggling with discoloration or uneven patches of darker coloration. Shades that have red or pink undertones will help brighten up your complexion while still highlighting the unique natural tones of your skin.
Some great variations are NYX Butter Lipstick in Devil’s Food Cake or Revlon Colorstay Lipcolor.
What season is olive skin in?
Olive skin is typically found with warm undertones, so fall and spring are perfect seasons to sport this color palette.
If you’re looking for the best colors to wear during these seasons, purple and browns add a beautiful dimension while staying on-trend. For extra warmth during the colder months, try pairing burnt orange and deep red shades with your olive tone.
Do you have golden or olive undertones?
If you like:
- blue: You lean towards cool undertones (olive)
- pink: You tend to have warm undertones (golden olive)
If you like:
- blue-violet, berry, violet: You lean towards cool undertones (olive)
- pink-rose, peachy-pink, peach: You tend to have warm undertones (golden olive)
The colors that look best on golden olive skin are soft pinks and oranges that flatter the complexion without making it appear sallow or dull.
Choosing a Hair Color for Olive Skin
People who have golden olive skin tend to look stunning with deep burgundy hair colors most of the year-round.
While not everyone can pull off these rich shades, most people with pure olive skin have dark brown or black hair, so consider going just a few shades lighter than your natural tone if you want to make a statement.
If you’re wearing makeup with golden undertones, consider adding some to your hair as well.
Final Thoughts
Maintaining a healthy complexion with olive undertones can be difficult, but it’s certainly possible.
By trying out different combinations of foundation and concealer with your eye color palette, you’ll not only look great – you’ll feel confident wearing any color clothing.
Always remember that even though it might seem like you are limited to certain hues, there are still plenty of combinations to make your skin tone shine.
