Olive skin is one of the most searched and most confusing skin types in beauty. People with olive skin often find that "warm" foundations look orange, "cool" ones look grey, and neither gold nor silver jewelry feels quite right. That's because olive is its own undertone. This guide explains what olive skin is, how to tell if you have it, and which colors, hair shades and makeup work best.
What is olive skin?
Olive skin has an undertone with a green, grey or muted golden cast. It is not a skin depth: olive undertones appear on fair, light, medium, tan and deep skin. Olive skin is common in people with Mediterranean, Middle Eastern, Latin American, South Asian and East Asian ancestry, among others, but anyone can have it.
- Light olive skin can look pale with a slightly greenish or greyish tint, especially in winter.
- Medium olive skin often tans easily to a golden-bronze.
- Deep olive skin has rich depth with a muted, greenish-golden quality.
How to tell if you have olive skin
Try these in daylight with bare skin:
- The white paper test. Next to white paper, olive skin looks slightly green or grey rather than clearly yellow or pink.
- Foundation never matches. Warm shades look orange and cool shades look ashy or pink on you.
- Both metals look "okay." Neither gold nor silver is a clear winner, though muted golds often look best.
- You tan easily and rarely burn badly, even if you look pale in winter.
- Vein color is mixed, often a green-blue blend.
- Your skin can look sallow in some colors, especially bright yellow-green or very pale pastels.
For the full set of undertone tests, see how to find your undertone.
Best colors for olive skin
Olive skin usually looks best in colors that are rich and slightly muted, or clear jewel tones, depending on your depth and contrast.
- Earthy richness: olive green, khaki, terracotta, rust, camel, chocolate.
- Jewel tones: emerald, teal, sapphire, burgundy, plum, amethyst.
- Warm neutrals: cream, ivory, taupe, warm grey, espresso.
- Soft brights: coral, warm raspberry, turquoise.
Colors that can be tricky
- Very pale pastels (baby yellow, mint, pale peach) can bring out green tones.
- Bright neon yellow and lime.
- Head-to-toe beige that matches your skin too closely.
Olive skin falls into different color seasons depending on depth and clarity; Soft Autumn, True Autumn, Deep Autumn and Deep Winter are common results. Read the color analysis seasons guide or check yours with the AI color analysis.
Best hair colors for olive skin
- Rich chocolate and espresso brown.
- Caramel and toffee balayage.
- Warm chestnut and mahogany.
- Soft black for deep olive skin.
- Bronde or honey highlights for lighter olive skin.
Be careful with very ashy platinum and brassy yellow-blonde, which can make olive skin look green or sallow. Try a few shades on your own photo with the hair color changer, or read the best hair color for your skin tone.
Foundation and makeup for olive skin
- Foundation: look for shades labeled olive (often "O") or neutral-golden. If you can't find one, mixing a warm and a neutral shade often works.
- Concealer: a peach or orange corrector can cancel greyish under-eye circles before concealer.
- Blush: terracotta, warm rose, berry or bronze.
- Lips: brick red, warm berry, rosy brown, mauve-nude.
- Eyes: bronze, copper, gold, olive, plum and deep teal.
Jewelry for olive skin
Muted or antique gold, rose gold and bronze usually flatter olive skin. Silver can work on deep or high-contrast olive skin.
FAQ
What is olive skin tone?
Olive skin has a green, grey or muted golden undertone. It can appear on any skin depth, from fair to deep.
How do I know if my skin is olive?
If warm foundations look orange, cool ones look grey, your skin looks slightly green next to white paper, and you tan easily, you may have an olive undertone.
What colors look good on olive skin?
Rich earth tones (olive, terracotta, camel, chocolate) and jewel tones (emerald, teal, burgundy, plum) usually look best.
What hair color suits olive skin?
Chocolate, espresso, caramel, chestnut, mahogany and soft black. Avoid very ashy platinum and brassy yellow-blonde.
Is olive skin warm or cool?
Olive is its own undertone with a muted, slightly green quality. Many people with olive skin lean warm-neutral, but some lean cool.
