UndertonaOlive undertone
Olive skin has a green, grey or khaki cast beneath the surface, usually combined with a neutral to warm base. It is common across Mediterranean, Middle Eastern, Latin American, South Asian and East Asian backgrounds, and it spans light to deep skin. Olive skin is often mistyped because standard pink or yellow foundations both look slightly wrong.
Signs you have a olive undertone
- Most foundations look either too pink or too yellow on you.
- In some light your skin looks slightly green or grey.
- You tan easily and rarely burn.
- Your wrist veins look green or blue green.
- Earthy colors like olive and khaki blend in instead of clashing.
Best colors to wear
- Deep teal#1F5C5A
- Burgundy#7B1E3A
- Terracotta#C27E62
- Mustard#C99A16
- Emerald#0B7A55
- Plum#6A3A5E
- Rust#9A3B1F
- Cream#F3E5C8
Colors to avoid
- Khaki#B5A77C
- Olive drab#6B6B3A
- Pale yellow#F7F0A8
- Neon green#39FF14
Foundation
Look for shades labeled olive, or neutral shades with a yellow green base. Some brands mark them with an O. Avoid obviously pink shades, which sit on top of olive skin.
Lipstick shades
- Brick#8E3326
- Berry#7E1E3E
- Terracotta#9A4A34
- Brown nude#8E5E4C
Hair colors
- Espresso#3B2A20
- Chocolate brown#4B3020
- Caramel balayage#9C6A3C
- Soft black#1C1A1A
Jewelry and metals
Gold and antique gold warm olive skin beautifully; rose gold and silver can work on cooler olive skin.
Color seasons with this undertone
Soft Autumn
Warm, muted and earthy, like a hazy golden afternoon.
Deep Autumn
Deep, warm and dramatic, with rich spice-market color.
Warm Autumn
Rich, golden and spicy: the full warmth of autumn leaves.
Soft Summer
Muted, misty and sophisticated, cool leaning but never icy.
Deep Winter
Dark, cool and striking, with jewel toned drama.
Olive undertone FAQ
Is olive skin warm or cool?
Olive skin is its own category. It usually sits on a neutral to warm base with a green cast, though some olive skin leans cool.
What colors should olive skin avoid?
Colors that match the green cast too closely, such as khaki, olive drab and pale yellow, can make olive skin look sallow.
What season is olive skin?
Olive skin appears in several seasons, most often Soft Autumn, Deep Autumn and Warm Autumn, and sometimes Soft Summer or Deep Winter.
Other undertones: Cool undertone · Warm undertone · Neutral undertone