How do I know if I have olive skin?

Look at your bare jaw in daylight. Olive skin has a muted green or grey-green cast, and both pink and golden foundations tend to look wrong on it. If neither has ever matched, try a shade labelled olive.

What lipstick colour suits olive skin?

Brick, terracotta, rosy brown, berry and warm red all sit well. A true blue-red can work too, and Classic Red Lip on this page shows one on olive skin.

What blush works on olive skin?

Apricot, warm peach, terracotta and rosy brown, and brighter warm pinks for evening. Igari Makeup on this page places a rosy pink-red cream blush high under the eyes on olive skin.

Makeup for your features

Makeup for olive skin

Olive skin has a green or grey-green cast over a warm or neutral base, and it can be light, medium or deep. That cast is why so many foundations look wrong on it. Pink shades turn grey, and plain golden ones can look orange. Look for shades labelled olive, or neutral ones with a slightly green base, and test them on your jaw in daylight.

Below are our looks on a woman with olive skin, almond-shaped hazel eyes and dark wavy hair. Bridesmaid Makeup keeps to dusty rose and rose-champagne, Classic Red Lip pairs a true blue-red with a clean matte base, and Igari Makeup sweeps rosy pink-red blush high across the cheeks. Try them on your selfie against your own undertone.

Looks on olive skin

11 looks

Tips for olive skin

Use a peach or apricot corrector under the eyes before concealer. Olive skin often shows purple or green-grey shadows there, and the corrector lets you use less concealer.
Pick warm, earthy blush shades such as apricot, terracotta, rosy brown and warm berry. Cool baby pinks sit on top of olive skin and can look chalky.
Choose a bronzer with a neutral or soft golden base. A very orange bronzer clashes with the green in olive skin, and a very grey one looks muddy.
Gold, bronze and champagne highlighters suit olive skin. Icy silver can make it look grey.
For a nude lip, choose one with warmth or rose in it, such as caramel, rosy beige or a soft brown. Grey-beige nudes can make the lips look washed out.
On the eyes, bronze, gold, copper and plum all sit well on olive lids, and khaki or olive green picks up the green in the skin.

Questions

How do I know if I have olive skin?: Look at your bare jaw in daylight. Olive skin has a muted green or grey-green cast, and both pink and golden foundations tend to look wrong on it. If neither has ever matched, try a shade labelled olive.
What lipstick colour suits olive skin?: Brick, terracotta, rosy brown, berry and warm red all sit well. A true blue-red can work too, and Classic Red Lip on this page shows one on olive skin.
What blush works on olive skin?: Apricot, warm peach, terracotta and rosy brown, and brighter warm pinks for evening. Igari Makeup on this page places a rosy pink-red cream blush high under the eyes on olive skin.