https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/what-is-olive-skin Style Advice for Fashion Lovers en-US Wed, 22 Apr 2026 06:45:47 +0000 http://bbpress.org/?v=1.0.2 q https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/search.php https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/what-is-olive-skin/page/2#post-1095790 Sat, 23 Nov 2013 19:01:31 +0000 Jeana 1095790@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Sara1987 is wrong. Olive skin is not as rare as it seems. Pink undertones are actually rare if anything. </p> <p>I myself have olive skin---but fair. I have dark hair/dark eyes so with my natural dark brown/black hair I look snow white without any makeup. However with close inspection in the natural daylight---you can clearly see VERY obvious yellow/green undertones in my skin that make up the olive hue. The fact that I dyed my hair a Rihanna/Snooki shade of red recently makes it even MORE obvious. So yes, olive skin can look dull and sallow! Its all about the undertones! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/what-is-olive-skin/page/2#post-681226 Mon, 30 Jul 2012 15:07:09 +0000 sara1987 681226@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>If you say you look sallow. You don't have olive skin. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/what-is-olive-skin/page/2#post-681221 Mon, 30 Jul 2012 15:01:25 +0000 sara1987 681221@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Olive skin doesn't burn. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/what-is-olive-skin/page/2#post-681220 Mon, 30 Jul 2012 15:00:28 +0000 sara1987 681220@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>If you have pale pink your not olive skin. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/what-is-olive-skin#post-681213 Mon, 30 Jul 2012 14:53:10 +0000 sara1987 681213@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Olive skin doesn't mean all skin types. If you don't know or unsure if you have olive skin then you don't have olive skin. It is rare. Hardly anybody has it. It has a yellow greenish undertone. You always look tan. I have olive skin. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/what-is-olive-skin#post-367631 Thu, 16 Jun 2011 02:07:08 +0000 Steph 367631@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I always think of olive as a third tone. It may be warmer, but not everyone who is warm is olive. I think of it as people who are cool, people who are warm, and people who are olive (as well as people who are neutral). In my mind, olive skin can have a greenish cast. I have seen some descriptions of olive actually put it in the neutral category, separate from warm. I think of my own skin as warm, but not olive. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/what-is-olive-skin#post-367601 Thu, 16 Jun 2011 01:35:14 +0000 Maya 367601@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I think we are saying the same thing, Rose. I didn't mean olive is the total absence of pink, just that it is more yellow. Most people have both tones in their skin. Very few are one or the other. When yellow is predominant, it's olive. The more yellow you are, the more likely you are to be described that way, I suppose.</p> <p>MAC's system is actually counterintuitive. NC is for warm-toned skin and NW is for cool skin. Since I am bad at explaining this, I'm just copying it from another website:</p> <p>"The first step in selecting your shade is to simply look at your skin, without makeup, in daylight. If your skin looks more Yellow/Golden Olive or Golden Beige, you match with Neutral Cool or “NC” shades. If your skin is a neutral beige, you will match with the Neutral or “N” shades. If your skin looks more Pink Beige, you match with Neutral Warm or “NW” shades. This might seem backwards since usually we think of pinkish skin tones as cool and yellowish skin tones as warm. The reason for this is that MAC uses the makeup artists color wheel which is pretty much the opposite of what we usually think of as cool vs. warm. An easy way to look at it is like this: Think of each MAC foundation shade as being named with either the cool or warm shade that would neutralize and balance out your skin tone."</p> <p>I'm currently using MAC's face and body foundation in C4. Interestingly they don't seem to have any W shades. Only C and N. Not sure why. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/what-is-olive-skin#post-367557 Thu, 16 Jun 2011 00:40:07 +0000 rosee 367557@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>In MAC, I think I am NC25 to NC30 (cooler neutral) but still olive. I have another brand mineral powder foundation and I am Olive 1 (lightest olive). Olive is more than just yellow-pigmented, lighter olive can have pink tones too but the yellow dominates.</p> <p>EDIT: I just now read when this thread was originally posted... yikes! Lots of new commentary though. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/what-is-olive-skin#post-367545 Thu, 16 Jun 2011 00:16:47 +0000 Maya 367545@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Oh wow, this IS an old post!</p> <p>Aida, I think I did finally figure it out once I started wearing makeup. While different SA's had different ideas on what my skin SHADE is, all of them seemed to agree that I was a "yellow" and not a "pink." I tan more easily than I burn (although I have been sunburned before), and the women in my family do not really wrinkle. I also look better in gold than in silver (though I wear silver anyway).</p> <p>From what I understand, this is all that olive skin is: Yellow-toned. It's not some rare and specific shade or tone, which is what I thought. The majority of women in the world are olive-skinned. </p> <p>MAC's range of colors and labeling system really helped me figure this out. I am neutral-warm, so even though gold looks better on me, silver doesn't look bad either. It sounds to me like it might be the same thing for you. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/what-is-olive-skin#post-367444 Wed, 15 Jun 2011 21:04:41 +0000 Aida 367444@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I know this is an old topic, but interesting to read! The site you linked was certainly interesting. Maya I have this same problem, identifying whether my skin is olive toned or not (also of Mediterranean descent); I've given up on officially labeling, and while I do have predominantly gold tones I do also have pink tones as well (perhaps because my skin is pretty transparent?). I'm curious, now that it's been a while, did you ever figure this out? </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/what-is-olive-skin#post-367086 Wed, 15 Jun 2011 13:57:24 +0000 MsMary 367086@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>&lt;derail&gt;</p> <p>Once there was a family who was expecting a baby. One day they went to visit some relatives, who were all excited about the impending blessed event. One aunt, in particular, went on at some length about how the baby would probably be blessed with "beautiful olive skin!" The older sister, about 3 or 4 years old, was quite concerned. Upon arriving home that evening, she asked tearfully, "Mommy, why do we have to get a GREEN baby?"</p> <p>&lt;/derail&gt; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/what-is-olive-skin#post-367079 Wed, 15 Jun 2011 13:33:30 +0000 chewyspaghetti 367079@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>To me, it's the undertones rather than coloring. My niece has very olive skin (very sallow), but she is fair and has medium brown hair and gray eyes. But when I look at her, the olive tone is very apparent. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/what-is-olive-skin#post-367061 Wed, 15 Jun 2011 12:45:06 +0000 Suz 367061@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>It can be really difficult to understand or see skin undertones in isolation. I think of Angie's comment here that colours (in our clothing) need to be seen in context to determine whether they are complementary to one another and flattering to us...I think it is similar with skin tone. It's hard to see "olive" unless you have something to compare it to. If a fair skinned pink-toned friend compared arms with you, then you would see a definite difference. But even there, there is SO much range, and so many of us are a blend. That is why the seasonal colour analysis thing is a bit limited (and perhaps limiting, to some). We're so unique! But it sounds as if you really do have a good sense of what flatters you and what you like, which is the main thing. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/what-is-olive-skin#post-367006 Wed, 15 Jun 2011 06:49:40 +0000 rosee 367006@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I have olive skin (from the Mediterranean) but very light olive. I can tan to quite a darker shade though. The skin on my legs is quite pale -- almost pink toned but it is still light olive. I tend to wear cooler colors better than warmer colors but I can wear both, as long as they are richer shades and not paler. This isn't a perfect system, but I fit into the Deep Winter category, which has colors that overlap with Deep Autumn.</p> <p><a href="http://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/has-anyone-done-seasonal-color-analysis-does-it-work-for-you" rel="nofollow">http://youlookfab.com/welookfa.....rk-for-you</a></p> <p>If you are ok with it, I do think you are olive, Maya, a deeper shade than me, but a similar undertone. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/what-is-olive-skin#post-56030 Tue, 24 Mar 2009 03:45:07 +0000 anne 56030@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>On a different note, one thing I find difficult about having an olive skin tone is finding appropriately coloured foundation. Most foundation seems to be for pinkish tones. For years I used Maybelline's "Golden" , (of which, incidentally, I found shops frequently ran out of stock) but my latest purchase of it doesn't actually match well. I don't know if my skin or the product has changed </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/what-is-olive-skin#post-56028 Tue, 24 Mar 2009 03:24:30 +0000 Maya 56028@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I guess since I don't understand undertones, I won't be able to understand olive skin. I thought this would help but it just confused me more. Still interesting though.</p> <p><a href="http://www.ireneeonline.com/skin_color_test.htm" rel="nofollow">http://www.ireneeonline.com/skin_color_test.htm</a> </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/what-is-olive-skin#post-56025 Tue, 24 Mar 2009 02:58:44 +0000 shiny 56025@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Maya - my sister has always been very stylish! She is a total clothes horse compared to me. </p> <p>I don't think olive skin has much to do with how dark your skin is, except that olive skin tans more easily. But as you see with that pic of my sister, she's on the fair side (northern european) - yet she is definetly olive skinned. It's about the undertones. </p> <p>As for the blemish thing, my sister has had more issues with acne than I have ever had. Even now, in her 40s, she still has issues compared to me. So that part i don't necessarily think is true - from my experience. Her skin is definetly more oily than mine is. Which may be a blessing. Dry skin sucks. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/what-is-olive-skin#post-55865 Mon, 23 Mar 2009 18:19:52 +0000 Patience 55865@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Thanks for posting this, Maya. I have always wondered about olive skin as well, even though I apparently have it. In my mind olive skin meant a very specific skin shade so now I am enlightened. It makes much more sense that it covers a wide variety of skin tones. I always thought of my skin as brown or tanned but it definitely has a yellow undertone. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/what-is-olive-skin#post-55858 Mon, 23 Mar 2009 17:51:28 +0000 Maya 55858@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I already knew intuitively what colors look good on me, so I suppose it doesn't matter if I can't figure out my skin tone. I'm just one of those people that always needs to have a reason for what I do. Gut instinct isn't good enough, even if it's right. </p> <p>Hanna, you mentioned probably the top four colors to make an appearance in my closet. Violet, I already knew to avoid pastels, which is fine with me because I never really liked them! Also, about a month ago I was going through a very stressful time and got two pimples in return for it. I still have marks from where they were! They always take a long time to go away. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/what-is-olive-skin#post-55802 Mon, 23 Mar 2009 14:26:40 +0000 Violet 55802@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Maya, this is a good question. I think of "olive" as more of a skin tone. Being from India, I am pretty sure I have an olive skin tone. I know in the winter, I tend to look sallow and my skin definitely has yellow undertones.</p> <p>If I spend too much time in the sun, I can get very dark. One thing I don't like about my skin is that it scars very easily. The slightest blemish leaves a grayish mark that takes a long time to fade away.</p> <p>I think you look good both warm and cool colors. Like Hanna mentioned, they should be jewel tones and strong colors. I don't think olive skin tones can pull of pastels very well. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/what-is-olive-skin#post-55763 Mon, 23 Mar 2009 10:47:14 +0000 hanna 55763@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>oh and maya, to answer the questions in your last comment, i think i'd like seeing you best in reds, turquoises, teals, the right shade of yellow - jewel tones. rich, strong colors. hope that makes sense... </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/what-is-olive-skin#post-55762 Mon, 23 Mar 2009 10:44:59 +0000 hanna 55762@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>wait, now i'm confused too. i start out pretty fair, tan easily (literally; it takes me about 15 minutes of sun exposure to get 2 shades darker :P) - but then there's a fine line between getting tan and suddenly starting to burn. hmm. it's probably a product of being mostly malay (polynesian descent, so probably more olive skinned?) mixed with some chinese blood.</p> <p>i don't think this was a dumb question at all maya! although while the responses were interesting, i still don't quite know what the phrase actually means :P.</p> <p>shiny, i LOVE that photo LOL </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/what-is-olive-skin#post-55757 Mon, 23 Mar 2009 04:55:43 +0000 Maya 55757@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I originally thought of this question because I was trying to figure out my own skin but I find it to be a bit of a headache. It seems as though every reference I see is about European, African, Latino, and (east) Asian women. There is almost nothing about Middle Eastern and Indian women, and the range of skin tones in India is probably more dramatic than anywhere in the world so perhaps that is why.</p> <p>I think lots of people here in the US consider me dark skinned simply because of circumstance. When I go to India, I'm praised for being fair! I take that to mean I'm genuinely medium. This picture (I can't believe my hair ever looked this great) seems like a pretty accurate representation of my skin color:</p> <p><a href="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v35/ranabow/faceb00k.jpg" rel="nofollow">http://img.photobucket.com/alb.....ceb00k.jpg</a></p> <p>This is what it looks like after lots of sun exposure:</p> <p><a href="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v35/ranabow/facebook.jpg" rel="nofollow">http://img.photobucket.com/alb.....cebook.jpg</a></p> <p>I couldn't tell you what palette I look best in. I have both warm and cool colors in my wardrobe and I think I wear them both well. Any ideas? </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/what-is-olive-skin#post-55729 Mon, 23 Mar 2009 02:31:51 +0000 anne 55729@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I am definitely olive - sallow when not tanned. And any tones a consider "murky" are not good next to my face. I tan well, but try not to even though I look better tanned </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/what-is-olive-skin#post-55726 Mon, 23 Mar 2009 02:26:14 +0000 Eva 55726@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Haha, my husband was just saying I have I look sallow when not tan (which is now). Olive skin has green or yellow skin undertones, which means you have a more yellow or green cast to your skin rather than pink, brown or black. I am half Asian and have olive skin tone and can get very dark when tanning. While I can wear autumn tones, I wear deep or bright colors well. I wear a lot of white (per Angie's recommendation). I don't wear Angie's sour yellows and greens well. Other stars with olive skin tone are Selma Hyak, JLo, Alicia Keys. I don't burn easy, but I do burn, so always wear sunscreen.</p> <p>The other Eva </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/what-is-olive-skin#post-55714 Mon, 23 Mar 2009 01:49:35 +0000 Angie 55714@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>(Shiny, your pukka 80’s style cracks me up. Love it).</p> <p>I equate olive skin with tan-ability. I’ve always thought that olive skin is naturally dark and tans quickly. But it actually does not need to be dark – it can be sallow, light and yellow when un-tanned. The dark version is very Southern European and Mediterranean. Eva Mendes has olive skin. Our Patience has olive skin. Marianne is olive too, but light. I have the exact opposite. My very fair, pink, Northern European skin burns instantly, but I don't freckle. It is what it is. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/what-is-olive-skin#post-55697 Mon, 23 Mar 2009 00:50:39 +0000 marianne 55697@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Hmm, I guess I was wrong, too - according to Wikipedia, my skin is actually olive. I don't understand undertones, either, but like Taylor I am totally sallow if I don't get sun exposure. I think the thing with blemishes is that they are not as noticeable with a darker skin tone. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/what-is-olive-skin#post-55694 Mon, 23 Mar 2009 00:42:03 +0000 Maya 55694@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>OK, after reading the replies it seems like I might have olive skin after all. My grandma and mother both do not wrinkle (unfortunately though, they do sag). I have oily skin that tans rather than burns. I'm not sure about that blemish free thing though. I'm not sure what counts as a blemish, but when I'm not on medication to control it, I am very acne-prone. I don't know about the color season thing, but Laura had me pegged as winter and I look terrible in off white. </p> <p>I guess I was confused because I thought olive was a shade of skin, rather than a tone. That's why I didn't understand how someone light skinned like your sister, and darker skinned like that guy in the Wikipedia article, could both have olive skin. Like Kari, I don't understand and can't pick out undertones to save my life so it never even occurred to me.</p> <p>Shiny, it's hard to tell from the picture regarding skin tone, but I love your sister's boots! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/what-is-olive-skin#post-55687 Sun, 22 Mar 2009 23:34:08 +0000 Encore 55687@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>interesting question - if I needed to describe my complexion I think olive skin would be the best. I am Mexican-American, have brown hair, brown eyes and I think I have yellow undertones. My best colors are fall - deep browns, reds, purple.</p> <p>When I was young, I was able to get a really nice tan in just a few days but that was a loooooooong time ago! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/what-is-olive-skin#post-55686 Sun, 22 Mar 2009 23:22:59 +0000 shiny 55686@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Anything you want to know, you just have to wikipedia it!</p> <p><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Olive_skin" rel="nofollow">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Olive_skin</a></p> <p>My family is a mix of Irish (50%), English, French and German, and my sister has olive skin. Here's a pic of me and my sibs from way back in high school:</p> <p><a href="http://s386.photobucket.com/albums/oo309/lookingfabat43/fashion%20horrors/?action=view&#038;current=IMG_0063.jpg" rel="nofollow">http://s386.photobucket.com/al.....G_0063.jpg</a></p> <p>This photo is faded but she and I have very different skin, hair and eye color, and she tans while I don't. She has yellow undertones to her skin and dresses exclusively in autumn colors.</p> <p>Editing to add: my sister never wears white (now that she's older - obviously she's wearing a white shirt in this photo). In fact, she did not wear white at her wedding. She chose a gown that was more of an off-white. (Forget what you call it when it's a wedding gown color). </p>