The Best Makeup Tips For Olive Skin, According to a Pro

POPSUGAR Photography | Matthew Kelly
POPSUGAR Photography | Matthew Kelly
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Understanding skin tone and undertones — like whether you have olive skin with warm, cool, or neutral undertones — is key to finding flattering makeup. It doesn't matter if you're just on the hunt for a new foundation or looking for the best eyeshadow palette with colors that'll complement your complexion — the information comes in handy.

Although many people can tell if they have a fair, olive or medium, or dark skin tone, most of the time, makeup comprehension ends there. But learning more about your olive skin tone can make shopping for new makeup products even easier. Ahead, a makeup artist shares everything you should know about your olive skin color, like how to color match an olive complexion, complementary colors to look for with other makeup, and more.

What Is Olive Skin Tone?

The term olive skin doesn't refer to just one complexion shade. You can have light, pale olive skin or dark olive skin. "Olive skin has the main characteristic of being in the range of green and brown," Jaleesa Jaikaran, celebrity makeup artist and Humphreys Witch Hazel brand partner, tells POPSUGAR. In terms of undertones, olive skin tends to be more neutral or warm rather than cool.

How to Color Match Olive Skin

Paying attention to the undertones of your olive skin tone will make color-matching complexion products like foundations and concealers a breeze. Jaikaran recommends you take a look at the color of the veins on your wrist. "Check your wrist or any visible veins — if they are blue to purplish veins, then you can range between neutral and cool tones," she says. "Veins that are green mean you have a warm skin tone. If you have a mix of blue and green, then you are more neutral."

With this information, you can look for brands that cater to your skin tone. "Exa Beauty High Fidelity Foundation ($32) carries a wide range of shades and undertones that have been a favorite of mine and in my pro makeup kit," says Jaikaran.

Flattering Colors For Olive Skin

There are a variety of shades to choose from to flatter your olive-colored skin. "Shades of gold, bronze, and copper tones look amazing on olive skin, regardless if it's eyeshadows or bronzers," says Jaikaran. "For blushes, peach, pink, orange, and shimmering tones flatter olive skin beautifully."

As for the best lipstick hues for olive skin, Jaikaran recommends berry and brown shades as they look "lively on this skin tone."

For product recommendations, check out the Ilia Multi-Stick Cream Blush + Lip Tint in "Whisper" ($34) for blush (one of Jaikaran's favorites), the Fenty Beauty Snap Shadows Mix & Match Eyeshadow Palette in "True Neutrals" ($28), and the Merit Signature Lip Lightweight Lipstick in "Fashion" ($26).