How to Choose the Right Makeup for Olive Skin Tones
August 23, 2022
If you have an olive complexion, finding the right makeup for your skin tone can be challenging. Bright, fun colors look amazing with your complexion, but finding a foundation or nude lipstick that perfectly matches your unique undertones can require some real effort. Ahead, find your ultimate guide to choosing the perfect makeup for olive and medium skin tones.
Understanding Your Undertones
No matter what your dominant skin tone is — fair, light, medium, deep and dark — what really makes foundation work is how well it complements your undertones. Beneath your skin tone lies a subtle hue in one of the following categories:
Cool: Pink, red or blue undertones
Warm: Yellow or golden undertones
Neutral: A balance between both cool and warm
Typically, olive skin is known for either having warm or neutral undertones with a greenish cast that can become more apparent in winter. If this describes you, keep reading for product recommendations for your olive skin tone.
Best Foundation for Olive Skin Tones
If you’re looking for a foundation with olive undertones, we recommend the Giorgio Armani Beauty Luminous Silk Foundation. The shade 3.5 is great for people with light skin and olive undertones, shade 6 is for medium skin with olive undertones, shade 9 is for tan skin with olive undertones, and shade 14 is best for dark skin with olive undertones. The formula is buildable while remaining natural-looking on the skin, and it gives the complexion a gorgeous glow.

Best Blush and Bronzer for Olive Skin
Looking for the best blush for olive skin tones? Try the NYX Professional Wonder Stick Blush in Coral and Deep Peach, which comes with two shades: a coral that will pop against your skin, and a peach that will offer a complementary, subtle flush.
As for bronzer, the L'Oréal Paris Infallible 24H Fresh Wear Soft Matte Bronzer in Tan has subtle yellow and olive undertones that will flatter your complexion beautifully.

Best Eyeshadow for Olive Skin Tones
Warm gold, copper and brown shades look beautiful on your skin tone, so we recommend the Urban Decay Naked Half-Baked Mini Eyeshadow Palette. This mini palette features a mix of warm-toned shimmers and mattes that will stun on olive complexions.
Best Lipstick for Olive Skin Tones
There are many lipstick shades that will be flattering on your olive skin tone. Bright shades will bring out your natural gold undertones, while berry hues add contrast to your complexion. When it comes to nude lipsticks for olive undertones, look for brown, terracotta or mauve shades with neutral or warm undertones. We love the Maybelline New York Super Stay Vinyl Ink Liquid Lipcolor in Witty because it’s a pink-toned mauve that will complement your skin’s yellow undertones.
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