Pale "Olive" Skin?

Jun 23, 2011

Gabbi D.

Okay, here is something that has confused me for awhile. I have usually been told that I have an olive skin tone. However, whenever I look up olive skin, I find more medium-dark. Here's the thing... I'm a ghost! I can tan... sometimes. I could more when I was younger, but I've gotten pale to the point that I burn more. Anyway, can anyone give me some insight into this skin tone thing?

Jun 23, 2011

Alexis B.

You are literally describing my skin exactly!!! I dont understand it either. I still call myself pale tho lol. Maybe it's olive undertones.. if that even exists... i've heard something about the color you tan being a clue to your skin tone. Like, a more orange based tan vs a deeper brown tan. I think people who have olive skin will tan to a deeper brown color..hmm Im going to follow this post to see if anyone has some answers to this! lol

Jun 23, 2011

Tamara R.

Olive refers to the undertone (cool-neutral-warm), not the intensity of pigment (pale-medium-dark).

This means that you can have a range of shades within a particular undertone, which is why matching foundations can be tricky. It's much more complex than dark vs. light.

Jun 23, 2011

Gabbi D.

Well, I'm glad I'm not the only one. XD

And... I know it's an undertone. The thing is that I nearly always see olive/medium or olive/dark. I don't often see olive/light.

Jun 23, 2011

Tamara R.

I guess it depends on where you're looking, though olive undertone products are definitely not as common as red & yellow - at least around here. I remember a post from elsewhere that listed brands that catered to olive tones, if I can find it again I'll repost it here.

One of my favourite foundations, Make Up For Ever's HD has been one of my best colour matches because of the 'olive' option. I never really considered myself olive either, but it explains why it's so obvious when foundation runs too beige, too pink or too yellow. >_< I personally use 153 in the HD formula.. but there is 123 which is described as a light shade for olive tones. Have you ever tried it? Is it still too dark?

Jun 23, 2011

Gabbi D.

I haven't had the chance to try that foundation, but I will definitely have to when I get a chance! I've been using a foundation that looks just a bit too orange and a bit too dark on my skin. >.< Of course... I'm not sure of how obvious it is to other people, but it's like that stain on your shirt that's barely there, but you know it's there, but other people don't notice unless you point it out... but you know it's there and so it continues to drive you crazy.
...or is that just me? lol.

Anyway, thank you!

Aug 23, 2012

Kenzi S.

Awh! Me too. Im definitely a strong olive/gold undertone but very fair skin. I cant find anything as its never that Olive-green-gold color. Too beige-yellow, too orange-yellow or too pink in general. D: 

Aug 24, 2012

Kenzi S.

I absolutely hate that you cant find anything for pale people that is "golden olive" D: Who wants to spend 80 dollars to mix two foundations? I mean really. Drugstores dont carry anything olive that ive noticed

Aug 30, 2012

Kenzi S.

Ive heard MAC cream color base in pearl is good. The site describes it as "Pale gold with icy shimmer" Maybe that is what you're looking for