Best colors for olive skin

Colors for olive skin

Start with these shades. They're mostly medium to dark, and many of them come from the green, blue and red groups of the color wheel.

Each shade has a HEX code, so you can match it exactly when shopping online.

Why do deeper shades work for olive skin?

Depth is simply how light or dark a color is. Deeper shades tend to hold their own beside olive skin, so your face looks clear rather than washed out.

Pale colors loaded with white can seem weak next to olive tones. Emerald, plum and burgundy carry enough weight to sit comfortably beside your skin.

Warm-leaning and cool-leaning olive skin

Olive skin alone won't tell you your season. Your undertone counts as well. An undertone is the warm or cool tint just under the skin's surface.

Warm-leaning olive skin? Start with rust and deep rosewood. They belong to the autumn side, Deep Autumn or Soft Autumn for instance. Cool-leaning olive skin looks sharper in cobalt, emerald, peacock and berry, which belong to the winter side, Deep Winter or Cool Winter for instance.

Burgundy, plum, deep jade and cream are more middle-of-the-road. Try them whichever direction you tilt.

The shades to pass on

The shades that tend to miss are the pale, gentle ones.

• Pale mustard, a washed-out yellow (#edd9a6)
• Pale coral, a soft peachy tone (#ffc4b5)
• Lilac, a light purple (#bfa0d3)
• Mint, a delicate green (#a9e3c9)
• Bright blush, a light pink (#ffc7ca)

Each of these is very pale, so none has the depth that suits olive skin best. That's no reason to toss those clothes, though. They matter less on trousers, skirts or shoes, since they sit farther away from your face.

Putting your best shades to work

Color does its biggest work near your face. Put your strongest shades in tops, collars and scarves. Starting with a burgundy jumper or a peacock scarf keeps things simple.

For makeup, try berry, plum and deep rosewood. When you want something lighter than a dark shade, cream is a good soft neutral for shirts and layers.

Trying a shade out at home? Here's a simple check:

1. Stand somewhere with natural daylight, since indoor bulbs and phone cameras can shift how your skin color looks.
2. Hold something warm, rust for example, under your chin and check the mirror.
3. Replace it with something cool, cobalt for example, and compare.
4. Notice which one leaves your face looking fresh, with fewer shadows.

Working out your full season

Olive skin usually points to one of four seasons, and the quiz helps you find which. It asks three quick questions, one per screen: gold or silver, how deep your features run, and whether clear or muted shades flatter you most up close. You then get one of the 12 seasons, along with a link to its palette.

No photo upload and no account needed, and your answers never leave your browser. Every season palette lists 60 named colors with HEX codes, sorted into neutrals, main colors and accents, and it includes colors to avoid too. A quiz is only a starting point. You can confirm it with mirror checks in daylight, or with an in-person draping session.